Friday, May 25th, 2018

 Gilbert, Arizona

142nd operating temple

Dedicated: 2 March 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Birth of

DC 20:1

The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April-

Book of Mormon

Alma 5:43-52

*How did Alma receive his knowledge of the gospel?

- verse 46 - By the Holy Spirit of God. I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by His Holy Spirit, and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

Old Testament

2 Samuel 23-24

23 David speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost - Rulers must be just, ruling in the fear of God - David's mighty men are named and their deeds extolled.

24 David sins in numbering Israel and Judah - The men of war total 1,300,000 - The Lord destroys 70,000 men by pestilence - David sees an angel, offers sacrifice, and the plague is stayed.

General Conference

Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit

"Who hath made man's mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord?

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say" (Exodus 4:11-12; see also verse 10).

  

Russel M. Nelson 4/09 #53. Lessons from the Lord's Prayer

" Our prayers follow patterns and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. He taught us how to pray."

Dale G. Renlund The Melchizedek Priesthood, Chapter 17, Principle #9 - A Priesthood Holder Fulfills His Duty

I invited Chelsea M. and Laurann over this morning for a tour of our house. Chelsea said she wanted to come the last time we visited her and Laurann is my companion so I invited her. Laurann didn't come because her husband, Charlie wanted to go to the lake instead. Chelsea came by herself. Her nieces Gracie and Bailey and babysitting her little girl Peyton. 

I gave Chelsea the grand tour. She has lived in Alaska and has always wanted a log home. She loved ours. James told her about climbing up to put the logs in and how no one else would do it.

When Chelsea got ready to leave I gave her a dozen chocolate chip muffins to give to the kids. Later she thanked me for the delicious muffins and the tour of our beautiful home.

I started some rolls to take to the temple tomorrow for potluck and James went to see Brother Howard. James offered to give Brother Howard his tractor and Cat and Brother Howard said no, he didn't want anything. He said it was an accident and didn't expect James to pay for it. James couldn't accept that. Brother Howard finally said that he would accept using the tractor and Cat but he would not take ownership. James was so grateful that he stopped on the way home and sent him a text. We are grateful to have such a wonderful friend.

This evening we were invited to have dinner with the Woods' and the missionaries. The Woods' are a retired couple about our age. As I was getting ready I realized that my curling iron was not working. After dinner I mentioned it to Pam and she insisted that I take hers home with me, which I did.

We had a healthy, delicious dinner. Salad, grilled chicken, broccoli, and corn. For dessert there was fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Pam and I did not have any dessert. Elder Macy and Elder Smith were the missionaries. They shared a message about family history and encouraged the Woods' to do their family history. I told James on the way home that he should offer to help them since he was/is their home teacher and also a family history consultant.

After the elders left we sat on the porch and talked for awhile. It was such a nice evening but we had to leave quite early because we have to leave for the temple in the morning at 5:30.

Back at home I finished walking and worked on my blog before going to bed.

We are a happy family...a least for awhile.

Me, as a baby.

High School

Honeymoon in Hawaii

 James in high school

College wrestling at ASU

Hawaii on our honeymoon

I had these photos on my phone in preparation for
our anniversary party on June 2nd.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Jordan River temple,

20th operating temple

(Now being renovated)

Mosiah 9:14-10:22

The Lamanites attempt to bring Zeniff's people into bondage.

* What similarities and differences do you see between how Zeniff's people and the Lamanites approached their battles?

* What truths can we learn from this comparison?

* Why did the Lamanites hate the Nephites so intensely?

* Whom does it hurt when we are angry or refuse to forgive?

* How can a person's anger affect his or her family, now and in the future?

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy said: "If you feel you have been wronger - by anyone (a family member, a friend, another member of the Church, a Church leader, a business associate) or by anything (the death of a loved one, health problems, a financial reversal, abuse, addictions) - deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have...And, without delay, turn to the Lord.  Exercise all of the faith you have in Him.  Let Him share your burden.  Allow His grace to lighten your load... Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually" ("turn to the Lord," Ensign, May 2010, 80).

