Sunday, July 30th, 2017

Logan, Utah

2nd operating temple

Dedicated: 17-19 May 1884

By: John Taylor

Rededicated: 13-15 March

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Alma 42:26-43:14

*How can we not become distracted by questions that do not need to be answered in this life and focus on repentance?

DC 106:1-8

1-3, Warren A. Cowdery is called as a local presiding officer; 4-5, The Second Coming will not overtake the children of light as a thief; 6-8, Great blessings follow faithful service in the Church.

vs. 6...Has there been a time when I felt there was joy in heaven because I made an eternal decision?

*Personally I believe when I feel joy, true joy, there is joy in heaven, and that happens when I bear my testimony, accept a call to serve, attend the temple, support my leaders, etc. In short, when I keep the commandments, repent often, and have a humble heart, I feel joy and heaven rejoices with me.

General Conference

And This Is Life Eternal

Elder C. Scott Grow

"In our home we wanted our children to learn to recognize the voice of the Spirit. We believe that happened as we studied the Book of Mormon each day as a family. Our testimonies were strengthened as we talked about sacred truths. Scripture study becomes the channel for the Spirit to give each of us a customized tutorial. As you study the scriptures each day, alone, and with your family, you will learn to recognize the voice of the Spirit and will come to know God."

That Our Light May Be a Standard for the Nations

Elder Benjamin De Hoyos

"The light that we are talking about comes from the devotion that we give to Sabbath day observance, in the Church as well as in the home; it is the light that grows as we keep ourselves unspotted from the world; it is the light that comes from offering up our sacraments on His holy day and from paying our devotions to the Most High - all of which enable us to always have His Spirit with us...

As we keep the Sabbath day holy and partake of the sacrament, we are not only cleansed, but our light also grows brighter."

My Primary lesson today was on Zion Camps march to Missouri. The purpose was to help the children learn that trials and tests of faith can strengthen us if we are faithful and obedient. I showed a video of Zions Camp and the kids really enjoyed it. I felt the Spirit the most when I talked about Curtis and Zemira. They did not get to bed until 2 a.m. because they stayed to clean up after Trenda's reception. Instead of sleeping in this morning the entire family was at Church. I talked about their family being faithful and obedient in coming to Church even though it would have been so easy to sleep in.

Those attending my class: Colter, Curtis, Liana, Gracie, Zemira, and Bailey. We were missing: Taylor, Cameron, Braxton, Jace, Wyatt, and Lej.

Elder Hansen, a red-headed missionary from Utah was the first speaker in sacrament meeting. He spoke on seeking a testimony of Jesus Christ. A testimony is a witness of what we believe. Elder Hansen said he struggled to know if he wanted to go on a mission. He prayed, fasted, and attended the temple. While reading in Ether about the brother of Jared he felt God's presence come into his life. It was at that moment he knew he wanted to serve a mission. He said that Christ is at the center of his testimony. He bore witness to the youth in the congregation of how you mission will impact every decision in your life. He said it is his, "holy ground."

Our stake patriarch, Roger Toronto was the concluding speaker. He talked about patriarchal blessings and how Heavenly Father delights in blessing His people. Patriarchal blessings are unique and special and like our own personal Liahona. Patriarchal blessings chart the way to our heavenly home. They work according to our faith. Adam blessed his posterity to bring them back into the presence of God. Jacob blessed Ephraim with the birthright blessing. Joseph Smith, Sr. was the first patriarch in this dispensation. You should use our patriarchal blessings to help guide our lives and give us direction.

Since today is a 5th Sunday the bishopric did the third hour teaching. The two counselors spoke to the youth and Bishop Miller spoke to the adults. 

Bishop talked about fasting and prayer and that sacrificing is giving up something we want for something the Lord wants.

We need to be mindful of the law of the fast in our lives in order to bless not only ourselves but others also. Hunger could be eliminated if everyone lived the law of the fast. 

He then moved on to speak of family history work. We are the link to the past and the future. "Just keep plugging away." Sister Rut Wallace has done over 30,000 ordinances for extended family members. Many of our ancestors are waiting. Make a sacrifice of time to go to the temple more often. Don't wait, just go.

