Wednesday, May 8th, 2019

Idaho Falls, Idaho

8th operating temple

Dedicated: 23-25 Sept 1945

By: George Albert Smith

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Colossians 1:13

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 25:15-26:13

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Luke 14

General Conference

Seeking Knowledge by the Spirit

Mathias Held

"But how could we know if what the missionaries were telling us about the Book of Mormon, about Joseph Smith, and about the plan of salvation was actually all true? Well, we had understood from the words of the Lord that we could 'know them by their fruits.' So, in a very systematic manner, we started examining the Church by looking for those fruits with the eyes of our very rational minds. What did we see? Well, we saw: A church where Jesus Christ and families are at the center of everything, where members fast once a month and donate to help the poor and needy, where healthy habits are promoted, teaching us to abstain from harmful substances."

Elk and rain this morning, and also, the hummingbirds are back and James has been feeding them.

I loved Elder Holland's talk, "The Other Prodigal." Here are some notes I jotted down: "If envy were a fever we would all have one." "In the story of the prodigal son, the father doesn't tantalize his children. He does not mercilessly measure them against their neighbors. He doesn't even compare them with each other. His gestures of compassion toward one do not require a withdrawal or denial of love for the other. He is divinely generous to both sons."

"We will be provided with a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness for each of us,cleansed in the blood of the Lamb."

It was rainy and cool most of the day. James built a beautiful fire but he says that we are now out of dry firewood. We just thought summer was here, but today it felt more like winter.

Using the workflow chart that Kathy H. made I worked on the book business this morning. James is too busy to help right now because he is getting bids for the Memon and Kisana jobs. Here are the things that Kathy says she feels are important to do on a regular basis:

- Checking books sold overnight and ordering 10-30 more books. This business is all about building inventory. 

- Setting Keepa alerts on good books to buy when the price is lower.

- Prepping merchant fulfilled books for shipment.

- Strive to get positive feedback on sales made. This helps the Amazon algorithm trust you as a seller, and encourages more buyers, too.

- Have a plan. What are your goals, financial or otherwise with this business. 

- If not using a prep center, prepare shipments on a daily basis.

- Add books that you have purchased to the inventory list

-Repricing keeps you competitive, so reprice often.

- Buy as many books as your budget allows, find new sources or ways to buy, reprice, and local source once a week.

- Check feedback and then do any cleanup (stranded inventory, client messages, etc.)

Well, Kathy is my hero in this business. She just did $20,000 worth of sales last month. Two of the things that I like about Kathy are her willingness to share her trade secrets because she genuinely wants to help people and her personal touch. She responds to everyone who asks a question or makes a comment on Facebook and she does that in every aspect of her business. She is a nice person who wants to help others. I wish I could afford to have her be my mentor.

I did desk work today and paid some bills, including Lambson Construction bills. 

James got a call from the Willis's daughter Sandy today. She works during the day but lives with her parents and helps take care of them. Today the company James had do the drywall patching the Willis's needed sent a guy over by himself and I guess he was a bit of an annoyance. He knocked on their door and asked to come in and use the bathroom. When Sister Willis told him no he asked if he could go in her yard. She again said no. He also knocked on the door for a drink of water. Sandy was concerned for her parents safety and that's why she called James. He immediately called the owner of the company and complained. The guy said he would take care of it. The job isn't done yet so hopefully this won't happen again.

 I know it doesn't look very fancy but

those little venison steaks are very tasty.

 My hubby the fire starter

Nothing like a nice fire on a cold day to create

a homey atmosphere.

 Meghan and Prince Harry with their baby boy

 Before the press knew his name they were calling

him baby Sussex. I guess that's because Meghan and Harry

are the Duchess and Duke of Sussex.

 Scarlett sweeping while holding her drink.

 Trying to get out of her seat.

 In to the magazines. At least she

chose a good one.

 The mountain disappeared

Sunday, June 10th, 2018

Meridian, Idaho

158th operating temple

Dedicated 19 Nov 2017

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Condescension of

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Book of Mormon

Alma 13:21-14:5

*Why does the word of God tend to divide people?

Talk: Truth: The Foundation of Correct Decisions

By: Richard G. Scott

Oct. 2007

Old Testament

2 Kings 7-8

7 Elisha prophesies incredible plenty in Samaria - The Syrian hosts flee at a noise of battle and leave their possessions - Israel takes spoil from the Syrians.

8 Elisha prophesies a seven-year famine - The Shunammite woman is preserved through the famine - Jehoram and then Ahaziah reign in wickedness in Judah.

