Sunday, July 28th, 2019

Adelaide, Australia

89th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Revelations 3:14

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Book of Mormon

Alma 41:1-15

New Testament: Review: "The Lord Has Called for Us to Preach the Gospel"

General Conference

Prepared To Obtain Every Needful Thing

Elder David A. Bednar

"If all you or I know about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel is what other people teach or tell us, then the foundation of our testimony of Him and His glorious latter-day work is built upon sand. We cannot rely exclusively upon or borrow gospel light and knowledge from other people - even those whom we love and trust."

Sister Shealyn Smith reported on her mission to the Indianapolis, Indiana mission. She said there were 8 things she learned while serving her mission:

1. Sacrifice - Love God and be willing to sacrifice with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

2. Count blessings - Be grateful for the blessings you enjoy in your life and thank Heavenly Father for those blessings. Look at your blessings instead of your burdens. Your burdens may become your blessings.

3. Always rely on faith - Alma 32, faith is like a growing seed planted in gospel soil. Matthew 17 - We must have faith as a grain of mustard seed.

4. Knowledge - Seek and continue to learn. Ether 12:27 - weak things may become strengths. Rely on the Spirit to learn.

5. Patience and God's timing - Trust in the Lord and have an eternal perspective. Sister Smith learned to get along with difficult companions through patience and God's timing

6. Loving and serving God's children - Being exactly obedient requires us to listen to the Spirit. The Lord puts missionaries exactly where they need to be.

7. Listening to the Spirit - Sister Smith learned to recognize when God was talking to her. See Galations 5 for a list of spiritual gifts.

8. Rely on the Savior - "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13). This is the scripture I relied on when I came down with rheumatoid arthritis. I call it "My scripture." 

God loves us and wants to bless us.

Brother/Dr. Reagan of the high council was the next speaker. He said he brings a message of love from the stake presidency and then recognized that they are all with us today sitting on the stand.

He spoke on making our homes a place of spirituality and how we should not be lulled into carnal security. 

He talked about no contention in our homes and he quoted the Savior from 3 Nephi 17:3 when he told the people to go home and ponder the things that they had learned.

The Star Spangled Banner was the closing hymn and then Rosa Westbrook gave the closing prayer. She is a sister from Mexico and she speaks with a spanish accent. I thought it was appropriate for her to give the closing prayer after singing the Star Spangled Banner.

Sister Becky Skousen gave the lesson in Relief Society from Elder Bednar's latest conference address, "Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing." Elder Bednar emphasizes a home-centered, Church supported curriculum and the importance of making our homes missionary training centers, family history centers, and training centers for preparing our children for the temple. It was a great lesson and we had lots of participation and lots of visitors.

Thanks to Anthony for setting up the microphone.

I had a nice phone conversation with Sheri today. I love talking to my children and I am so grateful when they call. We are worried about Max who is refusing to go to Church. I gave her some counsel on what she might do to avoid a confrontation with him. 

Kacey posted this about Charlie:

We have thought a couple of times that Charlie was saying amen after prayer. Tonight Jared got halfway through his prayer and she started saying over and over again, very clearly, "Mamen." I think she was telling him to wrap it up. It was the cutest!!"

Charlie is growing up so fast and we would be missing these moments if Kacey wasn't sharing with us. I am grateful for all that she shares so that we feel like we are a part of Charlie's life.

 Love Scarlett's Sunday photos!

Finally fits in to the 6 month dress

I gave her.

Paul's post

 A Brazilian cloudburst

Tonight's sunset in Vernon

Saturday, August 23, 2014

"Christ's Atonement overcomes the effects of the

Fall, but it doesn't help us overcome bad habits unless we 

receive and apply it over time.  

The justified must still be sanctified."

-Brad Wilcox

James's project for this weekend was to write a talk.  He is scheduled to speak in the Sierra Pines ward on Sunday.

At 10am I went down to help at the RS clothing exchange.  Things were kind of slow so Wendy DeWitt sent me home.  

James had promised he would take me to LaCasita for my birthday, so away we went.  When we got to LaCasita we found it closed with a note on the door saying they were closed because of family matters and they would re-open on Tuesday, August 26th.  I must say I was disappointed.  We had lunch at El Rancho which was not as good as LaCasita but not bad either.  I got a call from Sheri as we were leaving El Rancho and we talked all the way to Walmart.  While I was shopping I was still talking to her until I got to the water.  I told her I had to go because I needed two hands to lift the water.  I love talking to my girls!  James went to Home Depot while I was in Walmart.  

On the way back to Vernon I read to James from the book "As You Are."  He loves for me to read to him.  

When we got home I spent an hour or so typing James's talk and then I fixed dinner while he was studying.  For dinner we had chicken, bacon, ranch panini's.  They were again delicious!

I watched Cedar Cove while James practiced his talk, then we went to bed because we have to get up early.

Sheri sent me these pictures of Lola today just to make me jealous and it worked!

 At the Lego Store

 My favorite!

 I couldn't resist posting this one!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Everyday the swelling in my face goes down but it turns more purple.  I have a purple circle around my eye and then shades of purple all the way down to my chin.  I know it's my favorite color, but this is ridiculous.  

My only real accomplishments today were writing on my blog and doing some laundry.  No sense in doing my hair or makeup.  James and I read Alma 12 and then I did say our family prayer.  The highlight of my day was when Sheri called to see how I was.  She is so sweet and thoughtful.

James went in to town today to pick up his blood thinner meds and forgot his wallet.  Walgreen's has a policy they have to swipe your card.  We found that out when he asked if I could call in my debit card number.  I guess that means another trip to town tomorrow.  So much for our one trip to town a week policy.

Tonight James watched three episodes of The Mentalist with me. 

I am beginning to get cabin fever.