The bishops last topic was the Vernon ward youth. All the girls in our ward have been asked to have sex, all of the youth have seen porn. Many of the youth feel hopeless regarding this matter. They must see you go to the temple and you must also take them to the temple. Get them to do family history. The comes a spiritual change of heart when we do temple and family history work. Pornography is no respecter of persons or callings. "I am as tempted as the next person." We have to step it up! Relationships come through a sacrifice of time. Overcoming addictions takes a support team. The law of the Gospel is the first two great commandments, loving the Lord and loving our fellowman. If we are critical of others we aren't living these two commandments. We need less criticism and more compliments. Be more gentle, please be kind to one another.

Wow! Such a powerful message from our Bishop. You can tell how much he loves the youth and how concerned he is for them. He was in tears. He ask us to please fast and pray for them.

We had leftovers for lunch and then went outside and read while it rained. Rain is such a beautiful thing!

This is how the rest of my day went. I colored my frog picture from my calendar, worked on my blog read, and fixed blt's for dinner.

We went to bed by 9 p.m.  It was a beautiful Sabbath day!

More photos:

This picture was taken yesterday at Marisa's

baby shower. These are all people I know and love,

from left to right: Tammy, Adrian, Christy, Sheri, Marisa, and

Courtney.

Vernon ward young women.

There is something about those mountains!

(The Alps)

Arizona Highways: 

San Francisco Peaks in the background.

I have always loved koala bears.

I also like cute animal pictures.

  

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Logan, Utah

2nd operating temple

Mosiah 18:17-30

Alma establishes the Church of Jesus Christ among the people.

President Henry B. Eyring said: "From the day of baptism through the spiritual milestones of our lives, we make promises with God and He makes promises with us.  He always keeps His promises offered through His authorized servants, but it is the crucial test of our lives to see if we will make and keep our covenants with Him."

* How does your baptismal covenant influence the way you live each day?

Talk: "The Covenant of Baptism"

By: Elder Robert D. Hales

Oct. 2000 General Conference

3 Nephi 13

Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's Prayer - They are to lay up treasures in heaven - The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things - Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34.

DC 63:24-36

Inheritances in Zion are to be purchased; The Lord decrees wars, and the wicked slay the wicked;

How is baptism a point of spiritual departure in our journey?

General Conference

Then Jesus Beholding Him, Loved Him

Elder S. Mark Palmer

"Anytime you feel you are being asked to do something hard, think of the Lord beholding you, loving you, and

inviting you to follow Him."

I loved listening to Elder Palmer's conference  talk this morning, and not just because he has such a great accent.  It was all about loving as the Savior loves.  Here are some of the things that I wrote in my study journal: 

"How can I be filled with Christlike love so others around me can feel it?"

"Because I love you I care what you become."

"See others as the Lord sees the and love them as He loves them."

"Hearts will not change when love is not present."

"Never withdraw love."

"Be humble, repent, sacrifice, and love to receive forgiveness and peace."

"Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth."

Big Lake

I also listened to a talk given by Elder Robert D. Hales in the October 2000 general conference on "The Covenant of Baptism."

Here are some notes from that talk:

"Pain is a purifier."

"Peace be unto thy soul."

"Teach and live, Thy will be done."

Elder Hales had a visitation of Heavenly Hosts during a recent illness.

"The importance of the Lord's timetable and enduring to the end."

"We need to be in the world but not of the world."

"Heed the Savior's admonition, follow thou me."

"We humble ourselves with a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

"We commit to always Remember Him."

"When we are baptized we are changed forever."

National Geographic post

Kacey had her custody court date regarding Tanner today.  I got a text from Jared on my way to town and this is what he said:

"Short story of what happened.  We came to a short term

temporary agreement out of court.  Tanner will stay with us until the end of the school year.  During the first two months of summer

we get the kids for 4 weeks and their dad gets them for 4 weeks.

Starting in August Tanner will go with his dad and summer with us with each kid going to the other parent one weekend a month.

There is a clause in the agreement that says dad's girlfriend

can't stay overnight when the kids are there.  If he violates

this that makes it much more likely that long term we can

keep Tanner.  This agreement was recommended by

our attorney and after looking at all the facts we feel good about it.