General Conference

Family History and Temple Work: Healing and Sealing

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path." - President Russell M. Nelson

I lost 1.2 lbs. this week but I am out of the points race. James is still in the points race and he lost 2 lbs. I think he is probably still ahead. One more week. He just might win.

We studied our scriptures and had family prayer before church this morning. I also studied Elder Renlund's talk which is the talk we are studying today in Relief Society and I ironed James a shirt. I should have ironed the shirt last night. Sacrament meeting had barely started when we walked in. 

Charlie G. blessed the sacrament for the first time today. We also have a new elder but I didn't catch his name as he was passing the sacrament. 

Marci W. gave a talk today on the personal finance class she took as part of the Church's self-reliance program. I looked up the manual on my gospel library app and told James we should study it for FHE. He wants me to help him on familysearch instead. 

Three Westbrook's got new callings today. Marci is going to be the Primary chorister, Corina will be the nursery leader, and Joe will be YM secretary. 

Brother Reidhead spoke today on ministering and talked a lot about President Nelson's talk last Sunday evening to the youth. The take is entitled "Hope of Israel" and President Nelson asks the youth to be part of his "Youth Batallion" to help Gather Israel. He gave five challenges to the youth.

1. Hold a seven-day fast from social media.

2. Make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord for three weeks.

3. Keep on the covenant path. If you are off, repent and get back on the path.

4. Pray daily that all of God's children might receive the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

5. Stand out. Be different. Be a light. Give to a friend one copy of the booklet For the Strength of Youth.

These were President Nelson's closing remarks:

"My beloved younger brothers and sisters, you are among the best the Lord has ever sent to this world. You have the capacity to be smarter and wiser and have more impact on the world than any previous generation!

"As I conclude, I invite you to stand with the youth from all around the world and experience the thrill of being a member of the Lord's youth battalion in 'Zion's army' by singing our closing hymn, 'Hope of Israel,' because this hymn is all about you!

From the depths of my soul, I testify that this is the work of Almighty God. He lives. Jesus is the Christ. This is His Church, restored to accomplish its divine destiny, including the promised gather of Israel. You are the hope of Israel, 'children of the promised day'! I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

A powerful message from a prophet of God!

Brother Scott taught the lesson in Sunday School. They must have skipped a lesson because he was on lesson 22 instead of 21. We spoke about David being anointed king by Samuel and then slaying Goliath. Saul was disobedient and therefore lost his standing with the Lord.

My friend Rosie L. taught Relief Society today. We discussed Elder Renlund's talk on family history and temple work and focused mainly on the promised blessing outlined in his talk. I especially love this blessing promised by our prophet:

"Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path." - President Russell M. Nelson

I especially loved Sister Hunter's comments about working in the temple and covenants.

Also, I loved a clip of a talk given by Elder Bednar regarding the spiritual gift of discernment. It think we all need to have this gift in our lives.

Well, today is sugar day. I had cookies for breakfast and apple crescent rolls for dessert after lunch. I love Sundays!

Talked to Jared and Kacey. Kacey is moving to Tyler next week. Jared is already working there. A new beginning for them.

 Plus the 11 I lost before I started this challenge.

So true.

A stroll down memory lane with Dennis,

baby Eric, and Muhammed Ali.

Jeff was one of James's counselors when

he served as Bishop.

Braylin, reading a Percy Jackson book.

I introduced him to Rick Riordan and

Percy.

Cousin Brett and his family.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Twin Falls, Idaho

128th operating temple

Dedicated: 24th Aug 2008 by

Thomas S. Monson

Atonement

1 Peter 3:18

Jesus Christ

Ether 2:12

Alma 36:25-37:10
*Can you think of some small and simple things that have made a big impact in your life?
*How has God delivered you from your trials?
God delivers me from my trials everyday. When I turn to Him and follow His ways my anxieties, doubts, and fears disappear. God is love, peace, and hope. God is everything good in my life. When I stop focusing on worldly things and focus on God, my life is happy.
DC 103:29-40
29-40, Various brethren are called to organize Zion's Camp and go to Zion; they are promised victory if they are faithful.
Why is it hard sometimes to do the Lord's will?
*Because often the Lord's plans are not what we believe to be our plans. To do the Lord's will, we have to exercise faith, knowing that He knows what is best. Often taking the first step is hard. Often times we are prideful or stubborn and just don't want to. Sometimes it takes us out of our comfort zone. Each day I pray for His help and the strength and courage to do it.
General Conference

The Power of the Book of Mormon

President Thomas S. Monson

" If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifests its truth to you. If it is true - and I solemnly testify that it is - then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ."

