Sunday, April 21st, 2019

Star Valley, Wyoming

154th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct 2016

By: David A. Bednar

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Mormon 7:5

Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 12:17-13:4

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:13-35; John 20:19-29

General Conference

Great Love for Our Father's Children

Quentin L. Cook

"Love is the primary attribute and motive for the spiritual purposes we were charged to undertake by our beloved prophet."

A beautiful Easter morning. My favorite day of the year.

In my gospel study this morning I read these two scriptures:

Alma 36:1-24. Alma's story and testimony...whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials...and shall be lifted up at the last day.

3 Nephi 9:13. Return unto me and repent of your sins and be converted that I may heal you.

We were going to go to church with Darrel and Trina but today was Ian Wanlass's farewell and the last Sunday the Wanlass's will be in Chandler so we attended the Galveston 3rd ward with Sheri's family, Dave & Laura, and Terry & Cathi. I am so glad we did.

Christy's talk was short but wonderful. Ian's talk was outstanding. You would have thought he was a return missionary the way he preached to everyone about the importance of repentance. He told his own personal story and how he repented and gave up all of his friends in high school and spent most of his senior year eating alone in his car. He told of making new friends, and Ben is one of those new best friends. Ian will be serving in Argentina and he will be a wonderful missionary. Christy actually recorded his talk to send to Ben. After their missions both Ben and Ian will be attending BYU-Idaho.

Even though Sheri is in the Primary presidency she taught Primary today for a sister who just had a baby. She asked me if I would help her, which I did. These are the same kids James and I taught in 2015 when they were four and five. Now they are eight and nine.

Here is a picture I took:

Liam, Isaiah, Malachi, Scarlett

Scarlett is the only one we didn't have in our class.

Ben texted Sheri and told her he would be skyping around 1 pm. I wanted to go and say hi but James had already planned on going to see his mom and Dawn. Laura said they were all going over and taking dinner at 4:30 and invited us. I thanked her but James nixed the idea because we have leftover food he was thinking about at Darrel and Trina's. He loves those Easter beans. 

While we were at Lois and Dawn's James visited with Dawn and I visited with Lois. Lois is tired of being a guinea pig. Her feet are swelling and this is a concern. She did not do any walking while we were there. Dawn was making a banana cream pie for their upcoming 4:30 dinner.

Darrel and Trina were still at church when we got back to there house. James wanted to get ready to leave. I told him I wanted to stay and see if they were going to do their "Come Follow Me" lesson. We ate our dinner and then waited for their return. Their meetings started at 1:30 so they were back a little before 4. We visited a little and I realized that they were going to dinner at Trina's parents house, so that's when I decided it was time for us to go. I had mentioned the lesson the night before and didn't want to "hound" them. We left for home at 5 and after stopping at the post office we still made it home before 8. I don't normally like to travel on Sunday but it was nice to be home.

Easter morning

 Lucretia and the Campbell kids

The Whalen family

Monday, November 12th, 2018

Star Valley, Wyoming

154th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct 2016

By: David A. Bednar

Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of

Acts 13:23

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus:

Book of Mormon #1

3 Nephi 27:13-33

*How can we strive to be more like Christ?

- President Ezra Taft Benson said: "The entire ministry of the Master was characterized by His voluntary subordination to His Heavenly Father's will, and in the Savior's own words: 'I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me...for I do always the things that please Him' (John 8:28-29). 

Christ was not only perfectly obedient, but maybe even more importantly, perfectly trusting. So if we choose, like Jesus Christ, to trust more completely, to follow more obediently, and to make doing the will of our Father the core motivation behind decision-making, focus, thoughts, actions, and if we make understanding His will our very purpose, what could the ripple effect of that be? Would we become more like the Savior? Would we be cultivating and deepening Christlike virtues such as truth, wisdom, patience, kindness, gentleness, love, godliness, faith, and self-control? Would we be more completely and exactly following the Savior's example? Would we experience deeper peace, happiness, and joy? Elder Maxwell said: 'Only by aligning our wills with God's is full happiness to be found...progression toward submission confers.an enhanced capacity for joy.'"

Book of Mormon #2

Alma 15-17

Old Testament

Ezekiel 41-43

General Conference

Believe, Love, Do

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"We achieve that abundant life not by focusing on our own needs or on our own achievements but by becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ - by following in His ways and engaging in His work. We find the abundant life by forgetting ourselves and engaging in the great cause of Christ."

For Him

Joy D. Jones

"We realized that we were sincerely striving to serve this family and to serve our bishop, but we had to ask ourselves if we were really serving out of love for the Lord. King Benjamin made clear this distinction when he stated, 'Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.'"

In site of the cold weather, the high was 33 today, I am feeling so much better than I did last week and the week before. 

I stayed inside and was nice and cozy because James built a big and and kept the house warm all day.

James moved his office upstairs this morning instead of at the end of the dining room table. He's making phone calls about this job in Mesa that he is supposed to do next week, or the week after.

