Sunday, June 3rd, 2018

Sapporo, Japan

151st operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Aug 2016

By: Russell M. Nelson

Jesus Christ, Condescension of

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Book of Mormon

Alma 10:17-32
*How can money be a motive to distort ones view about the laws and commandments of God?
Talk: Them That Honour Me I Will Honour
By: James E. Faust
April 2001
Old Testament
1 Kings 15-16
15 Abijam reigns in wickedness and then Asa reigns in righteousness in Judah - Nadab and then Baasha reign in wickedness in Israel - Baasha destroys the house of Jeroboam.
16 Jehu prophesies evil upon Baasha and his house - Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab reign in wickedness - Zimri destroys the house of Baasha - Ahab marries Jezebel, worships Baal, and provokes the Lord in anger.
General Conference

Even As Christ Forgives You, So Also Do Ye

Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk

" The Savior taught: 'For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 'But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.'

We can all receive unspeakable peace and partnering with our Savior as we learn to freely forgive those who have trespassed against us. This partnering brings the Savior's power into our lives in an unmistakable and never-to-be-forgotten way."

I lost 1.2 lbs. this week. Yea! James lost exactly the same as I did, which means he is  still ahead in the weight loss part of the contest. 

Only two more weeks to go!

I blogged this morning and had scriptures and prayers with James. We have to be checked out of our room by 10 am. James carried everything downstairs except my purse and one bag. He is such a champ!

As I began getting ready for church this morning I realized that I did not bring a Sunday outfit. I did bring my Sunday shoes and a day dress so I made the day dress do, with one of my blouses as a jacket. I am just glad that I am going to a ward where no one knows me except Darrel and Trina. 

We attended the Everton ward in the Eastmark Stake with Darrel's family. We sat in the back and Darrel's family joined us. During the sacrament Lola came over and sat on my lap and asked me to read, "Are You My Mother?" I remember this book from when our kids were little. Lola takes the book when I am finished and reads it back to me. I really do think she is ready to start learning to read. I must get busy with my program!

One of the sisters who bore her testimony said that her aunt told her of a time they were meeting in the tri-stake center and they were fasting for rain. During their fast and testimony meeting they heard thunder and when they went out after the meeting it was raining.

That didn't happen to us today, although it is raining in Roswell, New Mexico today.

We stayed for Sunday School. Darrel had to go home to fix the kitchen faucet. We sat by a couple that used to live in Eagar. Their last name was Sitten.

Brother Foster, the Gospel Doctrine teacher, taught lesson #19 about the beginning of the reign of the judges. It is the same lesson taught in our ward by Brother Smith last week. I got something out of the lesson that I want to share with the family this week. Here is the illustration:

The rising generation did not accept the

teachings of their fathers. To keep that from 

happening today we must anchor them to these

four things when they are young.

We left after Sunday School because James was afraid that Darrel might need him and he left his phone here at the church. 

When we got to the house no one was there. Darrel came in a few minutes after we did. I guess someone caught him in the hallway and asked him to come into Ruby's class. There has to be two teachers in all the classes now. 

James and I broke our fast and I immediately had a chocolate chip cookie, a scotch krispy, and some of the cake from last night. Wow, it doesn't take long for 1000 calories to add up. I had sugar overload and had to eat some carrots to cut the sweetness.

James had to help Darrel a little with the faucet but Darrel did most of it. By the time Trina and the kids got home the new faucet was in and working. 

Trina had chicken in the crockpot and invited us to stay and eat with them, which we did. Chicken tacos with flour tortillas, avocados, tomato, cheese and hot sauce. Yummy!

We left for home around 3:30. Trina and Darrel were not happy that James was driving right after taking some Tramadol. Trina said if he got in an accident he could be arrested and put in jail. Yikes!

We arrived home around 6:30 and spent most of the rest of the evening unpacking and putting things away. We did stop to watch the youth fireside featuring President Nelson and his wife Wendy. 

