Thursday, October 17th, 2019

Salt Lake City, Utah

4th operating temple

Dedicated: 6-24th Apr 1893

By: Wilford Woodruff

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

1 Peter 5:4

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 7:1-14

How and why is Satan trying to divide people today?

New Testament: "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me": Colossians 1 & Philippians 4:13 I can find joy in Christ, regardless of my circumstances

General Conference

Honoring His Name

Lisa L. Harkness

"With covenant identity and belonging, we are called by the name of Jesus Christ"

James went out this morning looking for elk. He was gone for a couple of hours and said he saw four bulls. Here is the photo he gave me:

I see two bulls

My year to date sales on Amazon: $10,201.27

I sold two more books today.

I listened to the webinar today where they announced the winners of the textbook season sales, etc. My girl Kathy got two awards which included the Randy award. She won $1,000 plus a new office chair. Randy was the first person to make it big in this business. He is known for his big comfy chair. The person who gets the Randy award gets a trophy with a guy sitting in a comfy chair and a new office chair. I think it's more about the prestige than anything else. The $1,000 was for getting second in lifetime sales. Andrew, Jim and Herman, got first and won $2,000. Jim and Herman are partners.

James took the compressor out to fill the tires on the skidsteer. I was a little upset with him because he is not supposed to lift anything over 10 lbs. and he couldn't wait for me to come and help. 

I got a text from Stacy today saying she was in the hospital. Her heart is racing and her blood pressure is high. They did a Cat scan and an EKG and a chest X-ray. They couldn't find anything wrong with her heart and so they sent her home. She thinks it could be a panic attack brought on by her financial problems. Skyler, her employer owes her over $7,000. His funds were frozen so he has no money. His uncle loaned him money but the bank wouldn't accept him on the LLC because he wrote several bad checks four years ago. Skyler got someone else to sign on the LLC but it takes 10 days for the corporation commission to accept the signature. This has been going on since August 23rd when they did the first Vivace treatments. Skyler is dishonest and any money he gets, instead of paying Stacy and the office manager, he uses to buy more equipment or pay for advertising. Hopefully the money will come through but in the meantime the creditors are at the door.

Last night was the last night for Stacy and Paul to pay Salt River Project for their electric bill. They had called and asked for an extension but since they were already three weeks late the answer was no. The tension was so high in the house that Stacy went outside to think. As she was thinking and praying as to what she could do to keep her electricity from being turned off she got the thought that she should read her scriptures. As she was reading from the Book of Mormon the impression came to her four different times that she should call again and asked if she could pay in the morning. Paul would have money from his job at Amazon in the morning. She kept putting the thought off  because she had already done that. When it came the fourth time, she made the call. At first the answer was no, but as she continued to tell her story, the person asked for her to hold for a minute. When he came back, the answer was yes. Stacy listened to the Spirit and as a result their electricity was not turned off. I told her this was one of those spiritual experiences she needed to record in her journal. 

James sat at the table this evening and made at least 20 calls asking for people to help clean the temple. We need approximately 20 people. Since this is fall break many people are out of town. He will need to make calls again tomorrow. Thank goodness he has not had laryngitis since his surgery.

 This is so adorable! She loves her

baby, a baby which is almost as big

as she is!

 Why? 

Monday, September 30th, 2019

Fort Collins, Colorado

153rd operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Oct 2016

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Glory of

JS-H: 1:17

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of the spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

Book of Mormon

Helaman 12:14-26

New Testament: Ephesians "For the Perfecting of the Saints"

Ephesians 1

General Conference

Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"Our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our homes, our families, and our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be our personal fortresses of protection surrounding us and shielding us from the power of the evil one. Of this I bear my solemn witness in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen."

Closing Remarks
President Russell M. Nelson
"I leave my love and blessing with you, assuring you that revelation continues in this, the Lord's Church. It will continue until 'the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.'"

Today is Dawn's birthday. I'm not sure how old she is, but I know she is a few years younger than I am. Dawn and I have been friends for over 50 years. We took guitar lessons together, and she was a wonderful example to my children as they were growing up. She has always been kind, patient, loving, and willing to serve others. She is talented like her mother. I remember when she and Carmen and Rebecca were teenagers, they made quilts for our kids. Dawn has a Phd in education and is a wise and patient teacher of children. She now teaches 7-8th grade at a Montessori school in Mesa.

Happy Birthday Dawn. I love you.

Dawn, Carmen and Rebecca after a day of skiing.
Skiing was on Dawn's bucket list.

Before going home Carmen, Rebecca, and
Dawn helped me clean the church.

We don't get to see Carmen very often so it's

always fun when she comes.

I read this quote in "Aunt Dimity's Christmas." 

"Too much comfort is as corrosive to the soul as too little."

I think most of us who live in the United States are in danger of having too much comfort and must be careful it doesn't destory us spiritually. 

Another quote from another book I am reading, "Rescuing Wayward Children":

"Children born in the lineage of Israel are placed there because of the role they will play in serving others. They were faithful and strong before this life marked for greatness here because of their former greatness. They were given the assignment to prepare the world for the Savior's Second Coming. Premortally they had 'conformed to the image of God's Son.' "(Romans 8:29)

James got up this morning and looked outside and said: "That wind is blowing something fierce." I told him I heard an elk close by. James calls, hears him, and leaves. 

Around 6 a.m. I got a text from Tamara,  who is out of town with her husband Jimmy, that there is a fire on Serviceberry Hill, and Jordyn, the only person at home in their family, was being evacuated. I looked outside and saw a small fire on the hill just above Cherry Moyers house where they had been burning brush. James said that this is Serviceberry Hill. I watched as the fire trucks came and eventually the flames were gone and all that was left was smoke. I texted Tamara who is in the valley and told her that her house was in no danger and that Jordyn should be able to return home soon, which she did. It's funny how we can go many days and nothing happens but the minute we leave home something like this happens. We laughed about it and felt grateful to the fire department that the fire was so quickly under control. 

I realized that I was not going to be able to attend my dear friend Analee's funeral later this week because we will be in the valley for my infusion and James's doctor's appointment. The family was asking for donations to pay the hospital bill rather than people sending flowers so James and I signed a card and we sent them a small check, expressing our love for Analee and for the family we know here in Vernon. 

My friend and Relief Society teacher, Diana Curtis, had hip replacement surgery last week. Kathy Crane and I are putting food together to take to Diana and her husband, Blain this evening. 

Kathy made sweet pork burros and had some Texas sheetcake which she put together in a bag. I told her I would make refried beans and a salad to take. I wanted to do more so I also made Zuppa Tuscana soup and some rolls. James and I delivered the food and visited for a few minutes with Diana and Blain who are our dear friends. It is a privilege to have such friends as the Curtis's.

On the way home we stopped at Tanna Conrad's house to give her a sympathy card. Tanna just lost her grandmother who had raised her and lived with her. We spoke with her a few minutes and when she said she wanted a service for her grandmother we gave her the Bishop's phone number and James contacted the bishop.

When we got home I heard our elk calling. James didn't answer this time. We went inside and after cleaning the kitchen we watched the new Ruby Herring mystery, starring Taylor Cole.

Sheri shared Ben's letter with us.

Serviceberry Hill

How do I keep this guy grounded?