Helaman 15-16

15 The Lord chastened the Nephites because He loved them - Converted Lamanites are firm and steadfast in the faith - The Lord will be merciful unto the Lamanites in the latter days. About 6 B.C.

16 The Nephites who believe Samuel are baptized by Nephi - Samuel cannot be slain with the arrows and stones of the unrepentant Nephites - Some harden their hearts, and others see angels - The unbelievers say it is not reasonable to believe in Christ and His coming in Jerusalem. About 6-1 B.C.

DC 58:34-43

To repent, men must confess and forsake their sins;

* What verse stood out to me today?  

- 42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

- 43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins - behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

General Conference

Called to the Work

Elder David A. Bednar

"An assignment to labor in a specific place is essential and important but secondary to a call to the work."

Prepare the Way

Bishop Gerald Causse

"Even though they are vested with different missions and

authority, the Aaronic Priesthood and the 

Melchizedek Priesthood are inseparable partners

in the work of salvation."

James left to go on a Razr ride this morning at 7:15.  I encouraged him to go and to have a little fun thinking he would be back in an hour or so.  I soon realized that he broke two of our rules.  First, he did not take his phone, and second, he left in such a hurry that he failed to tell me where he was going.  When he wasn't back by 9 a.m. I said a prayer and decided I needed to go out looking for him.  I wasn't sure which way he would go so I headed up forest road 404 and made the loop turning down Christmas Tree Trail and then back down the 61.  The only animal I saw was a turkey.  This is a 30 mile loop and it took me an hour.  I got back home at 10 a.m., and there was still no James.  Now I was really worried.  I texted the kids and told them to say a prayer that I would be able to find dad.  On my way out I called my neighbor Kathy and as I was talking to her on the phone, James came zipping up the road from the direction of Chocolate Lake.  I was so relieved that I couldn't even get mad at him.  Of course I had to remind him of the two rules he had broken.  If something would have happened to him I would have never found him because he went up Mount Montoso looking for elk antlers.  Someone closed a gate on him and he had to take a round about way home, which is why it took him so long.

When I am stressed or nervous I eat.  I did plenty of eating today.

James was gone again this afternoon from 2:30-4:30 visiting Anthony with his home teaching companion Dave.  We were able to watch this weeks episode of "When Calls the Heart."  Afterwards James left to have FHE with the Wilhelm's.  The lesson was on missionary work and James's companion Dave told about his mission to Scotland.  

James is going to be gone for the next couple of days to the valley so I would have liked to spent more time with him today but I am grateful to have a husband who fulfills his priesthood assignments.

I was able to spend three hours working on my talk for Saturday on receiving personal revelation.  I also watched Dancing with the Stars Disney Night.

My favorites from tonight: Rashad and Emma, Normani and Val, and Simone and Sasha.

Fun Photos:

Congratulations to one of my young women,

Makenzi who went to the temple and got

engaged all in the same night.

The Reidhead's,

one of the cute families in our ward.

They met are their missions.

Another one of my young women, Shelly,

turned 19 today.  Here she is with her

cousin Ruthie.

It's always fun to go for ice cream,

except it does get a little cold.

Christmas with the Gonzo boys, minus

Joshua,  a few years ago.

Such a cute picture!

Anna and her new friend

First day of school.

The first time we met Kacey,

last July.

Snowflake temple

We look old.

Temple trip with the young women.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Hong Kong, China

48th operating temple

Mosiah 5:5-15

* How do you think making and keeping covenants helps us continue in the process of experiencing a change of heart?

* What name did King Benjamin give his people?

* When do we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ?

James: "When we are baptized and strive to keep the commandments."

