Sunday, May 27th, 2018

Phoenix, Arizona

144th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Nov, 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Birth of
DC 93:4
The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle and dwelt among the sons of men.
Book of Mormon
Alma 7:1-13
* What does Alma prophesy about the Savior?
-He shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers...he shall go forth suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Old Testament
1 Kings 3-4
3 Solomon loves the Lord and keeps His commandments - The Lord appears to Solomon and promises him a wise and an understanding heart - He judges between two harlots and determines who is the mother of a child.
4 The officers in Solomon's court are listed - Solomon reigns in peace and prosperity over a large kingdom - His wisdom and understanding exceed that of all men.
General Conference

"Be With and Strengthen Them" 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

" Brothers and sisters, as the work of quorums and auxiliaries matures institutionally, it follows that we should mature personally as well - individually rising above any mechanical, function-without-feeling routine to the heartfelt discipleship articulated by the Savior at the conclusion of His earthly ministry."

I was up before five this morning. The first thing I did was weigh myself. I lost 1.2 lbs. this week so I had chocolate cream pie for breakfast.

I spent the morning getting ready for my Relief Society lesson on ministering until it was time to get ready to go.

James loads, the small table I have my family display set up on and a box of photos, my old sewing machine, and two baskets into the car.

We have family prayer in the car. 
The church is packed because it is Memorial Day weekend. The Howard's saved us a place next to them. So nice. On the way in we say hi to the Montgomery's. Dave used to work for James and Tammy grew up in Chandler. We have known her family, the Cluff's, for years. 

The rumor was that the bishopric had asked certain people to bear their testimonies and then if there was any time left they would call people up out of the audience. We were a little nervous but I was confident I wouldn't be called up because I spoke in sacrament meeting last week.

It was nice to have three priests at the sacrament table, Jace, Talon, and Jackson. Talon and Jackson both have suits on and look like missionaries. Jackson has received his mission call to the Philippines and will be leaving in September.

The oldest brother Wilhelm was asked to bear his testimony on the Teaching in the Savior's Way program. He was supposed to take 5 minutes but it ended up taking 10 or more. This is good, less time to call people up out of the audience.

Talon was asked to bear his testimony and did a nice job. 

There was a men's chorus. They sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy."

Bishop Miller's wife bore her testimony about the Pathway program and then Brother Peeler, who loves to speak, bore his testimony on temple and family history work. He took at least 15 minutes. 

When Brother Peeler finished there was some time left so Brother Greer, our high councilman was asked to bear his testimony. I love Brother Greer. He is a former mission president and is just a friendly, happy, cheerful person. His testimony was great. At the end he said that Heavenly Father wants  us to return to Him, that we are His chubby little babies. That made me smile.

Last, but certainly not least, Bishop Miller bore his testimony. In regards to the Savior he said; "I have never seen Him, but I know Him." I felt the Spirit when he said that.

The closing hymn was "Count Your Many Blessings." Afterwards I turned to Jean and told her she was one of my blessings. She gave me a hug.

During Sunday School I was setting up for my lesson. James brought all of my things in for me and then he went to the gospel doctrine class taught by Brother Smith. I really wanted to hear the gospel doctrine lesson and thought maybe I would go in late, but my setup took the entire time. 

First I set up my family history table. Then I was going to put up pictures from the gospel art packet of the Savior ministering but I couldn't get the pictures to stay on the wall. Tamara told me we were allowed to use blue painters tape on the walls, which I had but it does not work. Heather Bowen came in and was trying to help me.

I finally settled on six photos to put up near the chalkboard. By this time Sunday School was out and sisters were coming in to the room.

We had six visitors in Relief Society and one of them played the piano for us. They were great participants in the lesson. It was an easy lesson to teach because everyone has examples of ministering in their lives. Sister Scott even shared something that I never knew. She said they had a son that died and she had a poem about tears that she memorized that helps her. One of the visiting sisters also had a son who had passed away.

After church we went home, ate and took a nap and then began getting ready for our trip to the valley. We left for our timeshare, Sheraton Desert Oasis around 4 and arrived somewhere between 7:30 and 8 o'clock. James checked in with Chrissy and got our owners packet. We are in rooms 2047 and 2048 in Spring Court, building 6 around in the back. Next time I am asking for a downstairs room.

After lugging all of our stuff upstairs, James doing most of the lugging, including an ice chest, we were able to sit down and relax for awhile. 

Very proud of Summer for earning her Young Women's medallion.

Congratulations!

Christina's baby

I just thought this was funny.

Dallin right after graduation.

Kim at Chandler High

This dog is obsessed with Sheri!

Monday, June 19th 2017

Rome, Italy

Estimated completion date:

Mid 2018

John 17:19 

Atonement

3Nephi 13

Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's Prayer; They are to lay up treasures in heaven; The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things.

Alma 19:1-11

King Lamoni and many of his people repent and are baptized.

