Saturday, March 23rd, 2019

Rexburg, Idaho

125th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Feb 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Mark 14:61

But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

Book of Mormon

Jacob 5:35-48

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Luke 13

"The Blessings of Sacrifice"

M. Russell Ballard

General Conference

"The Correct Name of the Church"

President Russell M. Nelson

"My dear brothers and sisters, I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord's Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord."

We left for the temple this morning around 5:40. 

The Brimhall's did our training today and it was unique and interesting. President Brimhall explained what a investiture and an endowment is. He told a story of when he worked for the Benson Foundation and a farmer in Arizona wanted to donate 10 million dollars. This farmer laid out in detail how exactly he wanted this endowment to be set up and what the terms were. He likened this to the temple endowment and how our Heavenly Father covenants with us to do certain things contingent upon us obeying His commandments.
Oh and by the way, this farmer lived in a small three bedroom home and drove an old pickup truck. Brother Phelps, the name of the farmer, wanted the funds set up to help developing countries in the field of agriculture. I couldn't help but think of Brother Westbrook and his mission to Algeria. Perhaps he should have gone through the Benson Foundation. 

As we were entering Shumway Valley James pointed out to me three small bull elk grazing in a farmer's field. 

I had the opportunity to help in the baptistry and in initiatory several times today. Maybe someday I will have the initiatory endowment memorized.

I saw Anne Williams, President Williams's wife when I was in initiatory. I know how much she loves coming to the temple. I told her to say hello to President Williams for me. 

Other sisters I associated or worked with today: Sister DeWitt, Sisters Humphries, Fish, Turley, Wenhardt, and Reidhead. I love them all!

The Bowers' who are on a leave of absence from our shift came in today to do the sealings for relatives of Sister Bowers. She had a picture of the 11 daughters of this family. They were all beautiful!
I love the Bowers. Their daughter lives in Tyler, Texas and they are from the same town where Palmer's grandparents live. I think the town is Gilmore.

We had no cinnamon rolls left. James couldn't help but notice that the bunch of bananas laying next to the cinnamon rolls had not been touched.

This afternoon I worked on my blog, did some walking, and started preparing for the lesson I will be teaching tomorrow. The gospel certainly keeps us busy, and I love it! Oh yes, I had time for two Hallmark movies while I was walking and working on my blog. One of them was a brand new one!

A girl on the go with squeaky shoes

Love the girl and the saying, you go Kate!

Pam and Rick about 18 years ago

A great movie about rescue pet adoption and
a little romance!

She loves books and she loves her Dad!

I love hearts!

Monday, November 20th, 2017

Brisbane, Australia

115th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2003

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Atonement through

1 Timothy 2:6

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 2:17-29

What happens when the strength of the Lord is not with us and we are left unto ourselves as it says in verse 26? 

We may not recognize and appreciate how much Heavenly Father helps us in our daily lives as we try to live faithfully. Mormon wrote that when his people became wicked they lost the strength of the Lord that had previously protected them. While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Ray H. Wood explained: 

"When a person violates any of God's commandments, if  there is no repentance the Lord withdraws His protective and sustaining influence. When we lose power with God, we know of a certainty that the problem lies within us and not within God! I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise' (DC 82:10). Our misdeeds bring despair. They sadden and extinguish the 'perfect brightness of hope' offered by Christ (2 Ne. 31:20). Without God's help, we are left to ourselves" (Ensign, May 1999, 40-41). I am personally amazed and grateful to Mormon for his righteousness amidst such wickedness. It must have been difficult to stand as a witness of Christ against such odds!

I listened to Elder Bednar's book "One by One" while walking today. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone.

I got out my Thanksgiving recipes and planned the menu for our dinner. It will go something like this: Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sausage and herb stuffing, fresh green beans, Ruth Chris sweet potatoes casserole, cranberries with pineapple and nuts, rolls, and homemade apple pie with ice cream. Kim and Brian are bringing pumpkin delight and a pecan pie.

I made cookies this afternoon for the Wilhelm's and the Hunsaker's.

James went to the Wilhelm's FHE and talked about President Nelson's talk on the Book of Mormon and what our lives would be like without it. For our FHE we listened to Elder Bednar's talk "Exceeding Great and Precious Promises." Here are two phrases that I picked up while reading this talk: "Look to God and Live," and "We need to be Partakers of the Divine Nature."

Today's Christmas movies: "A Very Country Christmas," (Up)

"The Christmas Calendar," (UP) "The Tree that Saved Christmas," (UP). We also watched an episode of Heartland, "Ring of Fire."

It was night one of the DWTS finale. Emma and Drew were eliminated. The final three are Jordan and Lindsay, Mark and Lindsey, Witney and Frankie.

I got a call from Stacy today. I did not know that they broke her foot when they did the surgery and that is why it is taking so long to heal.

My hard working hubby.

A basket of puppies.

Our friends Pam and Ricky

Pam and her dad

Last years tree.

This year we are still waiting for the lights to be fixed.

Alex helped Rowan catch a fish

Switzerland

I wish we had some of that green

Thursday, November 2nd, 2017

Houston, Texas

97th operating temple

Dedicated: 26 Aug 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Ascension of

John 6:62

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 18:15-39

What do these verses teach us about the power of prayer?

