Saturday, August 12th, 2017

Provo, Utah

15th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Feb 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

(Read by: Harold B. Lee)

Alma 49:9-30

Why is it important to be aware of our weaknesses?

 Instagram-bofm365-kdeford1:

Knowing our weaknesses keeps us humble, helps us grow and rely on the Lord. Something that stood out to me was verse 11 where Moroni 'altered the management of affairs among the Nephites.' He knew Amalickiah's intent and arranged his army so that their weak areas were no longer weak. I think its important to be aware of our weak areas so we can 'alter the management of our affairs' and strengthen ourselves against Satan's attacks. It is critical to have the Spirit with us to both know our weaknesses and know how to improve.

DC 112:1-16

What does "take up your cross and follow me" mean to me?

*To cast your burdens on the Lord. To deny ourselves of all ungodliness and follow the Lord. Take yourself the way you are and lift yourself in the direction of the better.

General Conference

Stand Up Inside and Be All In

Elder Gary B. Sabin

" We might need to study more intently, pray more earnestly, or just let some things go so we can hang on to those things that really matter. We may need to let go of the world so we can hang on to eternity."

James took Addy and Ruby on a two hour Razr ride. They saw some wildlife and when I mentioned that might be too long a ride for them Addy said, "Oh no Grandma, it wasn't, we had a great time!"

They had donuts earlier but when they got back from their ride they were starving so I made some pancakes for them. Ruby and I played a couple of games of Who's Who in the Book of Mormon and then she wanted to watch the "Minions" short movies she found.

Trina was here with the rest of the kids a little afternoon. When I say the rest of the kids I mean, Lola, Rowan, Joshua, Evan, Max, and Kreed. The boys were all very glad to be out of the car!

 Darrel arrived a few minutes later with the groceries. I played a game of Five Crowns with Darrel, Trina, and Addy. Everyone had some of the pizza that Darrel bought at Safeway.

James and I made a run to Dollar General for some buns, chips, and candy. When we returned Darrel and Trina decided they needed some things from Dollar General too. 

Lola stayed with us in the cabin and the rest of the kids were outside playing under the "lounge" tree. It started raining pretty hard and the kids came running. 

You can barely see the outline of Lola in

this picture. She's watching the kids.

Kreed looks like he's a little cold.

While James and I read on the porch Lola loves to come out and sit with us. We love to have her.

Darrel made some marinated bbq chicken for dinner. Trina made up the boxed mashed potatoes he bought, and we had rolls, corn, and Bush beans. After dinner we had cake and ice cream and sang happy birthday to Rowan. We only had five candles, but Rowan didn't seem to care.

On the left everyone looks a little tired.

The right have Lola to entertain them.

 Ruby the photo bomber.

Rowan is back there somewhere.

The candles are burning Rowan,

make a wish!

Evan had a sore throat and Trina kept giving him Tylenol. Kreed was always hungry. Ruby and Kreed played a little chess.

I kept hearing Kreed say: "Ruby, you can't do that."

I'm not sure who won.

Lola came into our room and watched a Hallmark movies with us while Addy, Trina, and Darrel played Settlers. In our movie, which was about wine making, the actress tastes the wine she is aging in a barrel. A few minutes later a guy comes in and takes some wine from the barrel. Lola says: "Oh, she's gonna be mad at him!"

Darrel put on the movie "Private Eyes". James and I went to bed.

Protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia tonight over a Robert E. Lee statue.

Random Photos:

Lola taking a rest.

These two got married today.

James had done lots of handyman work for Susan.

Show Low 1945.

I lived here when I was born in 1948.

Castles_World

Saturday, June 10th, 2017

Provo, Utah

15th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Feb 1972 by

Joseph Fielding Smith

(read by Harold B. Lee)

Alma 13:21-14:5

* Alma invites the people to hearken to the voice of the Lord and enter into His rest.

* The ancient prophets speak of 'entering into God's rest' (see Alma 12:34; DC 84:23-24); what does it mean?

"To my mind, it means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in His plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else" (Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church:Joseph F. Smith, 56).

* "True saints enter into the rest of the Lord while in this life, and by abiding in the truth, they continue in that blessed state until they rest with the Lord in heaven....The rest of the Lord, in eternity, is to inherit eternal life, to gain the fulness of the Lord's glory" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 633).

* What words in Alma 13:27-29 show how Alma felt about the people and about his message?

* As we respond humbly to the invitation to repent, the Spirit will lead us into the 'rest of the Lord.'

DC 87:1-8

1-4, War is foretold between the Northern States and the Southern States; 5-8, Great calamities will fall upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

What is meant by "stand in holy places?"

* Stakes of Zion, how one lives more than where one lives. Live worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.  Our homes should be holy places.  A holy place is any place where a person enjoys the spirit and presence of divinity. The temple is such a place. (See p. 196, Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual).

General Conference

Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into our Lives

President Russell M. Nelson

Earlier this year, I asked the young adults of the Church to consecrate a portion of their time each week to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works. I invited them to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum. I gave that challenge because I had already accepted it myself. I read and underlines every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide. When I finished that exciting exercise, my wife asked me what impact it had on me. I told her, ""I am a different man!"

