Sunday, September 4, 2016

Kim took this picture of trees burned in the fire.

It almost looks like the sky is on fire.

Alma 61:6-21

6 - Many are gathering to hep avenge the wrongs of the dissenters or the kingmen.

7 - The kingmen now fear the freemen.

8 - The kingmen in Zarahemla appointed a king and they have joined in an alliance with the Lamanites.

9 - I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment seat that I may preserve the rights and liberty of my people.

10 - We will resist wickedness even unto bloodshed.  We would not shed the blood of the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land.

11 - We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they did not rise up in rebellion against us.

12 - We would subject ourselves to the yoke of bondage if the Lord commanded us to.

13 - He doesn't command us to, but that we should put our trust in Him, and He will deliver us.

14 - Moroni, let us resist evil, tat we may retain our freedom and rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God.

15 - Come unto me speedily with a few of your men.

16 - Leave Lehi and Teancum in charge.  I have sent a few provisions unto them.

17 - Gather together your force and we will go against these dissenters in the strength of our God.

18 - We will take possession of Zarahemla that we may send more food to Lehi and Teancum.

19 - I wasn't sure if we should go against our brethren.

20 - But ye said, except they repent the Lord hath commanded you that ye should go against them.

21 - Strengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord.  Tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free.  And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother, Moroni.

GC: "Trust in That Spirit Which Leadeth To Do Good." by President Henry B. Eyring.

Bishop Miller conducted our fast and testimony meeting today.  It was a good one.  Before it started James visited with one of Stacy's friends from Chandler, Becky Jones Tingey.

Bishop Miller announced the Brother Mel Bell passes away.  We found out later that bishop spent the night with the family after he passed.  He also spent four hours visiting with Mel and Ruth Wilhelm when Mel's sister Jeannie passed away.  That is the kind of bishop he is.  Sister Julie Berry who has cancer bore her testimony.  She wore a bandana around her head.  The ward has been praying for her for months so it was wonderful to see her.  Ellen Kustuziak bore her testimony of blessings and she is not even a member.  When her husband had surgery for a heart attack Chuck Crane gave him a blessing and said he would live.  She was so very grateful for that blessing.  After her testimony Owen Peeler got up and said: "Sister Kustuziak you better get baptized before you keel over."  I guess my favorite testimony was Blain Curtis's.  His son is in our ward and has cancer.  He talked about how everyone has trials and then shared his favorite scripture, Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."

More pictures from San Antonio.  This one is my favorite.

I looks like Molly has made a new friend.

Her name is Kacey.

Doesn't Molly look beautiful!

I had eight children in my Primary class and six of them were visitors: Johnson, Boston, Rowan, Joshua, Claire, and Alice.  My regulars were Curtis and Zemira.  Our lesson was on the Savior visiting the Nephites.  We had a paper to fill in and Curtis refused to do it.  A few minutes later I announced that anyone who finished their paper would get to choose something from the treasure basket.  You could tell Curtis was a little miffed.  I told him he would have another chance next week.  I must have had 12 kids behind my car picking out treasures.  Some of the kids brought their younger brothers and sisters.  It was a little crazy.  And oh yes, kids following me down the hall out to my car made me feel a little bit like the Pied Piper.  I am lucky the Primary president didn't fire me.

You can't tell but Addy has on a Harry Potter

shirt and sweater, and socks.

We broke our fast a little early today.  It is difficult to fast after church when you have company.  For lunch we had soup and some of Darrel's pistachio dessert.  During our nap time Darrel and Trina took their kids and went to Greer.  It was a beautiful day it.

Four of my favorite people!

More fun in San Antonio.

James and Molly dancing.  

This was probably on Saturday

Rain and kids playing in the street.

A nice quiet Sunday game.

Anna and Summer.

Anna loves having her picture taken.

We had a fun relaxing day here in Vernon.  

Kim loves having her picture taken too.

Ruby and Lola had on the same outfit.

How cute!

Lola always says "cheese" when she is

posing for a picture.

Rowan relaxing in the hammock.

Lola pushing Ruby

Lola telling her mom:

"It's my turn."

We celebrated Darrel's birthday even though we

didn't have any candles for the cake.

Darrel loves having his picture taken too.

It was a wonderful day and the weather was just about perfect.  Darrel grilled burgers and hotdogs for dinner and we had cake and ice cream and played games and just relaxed.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

One of my favorite temples

Alma 43:15-26  Why is it important to be prepared?

15 - The two armies prepare to meet.

16 - Nephites are led by Captain Moroni.

17 - Moroni was only 25 years old.

18 - Moroni's army are prepared and armed.

19 - The army has breastplates, arm shields, head gear and thick clothing.