*Ammon's missionary efforts caused a ripple effect: Ammon, King Lamoni, the queen, Lamoni's servants, Abish, and many other Lamanites.

*What can we learn about the queen in Alma 19:7-11?

DC 88:99-110

95-102, Angelic trumps call forth the dead in their order; 103-16, Angelic trumps proclaim the restoration of the gospel, the fall of Babylon, and the battle of the great God;
What things will be revealed?
* All things will be revealed!
General Conference

"Walk With Me"

President Henry B. Eyring

"Every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; to put at defense the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every bond, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to His will, according to His command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from the foundation of the world." (Joseph Smith)

The Power of the Book of Mormon

President Thomas S. Monson

"We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today?

I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety."

James left for the Howard's around 6 a.m. to work. While he was gone I did my gospel study and then started to get ready to go to the valley. I am spending the week at our timeshare in Scottsdale.

Today I am picking up Darrel and Trina's girls to stay with me.

Before I left I made a green chili stew for James.  It is one of his favorite meals and I was going to fix it for him for Father's Day but James told me he would rather I didn't fix it on Sunday.  It was a good idea because he isn't coming down to the valley until Wednesday and now he will have something to eat in my absence.

I was able to say goodbye to James before I left at 1:45.  I stopped in Show Low at the McDonald's for an ice cream cone. I ended up getting a Happy Meal to go along with my cone because they were giving away Beanie Babies with their Happy Meals, or so I thought. Instead of a Beanie Baby I got a Smurf cup that I ended up throwing away.  What a waste and the food wasn't even that good.

I felt like I was falling asleep between Salt River Canyon and Globe so I stopped a few minutes to rest.  I also stopped in Globe to get gas and then at Walmart to get some earrings because I realize I forgot to wear any and if I don't put some in the holes in my ears will grow back together again. I get some earrings and put them in. I also got some cheese sticks and some cherries to eat on the way.  I do better about staying awake when I eat. This is why I should never drive on long trips.

I arrive at Darrel and Trina's around six. Rowan opens the door and gives me a big hug.  Trina is at work and Lola is asleep. Addy and Ruby are ready to go.

These headphones are her favorite birthday gift!

That's what I call a loaded backpack.

I wonder what's in there?

Addy's bag looks a little less full.

Our first stop was the Chandler mall where we had some

dinner and then took Ruby shopping. She must have spent an hour

in this store and came out with one fake pair of glasses!

Addy did a little decorating once we arrived at the timeshare.

Our timeshare is Sheraton Desert Oasis on

1770 N. Hayden Rd. in Scottsdale. We were assigned

units 1023 and 1024 this stay. I was happy to get downstairs units!

Someone's sleeping in my bed!

Yikes! An alien in the bathroom!

Bambi's going to do a little reading.

Cream staring at his reflection.

I think Flower wants a drink.

Right by the front door to welcome us as we come in.

Now I know what Ruby had in her backpack!

Addy watched "Beauty and the Beast" while I went in to put Ruby to be.  Michael had slept in the bed she was sleeping in the night before and she wanted to know if there were any bedbugs.  I assured her there weren't but we had to check anyway.  We sang, "I Am a Child of God", "Nephi's Courage," and "You Are My Sunshine." You Are My Sunshine is Ruby's signature song.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Frankfurt, Germany

41st operating temple

Enos 1:11-27

*What do we learn about Enos from his prayer for the Lamanites?

*As we experience the blessings of Christ's Atonement, we will seek to help others to receive salvation.  "A great indicator of one's personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others." - President Howard W. Hunter.

*What can we learn about prayer from Enos's example? (The Lord answers our prayers according to our faith and diligence.)

Alma 55

Moroni refuses to exchange prisoners - The Lamanite guards are enticed to become drunk, and the Nephite prisoners are freed - The city of Gid is taken without bloodshed. About 63-62 B.C.

DC 49:1-14

1-7, The day and hour of Christ's coming will remain unknown until He comes; 8-14, Men must repent, believe the gospel, and obey the commandments to gain salvation; 

*What did I learn from these verses?

- Prophets receive revelation for others, Christ is coming again, we must all repent and be baptized.

General Conference

God Shall Wipe Away All Tears 

Elder Evan A. Schmutz

"I have observed in the lives and examples of others that exercising strong and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and His promises provides the sure hope of better things to come.  This sure hope steadies us, bringing the strength and power we need in order to endure.  When we can link our suffering to an assurance of purpose in our mortality and more specifically to the reward awaiting us in heavenly places, our faith in Christ increases and we receive comfort to our souls."

James has to weld his backhoe bucket attachment.  It broke while digging the trench for Salvador's sewer line.  James's friend Bill actually helped James and welded it for him.  Here at home I polished the wood floor in the family/living room.  It looks beautiful until somebody walks on it.  

I had to take a picture of this because it is

proof that it snowed yesterday.

More proof of snow on the hill in the background.