A Sin-Resistant Generation

Sister Joy D. Jones

"We must understand our - and their - divine identity and purpose before we can help our children see who they are and why they are here. We must help them know without question that they are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father and that He has divine expectations of them. Second, understanding the doctrine of repentance is essential for becoming resistant to sin. Being sin-resistant doesn't mean being sinless, but it does imply being continually repentant, vigilant, and valiant. Perhaps being sin-resistant comes as a blessing from repeatedly resisting sin. As James said, 'Resist the devil, and he will flee you.'"

I decided to go to the temple this morning to do initiatories. I left around 9 a.m. My first stop was at the Vernon post office where I mailed the package to Texas with Emmy and Anna's things that they left here.  The post office girls, Debbie and her friend told me my box was too big and they could save me money by repackaging my stuff. Long story short, we repacked and saved me $14. I would never have gotten that service at a city post office. I also saw my neighbor Chuck and Owen before leaving the post office. 

My next stop was the Book Barn where Brother Rhoton put names on scriptures for Wyatt and Marlie in my Primary class.  I got a necklace for Ruthie W. because today is her birthday and James is her home teacher. I had to get gas and my car washed before going to the temple. By the time I got to Snowflake I was hungry and stopped at El Cupido's for a bacon breakfast burrito. 

At the temple I did initiatories for three Ballentine relatives and a Rachel Allman Spoon.  I had a nice visit with one of the temple workers. Her husband was good friends with James in high school. Also, Blaine C. was the greeter when I came in. He is in our ward in Vernon. 

The rain arrives in Vernon around 2:45 this afternoon. I open the dining room windows and it feels like heaven. 

James got home from the valley around 4 p.m. He brings me two burros, a bean and cheese and a green chili. We go out on the porch and read from "A Lady Unrivaled."

Today's Christmas movies:

"Christmas Land" and "Sleigh Bells Ring."

Random Photos:

A younger Addy with grandpa at Big Lake.

One of my favorite photos.

The sky and clouds were beautiful today.

Temple parking lot.

You can see lots of clouds here.

No selfie today.

Yikes!

My friend Betty B. in Chandler.

Thank goodness she's not allergic.

Jackson the mountain man.

James's grandmother, Annie Laurie

Mangum. My great-grandmother Lydia Ellen

Mangum was her sister.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Rexburg, Idaho

125th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Feb 2008 by

Thomas S. Monson

John 17:4

Atonement

3 Nephi 11:18-41

The Savior sets forth the mode and manner of baptism; The spirit of contention is of the devil; Christ's doctrine is that men should believe and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. About A.D. 34.

Alma 18:1-11

King Lamoni is impressed by Ammon's faithfulness.

*What ideas did the king and his servants have about Ammon's identity?

*According to Alma 18:2,4, what did Lamoni think Ammon's purpose was in coming?

*According to Alma 18:10, what impressed Lamoni besides the power Ammon demonstrated in defending the flocks?

*As we serve others faithfully,...

DC 88:78-86

74-80, Sanctify yourselves and teach one another the doctrines of the kingdom; 81-85, Every man who has been warned should warn his neighbor; 

What great things are promised in verses 78 and 80?

*78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

*80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
Some thoughts on today's scriptures from the Doctrine Covenants Student Manual: As we teach one another diligently, the Lord will help us understand His truths more perfectly. By teaching one another, we can prepare to share the gospel with others.
Because we have been warned through the message of the gospel, the Lord expects us to warn our neighbors.

General Conference

Prepare the Way

Bishop Gerald Causse

"The perfect model of the close relationship that exists between the two priesthoods is found in the interaction between Jesus and John the Baptist. Can one possibly imagine John the Baptist without Jesus? What would the Savior's mission have been like without the preparatory work performed by John?"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland took to Facebook to post one of the most beautiful messages of hope that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could wish for.

"What a terrific time to be alive!

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most certain, the most secure, the most reliable, and the most rewarding truth on earth and in heaven, in time and in eternity. Nothing - not anything, not anyone, not any influence - will keep this Church from fulfilling its mission and realizing its destiny declared from before the foundation of the world. Ours is that fail-safe, inexorable, indestructible dispensation of the fulness of the gospel. There is no need to be afraid or tentative about the future.