I accepted this challenge by President Nelson and it is the first

thing I do when I get up in the morning.  It makes me excited to get up and has set the tone for my prayers and scripture study.

When we drove up Friday evening there was one lone bull in our yard.  I guess someone drove the other cows away.  When we got up this morning Mr. Bull had one of his wives and a couple of his children here.  

I read something on Facebook that caught my attention today.  

A Christian women's soccer player refuses to wear gay pride jersey and withdraws from the U.S. National team. "Jalena Hinkle posted on her Twitter page: Colossians 3:32: 'And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.' If you live for people's acceptance, you will die from their rejection."

Today in the New Testament I read about the Savior instituting the sacrament.  In Teaching in the Savior's Way I studied the section, "Help Learners Liken the Scriptures to Themselves."

I just about have the first half of the Living Christ memorized.  

James is quite pleased with himself the morning. He was able to fix the auger.  He is getting to be a pretty good mechanic, including the greasy smell. 

Tonight we clean the temple.  I marinated some chicken for us to grill tomorrow.  I ironed James a white shirt, took a shower and did my basic daily clean of the house. I wrote down a quote from President Nelson's talk on growing closer to the Savior about the Savior's power.  I put it in my ponder journal so I can look at it every day.  

James was on the phone most of the day today. We had 11 people who signed up cancel on us today. We left for the temple at 5:15. This year we are doing a deep clean with the Show Low Creek ward so we only clean 3x a year and it is so much easier!  Brother Patterson is our stake co-ordinator along with his wife so he conducts the chapel session and gives out the cleaning assignments. He is very spiritual and always gives the sweetest messages.  James and I got an easy assignment.  We got to dust several rooms, including the celestial room.  That was wonderful.  

Even though we had 11 people cancel we had 18 people show up. I love the Vernon ward for this reason. They have never let us down when it comes to cleaning the temple. We had 3 Hunsaker's, 2 Peeler's, 2 Smith's, 1 Butler, 2 Wilhelm's, 2 Applegate's, 1Vaught, 2 Cranes, and 1 Gordon, plus ourselves.  Go Vernon!

We were invited by the Cranes to go with a group to dinner at Ava's mexican food but James was stressed about getting home to work on his lesson so we went to Taco Bell instead.  It was 10:30 by the time we went to bed.

It was 22 years ago today that Carly Elmer

drowned in our neighborhood pool.

Gone but not forgotten.

Rock climbing last summer

Where's Lola?

Last summer Max went with the Scouts

to San Diego.

Hunk alert

Now there is a real Hunk!

I remember Sheri bring these lemon creme almonds

to the resort last year.  I had to go right out to

Sprouts and get my own!

Monday, November 7, 2016

3 Nephi 22:1-17

When have you felt Heavenly Father reach out and touch your heart to draw you to Him?

* "... with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee ..." (v.8).

"The world is not a safe place.  It is not a place where children will feel peace, hope, and direction unless they are taught to love and follow the Savior.  Please help them know that these great blessings can be theirs, and show the what they eed to do to receive these blessings" (Patricia P. Pineager, Ensign, Nov. 1999, 68).  "Prayer is essential to developing faith." (Carol F. McConkie, Ensign, Nov. 2016, 25).

GC:     "A Choice Seer Will I Raise Up" by Craig C. Christensen

The Lord personally declared to Joseph Smith:

'The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name,

and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage

against thee; While the pure in heart, and the wise, 

and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and

authority, and blessings constantly from

under thy hand."

I remember when Elaine Cannon said this

regarding President Kimball's statements

about the E.R.A.

GC:      The Lord Jesus Christ Teaches us to Pray by Elder Juan A. Uceda

" On one occasion the Lord Jesus Christ "was praying in a certain place," and "when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray.  And today He teaches you and me to pray as we see Him in our minds praying in Gethsemane and saying, 

'Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."?

James and I started our 5th book in the Millennial Glory series, "Hanging by a Thread."

I ordered some chocolates that have no sugar in them and they arrived today.

James loves these.  Although they do no have sugar, they do have fat!

While I was blogging this morning I watched the movie: "One Christas Eve" starring Anne Heche.  This movie could have been named: "A Series of Unfortunate Events." 

Today was a gorgeous day here in Vernon.  The high was 59 degrees and there was no wind.  This is the kind of day that James enjoys working outside!  I couldn't help but think of Kim and Brian spending it at Disneyland and hoping they are having a great time!

My little Zemira was successful in his deer hunt this week.

He is in my Primary class and I love him!

This afternoon I wanted to do some cleaning but my right knee was hurting too badly.  Instead and watched "The North Pole".  I had some peanut butter toast and a glass of milk so I could take some Tramadol for the pain.  Soon I became dizzy and nauseous.  I was down for the evening.  

For FHE we listened to Elder Christensen's talk on the prophet Joseph Smith, and then we watched "Dancing with the Stars".  It was Show Stoppers night and I loved it! Marilu and Derek went home.  Next week is the semi-finals.

This is how I imagine the sky will look when

the Savior comes again.

I think it was Jared who put these pictures on Facebook.  I love them!

Three little cuties!

The boys performing the song "Lollipop"

at the Fry Elementary School talent show.

Thank you Sandy for coaching them.