I visit taught Claire today.  Mary said she would go with me but when I texted her she was in town at a teacher conference.  This is the second time she has done this.  I know she is very busy but I wish she wouldn't say she was going if she really can't.

Apache Junction, Arizona

After visiting with Claire, who by the way is moving next month, I drove in to town to get some groceries.  I stopped on the way to Walmart at Taco Bell and got a burrito supreme.  As I was eating it in the Walmart parking lot in my car, I heard a tap on my window.  I turned around and there were my Vernon friends LeeAnn and Alicia.  LeeAnn was one of my young women.  She was so excited because she got her driver's license today.  She turns 17 on April 6th so it was a little long in coming but I was excited for her.

Monument Valley

This evening while blogging I watched an older Garage Sale Mystery I hadn't seen.  My friend Pam messaged me on Facebook and told me she had had a mild heart attack and ask me to remember me in her prayers.  I didn't tell her but I pray for her everyday anyway.  I will be sure and put her name on the temple prayer roll too. 

 A bouquet of flowers Ruby brought me from the valley.

I got several texts from the stake Relief Society president regarding ideas for my talk. She told me of some talks that might help and I told her about Elder Bednar's "Patterns of Light" videos.

Fun Photos

2012 Beach trip.  Ruby is the baby.

When Ruby was here last week I was admiring her

freckles.  She told me about this plaque.

The rest of the pictures were taken at 

Sheraton Desert Oasis in Scottsdale.

These boys love to go there.

Max, Michael, Joshua, Evan

 They love the food at the grill by the pool.

Joshua prefers hamburgers

Michael enjoying nachos.

Daniel, Michael, Connor

Playing Tenzi's

Evan's drink was a little sour.

These guys all like to sleep in the same bed,

here they are watching TV.

The whirlpool in our bedroom.

2014

Ben hooked up the video system.

Handsome kid

Sunday, June 5, 2016

"We must all learn to be true shepherds.  We must

manifest the same love to others that the Good Shepherd

has for all of us.  Each soul is precious to Him."

Alma 11:21-46

What does it mean to be saved?

Amulek teaches to be saved is to inherit the kingdom of God, cleansed from our sins through the Atonement of Christ.

We attended the Galveston 3rd ward today with Sheri and Ian and their boys, Cathi and Terry, and Dave and Laura.  I got hugs from Alex, Paula Casto, and Laurie Jensen.

Ben blessed the sacrament and Max passed.  I love to see my grandsons exercise their priesthood.

Evan gave a talk in Primary.  It was about reading the Book of Mormon and the challenge I issued last year to read it before Easter.  He wrote it himself and it was very good.  Cathi, Sheri, Ian, and I all were there to hear it. 

Cathi and I returned to Sunday School to hear the lesson, "Alma Did Judge Righteous Judgments.  Julio was the teacher and does a great job.  James didn't come to hear Evan's talk because he wanted to hear all of Julio's lesson since it is the one he will be giving next week.  

Lynette Braddock gave the lesson in Relief Society on missionary work.  Vickie Garrison told about her neighbor helping her carry in a keg of beer to a Halloween party she was giving and then asking her if she knew about the Mormon's.  She said she lived in Mesa for several years and this was the first time anyone had ever asked her about the Church.  The rest is history.

After Church I came home and looked up a talk Sheri Dew gave at a BYU Idaho devotional on May 17th.  Gerry Price mentioned it in her testimony today and recommended that everyone should go home and read it.  It is entitled, "Will You Engage in the Wrestle?"
Her premise is: How do we strengthen our faith so that we can defend the faith?  It is such an excellent article.  I recommend it to everyone who has a desire to strengthen their testimonies.

I took a long nap this afternoon and woke up about 4:30.  James and I broke our fast and went down to Sheri's for dinner.  We had meatball subs, veggies, and chocolate chip cookies.  Thank you Sheri for your delicious meals.  
Max and I made condo plans for this week.  I will pick up him, Joshua, and Evan after my dentist appointment on Tuesday and they will spend the night Tuesday and Wednesday.  
Sheri told me something that made me feel like maybe I made some good decisions as a mother.  She said when she and Ian lived in Mesa she would go to church by herself with Alex and Ben when they were little and be upset that Ian wasn't going with her.  She said I told her: "The gospel isn't about contention, it's about love."  She said she has never forgotten that statement.  

We took some of Sheri's homemade salsa back to Cathi and said our goodbye's to Cathi, Terry, Lady, and Indy and headed to Sheraton Desert Oasis in Scottsdale to spend the week in our timeshare.

 The front entrance

Inside the lobby

The fountain in Palm Court outside

of our suite.

Inside our suite

Our family loves this place.

We have lots of memories here.  For two or

three years we had Ruby's birthday party here.

James and I enjoyed the peace and quiet of our first night here.  It might be the only one when we are alone.  I could not go to sleep.  Maybe it's because of the long nap I had this afternoon.