Saturday, January 26th, 2019

St. Paul, Minnesota

69th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Matthew 26:63

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 17:31-47

What message do you think Nephi wanted Laman and Lemuel to get out of verses 17:36-43?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

John 1:43-51

General Conference

Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Christ

Elder Robert C. Gay

"To take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we must not only see as God sees, but we must do His work and serve as He served. We live the two great commandments, submit to God's will, gather Israel, and let our light 'shine before men.' We receive and live the covenants and ordinances of His restored Church. As we do this, God endows us with power to bless ourselves, our families, and the lives of others. Ask yourself, 'Do I know anyone who does not need the powers of heaven in their lives?'"

It was so quiet and lonely in our house this morning. We really miss Jared, Kacey, and Charlie being gone. We enjoyed their visit this week so much! We are already making plans as to when we will see them again. At first we said Charlie's first birthday at the end of next August. Then we realized that was seven months away. Then we decided we would like to go out to Summer's and James's high school graduations on May 31st and June 1st. We are starting to save our money right now!

Kim, Brian, Sheri, and Ian took Jared and Kacey to the Thirsty Lion in Tempe before their flight back to Dallas. 

Sorry Sheri and Ian your faces barely made

the photo.

After lunch it was off to the airport and the flight back to Dallas and then the two hour car ride back to Whitehouse. I think it was past midnight when they finally made it home.

She was a pure joy on this trip!

James and I mailed another book box today and I bought some veggies at Walmart while James did some shopping at Home Depot. The weather was pretty nice today with the high around 45, lots of sun, and no wind.

Somehow I managed to get in my steps and watch an old Hallmark movie today. At 5:30 we left our house to clean the temple. At the church we picked up Anthony and then over to Sister Hunter's. 

When we got to the temple the parking lot was nearly full, including a Budget truck driving around and a police car parked in front. Later we found out the Budget truck had new pictures to put in the temple and the police car was there because some cars in the parking lot, all left unlocked, had items stolen from them. No one could leave the temple until the investigation was complete.

Again we are cleaning with the Show Low Creek ward. Each ward had 17 people, enough to hand out all of the cards. We had asked our people to be there at 6:30, which meant they were all waiting there for almost an hour before we actually started cleaning. Some were a little frustrated. These are the people who attended from our ward. By the way, James had 11 people cancel today so many of these were called at the last minute.

Sam Gordon, Kerri Halcomb, the Skousen's, the Diewald's, the Wallace's, Anthony, Brother Cooper, Brother Scott, Brother Goodman, the Applegate's, us, and Sister Hunter. 

I helped Sister Hunter dust the ground level, and James cleaned in the baptistry which meant he did a lot of bending and twisting.

I enjoyed working with Sister Hunter and visiting with her to and from the temple. We sat in the front seat with me driving because James's license expired. Judy loves to go to the Rootstech conference in Salt Lake and is planning on going again at the end of February. Here she is a couple of years ago.

Judy got to meet Sister Linda Reeves of the

General Relief Society Presidency when she

came and sat down by her. At first Judy did

not know who she was but Sister Reeves 

introduced herself.

We were home before 9:30 and I finished my Hallmark movie, and finished my steps.

This little girl's name is Bostyn. She was baptized today in Show Low. The woman on the left is her grandma Allen and she is in our ward. Bostyn's dress was made by Sister Halcomb in our ward. She is Bostyn's great grandmother and one of the sisters I minister to.

This sweet little girl slept from Dallas, clear through the

night until 8 a.m. the next morning.

 Girl Scout cookie season and I'm trying to

stay away from them.

Game night at Sheri's last night.

Sunday, August 19th, 2018

St. Paul, Minnesota

69th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator

Abraham 4:1

And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth.

Book of Mormon

Alma 52:19-40

*How can working together allow us to overcome difficult tasks?

- We all have different strengths and talents which we are commanded to use to build up the kingdom. Working together is so much easier, and often more effective, than working independently. I always learn when I work with others and feel strengthened. My love for others and the Savior increases. 

When cleaning the temple, if we have the support of ward members we can do it in an hour. If we had to do it alone it would take many hours.

Old Testament

Psalms 44-50

44 The Saints praise the Lord and boast in His name forever - They are persecuted, maligned, and considered as sheep for the slaughter.

45 A messianic psalm - The Messiah is fairer than the children of men - He is anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows - His name will be remembered in all generations.

46 God is our refuge and strength - He dwells in His city, does marvelous things, and says, Be still and know that I am God.