So Tanner is coming home with us for now."

James had a three hour doctor's appointment today.  They did all kinds of tests and gave him a breathing treatment.  I worry that he has been coughing up blood and having a hard time breathing.

I watched another John Larroquette movie today, this one was called, "Wedding Daze."  It is about a dad who has a triple wedding for his three daughters.  It was older, 2004, but I liked it.

I miss James, especially when it is time to go to bed.

Fun Photos:

Kelly, a young woman in our ward,

breaking her high jump record.

9.9 inches.  Go Kelly!

Sweet Addy

Mayfield's and Covert's at the

Snowflake temple.  The Covert's 

moved to Alpine.

Storm coming

2011

Look how cute they are!

Kid House

Michael and Alexis

Michael says: "My computer is bigger

than yours."

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Is this the Logan temple?

Helaman 4:1-17

Nephite dissenters and Lamanites join forces and take Zarahemla again! The Nephites defeats come because of their wickedness and being left to their own strength.   Why is it so important for us to remain worthy to have the Holy Ghost at all times?

Instagram-bofm365-kdeford1 - I need the peace that comes from living worthy to have the Holy Ghost with me.  There is happiness, freedom and peace from just living the commandments - from not being physically enslaved to poor choices.  There is an actual physical comfort that I feel when the Holy Ghost is with me.  (I totally agree!)

GC: 'Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins' by  Elder Bednar

"The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated

invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually.

The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself,

does not remit sins.  But as we prepare conscientiously

and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart

and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us.  And by the

sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant

companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins."

GC: 'Family Councils by Elder M. Russell Ballard

". . ., there was a time when the walls of our homes provided all the defense we needed against outside intrusions and influences. . . . Those days are now gone.  The physical walls, door, fences,

and gates of our homes cannot prevent unseen invasion 

from the Internet, mobile phones, satellite and cable.

They can penetrate our homes with just a few 

clicks and keystrokes."

This. Is. Me.

I read several good articles from the Ensign today.  One that I particularly liked was by Elder Brent H. Nielsen of the Seventy entitled: 'Can We Live "after the Manner of Happiness"'?  Elder Nielsen says we need to embrace our trials and move forward with faith.  I really needed to hear this right now.

James got sick after lunch today.  Maybe the Beanie Weanies we ate were bad.  Of course it also could have been from breathing

concrete dust.

Resetting stone in our front porch.

We read from our new book "Millennial Glory."  James really likes it but I am a little bored with it.  I am getting more enjoyment out of reading book 3 in the Fablehaven series: 

I can't believe I'm reading this 

and enjoying it.

While working at my computer, paying bills, etc., I turned on Dancing With the Stars again.  I really shouldn't like this show, but

I do.

Five of the six pros are LDS but I think only

two or three are active.

I keep losing my crowns and it is driving me crazy!  This Dentemp is not working very well.  I guess maybe I need to go on a liquid diet.

I finished reading the book "The Seven Miracles that Saved America."  It was a great history book!

I always love it when friends and family post things on Facebook or Instagram.  Here are some things I saw today:

Friends even though they wear different uniforms.

Friends McKell and Christopher had their first baby today.  Christopher's dad wrote this:

A reminder from September 2013:

Yellow daisies everywhere!

A beautiful desert sunset.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Logan temple

This is so true!

Alma 36:1-24

(National Covenant) 

1 - . . . inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land.

2 - Remember the captivity of our fathers, for none could deliver them except the Lord.  He did deliver them in their afflictions.

3 - Helaman, my son, her my words and learn of me.  I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, their troubles, and afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

4 - I know these things because of God.

5 - I know these things because I have been born of God.

6 - I was seeking to destroy the Church of God with the sons of Mosiah until God sent His holy angel to stop us.

7 - He spoke with the voice of thunder and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet.  We all fell to the earth for the fear of the Lord came upon us.

8 - The voice said unto me arise.  I arose and saw the angel.

9 - He told us to quit seeking to destroy the Church of God.

10 - I fell to the earth and for 3 days and 3 nights I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs.

