OUR FAMILY: President Shumway

Porto Alegre, Brazil

102nd operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Dec 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

What should I pray for?

Bible Dictionary, Prayer, paragraph 2

Prayer is nowhere specifically commanded as a duty in the law, and prayers were not prescribed at the sacrifices except on two occasions: a confession of sin on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:21) and a thanksgiving when offering the firstfruits and tithes (Deut. 26:3, 13). It is, however, certain from the nature of things, and from the custom in later times, that prayer accompanied sacrifice.

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Zechariah 13:6

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 8:1-21

*What does it mean to you to sustain President Nelson as prophet, seer, and revelator?

- What a blessing to have a prophet, seer, and revelator to learn from the past and to prepare for the future. I still am pondering President Nelson's warning at conference: "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

To me President Nelson is a pilot of a large passenger jet and he just announced to everyone to buckle up, stay in your seat because we are heading into turbulence.
Old Testament
Judges 3-5
3 The children of Israel intermarry with the Canaanites, worship false gods, and are cursed - Othniel judges the Israelites - They serve Moab and are delivered by Ehud, who slays Eglon.
4 Deborah, a prophetess, judges Israel - She and Barak deliver Israel from the Canaanites - Jael, a woman, slays Sisera, the Canaanite.
5 Deborah and Barak sing a song of praise because Israel is delivered from Canaanite bondage.
General Conference

The Powers of the Priesthood

President Dallin H. Oaks

" The magnifying of the holy priesthood you hold is vital to the work of the Lord in your families and in your Church callings."

Up early to finalize my Primary preparations. I had another knee episode last night around midnight but it is better this morning.

My lesson today is about Jacob's family and the beginning of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Our sacrament meeting was packed today. Also, Bishop Hall from the high council and all three members of the stake presidency were on the stand. President Shumway leaned around the pulpit to wave at us. We sat in the third row from the front on the right side of the chapel facing the podium.

I was sustained as the second counselor in the Relief Society but was not officially released from Primary. Brother Crane did ask me if I would fill in for a couple of weeks until they got a new Primary teacher. I sure am going to miss these kids.

Talon was the youth speaker. He spoke on staying on the covenant path. I can't remember a better talk given by a youth.

Thomas and Liana Grapp played a hymn on the piano. They are teaching themselves to play.

Bishop Miller spoke next. He talked about his folicle strength as opposed to President Shumway. (He is mostly bald.)

We are led by a prophet of God. Never miss a solemn assembly. Be united and learn how to minister with the pure love of Christ.

President Shumway asked to speak a few words. He spoke very highly of the Vernon ward comparing it to the celestial kingdom and Walmart to the great and spacious building. "By your fruits ye shall know them." God is a God of miracles. What we may think of as coincidences are actually miracles. A coincidence is a miracle where God chooses to remain anonymous. We must be worthy so that revelation will pour out upon us. Our purpose is to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Savior.

During second hour while I was teaching Primary James was in a special priesthood meeting where the Elder's Quorum was reorganized. Thomas Grapp is the President, and Blain Curtis and Sean Hunsaker are his counselors. They were set apart by the stake presidency. Thomas's parents and his brothers were there to support him. James said President Shumway gave him an amazing blessing.

All of my class except for Wyatt were in Primary today and everyone had done their papers except Liana. She always does her paper but she forgot. The kids are sad I am leaving and I am sad too. I am looking forward to serving in Relief Society but my heart will still be in Primary for awhile.

I felt my lesson went quite well and the children were interested in learning about the 12 tribes. I was called out of sharing time to be set apart in Relief Society.

The sisters in Relief Society now sit in a circle and we were set apart in the middle of the circle, kind of like we were on display.

Bishop Miller set apart Sister Applegate with her husband assisting. Today is their anniversary so afterwards he gave her a kiss on the cheek. Brother Thompson set apart Sister Halcomb with the rest of the bishopric assisting. Brother Crane set me apart with James assisting. Afterwards I gave both of them a hug. Bishop Miller set apart Sister Morrison with her husband standing close by. He is a convert and is a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. Bishop told Sister Morrison how important secretaries are to a presidency.

I stayed for the lesson taught by Sister Grapp. The lesson was based on Sister Eubank's conference talk from October, "Turn On Your Light."

After helping me clean up my room and carrying my five baskets of stuff to the car, James drove me home.

I had put a roast on this morning and it smelled so good. We had roast, corn, salad, and rolls for lunch. It was delicious. I love this new roast recipe which uses peppercini's, Ranch powdered dressing, and powdered Aujus flavoring and a cube of butter. I also added onions. It's called Crockpot Mississippi Pot Roast and you cook it on low for 8 hours. Ours was done after 7.

Delicious!

Naptime and then James leaves to go, pardon me for using the old term, "home teaching."

When James came home I was working on my blog. He said that President Shumway was going to call and wanted to talk to both of us. When he called James put him on speaker phone. This is what he said:

"I wanted to talk to you at church but I didn't get a chance.

I want you two to know that the Lord has made it known to me that he approves of you at this very moment in your lives. If you were to meet Him today, He would be well-pleased with you, and take you lovingly into His arms."

He said that this doesn't happen very often and when it does he feels a need to share it with those concerned. I believe this is the most profound thing that anyone has said to either one of us. President Shumway is being released at stake conference on April 29th and I am so sad about that.

Listened to President Nelson's conference talk from April, 1992, "The Doors of Death." 'Death is essential to our happiness.'

Global Ministry Tour

Jerusalem, Israel - Hours after the United States Armed Forces ordered a strike on Syria, President Russell M. Nelson cut short his stay in Jerusalem, leaving the central location of his global ministry tour following conference sessions at the BYU Jerusalem Center.

At a time of rising tensions, the message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is more important than ever, he said Saturday morning from the Holy City.

The message of the Lord Jesus Christ is a message of hope, it is a message of love, it is a message of joy," said President Nelson. "It is underlined in this time of a little heightened tension."

Had a nice discussion with some of the kids about conference talks. I quoted some things from Brother Durrant's talk which I had asked them to read earlier in the week. I heard from Kim, Sheri, and Jared.

Today was a glorious Sabbath Day!