President Nelson asked the youth to do five things to be a part of the youth batallion that will help with the gathering of Israel:

Sunday, July 16th, 2017

Tokyo, Japan

18th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1980

Spencer W. Kimball

Alma 33:12-23

*What can the account of the Israelites and the brass serpent teach about what we must do to be healed spiritually?

*How does Alma 33:22-23 answer this question?

*How has your choice to believe in the Savior influenced your everyday life?

*How has personal scripture study, prayer, and worship strengthened your faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

*Belief in Jesus Christ is a choice we make. Alma 33:23 says: "And even all this can ye do if ye will."

*President Henry B. Eyring: "Each child in each generation chooses faith or disbelief. Faith is not an inheritance; it is a choice."

DC 101:75-101

76-80, The Lord established the Constitution of the United States; 81-101, The Saints are to importune for the redress of grievances, according to the parable of the woman and the unjust judge.

How does the constitution benefit all men?

*In verses 77-80, the Lord repeatedly reminds us Who set up this constitution! He refers to Himself and then lets us know why He set it up. "That every man may act in doctrine and principle...according to the moral agency which I have given unto him" "...that every man may be accountable for his own sins..." (78). He prepared this land. He brought the explorers here to discover it! He set up, with a divine hand, the constitution. He carefully worded it so that all men who set foot on this soil could  "act in doctrine" and be "accountable" for themselves. Agency is important to the Lord. It is what the war in heaven was all about. Acting and not being acted upon is crucial for us to learn. How blessed we are to have this land. The history of the setting up of the constitution is replete with sacrifice of lives and inspired acts of giving their all. May we always be grateful and show gratitude to Him by using our agency to find Him in our daily worship and our everyday living.

General Conference

Return and Receive

Elder M. Russell Ballard

" To return to is presence and to receive the eternal blessings that come from making and keeping covenants are the most important goals we can set. We return and receive by having 'unshaken faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, relying wholly upon' His merits, pressing 'forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men and women..., feasting upon the word of Christ and enduring to the end.'"

We attended the Galveston 3rd ward sacrament meeting this morning. We sat in the second row with Sheri and her boys.

April St. Onge was the youth speaker and Lynda and Ernie Cull were the main speakers. They all did a great job. I went up and spoke with Lynda afterwards. She says she has been working on getting her YW's Personal Progress and every time she does a value she reads the Book of Mormon cover to cover. I was her visiting teacher when she and Ernie got married around 20 years ago.

We also attended the Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class taught by Gerry P. (I was her visiting teacher when we lived here in 2015). We sat by Cathi and Terry. We participated by reading some assigned parts. The lesson was on the Kirtland missionaries. 

I went to the first part of Relief Society. Hillary J. came over and sat by Cathi and I. I was only there a few minutes when Sheri came and pulled me out for Max's ordination.

Max was ordained in the teacher's quorum. Brother Allen, and Brother Ellsworth were there along with James and Ben and the other boys in the teacher's quorum. Sheri, Evan and I were also there. Grandpa James did a great job with the ordination although there were times when I couldn't hear him.

After the ordination we didn't go back to our meetings. We went home a little early and had a snack and then took a nap. 

Around 3:30 or so we went down to Sheri and Ian's for dinner. It was Sheri's way of say thank you to dad for ordaining Max.

Sheri had a feast prepared: steak, salmon, shrimp, rice, potatoes, veggies, brownies and grape juice, and DP10, some of James's favorites! (And mine too!) Everything was delicious!

We packed up and left for home around 4:30. We got in to a very heavy rainstorm where it was almost impossible to see. Some people stopped along the side of the road. When we arrive home it looks like it has rained in Vernon. It is 64 degrees and you can smell the wet pine trees when we stop at the post office to pick up our mail. It is great to be home! 

We unload and unpack and watch an episode of "The Good Witch."

Kacey and Jared had a flood in their new home in the laundry room, but I guess it was too bad. Kacey sent this picture:

Jared the elf.

Other Random Photos:

Since we didn't get any pictures of Max and

Gpa James today I am posting pictures that have Max in them.

A couple of years ago at Darrel's and Trina's.

Kids around the table eating smores.