Watch and pray always to overcome temptation. Pray in your families. Pray for others. Our relationship with Heavenly Father is imerative to our success. The Savior prayed all the time, every day. He sought God consistently, intently, and with sincere desire. Through prayer Christ learned, evolved, and was led to serve the greatest mission on earth. Prayer centered our Savior in every step of His life, even helping Him to overcome all temptation. Prayer was an integral part of the Atonement. He prayed for us and others and ask us to do the same. Our Savior knows what prayer can do. If Christ needed to pray always, and understood the power in it, how much more do we need to pray and follow His example. How can we make our prayers more meaningful? Pray to do His will. How can we be more sincere with our relationship with God? How can we utilize prayer more effectively like the Savior did "We should seek to emulate the Savior as much as we can." Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 1:21-23

21 That faith also might increase in the earth;

22 That mine everlasting covenant might be established;

23 That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.

General Conference

Three Sisters

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"We are responsible for our own discipleship, and it has little, if anything to do with the way others treat us."

I watched five Christmas movies today while I was catching up on my blog. These are the five: "When Angels Come to Town," "Sound of Christmas," "Annie Claus is Coming to Town," "Help for the Holidays," and "Mistletoe Over Manhattan."

I went into a baking frenzy this afternoon. My friend Pam and I were making a visit to Sister Carroll and I decided I wanted to take her family a treat. Oh yes, and James wanted me to make banana nut bread for Janelle and Paul. I made two loaves. James ate one and the other one we gave to Sister Peeler for her birthday. I made oatmeal scotchie cookies but then I remembered that I had stuff for rice crispy treats and that's what I ended up taking to the Carroll's.

Pam and I met around 4:30 at her house. This sign always makes me laugh:

This always makes me laugh.

The reason we are visiting Sister Carroll is because she seems overwhelmed. She is the mother of eight children and a little boy with autism. We wanted to do something just for her so she would feel pampered. The funny thing is Sister Carroll is my visiting teaching companion and we are supposed to visit Pam. I used to be frustrated but now that I know what she has on her plate I am a little more compassionate.

 This is the basket Pam made her:

Wow! Amazing!

Here is mine:

I decided to save my basket for another time.

Sister Carroll seemed very appreciative and I hope she knows that we want to be her friends.

After our visit I made a trip to Dollar General to get some chocolate chips. Our friend Kip H. brought James some sand and gravel for his patio work. When James asked him what he owed him he said: I put the sand and gravel on your account and all you owe me is some cookies. Tomorrow I will be baking chocolate chip cookies and more banana nut bread for Paul and Janelle who are leaving tomorrow. Janelle got her deer today.

She passed up lots of shots for this one.

Paul and Janelle are such nice people. Paul brings us venison every time he comes. He gave James $50 which he would not take back. He is a guide on the Rogue River in Oregon and told James he better come fishing next summer. James is planning a trip in August with Alex and hopefully James. He spoke to Alex on Tuesday and he seemed very excited. James is not answering his texts so he doesn't know if he will want to come. 

I cleaned the messy kitchen while James delivered a birthday present, stuff from the basket I didn't use and a loaf of banana nut bread, to Sister Peeler. 

When he returned we watched Heartland, "Glory Days."

Driving his CAT

Two kissing CATS

Debbie and Randy 

Randy is my cousin, the one we saw at

Panda Express on Monday.

2016

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Columbia, South Carolina,

62nd operating temple

2 Nephi 32:1-9

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost - Men must pray and gain knowledge for themselves from the Holy Ghost. About 559-545 B.C.

How do you feast upon the words of Christ?

Alma 32:13-33

Faith is a hope in that which is not seen which is true - Alma testifies that angels minister to men, women, and children - Alma compares the word unto a seed - It must be planted and nourished - Then it grows into a tree from which the frut of eternal life is picked. About 74 B.C.

DC 42:53-65

53-60, The scriptures govern the Church and are to be proclaimed to the world; 61-69, The site of the New Jerusalem and the mysteries of the kingdom will be revealed;

How can we always strive to be obedient so that we may always be ready for the Lord to teach us?

General Conference

Sharing the Restored Gospel

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"As Elder Ballard has taught, 'A most significant evidence of our conversion and of how we feel about the gospel in our own lives is our willingness to share it with others.'"

I had lunch with my friend Pam today at The House.  We both had chili.  We talked for quite awhile after we were finished eating.  Pan and her husband were active members of our ward but something happened and now they don't come anymore.  She told me a little bit of what happened and I am so very sorry.  I wanted to say: "Don't let someone else keep you from your eternal salvation."

I invited Pam and Rick to watch conference with us.  She needed to know that no one else would be there and I assured her that they wouldn't.

I went to Walmart to pickup my Methotrexate and to get an ice cream cone at McDonald's.  James had to call and have the prescription transferred from Chandler.  For some reason Dr. Caldron's office keeps sending it down there. 

 Peralta Trail in the Superstition Mountains

James is pretty much my hero.  In the past six months he has caught about 40 mice in our garage.  Since he has been setting traps out there we haven't had any mice in our house.  

I worked on my blog a couple of hours this afternoon and James loaded up his tractor on the trailer in preparation for going to the valley tomorrow.

Buckelieu Springs

I missed going to the Relief Society activity this evening.  Kathy Crane brought by the most wonderful banana cream dessert afterwards.  It was delicious but I am sure very caloric.  James went to the door in his pajamas because he looks better in his than I do in mine.  We were watching the Hallmark movie, "Call to Duty."  When James opened the door to let Kathy in, we began to realize how terrible today's prescribed burn was.  The house filled with a smoky smell.  Later when he went outside for something he came right back in because the smoke was so bad. It should be against the law to put people's health in danger.  Around here the slogan seems to be: "Save the Trees, Kill the People."

While Sheri was running up here, these two

were running in the valley.

Fun Photos:

 Erik's family in the

Valley of the Goblins in Utah

Looks like a fun place

This formation reminds me of a dinosaur.

Camping in a yurt.

The slides I ordered for the microscope

Quite bizarre

Tricia posted this

James in Greer last May

Ruby

I love the glow in the dark bow

Molly and her sparkler

Getting ready for fireworks