"Unlike every other era before us, this dispensation will not experience an institutional apostasy; it will not see a loss of priesthood keys; it will not suffer a cessation of revelation from the voice of Almighty God. Individuals will apostatize or turn a deaf ear to heaven, but never again will the dispensation collectively do so. What a secure thought! What a day in which to live!

"If there are some bumps along the way while waiting to see every promise kept and every prophecy fulfilled, so be it. If you haven't noticed, I am bullish about the latter days. In nothing could I have more faith than I have in God the Eternal Father, in Jesus Christ His Son, in Their redeeming gospel, and in their divinely-guided Church. Believe. Rise up. Be faithful. And make the most of the remarkable day in which we live!"

I am not sure who Elder Holland is with in this
picture, but I love the fact that they are laughing.

I recorded in my testimony journal Alma's testimony as recorded in Alma 5.  It is so powerful!

For the first time in a long time Jared has all of his kids this weekend.  It says it is a little hard as he and Kacey try to blend their two families.  His kids no longer go to the LDS church. Tricia takes them to a different church so they complain about having to go for 3 hours.  I know Jared and Kacey are doing the right thing by trying to set a good example for their kids and I know the Lord is aware of their situation and will bless them.

I did a little research today on Neil Gorsuch, Trump's pick for the Supreme Court.  Here are some things I found out.

Neil Gorsuch

1. Attended Catholic schools.

2. Has supported religious groups against U.S. government.

3. Opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide, two positions that coincide with the views of a majority of Christian denominations.

4. Has not ruled in an abortion related case. He wrote this:

"All human beings are intrinsically valuable and the intentional taking of human life by private persons is always wrong.

The law doesn't just apply to protect popular religious beliefs: it does perhaps its' most important work in protecting unpopular religious beliefs, vindicating this nations long-held aspiration to serve as a refuge of religious tolerance."

5. Gorsuch reminds some, rightly or wrongly, of Scalia, who was a conservative and an originalist and who spoke often of his Catholic faith.

University of Denver law professor Justin Marcean told the Denver Post that Gorsuch would be Scalia's "intellectual equal and almost certainly his equal on conservative jurisprudential approaches to criminal justice and social justice issues that are bound to keep coming up in the country." (deseretnews.com.)

Here are a list of the U.S. Supreme Court Judges in 2017:

1. Chief John G. Roberts appointed by George W. Bush, Sept. 29, 2005. (62 years old)

2. Anthony M. Kennedy appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1987 with a 97-0 vote. (80 years old)

3. Clarence Thomas appointed by George Bush in 1991. Senate approval 52-48. (68 years old)

4. Ruth Bader Ginsburg appointed by Bill Clinton. Confirmed vote 96-3. Worked as ACLU's General Council. (84 years old)

5. Stephen G. Breyer appointed by Bill Clinton in 1994. 87-9 vote. (78 years old)

6. Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr. Appointed by George W. Bush in 2005. 58-42 vote. (67 years old)

7. Sonia Sotomayor appointed by Barack Obama in 2009, 68-31 vote. (62 years old)

8. Elena Kagan appointed by Barack Obama in 2010. Confirmed by a 63-37 vote. (57 years old)

9. Neil Gorsuchl appointed by Donald Trump in 2017. In order to get Gorsuch confirmed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell changed senate rules to end debate on Supreme Court nominees with a simple majority of 52 votes instead of the regular 60. (49 years old)

James worked at the Howard's all morning long.  The was a reminder of the Frank Bates Lambson and Annie Laurie Mangum reunion on June 30-July 1 in Ramah, New Mexico.  Sorry, we are having our own reunion here in Vernon!

I did some blogging today after my 5 hours of gospel study and then went to town with James.  He went to Home Depot to get some trees and some Zep floor polish.  I went to Walmart and spent $145 and did not buy one thing to eat. I got some father's day gifts, jumper cables, a tool box for the kitchen, a magnetic board, and other various and sundry items.

We went home and got ready to go to Makenzi's and Tyler's wedding reception.  We got home after dark and James went out and planted his trees anyway.  I put things away, folded laundry and prepared for my Primary lesson tomorrow.  

Makenzi's and Tyler's Reception

Tyler is a return missionary and an active member of

the Church. They were married yesterday in the Gilbert temple.

He is from Roswell, New Mexico and that is where they will live.

Such a cute couple!

Makenzi and her dad.

Grandma Annalee dancing with a great grandson.

Two sisters at the reception,

Nadine and Lorraine.

A gorgeous night in Vernon to have an outside reception.

Some of the crowd