20 - Zerahemnah's army only has swords, cimeters, bows and arrows, stones and slings and the Larmanites are girded with a loin cloth.

21 - The Lamanites are afraid even though their numbers are great.

23 - Moroni sends spies to follow the Lamanites.  He also inquired of the Prophet Alma if the Nephites should go and defend themselves against the Lamanites.

24 - Alma says yes and tells Moroni's messengers the Lamanites plan to attack Manti.

25 - Moroni takes part of his army to Manti.

I spent most of the morning before church preparing for my Primary lesson and typing quotes for James's gospel doctrine class. 

My lesson is entitled "Nephi Prophesies".  The main message is on the importance of following the Prophet.

Sacrament meeting was wonderful today. Rick and Pam Giles spoke and they were amazing.  Here is a quote Pam shared in her talk: "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and feeling unloved." - Mother Theresa.  She spoke about love and service and I loved the things she said.  She is a great example as she visits those in rest homes who don't have many visitors.

Rick spoke about President Nelson's talk on priesthood power.  He is a very eloquent speaker and spoke with conviction and sincerity.

I was so proud of both of them!  They were the celebrities for the day.

The bishop said we had more sick people in our ward than all of the other wards in the stake combined.  Along with George Wallace, Mil Bell, and Julie Berry we have Sean Hunsaker with heart problems, Dave Kustuziak, Billy Gillaspy, Brother Patrick, and Dustin Curtis who has stage 4 bladder cancer.  Dustin is the son of our good friends Blain and Diana Curtis.  He is quite young, in his late 20's or early 30's.  I need to text Diana.

We had four girl visitors in our Primary class today along with Curtis and Zemira.  Our visitors were: Reagan, Mariah, and Addison Tingey all from Mesa, and Carson who is also from Mesa.

During the 3rd hour I was excused from Primary Sharing Time to go to the bishops counsel meeting.  I am so glad that I did.  It was wonderful.  He ask what he had recommended to us last year in this meeting to help with most of our problems and to help give us an added measure of comfort for our concerns.  Teresa Smith knew the answer: "Keep the Sabbath day holy."  He reaffirmed that promise and added something else.  He said over the past few years he has been prompted to increase his temple attendance from monthly to weekly and it has made all the difference in his life and also in his wife's life.  He said he began this before he was called as bishop and knows that he would not have been called if he had not made this weekly commitment.  He quoted Elder Maxwell: "Not shrinking is more important than surviving."  I now quote from the remained of his counsel:  "The temple and the Sabbath will hone us to become more like God.  I am a better person because of the temple.  The temple will give you added strength to carry your burdens.  You know what is important and need to do it.  Please don't say you don't have time.  We all have the same amount of time.  It is a matter of priorities.  Remember Elder Oak's talk from a few years ago: "Good, Better, Best."  The temple is the best.  There is power in the temple.  Christ's gospel makes us the best."

He also quoted from President Ezra Taft Benson:

"The temple is a standing witness that the power of God can stay the powers of evil in our midst.  Many parents, in and out of the Church, are concerned about protection against a cascading avalanche of wickedness which threatens to engulf Christian principles.  I find myself in complete accord with a statement made by President Harold B. Lee during World War II.  Said he: 'We talk about security in this day, and yet we fail to understand that ... we have standing the holy temple wherein we may find the symbols by which power might be generated that will save this nation from destruction."

Wow I love our bishop.  He is humble and inspired and such a great example.

Becky Skousen went with me today to visit three boys in my Primary class that I have never seen.  The first was Lej Westbrook. His mother came to the door.  I had cookies.  When I ask if I could meet Lej she hesitated and then said, "I will take the cookies" and that was that.  Well, at least we made contact.  Next we went to the Kenyon's which is always fun.  We gave Cameron two plates of cookies and a handout from today's lesson.  I had a good feeling about him.  Our last visit was to Braxton Penrod.  He was on the computer and you could tell he didn't want to be disturbed, but at Becky's insistance he came to the door and accepted the handout and cookies.  I am grateful to Becky for going with me.  Next month I am going once a week except for fast Sunday, and taking members of my class with me.  Next month we will be delivering Book of Mormon's with reading assignments along with our cookies.

Brother Wallace is doing poorly again.  This has been going on since May 9th when he had his first surgery.  James is very concerned about him.  George is discouraged, but says he is getting better.  I hope so.  James's blessin he gave him said he would get well.

Studied this afternoon and waited for Kim and Brian to arrive.  I finally texted Kim and they said it would be after 10 tonight.

We also waited for the rain but it didn't come until after we went to bed.  Here is the place Kim and Brian attended the Avett Brothers concert on Saturday night..

I love these two C.S. Lewis quotes:

Last year at the cabin:

You've come a long way baby.

A tea party in honor of Molly's birthday.