Sunday, March 8th, 2020

Trujillo, Peru

147th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 June 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Judge

Jeremiah 23:5

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.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

2 Nephi 31-33 Review; Begin Jacob 1-4

October 2019 GenCon

"Watchful unto Prayer Continually"

Elder David A. Bednar

"I testify that pressing forward on the covenant path provides spiritual safety and invites enduring joy into our lives. And I witness that the risen and living Savior will sustain and strengthen us in times both good and bad. Of these truths I testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

"Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon"
Elder Ruben V. Alliaud
"I solemnly testify that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the Holy Ghost will confirm the truth of it time after time to anyone who, with a sincere heart, seeks knowledge unto the salvation of their soul. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I attended ward council this morning at 7:30 a.m. The ward council consists of Bishop Hunsaker and his counselors, Brother Goodman and Brother Grapp. Brother Umphress, the ward executive secretary. Elder Sagers and Elder Richards, the missionaries assigned to our ward, the Primary President Sister Gillespie, the Young Women's President, Sister Allen, Brother Diewald, the ward clerk, and Brother Thompson representing the Elder's Quorum and me representing the Relief Society. 

The main thing we did after going over the calendar was to go through the ward list and discuss each family or individual.

I felt like it was a good thing because I found out some things about people that I knew nothing about. Meetings are supposed to be about people and this one certainly was.

James drove the truck to the church. It was nice to be early for sacrament meeting. Yesterday I sent emails to two sets of ministering sisters. One of them was Sister Van Haren whom I was able to speak with a few minutes before sacrament meeting. She said she visited one of the sisters on her beat but one of the other never answers her texts.  She also has never visited Sister Sommers who live near her. I told her I had visited her and she was very nice and receptive. If she would set up an appointment I would go with her on a visit. She said that would be great.

The Howard's were not here today and I am wondering why. 

Yogi Vizcarra was the youth speaker today. For a new convert he did an amazing job. He was quoting scriptures and seemed so sincere. He told of Hailey H. giving him a Book of Mormon which was the start of his conversion. Someone told him at his baptism to write down everything he felt, which he did. He said if we listen to the Holy Ghost, read our scriptures, and keep the commandments and pray our lives will be so much easier. He quoted: 2 Nephi 33:10-11 and 2 Nephi 32:8-9 and said, I believe these scriptures are true. It was a great first talk for a convert.

Anne and Bishop Miller were the adult speakers. Anne's talk was based on Brother Owen's talk, "Be Faithful, Not Faithless."

She told the story of the deer that were fed hay and how they starved to death with their stomach's full. Are we the same way spiritually? Where do we find our spiritual nourishment? What can keep us from being nourished spiritually? We must have the love of Christ as our foremost goal. We cannot base our faith on false idols. Satan tells us to procrastinate spiritual nourishment. I main purpose for reading the scriptures individually and as a family is to get closer to Christ. We must have faith in the promises of the prophets.

Bishop Miller used Elder Renlund's talk, "Unwavering Commitment of Jesus Christ" as the basis for his talk. We must learn of Him and learn to follow Him. If we have pure intent, and a total commitment to Jesus Christ, everything else in our lives will fall into place. Joy from that commitment surpasses anything else. He talked about Clayton M. Christensen and what an amazing Harvard professor and missionary he was. I guess he passed away a couple of months ago. Bishop Miller said that he used to think false idols were golden calves. He realized when he was deciding rather he should go on a mission or not that hunting and the out of doors was a false idol for him. It almost kept him from going and having one of the most amazing experiences of his lifetime. What it all boils down to is putting God first in our lives and trusting in Him.