47 The Lord is King over all the earth - Sing praises to His name, for He reigns over all.

48 Zion, the city of God, the joy of the whole earth, will be established forever.

49 Men cannot be ransomed or redeemed by wealth - God alone can redeem a soul from the grave - The glory of a rich man ceases with his death.

50 Asaph speaks of the Second Coming - The Lord accepts the sacrifices of the righteous and will deliver them - Those whose conduct is right will see the salvation of God.

General Conference

With One Accord

Sister Reyna I. Aburto

"Miracles happen when the children of God work together guided by the Spirit to reach out to others in need."

I was up early to work on my blog this morning. 

We left for Chandler around 8:20, stopping at Sheri's to put ingredient for the salad I am making for lunch into her refrigerator. 

We sat by Cathi, Terry, Dave and Laura in the back of the chapel of the Chandler West stake center in the Galveston 3rd ward. Sheri, and Ian and their boys and Shayna, Kim, Brian, Joe, Adam, and Michael in the two rows in front of us. Stacy, Paul, and Joshua came in late because Joshua had to be presented for the priesthood in his sacrament meeting. Darrel and Trina were in the back too. Ian's brother Sean and his wife Megan and their daughter Mattea were also there. 

The meeting was exceptionally wonderful. 

Andrew C. who is now 15, was the youth speaker. He spoke about agency and accountability. Agency is one of our greatest gifts from God. We are responsible for the choices we make.

Brother Ellsworth was the next speaker. He spoke about the importance of family. Brother Ellsworth spoke of his family and how he learned to pray from his parents. He said prayer had been such a blessing in his life. He said that children are an heritage of the Lord, a scripture and a line taken from the Family Proclamation. "If you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do." Brother Ellsworth also spoke about the example of good fathers. He spoke about President Monson, President Nelson's dad, and the letter President Hinckley received from his father on his mission which said, "Forget yourself, and go to work."

Ben was the last speaker. Ben's topic was "How can I prepare to be a good father and husband." He quoted a scripture from DC 49, "Marriage is ordained of God." A future husband and father should live the gospel. 1Corinthians 11:11 - "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." He talked about the family proclamation, DC 20 and told a story from a talk given by Larry Gibson in 2015; Fatherhood is a sacred priesthood responsibility. Alma's visit by an angel, Alma's fathers prayers. Howard W. Hunter: "Being a Righteous Husband and Father." Ben said that in his priesthood ordination by his grandpa, grandpa said the only thing that will be more joyful than his mission would be his temple marriage. He spoke about paragraph 6 in the family proclamation and his patriarchal blessing.

Laura and I had tears running down our cheeks as did Brian and Stacy, and Sheri. Brian saw Ben as a little boy, Stacy saw a glow around Ben. This family needs Ben serving this mission right now.

I love these people!

Joshua was ordained a deacon in the McQueen building during his wards priesthood meeting at 11. We didn't take a picture but these are the people who attended as Paul gave the blessing:

Paul, Stacy, Adam, Michael, Sheri, Ben, Max, Evan, Kim, Brian, James and I from our family. Marvin, Mary, Nicole, Chad and their children, George and his wife Tina (Tina knows Donna and Dianne Ulmer), John, and Devin's wife Kim and her kids Spencer, and Natalie. Paul gave a wonderful blessing.

James and I went to Sheri and Ian's for lunch. Sheri made chicken and Ian made ribs. James made rice and I made salad. Everything was very tasty. After lunch we drove out to east Mesa for Rowan's ordination. Again family gathered for support. Darrel's blessing was touching and both Stacy and I had tears in our eyes when it was over.

I love this family!

Such a great family!

We were tired and went back to Darrel and Trina's for rest and recuperation, at least for me anyway. James left to go visit Sister Peeler who is in a rehab center in Mesa. He was gone a couple of hours. He met the oldest Hunsaker brother while there.

We closed the day with a birthday party for me at Sheri's. 

Thank goodness there weren't 70 candles.

Cathi, Terry, Dave, and Laura came to the party but none of them ate any cake or ice cream. They are dieting and they all look like they have lost weight. Speaking of losing weight Paul has lost 80 lbs, Darrel 56, Kim and I 25, James 20, and Stacy 12. We are just a bunch of losers.

Here are some more candid photos from my party:

Best birthday ever!!

Tuesday, March 13th, 2018

St. Paul, Minnesota

69th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Authority of

Mosiah 15:1

And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 31:1-21

 *Since we're saved by Christ's grace, why does it matter that we follow His example and endure to the end?

