Sunday, March 29th, 2020

Durban, South Africa

168th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Feb 2020

By: Ronald A. Rasband

Jesus Christ, Judge

1 Corinthians 4:4

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Review Enos, Jarom, Omni, Words of Mormon and Easter lesson

October 2019 Gen Con

"Power to Overcome the Adversary"

Elder Peter M. Johnson

"Brothers and sisters, I share with you my love and declare unto you my witness that I know Heavenly Father lives and Jesus is the Christ. I love Them. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's kingdom upon the earth. We have a divine appointment to gather Israel and prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Messiah. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

"Take Up Our Cross"
Elder Ulisses Soares
"Brothers and sisters, I want to testify to you that taking upon us our cross and following the Savior requires us to follow His example and strive to become like Him, patiently facing the circumstances of life, denying and despising the appetites of the natural man, and waiting on the Lord. I testify to you that following our Master's footsteps and waiting on Him who is the ultimate healer of our lives will provide rest to our souls and make our burdens easy and light. Of these things I testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

"Pray Always"
Elder David A. Bednar
October 2008 GC

I am so enjoying Sister Freeman's book, "Grace Where You Are" especially her drawings and explanation of The Tree of Life and The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

The Crane's are gone to Flagstaff. She is scheduled to have a colonoscopy on Tuesday and they went a few days early. 

We met at the Peeler's this morning at 9:00 am. Brother Goodman has to be at the church at 10:30 to help collect fast offerings.

First we sang an opening hymn and Brother Peeler gave the opening prayer. We then sang "How Great the Wisdom and the Love" and James and Brother Goodman blessed and passed the bread and water. It was a sacred experience.

For our lesson we watched on their TV Brother Ben Wilcox's "Teaching with Power" lesson on Easter. It was wonderful. Afterwards we had a small testimony meeting. James bore his testimony and so did I along with Brother Goodman and Brother Peeler.

We visited a few minutes and then Brother Goodman had to leave so we left too. It is a beautiful Sabbath morning here in Vernon.
Both he and Barbara, and James coughed during our meeting. He said, "Everytime we walk passed those juniper trees we get the Coronavirus.

We broke our fast when we got home and had a rest time.

 I spent some time today catching up on my study of JS-H. I also did two blog posts and most all of my ministering interviews for this quarter. 

This afternoon we FaceTimed with Jared, Kacey, and run around Charlie. Charlie said he is probably getting layed off this week and we tried to convince them to come and see us. If Jared can't come, then Kacey, Tanner, and Charlie could. If James gets the corral finished we will be getting "Dottie" this week. I'm calling the horse/mare Dottie until we come up with a better name.

It was a wonderful Sabbath day. We always look forward to Charlie's Sunday photos and to Facetiming with our Texas family.

 President and Sister Reidhead of the 

Snowflake temple presidency. I think

they could play Joseph and Emma,

don't you?

Two cute kids!

 Oops!

Thursday October 18th, 2018

Draper, Utah

129th operating temple

Dedicated: 20-22 Mar 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

DC 54:1

Behold, thus saith the Lord, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, even he who was crucified for the sins of the world -

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 7:15-8:4 & 2 Nephi 27-28

* What part does the Holy Ghost play in conversion?

-As we exercise faith, repent of our sins, and obey the commandments, we receive a witness born of the Spirit that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. We are visited "by the power and Spirit of God," (v.21) as we listen to testimonies of apostles and prophets. The Spirit testifies of truth and touches hearts that are humble and teachable. 

How can we become more deeply converted? What lack I yet? How can we be a better influence for good?

Without the Holy Spirit we will not know what is truth and it will not prick our heart to change. A mighty change of heart to completely follow the Savior and His gospel is an indication of true conversion and happens through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Old Testament

Jeremiah 31-33

General Conference

The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead

President M. Russell Ballard

"I testify that the vision President Joseph F. Smith received is true. I bear witness that every person can come to know it is true."

I looked out the window this morning from our bedroom and saw a lone elk. James couldn't get up fast enough but he missed seeing her. She must have been late for an appointment because she was gone fast.

Our book arbitrage session this morning was quite enlightening. We learned how to set filters and buy books. Neither one of us can just sit and listen for very long, we have to be walking around the table or doing something else.

James left for awhile this morning and while he was gone I made Jared's yummy cookies that he made while we were at his house. I am visiting the Grapp's this afternoon and I always take the kids cookies. Cookies and cookie dough are both tasty. 