2016 1st day of school

Not sure what year this is but it looks like

another school picture.

2016 Greens Peak

2016

Love the hats!

Greer

This is where they like to sleep.

1/23/17

Happy Birthday Gpa!

Max and his snowman

January 2016

Game time. It looks like poker.

Ice skating with family.

Fun with Shayna

So handsome!

2016

Sunday, July 2nd, 2017

Sapporo, Japan

151st operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Aug 2016 by

Russell M. Nelson

Alma 26:1-16

*How is it a blessing to be an instrument in the hands of God?

DC 96:1-9

1, The Kirtland Stake of Zion is to be made strong; 2-5, The bishop is to divide the inheritances for the Saints; 6-9, John Johnson is to be a member of the united order.

How can we make our home (stake) strong?

*As I read these scriptures I saw such words as Order, Prayer, wisdom, and keep my commandments...

We have an obligation to "bring forth my word" (vs-4,5) for the purpose of subduing the hearts of the children of men for your good." Good homes produce good people, who in turn produce good works and bless the Church and its members. 

Doing things that invite the Spirit will help us do the most important work of all. We also must assist the Lord in bringing forth His word. (8)

General Conference

The Beauty of Holiness

Carol F. McConkie

"Our Father in Heaven knows us. He loves us, and He has provided for us all that is required so that we can become holy as He is holy. Our hope for holiness is centered in Christ, in His mercy and His grace. With faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we may become clean, without spot, when we deny ourselves of ungodliness and sincerely repent. We are baptized by water for the remission of sins. Our souls are sanctified when we receive the Holy Ghost with open hearts. Weekly, we partake of the ordinance of the sacrament. In a spirit of repentance, wit sincere desires for righteousness, we covenant that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ, remember Him, and keep His commandments so that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.

Over time, as we continually strive to become one with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, we become partakers of Their divine nature. Most often it is the sacrifices we make to keep our covenants that sanctify us and make us holy."

We thought maybe we had a bat because we had seen evidence upstairs. James found him laying on the family room floor this morning and took him outside. Emmy and Molly thought he was so cool and Emmy took this picture.

It creeps me out to think that this critter was flying around my house. Later today Kacey mentioned that she thought a bird

was flying around in their room last night. I told her I didn't think it was a bird but I didn't think it would bother her tonight.

Today was our fast and testimony meeting. James and I are fasting for rain. I bore my testimony and bore my testimony of modern-day apostles and prophets. I also mentioned adding studying about the Savior's life to my scripture study because of President Nelson's talk. I enjoyed Bishop Millers, Brother Price's, and Brother Westbrook's testimonies. We had so many guests today that sacrament meeting was filled to the back of the second overflow.  

I had fifteen kids in my tiny Primary classroom. Sister Kuffer asked me to teach her class and there were lots of visitors.

Ashten and Kacey ducking their heads.

Couldn't get them all in one picture.

Molly made a friend in Primary today. He was a visitor and is four years old.

I can't remember his name, but 

I bet Molly does.

Back at home we fixed breakfast for lunch. James helped me by cooking the eggs.  It was quite delicious. I even had some cinnamon rolls for everyone.

Family time around the dining room table.

After lunch I took a nap. After my nap I got a call from Nadine Singleton. Two of her grandchildren who were visitors in my class today finished their homework papers and earned fidget spinners. Caden took the fast camoflage one and his sister Raylynn took my personal favorite, the purple. 

For dinner this evening we had burgers, steaks, beans, and corn-on-the cob.  Afterwards Jared and Kacey took their kids to Greenspeak. Some rode in the van and others rode on the Razr.

 Guess where these five rode.

Such a cute face!

We had FHE and scriptures together this evening. James told the story of how he was saved from the fire as a baby. 

I made popcorn and M&M's.

Emmy, Kacey, and Jared played Life. Molly watched The Incredibles. Earlier in the day Anna and Summer watched "The Help."  It was a good day.

Photos:

Christina and her baby Winter.

Winter was blessed today.

Cute little family.

I remember those days.

Congratulations!