- We are saved by grace after all we can do, according to Nephi.

Old Testament

Numbers 27-28

27 Law of inheritances to sons and daughters and kinsmen set forth - Moses shall see but not enter promised land - Joshua called and set apart to lead Israel.

28 Sacrifices to be offered each morning and evening, on sabbath, on first day of each month, at Passover, each day of feast of unleavened bread, ad at feast of firstfruits.

General Conference

By Divine Design

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

" When we are righteous, willing, and able, when we are striving to be worthy and qualified, we progress to places we never imagined and become part of Heavenly Father's 'divine design.' Each of us has divinity within us. When we see God working through us and with us, may we be encouraged, even grateful for that guidance. When our Father in Heaven said, 'This is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, He was talking about all of His children - you in particular."

The Heart of the Widow

Elder O. Vincent Haleck

" My prayer for each of us is a plea to have the heart to bear our burdens, make necessary sacrifices, and have the will to do and to give."

We had five elk bedded down by our fence outside the bedroom window this morning. Soon they were up and walking around with several of their friends. Everyone was asleep. Darrel was the first up, besides James and I and he caught a glimpse of them. Addy told me that next time I should wake her up!

Darrel and Trina and the kids clean and leave by 9 a.m. because Darrel has to go to work.

Not sure why Darrel looks so worried.

Before leaving James played a match game with Ruby and Lola. Does he not know that Ruby is the queen of the match game?

Lola is actually pretty good at this game too.

James said they were pretty even until Ruby

went on a run and took all the cards that

were left on the table. 

Goodbye one more time!

They were home before one and I got a text saying that Lola had taken a remote and the toy phone. The remote is to an old DVD played that we don't use, thank goodness. I told her she could keep them if she would let me play with them when I come down. She agreed.

I watched part of a new Hallmark movie, scrapped polish off the floor, walked, and caught up on my gospel study today. 

We went to the post office and picked up two packages. When we got home I realized there should have been one more package and so James went back and sure enough Debbie said to him when he walked in: "You forgot a package." All of the packages were books that I had ordered.

I was especially excited to receive the book, "A Reason for Faith."

Sister Hales got the idea for this book because she couldn't answer all the questions her kids asked about the Church, so she consulted the experts.

James and I watched "Heartland" this evening.

Look how much they've changed!

We saw "Cinderella" together.

Look at the price of the ticket.

Unbelieveable!

Interesting

Thursday, October 5th, 2017

St. Paul, Minnesota

69th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan. 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal

2 Nephi 11:2

And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

Helaman 15:7-16:18

*How can faith and repentance bring about a change of heart?

-President Ezra Taft Benson on following the words of the prophets:

"When the prophet points out the sins of the world, the worldly, rather than repent of their sins, either want to close the mouth of the prophet of else act as if the prophet didn't exist. Popularity is never a test of truth. Many a prophet has been killed or cast out. As we come closer to the Lord's second coming, you can expect that as the people of the world become more wicked, the prophet will be less popular with them" ("The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 133).

*What messages from General Conference stood out to you?

- I liked Brother Stephen Owen's talk on "Repentance Is Always Positive." Another good one was Elder Cook's talk on humility.

DC 18:10

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

General Conference

A Yearning for Home

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Turn your soul toward the light. Begin your own wonderful journey home. As you do so, your life will be better, happier, and more purposeful."

I am using the house as my racetrack to get my steps in. I love it because I can walk in my socks and no preparation is required.

Third day in a row

I made baked burrito casserole for lunch. Yummy! It tastes like a Taco Bell burrito supreme. I got the recipe from my friend Hailey.

James finished writing his talk for Sunday and now he's waiting for me to type it. It's 25 minutes long. He says that means I have 12 minutes. His talk is on parenting and mine is on my impressions of General Conference. 

There is a full moon tonight so of course James went outside and bugled for elk. To his disappointment, there was no answer.

No time for TV or reading because of our talks.

James did have some time to work on the patio.

It is going to have a fire pit in it.

Stacy posted this on Facebook

October 5, 2016

October 5, 2015

Case grandkids: Four of them are ours too!

We love that Sheri and Ian's family visit us every

fall break.

Puzzles are a favorite activity

So are smores

I guess he ate too many smores

Back at home Evan tries out his

Halloween costume.

We took Evan and Joshua to Rowan's 

wards Halloween party. This costume was no fun

when everyone else was jumping in the

bounce house.

This photo came up under October 5, 2015 but

I think it was taken a few years before.

I like these clouds