Sandra Wilhelm taught Relief Society today for Becky Skousen who was out of town celebrating her wedding anniversary with her husband. The lesson was based on two conference talks, "Covenant Daughters in Partnership with God," and "Knowing, Loving, and Growing" by Elder Boom. Both addresses talk about ministering and that is why we picked them. Sandra did a good job. Here are some of the notes I took: Covenants, ministering, helping others reach their divine potential. We need all instruments and all of God's children. What is my purpose. Which part is yours and which part is mine? (Michael McLean song). Forcing someone to do something offends their spirits. We need to minister to each other and too all in need. Strive to stay on the covenant path. Ministering is exercising divine love. And Sandra said this: "My kids don't need me to tell them where they need to improve, they need to feel of my love so they have the desire to improve." Repentance is a daily process. Am I to quick to judge and to slow to listen? Debra Brewer who spent the last year caring for her husband before he passed away: "Joy is not in how much you do but the quality of service you give." The gospel lifts our souls.

Those attending: Sandra, Kerri H., Debra B., Shaleyn S., Sue H., a new sister, Sister McClelland and her mother, Donna Lundgren, Geraldine Corona, Pam Woods, Rosie Lauritzen, Linda Diewald, Ruth Wallace, Amy G., Ellen K., Kathy C., Maxine T., Donna P., Diana C., Kristen L., Colleen K., Debbie M., Chris B., Darla R., Judy H., Catherine H., Sheba, Tamara, Stefani H., and myself.

James went out to see Anthony this afternoon with his companion Dave Westbrook. I stayed home and worked on my blog and did some family history work. 

We FaceTimed with Jared, Kacey, Charlie, and Molly. Jared has something in between rheumatoid and pustular psoriatic arthritis. He is back on methotrexate and some new medicine. Molly played the banjo and sang, "This Land is Your Land" for us. Tanner and Summer were there and Summer's dog Ollie. Charlie always gives us hugs and kisses at the end of our call. We enjoy doing this each Sabbath day.

This evening I watched Emily and Dave in "Don't Miss This" and James and I watched "Teaching with Power."

It was a wonderful Sabbath Day.

So true.

 Joshua teaching

So adorable

 Thinking about Nursery

 Why do they make me go?

I thought they loved me.

 "I'm so glad Molly is here.

 "She loves me."

 "I love Ollie!"

"She's heavy"

 Writing his weekly email to

Elder Trezise

 Sunday is a day of rest

A cute Ollie photo

Sunday, September 8th, 2019

Vancouver, British Columbia

131st operating temple

Dedicated: 2 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

1 Nephi 22:24

And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.

Book of Mormon

Alma 63:1-17

New Testament: Review 1 Corinthians 14-16"God is Not the Author of Confusion, But of Peace"

General Conference

Seeking Knowledge By The Spirit

Elder Mathias Held

"Many precious truths have become spiritual building blocks of what God is helping me to become. And I look forward to the many new teachings that He still wants me - and you - to receive as we go through this wonderful life and 'learn ... even by study and also by faith.' I know these things to be true and testify of them in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I spent the morning getting ready for Relief Society. I typed out and studied the section from Elder Homer's talk, "Hearing His Voice." Sister Curtis asked me to share , "Listening to the Wrong Voice," which is basically the story of Korihor and how listening to the wrong voice led him to destruction.

I also printed out the rest of my ministering companionships that had changes and handed them out before sacrament meeting.

Bailey, the young woman who was supposed to be the youth speaker was a "no show" as Brother Crane put it. Heather Bowen was the next speaker and she spoke less than 5 minutes. Alicia H. had the rest of the time but when she finished there was still 15 minutes on the clock. 

Brother Crane was the only member of the bishopric on the stand today. Brother Grapp, the elders quorum president joined him and got up and spoke the last ten minutes of sacrament meeting and did a wonderful job relating faith promoting stories from his family and his mission to Hawaii.

Sister Curtis did a great job in Relief Society starting the discussion on listen to the voice of the Spirit. I sat by Sister Kuffer who very rarely comes to church because she works on Sunday.
She told about her 15 year old grandson who recently collapsed in Walmart and was taken to the emergency room of the Show Low hospital. They discovered his kidneys were 30% shut down and jetted him to the valley. That was over two weeks ago. The doctors are saying they are not sure what caused this but they are saying it is caused by an autoimmune disorder. His kidneys are now 90% shutdown. They have him on dialysis and on a kidney transplant list but they are afraid his body will reject new kidneys. It is a very sad situation. The bishop called a special fast for him.