I left the house around 12:30 even though I am not scheduled to pick up my partner Marie until 2. I went into town to wash my car. I was too embarrassed to pick her up in such a mud splattered car.

I was at Marie's a little before two. She was down the hill from her house waiting for me. When she got in she informed me that she had put diapers on all six of her dogs. I wish she would have given me a picture of that. I guess they have been using her home for a bathroom and she is tired of it. I wouldn't want to be the one to change those diapers.

I introduced Marie to the Grapp clan. They seemed to warm right up to her. Emsley had her stuffed pony I gave her for her birthday and came right over and snuggled up on my lap. Tildy wanted to play Old Maids. I had the last draw and didn't pick the Old Maid. Tildy was sad and did something that got her grounded to her room. I felt terrible. Afterwards I came home and wrote her a note that next time I would be the Old Maid. 

Marie said a prayer before we left and it was very sweet. Cammy is so excited that her brother Jared is going through the temple for the very first time. He is also being sealed to his wife and two little boys. Thomas will be his escort.

James had put my cookie dishes in the dishwasher while I was gone. I certainly appreciate his thoughtfulness.

I walked and blogged, and walked and blogged this afternoon. This evening James and I did another book arbitrage session.

Tomorrow we will be setting up our sellers account on Amazon.

She's pretty excited!

 Isn't a want really a need?

Branch's family, Daddy, Ridger,

Evelyn, and Mamma.

 So many cute card ideas on Pinterest!

Oh the memories! This was the last 

FHE we had in Chandler before moving

to Vernon.

 This is a photo I found on Instagram

The poster is Oldkyrenian. Not sure

what or where that is.

 Reminds me of a photo we had of

Stacy when she was a baby.

She looks worried.

Today's Steps:

14,019

Wednesday, September 19th, 2018

Boston, Masschusetts

100th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 Oct 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

1 Nephi 11:33

And I, Nephi saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 6:15-31

*What happens to our hearts if we set them upon the riches of the world?

- If our hearts are set upon the riches of the world then they probably aren't set upon the riches of heaven. Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also. Setting our hearts upon the riches of the world also opens the door to Satan's influence. If we treasure eternal things our hearts will be open to Christ.

Old Testament

Isaiah 10-12

General Conference

He That Shall Endure unto the End, the Same Shall Be Saved

Elder Claudio D. Zivic

"Obedience will give us the strength to overcome sin. We must also understand that the trial of our faith requires us to obey, often without know the results."

It was a mistake to leave our windows open last night. They are doing a prescribed burn near us and we breathed smoke most of the night. Luckily it rained today and put out their darn fire and the air is fresh and clean again.

I went to the Reidhead's this morning to help with their move. Ashley has served faithfully in Relief Society and recently in the Young Women's presidency. Clayton has been our ward mission leader. They are both returned missionares and a very dedicated couple. They have three children: Ridger who just turned 4, Evelyn who is 2, and Branch who was born a couple of weeks ago. 

Clayton was born and raised in Heber and Ashley is from Alabama. They run an industrial cleaning service and are re-locating to Georgia which will be 3 hours away from Ashley's mom in Alabama instead of 17 hours away here in Arizona. They will be living in Snowflake with Clayton's brother for a couple of months before going to Georgia. Clayton is concerned about the hunting conditions in Georgia. Ashley said there are no elk, but you can kill up to four bucks a year. That satisfied him but he still wants a place to come back to here in Arizona.

There were five of us this morning along with Ashley: Maxine, Pat, Kathy, Linda who is new, and myself. We accomplished a great deal, emptying and packing up most of the kitchen. Linda and Pat even made dinner in the crockpot. Maxine held the baby and took the older two out on the swingset, and comforted Ridger when he got bit by Evelyn who needed some attention. After she bit Ridger and cried and then said she was sorry, she went over and picked up the baby out of his swing.  As we were leaving just before noon, it began to rain and it rained most of the day and into the night.

 Maxine comforting Ridger

Sweet little Branch in his swing.