Kacey: "I don't always get to read all the responses or add my thought but tonight I have a quick minute so I'll share.  Today's question made me think of a talk by Sister Bonnie D. Parking that I read a while back.  She said, ' Making covenants is the expression of a willing heart; keeping covenants, the expression of a faithful heart...The spiritual integrity to keep our covenants comes from consistency in scripture study, prayer, service, and sacrifice.'

Consistency in doing these things is the process that changes our hearts.  It strengthens our faith and helps us to be armed with the power and protection promised to us as we keep keeping our covenants.  I'm certainly grateful for this knowledge, especially while in the trenches of sore trials." 

Helaman 8

Corrupt judges seek to incite the people against Nephi - Abraham, Moses, Zenos, Zenock, Ezias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lehi, and Hephi all testified of Christ - By inspiration Nephi announces the murder of the chief judge. About 23-21 B.C.

DC 56:11-20

Seek wisdom, cry repentance, trust in the Spirit; Keep the commandments, and study the Lord's word;

Why does the Lord want us to be self-reliant?

General Conference

Songs Sung and Unsung

Jeffrey R. Holland

"I plead with each one of us to stay permanently

and faithfully in the choir."

James and I left for the valley a little after 8 a.m.  I had wanted to leave at noon and James had wanted to leave at 4 a.m., so we compromised.  He is anxious to get down and see how is job is going.  I read a couple of chapters from our new book, the Innkeeper of Ivy Hill and slept.  Soon we were in Miami and picked up our order of burros.  There is nothing quite like a fresh green chili burro from Burger House.  Divine!

We went by to check on the job and nothing has been done since James left.  He was a little upset.  When we arrived at Cathi and Terry's they were gone to the R.O.C.  We made ourselves at home and I finished my gospel study, and then took a nap.  A long one.

Here is what I found out about the Second Coming in the enrichment section of the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual:

"The Savior's Four Appearances

1.  His first appearance will be at the city of the New Jerusalem.  The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple." (DC 133:2.)

2.  Next will be the appearance at Adam-Ondi-Ahman to a solemn assembly to those who have held priesthood keys and others who are specially invited.

3.  The appearance at the Mount of Olives to the Jews while they are beseiged by many nations.  At the close of Armageddon, the Jews will flee for safety to the Mount of Olives.  There the Savior will make His appearance.

4.  The Second Coming: The appearance to the whole world.  Joseph Smith said: "Then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven.  The world will say it is a planet or comet.  But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east. (Teachings, p. 287.)

Following the sign there will be silence in heaven for the space of half as hour, and immediately after shall the curtain of heaven be unfolded" and the Lord will make His glorious appearance. (DC 88:95.)  

So great will be the glory and power of His coming that the earth will tremble, the sun shall hide it's face in shame, the mountains will melt and flow down, and the waters of the sea will boil (see DC 133:40-42, 49; 101:25.)  All that is corruptible shall be consumed and destroyed by the brightness of His glorious presence (see DC 5:19; 101:24-24.)  The Lord will wear red apparel, signifying His great sacrifice and also His judgments upon the wicked (DC 133:48-51.)

The Lord's people will receive the reward for their faithfulness and endurance (see DC 54:10; 133:52-53.)  Both the righteous living and the celestial dead will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air to be rewarded according to their deeds while the wicked are destroyed and cast into outer darkness (see DC 88:96-97; 101:89-91.)  This will be the "great and dreadful day of the Lord." (DC 110:14-16.)

This water will be boiling when the

Savior comes.

Up from my nap to go shopping to find the items to make these cute little bunnies for our party on Saturday.

I found the Safe-T-Pops at Sweetie's.  I bought a box of 100. The ribbon and pom pom's for the tails were at Walmart.  The only difference is my tails will be different colors because they did not have a bag of just white pom poms.  I did not want to go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby this evening.  I also made a stop at Carl's Jr. for the Santa Fe chicken sandwiches which have chicken, green chili, and cheese.  I took one home for James too.

Spent the evening reading and working on my blog.