Tamara and I went to Sister Tesarek's setting apart after the block. She has been called to be the Relief Society activities chairman and we are so excited to be working with her. She is young, energetic and has lots of great ideas and is a born leader. Kerri couldn't be there because she had a missionary committee meeting.

This afternoon James and I FaceTimed with Charlie, Kacey, and Jared. I look forward to this every week.  We are counting the weeks until they come in November for a convention.

I taped President Nelson's 95th birthday celebration and we were watching it when our friends the Halcomb's rang the doorbell.

There friends, Dennis and Kelly have property in Vernon and as soon as they sell their home in Ajo they want to move up and build a home here. 

While James showed Dennis around Kerri and Catherine and I visited in the family room. Kelly, Dennis's wife is in Ajo this weekend.

We finished watching President Nelson's birthday celebration after they left. We also listened to the YouTube presentation by The Power of Teaching for 2 Corinthians 1-7.

 Separate homes or just separate play areas?

Sunday, August 11th, 2019

Montevideo, Uruguay

103rd operating temple

Dedicated: 18 Mar 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Book of Mormon

Alma 48:19-49:8

New Testament "The Power of God unto Salvation"

Review of Romans 1-6

General Conference

Hearing His Voice

David P. Homer

"We will find our Father's voice in many places. We will find it when we pray, study the scriptures, attend church, engage in faithful discussions, or go to the temple. Surely, we will find it in conference this very weekend.

Today we sustained 15 men as prophets, seers, and revelators. Their spirituality and experience give them a unique perspective that we desperately need. Their messages are easy to find and spoken with absolute clarity. They tell us what God wants us to know, whether it is popular or not.

Seeking His voice in anyone of these places is good, but seeking it in many of them is even better. And when we hear it, we need to follow the direction that is given. The Apostles James said, 'Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.' And President Thomas S. Monson once taught: 'We watch. We wait. We listen for that still, small voice. When it speaks, wise men and women obey.'"

We woke up to rain this morning. I grabbed an umbrella from my closet and as I was closing it when I entered the church I noticed it had a Disneyland logo on it. Oh well, I don't think anyone noticed except maybe the boys who held the door open for me when I came in.

Bishop Miller was out of town today and Brother Thompson is still having knee problems so he was not here. It was Chuck and Brother Grapp, the elders quorum president, on the stand.

Tana, Corina, and Brother M. Wilhelm were the speakers today. 

Tana W. was the youth speaker. She spoke about how we can be "His Hands" and talked about the song. I remember when Stacy sang this song at a special Relief Society program in our home in Chandler. Tana ended her talk by saying: "I feel closer to Christ when I give service. I feel like I have a purpose."

Corina used Sister Eubanks conference talk, "The Light of Christ," as the basis of her talk. We need to to stay connected to our souce of light and power, Jesus Christ. Corina shared an experience she had of bearing testimony to a non-member friend that she is a daughter of God and the impact that statement had on her friend. 

How do we stay connected to Christ's light? We repent, we bear testimony, we do things daily, such as show love, seek Him diligently through prayer and scripture study, etc. We are His light. He needs us and we need Him.

Brother Wilhelm us Elder Holland's talk, "Behold, the Lamb of God," as the basis for his talk. He started his talk by asking us the question, "Are you using the sacrament the way the Lord intended"? Jesus introduced the sacrament to His apostles. Brother Wilhelm used the analogy of a Handyman jack says that the jack lifts us out of the mire, just as the Atonement and the sacrament lifts us from our life of sin. We need to commit to a higher level of behavior in the chapel where the sacrament is served. He used the phrase of offering a "crust of comfort, and a cup of compassion" to others as the Savior did for us.