Before Branch

I have never heard the name Branch before but in the past year two families I know have named their babies Branch and I wondered why. Trina said it was a cowboy name. I don't know, I've known a few cowboys but none named Branch. This evening I was reading from the Old Testament BYU Student Manual p. 148, (13-58) Who Is the "Branch"?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote the following analysis of the meaning of the Branch:

"Since it takes a first and a second coming to fulfill many Messianic prophecies, we of necessity must consider them here, and in the case of the Davidic-Messianic utterances show also how they apply to our Lord's Second Coming. Christ is the Son of David, the Seed of David, the inheritor, through Mary his mother, of the blood of the great king. He is also called the Stem of Jesse and the Branch, meaning Branch of David. Messianic prophecies under these headings deal with the power and dominion he shall wield as he sits on David's throne, and have reference almost exclusively to his second sojourn on planet earth. 

"Jesse was the father of David. Isaiah speaks of the Stem of Jesse, whom he also designates as a branch growing out of the root of that ancient worthy. He recites how the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him:how he shall be mighty in judgment; how he shall smite the earth and slay the wicked; and how the lamb and the lion shall lie down together in that day - all of which has reference to the Second Coming and the millennial era thereby ushered in. (Isa11.) As to the identity of the Stem of Jesse, the revealed word says: 'Verily thus saith the Lord: It is Christ.' (DC 113:1-2.) This also means that the Branch is Christ, as we shall now see from other related scriptures.

"By the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord foretells the ancient scattering and the latter-day gathering of his chosen Israel. After they have been gathered 'out of all countries whither I have driven them,' after the kingdom has been restored to Israel as desired by the ancient apostles in Acts 1:6, then this eventuality, yet future and millennial in nature, shall be fulfilled: 

'Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' (Jer 23:3-6). That is to say, the King who shall reign personally upon the earth during the Millennium shall be the Branch who grew out of the house of David. He shall execute judgment and justice in all the earth because he is the Lord Jehovah , even hi whom we call Christ. 

"Through Zechariah the Lord spoke similarly: 'Thus saith the Lord of hosts: . . . I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. . . . I will remove the iniquity of the land in one day (meaning that the wicked shall be destroyed and the millennial era of peace and righteousness commence). In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.' (Zech. 3:7-10.) Of that glorious millennial day the Lord says also: 'Behold the man whose name if The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shal bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne.' (Zech 6:12-13.)

That the Branch of David is Christ is perfectly clear.

I found this reading to be very interesting and I now can accept the name Branch as a real, meaningful name for a child.

I did a lot of walking this afternoon as I didn't get much done this morning. At the end of the day I had over 12,000 steps. 

I found a print out on Pinterest to help with personal histories that was originally on Family Search. It is twelve sheets of paper and the title is: "52 Stories. There is one category for each month. These are the categories: 1- Goals & Achievements, 2-Love & Friendship, 3-Occupations & Hobbies, 4-Home & Hearth, 5-Mothers & Motherhood 6-Fathers & Fatherhood, 7-Events & Milestones, 8-Travels & Vacations, 9-Education & School, 10-Values & Beliefs, 11-Causes & Convictions, 12-Holidays & Traditions. I copied these and placed them in a notebook where I will begin again to record my personal history.

I listened to "The Lake House" this afternoon and made a trip to Dollar General for some refreshment. I have a hard time controlling my eating in the afternoon. The good thing is I usually stop eating by 5:30-6pm. I wanted James to go with me but he stayed behind to build a cat coffin. Anthony's cat "Pinky" passed away. Anthony told James he was afraid to bury her because he thought that coyotes would dig her up. James told him he would make her a box so that is what he did this afternoon out in the drizzle.

James made his smoothie for dinner. I had already used all my calories for the day so I passed. He puts the sweet carrots from the Crane's garden in his smoothie and the color is quite disgusting. 

We read from "Loving Lieutenant Lancaster" this evening, the Sarah Eden book we had started before reading "The Secret Keeper." We will return to "The Scarlet Pimpernel" after Lieutenant Lancaster.  

In the high 40's and a little too cold to sleep with the windows open. We did for awhile because we like hearing the rain.

I love geometric shapes!

I sure do love this Elder. He will be

a great missionary. As his mom says,

he knows no strangers and is friendly 

to everyone. That's Rusty his awesome

big brother. Loved these two in Mutual.

They always held the door open for me and

offered to carry my things on outings.

 I think I have a picture of Sheri at this age

doing the very same thing.

Scarlett loves Target!

My wildflowers from the weekend.

The purples were found at 

Sheep's Crossing.

 Kacey never forgets to send photos!

Thinking about her home in Heaven.

I think Evan is a creative genius!