Saturday, February 25, 2017

Birmingham, Alabama

98th operating temple

2 Nephi 18:1-22

Christ shall be as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense - Seek the Lord, not peeping wizards - Turn to the law and to the testimony for guidance - Compare Isaiah 8.

Alma 5:41-7:10

The Good Shepherd calleth his people - Those who do evil works are children of the devil - Alma testifies of the truth of his doctrine and commands men to repent - Names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life. 6 - The Church in Zarahemla is cleansed and set in order - Alma goes to Gideon to preach. 7 - Christ shall be born of Mary - He shall loose the bands of death and bear the sins of his people - Those who repent, are baptized, and keep the commandments shall have eternal life - Filthiness cannot inherit the kingdom of God - Humility, faith, hope, and charity are required.

DC 32:1-5

How can this section give us confidence that the Lord is always with us?

Song: "Be Still My Soul"

GC:            'The Doctrine of Christ' by Brian K. Ashton

Douglas D. Holmes, First Counselor in the YMGP, has written: 

 "The ordinances of baptism and the sacrament symbolize both the end result and process of being born again.  In baptism, we bury the old man of flesh and come forth to a newness of life.  

In the sacrament, we learn that this change is a step-by-step process, where little by little, week by week, we are transformed as we repent, covenant and through increased endowments of the Spirit, become like the Savior."

GC:                       'Serve' by Elder Carl B. Cook

"Brothers and sisters, accepting and fulfilling a calling is an act of faith.  President Monson says:

'Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies,' and

'When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help.'"

We attended the 8 o'clock session at the Snowflake temple this morning.  There are a few regulars in this session: Jerry Frost, and the little Filipino sister and her husband.  Also in this session Brother Peeler and Bishop Miller from our ward.  We did our regular after session selfie.

 A couple of oldies and the Angel Moroni.

I tried something at El Cupido's that I've never had before, a carna asada burrito.  I think it is my new favorite.  At Walmart we got some pork chops and walnuts, two staples at our house.  

Painting or photo?  You tell me.

After my nap this afternoon I spent some time doing my regular gospel study that I normally do in the morning.  I read from my book, "Contrite Spirit," and then from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.  We listened to two conference talks on the way to the temple.  While I was working on my blog James came and ask me to go with him to see if we could find where Brother Slaughter lives.  James has been called to be his visiting teacher.  He doesn't have a phone number but we do have an address for him.  

James stopped at the place with his address but they had never heard of him.  There was no other possible place around that could have been his.  It was a little like the "Twilight Zone."  Did he just disappear?  James reported it to the ward membership clerk and he said he would send his records to Salt Lake.

This is a picture of Ben helping Adam celebrate 

his birthday.

It was a cold day here in Vernon so of course James built a fire.  I am tired of the dusty footprints so this is what I have devised until I can get some more rugs:

A trail to the fireplace

In our "Lady of the Lakes" book Walter Scott and Charlotte are falling in love.  It is starting to get good.  

We had pork chops and applesauce for dinner.  The applesauce is some that I canned at the cannery in Mesa in 2001 but it is still good.  

I was too tired to study my Primary lesson this evening so I decided I would get up at 4 a.m.  

Fun Photos and Starbucks

You're too expensive anyway!

Kim and Brian went to Tucson last night to

this concert.

A younger Evan at school.

Adam helping Gpa on his shed.

Visiting Teaching goodie basket.

Jared posted this last year.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Another Selfie attempt at the Snowflake temple

Alma 50:1-20

1 - Moroni digs up heaps of earth round about all the cities throughout all the land possessed by the Nephites.

2 - On top of the ridges of earth he had built works of timber as tall as a man.

3 - Upon the timbers were pickets.

4 - He had towers and places of security to be built.

5 - They could cast stones from the top thereof.

7 - Moroni has his armies drive the Lamanites out of the east wilderness into their own lands south of Zarahemla.

9 - The Nephites possess the east wilderness.

10 - Moroni continues to build fortifications in the south of the land northward.

13-14 - The Nephites begin to build cities, Moroni, and Nephihah.

15 - They also built one in the north called Lehi.

16 - Thus ended the 20th year.

18 - The Nephites did prosper exceedingly and they became exceedingly rich.

19 - The Lord is merciful and just in fulfilling all His words unto the children of men which He spake unto Lehi saying:

20 - Blessed art thou and thy children and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land.  But inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

GC: "To the Rescue: We Can Do It" by Elder Arnold and "The Sacred Place of Restoration" by Elder Mazzagardi.

Our temple names today: Marietta Davis and Solomon Bales

On the way home from the temple James dropped me off at Teresa Smith's home for a Relief Society progressive dinner.  We had appetizers at Teresa's and then moved to Rosie Lauritzen's for the main course.  I drove with Trenda and Sandra Wilhelm, Tammy Grap, and Ashley Reidhead.  I felt like I was in the fun, young car.  Ashley is new in our ward and was recently called as the Relief Society secretary.  She has a two year old and a three month old baby.  

Rosie Lauritzen is a great cook.  She had prepared chicken enchiladas and rice and meat.  We had several non-member women attend.  Teresa gave a lesson and Tamara Applegate shared some stories of her young married years in Relief Society.

Monument Valley

Just in case you were going to sleep reading 

my boring blog, I place pictures to wake you up.

Our final destination was Amy Reynolds' for dessert.  We had a yummy banana torte with pecan encrusted crust.  I rode back to the church with Stefani Hunsaker and Linda Price and then Linda Price drove me home.  I sure do like her and wish she and John would move up here year round.

I was exhausted when I got home and in dire need of a nap.  James was working outside.  He actually burned some of the brush that has been piling up the past few months.

I spent the afternoon preparing for my Primary lesson on Samuel the Lamanite.  

This evening I read from "The Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World", and "The China Study."  Good reading!!

I texted with Pam Giles this evening.  I saw her today but we really didn't get to visit.  I told her about Prolympian and how excited I am about it.  Pam is a good friend.

Tricia and her kids left for Houston today.  They are going on a cruise with Christine, Tricia's birth mother.  Here are some pictures Anna took in the car.

Two beautiful girls.

James catching up on his sleep.

Trina is excited about her upcoming hiking adventure to Havasupai.  She ordered some goodies to take with her.

How good can this be?

At least the picture looks good.

Paul posted this picture:

Michael has his phone to entertain him but

Joshua looks bored.