Diana Curtis, using a walker, came to teach her Relief Society lesson today. I admire her for that. We had a good discussion on Brother Brock P. Hales conference address, "Answers to Prayer."

For lunch James made burgers with provolone cheese. The burgers were the frozen Fat Burgers and I did not like the flavor or the texture. I feel like throwing away the rest of the box but I don't think James would approve. 

I roasted the rest of the poblano chilies I have and peeled them but they were not ready in time to put on the burgers. At least now they are ready to use in the refrigerator.

For dessert we had Pepperidge Farm cherry turnovers. They were delicious. After lunch we took our food coma naps.

Later this afternoon I Facetimed with Jared, Charlie, and Scarlett who is staying with Lolly and Pop. Charlie and Scarlett are so cute together!

James had Brother Anderson over to work on Family Search. On Family Search the wrong person was put in as Greg's father.  It took awhile for us to change it, but we did. We put a call into Cathi and Terry and they helped us.

This evening James wrote a letter to Ben while I tried to do some catchup on my blog. 

 On their way to dance class

Not on Sunday 

 Watching their favorite TV show

Sunday, February 24th, 2019

Birmingham, Alabama

98th operating temple

Dedicated: 3 Sept 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

3 Nephi 20:31

And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 16:1-17:25

*Why would the Lord send a prophet to a people he knew would reject the message?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Review Matthew 5 and Luke 6

"Be a Peacemaker" Franklin D. Richards, 10/83

General Conference

The Correct Name of the Church

President Russell M. Nelson

"Our revised style guide is helpful. It states: 'In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.' When a shortened reference is needed, the terms 'the Church' or the "Church of Jesus Christ' are encouraged. The restored Church of Jesus Christ' is also accurate and encouraged. If someone should ask, 'Are you a Mormon?' you could reply, 'If you are asking if I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, yes, I am!"

I had to be at ward council this morning at 7:15. James drove me because of the snow and mud. He went to his Primary room and studied and set up for his lesson. 

Bishop said the well was froze up and if they couldn't get it fixed they would have to cancel church. Luckily Brother Grapp's brother was able to fix it. 

Brother and Sister Merrill from the stake Self-Reliance Services did a presentation today using the personal finance manual. Afterwards they asked everyone to sign up for the class. It ended up being the ward council signing up for the class which does not normally include me. They decided they would meet on Thursday evenings at 7 . The class lasts for 12 weeks. 

Katie Hahn, a sister in our ward with breast cancer spoke in sacrament meeting. She wore a hat and told everyone why she had a hat on. She was asked to use Elder Uchtdorf's talk, "Believe, Love, Do" in her talk. 

Joe Westbrook was the other speaker. I have never heard him speak before but he has a wonderful testimony and told some cowboy stories and how he knew that the Savior loved him because of the help He has given him when in difficult situations.

Cammy Grapp taught Relief Society from the talk given by Sister Cordon on shepherding. She did a good job and got lots of discussion. We had a full house. 

James and I went home and had lunch and took a nap and then we were back at the church by 3 pm for family history consultant training by the stake representatives, Brother and Sister Ranstrom. 

I thought it would be hands on but they just showed videos and did an overview of family history. They will be back next week and we will begin having some hands on training. We had all of our consultants in attendance except for Sister Klug who is on her way to the Roots Tech conference in Salt Lake. 

Maxine told me that Barbara and Fred Klug have tickets to go to the dedication of the Rome temple. They leave March 8th. The granddaughter served her mission in Rome and will do all the driving while in Italy. How exciting!

Spent a relaxing evening at home. We watched the first episode of the new season of "When Calls the Heart" and I worked on my blog while James wrote an email to Ben.

Love seeing Charlie and Scarlett in

their Sunday best!

 Our friends Rosa and Dave. Their son

Joe spoke in sacrament meeting today.

Love this series of pictures. The 

last one she looks puzzled, like;

"What's wrong with this baby?"

 I ask James if this is what Pete the crow 

looked like and he said yes.

Tonight's sunset looks good with the snow

and trees.