Fun Photos:

 Trina posted this picture of Ruby today,

with every other tooth missing.

She is still beautiful!

Last year on his birthday Dallin came

for a visit.  He likes this sign right

outside of Vernon.

First day of school 

Ruby and her baby sister

Joshua loves Lola and it looks

like the feeling is mutual.

My girl Trenda

My favorite picture of "us"

Friday, February 17, 2017

Boise, Idaho temple

2 Nephi 9:15-30

What is the difference between the knowledge in verse 28 compared to verse 29:  How do we insure our knowledge is godly?

Mosiah 22-23

DC 26-27:18 - Who is Raphael?  (It has not been revealed.)

What would your feelings be as you partook of the sacrament with the Savior being present?

GC:  'That He May Become Strong Also' by President Henry B. Eyring

"By the Prophets delegation every man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood can be endowed with authority and the privilege of speaking and acting in the name of the Almighty.

There is infinity to that power.  It is concerned with life and death, with family and the Church, with the great nature of God Himself and His eternal work."

I woke up at 3am thinking a black football player had tapped me on the shoulder.  He wanted my place in bed.  I got up and went to the bathroom.  I got back in bed since the black man had apparently left.  (Why do I have these things happen when other people have spiritual experiences with their dreams?)  James's machine was too loud so I went to sleep in my recliner until 4:45.

The first thing I read when I got up was chapter nine of "The Contrite Spirit."  Here are some notes I took: 

"We are endowed with Christlike capacities of godliness."

"What does it mean that Christ might seal us His?"

-The promise pertains to the temple.

-The temple is a house of love.

According to James, because I never count if there are more than 5-6, we had 110 elk in our yard this morning.

It snowed a little today but didn't really stick.  James got his truck stuck trying to take his trailer up on the hill.  We have got to get some cinders or granite to put on that road.  It will probably will cost over $1,000. 

Speaking of James's truck, here is a time he locked his keys inside and was trying to pry open the door.

 This was at Cathi and Terry's

Michael had a track meet in Flagstaff tonight.  His family went to support him and on they way home they stopped at a diner for biscuits and gravy.  Stacy said they were delicious.  I wonder if they were as good as James's.

James and I read from our book and watched an Amish movie called "Uncommon Grace."  I admire most of the Amish people but sometimes they are just a little too strict and clannish.

 Historical fiction

Fun Photos:

Two years ago.

About 50 years ago

The Case clan

Dallin singing on the rim.

James's home teaching companion.

He is 70 years old now.

My sweetheart.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

I went to visit my friend Karen Schneider today.  She moved out to south Gilbert, and had a beautiful view of the San Tan Mountain.

She moved from a beautiful T.W. Lewis home here in Chandler to another T.W. Lewis home in Gilbert.  This one is smaller, but Karen wanted to downsize.

Honestly, I felt like I was in a model home, except for this little bit of family history.

A picture of Karen and her china, along with her

mother and grandmother and their china.

The kitchen is huge and I am afraid the pictures I have

don't let you see how beautiful it is.

 

A huge island in the middle of the kitchen.

Family room which a huge window looking

outside onto the backyard.

My friend Karen. 

From the gazebo they have a nice view of the

Santan Mountain.

Firepit

 

A beautifully landscaped backyard that pretty

much takes care of itself.

For lunch we went to this local favorite of Karen and Lance's:





 We both had the chicken apple

walnut salad.  For my side I had the soup of the day, which was

white chicken chili.  The real hit of the day for us was Karen's side:

The  three cheese veggie flatbread with basil pesto, and mozzarella cheese topped with sautéed asparagus, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, spinach, roasted tomatoes and Havarti dill cheese, finished with Parmesan cheese.  Karen shared some with me and it was so delicious!

After lunch Karen showed me around one of the local home accessory boutiques before I took her back home.  I had such a great time!

 

This afternoon and evening it was back to paying bills and helping James with taxes.