11 - The angel spake more things to my brethren, but I did not hear them.  
12 - I was racked with eternal torment for all my sins.
13 - I was tormented with the pains of hell for all my sins and iniquities.  I had rebelled against God and not kept His commandments.
14 - I had led many of His children away into destruction.  The very thought of seeing God did rack my soul with horror.
15 - I wanted to be banished and become extinct both soul and body that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God to be judged of my deeds.
16 - For 3 days and nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.

GC: "Choices" by President Thomas S. Monson.

James and I took one of the elders assigned here in Vernon, Elder Rosenbalm, to the Scottsdale Mission Home.  His mission isn't over until next Monday, but he has a doctor's appointment this week.

Elder Rosenbalm in the front, Elder Goodenough behind him.

Elder Rosenbalm slept most of the way to Payson while I read to James from The Washington Hypothesis.  He woke up enough to hear some so we told him about Tim Ballard.

We stopped in Payson at Denny's for breakfast.  Our next stop was in Scottsdale to drop Elder Rosenbalm off at an apartment with some other elders, across from the mission home.  Goodbye and good luck.  He is flying to London next week to see his family.  They will then go to France and on to Kuwait where his family is living.  After a week in each of these places Elder Rosenbalm will fly back to the states to attend BYU.

When we arrived at Cathi and Terry's Cathi was at home.  Terry has been in the hospital this week having treatments done for his ulcers. Cathi brought him home today.  James was going to go visit George Wallace but when he called he was being released and was on his way home.  So, no hospital visits today.

When Cathi left to go get Terry she told the dogs, "Stay with aunt Karen."  Lady was very obedient and never left my side.

My little friend.

James took me to lunch at Jersey Mike's before leaving to work at Lindsay Smith's.  He is making and putting up decorative shelves for her.

Nice

I called James's mother, Lois, and talked with her quite awhile on the phone today.  Dawn and Rebecca are visiting Gail in Oregon and she is home alone.  She said she doesn't mind being alone, in fact she rather enjoys it.  She talked about regrets she had with her kids when they were growing up and never being able to attend their school functions, etc., because of work.  I told her I was sure they understood and knew she had done the best she could.  She really is a sweet person and so very talented and level-headed.  I am so grateful to have her in my life.

When Terry got home from the hospital he looked as good as new and said he felt great.  I am sure they will be back at the Records Operation Center by tomorrow.  

James got home, took a shower and crashed on the bed complaining that his back hurt.  I took the car and went to see my friend Charlotte Mattice.  Her Relief Society president, Melanie Patton was there helping her sort and organize papers.  I helped and told her I would be back tomorrow with James.  He is going to help her with some financial issues she has.

Facebook finds:

This is so true!

This is true too!

Saturday, August 15, 2015

The Logan Utah temple.

Logan is where our friend E.J. (Edward) Castillo is serving his mission.

I am still feeling pretty miserable because of my cold and cough.  I also have no energy. 

James went to work this morning and then picked up my folic acid for me.

This afternoon he went to Raelynn's temple sealing to her parents, Patrick and Heather Lambson. 

Patrick, Heather, Raelynn, and

Raelynn's birth mother.

I wanted to go but because I had a bad cough I was afraid I might interrupt the sealing.  James said the sealing was performed by our dear friend and first Chandler bishop, D.Lynn Jones.  Kim, Brian, Sheri, and Trina were also at the sealing.  Sheri and Trina also went to the blessing and luncheon afterwards.

Shortly after James returned from the sealing we packed up and headed to Vernon.  We read from "The Apothecary's Daughter" and of course we stopped at Burger House. 

It was after dark when we entered Salt River Canyon which is always a little scary.  As we were coming up out of the canyon, I was reading, when James hit a big rock in the road.  The rock ruined our front driver's side tire and wheel.  We finally found a place to pull off the road so James could put the spare on.  I tried to provide light with the flashlight app on my phone until a highway patrol man came along with his big flashlight.  We were most grateful for his help.

The highway patrol man also shined his vehicle lights to

help James see.  Once James was finished we were on our way again, only this time with no spare.  It was wonderfully cool when we arrived in Vernon.