James came down to fry up some venison for lunch. He gave me the steaks and he took the heart and the liver! I made a salad.

While I was walking this afternoon James left for the Howard's.

Besides walking I also made Trina's Levian Bakery cookies, and worked on our book biz. I learned how to change our shipments  from merchant fulfilled to Fulfilled by Amazon. This is supposed to be better but I'm not sure why because it is quite costly.

Oh my gosh! These cookies are delicious! I need to get them out of my sight!

This batch was the best.

While talking on the phone with Sister Howard about our lunch date tomorrow she told me that James fell off a ladder today, hit Tom and they both went tumbling to the ground. James hit a rock. 

Funny, when he came in earlier he never mentioned falling off a ladder. When I asked him about it, he admitted he wasn't going to tell me and then proceeded to tell me he thinks he cracked some ribs. I think I might have noticed that he was in such great pain.

I heard from Stacy today and from Sister Price reminding me about card making class tomorrow. I said if she was here I was going but I had to leave early for a lunch date. 

Along with Ben's email and his answer, I texted Max today and shared with him Alma 36:3 -"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." Max texted me back and said, "Thank you, that was awesome." I talked with Ben a little bit about Max and how he is feeling and told him I thought Max needed to have his faith strengthened and would he, Ben, please help. He said he did and wondered why his family was going through such trials. He shared with Max one of his favorite scriptures, Helaman 5:12 - "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which e are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Every week when I email Ben I am going to also send something uplifting to Max.

Tanner is in the hospital with mesenteric adenitis, inflammation of the lymph nodes located in your mesentery. The mesentery is the membrane that attaches your intestines to the inside wall of your abdomen. Lymph nodes are collections of tissue that filter bacteria, viruses, and waste substances from the bloodstream. We said a special prayer for Tanner this evening. 

Hate to see this guy down. He is always

so full of life and energy.

For FHE we listened to Sister Jones's conference talk, "For Him," one of my favorites. I love Sister Jones! 

Afterwards we watched a new Hallmark movie, "A Veteran's Christmas." Fitting for veterans day.

This shirt is one that I got Scarlett for

her birthday. She looks so cute!

 So excited for Kris and Kristine. They are such a

sweet couple!

I have to have my Charlie fix everyday!

 Enough cuteness....I've got to take a nap.

Future athletes of America
Lola and Ruby

Wednesday, June 6th, 2018

Star Valley, Wyoming

154th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct 2016

By: David A. Bednar

Jesus Christ, Condescension of

Mosiah 15:2

And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son-

Book of Mormon

Alma 12:1-19

*What things keep us from receiving the "greater portion of the word"?

Talk: The Spirit of Revelation

By: David A. Bednar

April 2011

Old Testament

1 Kings 21-22

21 Ahab desires the vineyard of Naboth - Jezebel arranges for false witnesses, and Naboth is stoned for blasphemy - Elijah prophesies that Ahab and Jezebel and their house will be destroyed.

22 Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahab of Israel join forces against Syria - Ahab's prophets foretell success - Micaiah foretells the defeat and death of Ahab - Ahab is slain and dogs lick up his blood - Jehoshaphat reigns in righteousness in Judah - Ahaziah reigns in Israel and serves Baal.

General Conference

One More Day

Elder Taylor G. Godoy

"I learned from this sweet sister that personal sacrifice is an invaluable force that drives our decisions and our determinations. Personal sacrifice drives our actions, our commitments, and our covenants and gives sacred things meaning."

Russell M. Nelson 4/13 #61. Catch the Wave.

I thank God and His Son, Jesus Christ, for the Restoration and its power to propel a magnificent wave of truth and righteousness across the earth."

Dale G. Renlund The Melchizedek Priesthood - Chapter 20 - Principle 12 - A Priesthood Holder Sees Himself as Equal with Others

An antelope doe came to visit today. She laid next to our side yard fence for awhile this morning, left, and was back this evening. James thinks she has a fawn somewhere. I wish she would stay with us. Antelope are my favorite.

I learned so much about reading this article.

I wonder why we don't celebrate this

holiday more.

We have had so many natural disasters lately. The volcano in Hawaii has erupted again and 100's have lost their homes. Another volcano erupted in Guatemala and we have the wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico. Is this the beginning of the cleansing  in preparation for the 2nd Coming of the Savior?

I called Sister Burton today because Tamara said they needed help packing and cleaning. I told her I could help tomorrow and she said she would call me back this evening and let me know if I was needed. I never heard from her so I thought maybe she would call tomorrow morning. I guess they have already moved to St. Johns.

I made an unexpected trip to town with James to get or order tractor parts for our small skidsteer. I picked up five prescriptions at Walmart and did some shopping, but I forgot to get bananas. 

James made us green smoothies for dinner.

Watched Poldark and read from "Riders on the Orphan Train."

The Pace's celebrated their 50th anniversary today!

Congratulations!

My favorite character on Poldark, Demelza.