Monday, July 20th, 2020

Nauvoo, Illinois

113th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-30 June 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Light of the World

Isaiah 2:5

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 36:1-16

April General Conference

"Fulfillment of Prophecy"

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

 We live in that time prophesied; we are the people charged with ushering in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ; we are to gather God's children, those who will hear and embrace the truths, covenants, and promises of the everlasting gospel. President Nelson calls it "the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today." Of that miracle I bear my witness.

I had five of the books I bought last week be cancelled, this happened yesterday so I ignored it until this morning. I finally figured out why they were cancelled. I pay for them with my Amazon Store card and the limit on that card is $1,000. I evidently went over the limit so that's why these books were cancelled. The first thing I did when I got up this morning was pay off the card and re-order the books. Some of them went up in price. I also went to settings on the Amazon Seller page and managed a backup payment in case this ever happens again.

I listened to Book of Mormon Central this morning while working on the computer. Brother John Welch was there as a guest speaker. He is actually the founder of Book of Mormon Central and the person who discovered chiasmus in the Book of Mormon while on his mission in Ravensburg, Germany in 1967. He had listened to a lecture on chiasmus in the Bible. The next morning as he was reading in Mosiah 5 he discovered it in verses 10-12. About six months later he discovered the masterpiece of chiasmus in Alma 36. I loved listening to Brother Welch and appreciated his testimony of chiasmus, a Hebrew and Near East literary style foreign to Joseph Smith, and how in Alma 36 it points to the Savior as the center point of Alma's testimony. He talked about Alma 36 being a roadmap for repentance and a change of heart. 

James went to the post office today and brought back ten new books for me. I was happy to see that none of my books are stranded and I also repriced 60 of my books in inventory.

James is worried about the job in Peoria. On Saturday the framer didn't show up because his wife had a baby. James called another framer but he wanted twice as much to do it as James had budgeted. The only solution he could think of was to go down himself and do the job along with help from Sal. He plans on leaving tomorrow afternoon. 

This evening James and I watched the movie, "The Fighting Preacher." This is the story of Willard and Rebecca Bean who were called on a mission to the Joseph Smith farm in Palmyra township, New York. This was in 1915. Brother Bean was a retired boxer. The people were so unkind to the Bean's simply because they were Mormons. By the end of their mission, 24 years later, the longest in Church history, the Bean's were the most well-liked people in the community and people were upset that they were leaving. Some of the acting is a little unprofessional but the message is so inspirational!

Follow the Prophet

If he says to look at a serpent on a stick,

do it.

If he says to wear a mask,

do it.

My books

Friday, February 28th, 2020

Manaus, Brazil

138th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 June 2012

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Judge

2 Nephi 12:4

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks-nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

2 Nephi 29

Many Gentiles will reject the Book of Mormon - They will say, We need no more Bible - The Lord speaks to many nations - He will judge the world out of the books which will be written. 

Saints Volume 2

Chapter 28 - Until the Coming of the Son of Man
Chapter 29 - To Die in the Harness

 Take Up Our Cross

Elder Ulisses Soares

"My dear friends, we must remember that taking our cross upon ourselves includes being humble and trusting in God and in His infinite wisdom We must acknowledge that He is aware of each of us and of our needs. It is also necessary to accept the fact that the Lord's timing is different than ours. Sometimes we seek for a blessing and set a time limit for the Lord to fulfill it. We cannot condition our faithfulness to Him by imposing upon Him a deadline for the answers to desires."

To help his disciples to understand that devotion to His work includes submission and suffering, the Savior emphatically declared:

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lost his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

I was listening to Elder Soares talk and when I heard "To help his disciples to understand that devotion to His work includes submission and suffering" it really struck me. I thought of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the suffering he endure for the gospel. I thought to myself, what have I suffered for the Lord to show Him that I love Him and want to obey Him? I have made sacrifices in order to be obedient but I don't consider that as suffering. Am I doing enough?

I am starting another blog. This one is to record my life history. It is called karenmaxwelllambson.blogspot.com. At least once a week I will be sharing a story from my past. I have been wanting to write my life story but it always feels so overwhelming. If I can do it a story at a time, line upon line, so to speak, maybe I can get started.

Another day spent at home blogging, working on books, walking, eating, and studying the gospel. Tomorrow we are scheduled to work at the temple. I do not have rolls to fix so I made some brownies instead. 

My books are all inventoried and ready to ship. James helped me clean them up. I noticed one that I bought is an Indian edition. It looks just like the English edition but I am afraid to send it in because we are not supposed to sell Indian editions. I guess I will  get on the book arbitrage Facebook group and see if I can get some direction. In the mean time I may wait until next week to send in this shipment of books.

I made green chili stew today. I was going to take it to the temple tomorrow but decided not to. James and I will eat it on Sunday and then probably a few days next week when we get back from the valley. 

Spent the evening studying JS-H 1:14-26 and 2 Nephi 29.

 Morning sunrise

 Trina and Tristan in Hawaii

Alex's drawing

 Dallen Lambson's latest creation

Tonight's Sunset

Tuesday, December 10th, 2019

Guayquil, Ecuador

58th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 Aug 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Genesis 22:14

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

Book of Mormon

Ether 8:1-17

New Testament

Revelation 2-3; I/F and SS lessons; Ensign article on Revelation

10/19 General Conference

"Witnesses, Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, and Young Women Classes"

President Russell M. Nelson

"Earlier this week, announcements were made to members of the Church about changes in policy regarding who may serve as witnesses to baptism and sealing ordinances. I would like to highlight one of these points:

1. A proxy baptism for a deceased person may be witnessed by anyone holding a current temple recommend, including a limited-use recommend."

"Adjustments to Strengthen Youth"

Elder Quentin L, Cook

"To help our youth navigate the maze of choices available to them, the Church has prepared three profound and comprehensive initiatives. First, curriculum has been strengthened and expanded to the home. Second, a children and youth program that includes exciting activities and personal development was presented just last Sunday by President Nelson, President Ballard, and the General Officers. A third initiative is organizational changes to make youth a more significant focus of our bishops and other leaders. This focus must be spiritually powerful and help our youth become the youth battalion President Nelson has asked them to become."

I prayed this morning that the Lord with help me with my diet.

I listened to several "Come Follow Me" podcasts today and the book webinar this morning with Kris and Kathy. Friday is the Live Event for Book Arbitrage in Nashville. Of course, I'm not going. 

I ordered two helps for next year's study of the Book of Mormon. One was the study journal for Dave and Emily's lesson and the other is for the Redheaded Hostess study. I'm going to be prepared and I'm very excited to be totally studying the Book of Mormon next year. This year it's been the New Testament for "Come Follow Me" and the Book of Mormon because we read the Book of Mormon every year.

I got a text from Walmart today. Our new computers are ready to pick up. We won't be going until tomorrow to get them. I'm very excited!

Anthony's heater went out tonight. He does not have electricity so James took him a propane heater. The heater is so big and puts out so much heat that Anthony was afraid to use it. He said he tried to use it and his ceiling started melting. He said that Cammy Grapp ordered him one at Walmart and she will go tomorrow to pick it up for him. 

I watched two Christmas movies today, "Grounded for Christmas", and "A Homecoming for the Holidays."

 Beautiful sunrise

 I love the lights reflected in the window

Sounds yummy!

 I love this family tradition