Happy Sabbath
Can anyone identify this temple?
Although this church in Switzerland is beautiful, it
doesn't even compare to the temple.
When I got up this morning around 4 o'clock, I could hear water running. I ask James, who was still sleeping, if he had the water on somewhere. It took him awhile to wake up and then he said: Oh, darn! I turned it on last night when you locked me out and it was only supposed to be on 5 minutes. It's the only station without a timer. I reminded him that we had timers on our phones. Thank goodness our well didn't run dry.
Before finishing my lesson preparation, I spent an hour meditating and praying and thinking about my testimony. I wrote my testimony in my testimony journal and felt prepared if I felt prompted to bear it today in fast and testimony meeting.
Here are some of my visual aids and handouts to go with my lesson on Jesus giving the sacrament to the Nephites.
This was Curtis's favorite picture.
I never made this connection until a couple of months ago when
Sheri said a speaker in their ward spoke about it. I love all the symbolism involved in the Sacrament.
If you notice, the sacrament cups have scriptures on them.
I gave each child a cup and they looked up a scripture.
I then read a question and they answered the question by reading
their scriptures.
These were my handouts. I went through the Sacrament
meditation book with the children. Kacey loved it and chose this for her activity. Curtis and Zemira both did the other exercise.
We read the scriptures and then figured out which picture went with what scripture, beginning with the Last Supper.
All three of the children in class today earned a reward and get to choose something from my reward basket after church.
Curtis's little brother Johnny, who is 4 came out and I had to give him something too. He is just too cute.
I love this quote by Elder Holland.
Four of the testimonies in our sacrament meeting today touched me. The first was from my dear friend Diana whom I worked with in Young Women's. Her son, Dustin, who is in his late 20's has cancer. She thanked everyone for the kind thoughts, prayers and concerns and she told us Dustin said he could feel our prayers.
Right after Diana was Rusty our newly returned missionary who was called into the elder's quorum presidency to work with his dad. He said that he was going to share with us the favorite part of his testimony, which is that he is a son of God and that he knows that God loves him. He then bore testimony of the Savior. It was sweet.
A new brother in our ward with a young family told about his wife wanting to go to the temple and because of a recent move they were unable to find her temple bag. They had prayed but it wasn't until their 8 year old daughter Leona prayed that they found the bag. Actually Leona found it. He said he was thankful that Heavenly Father had not answered their previous prayers because that was a faith promoting experience for his daughter, Leona.
Our former bishop bore testimony of the knowledge that the prayers of the righteous are a protection to those who need them. He mentioned people in his family who are struggling with their testimonies right now, including his son. One of his sons is on a mission and the other is a return missionary.
It was a good meeting and there was never a lull in people getting up to bear testimony. The two elder's assigned to our ward, Elder Rich and Elder Watson both bore their testimonies. We haven't fed the missionaries for awhile, but I thought this was funny.
The third hour today James and I attended our ward's teacher council class. We talked about asking inspired questions which was really a review but there were lots of comments. The last few minutes of the class our discussion was about Invite Learner's to Act. The Sunday School president said something funny to James and I as we were coming to class. He said: You know what you guys remind me of? A couple of quail. What do you say to that? He goes on to say, hey, that's a compliment, I think quail are cute.
I hope he was referring to these quail.
So Brother W, you think we look like quail?
Our church is out at 12 and we had an appointment with the bishop
at one. We didn't want to go home and turn right back around and come back so I packed us a lunch. We said a prayer and broke our fast and ate sandwiches, chips and grapes in the car before our appointment. I imagined that I was going to be called as the Relief Society president, or the Young Women's president, or the Primary president. James thought maybe he was going to be called as the ward mission leader. What the bishop ask us to do was host a marriage class that will be taught by his wife Anne at our home. We are way to prideful! Honestly I can say it was a big relief and of course we said yes. The class will start October 16th.
I thought I had lost my friend Kaeli's gift for her birthday and for her new baby but I found it in my classroom. Although she was at church I didn't see her so we went by afterwards to take her the gifts. I was already in my pj's so James took the bag in and Kaeli sent me some pictures of herself and baby Guy. (Named after his great grandfather.)
I think we disturbed his nap.
He's wide awake here. He has a dad who is a fireman and a cowboy. What a lucky boy!
James did some indexing today and I texted several people and worked on my blog. I also messaged the Help center at Family Search and ask how I could be sealed to my deceased parents. They told me how and what to do and that will be on my list of these to do at the temple before the year is over. My sister-in-law Cathi said she would like to come with me when I have it done. She is the sweetest.
Helaman 9:18-41.
It isn't always easy to stand up for what you believe. What do you do to stand strong and defend your beliefs?
Are we seeing the damage being done to our nation because we don't want to offend anyone Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, YWGP said: "Members live in such an atmosphere of avoiding offense that we sometimes altogether avoid teaching correct principles. Of course we should use sensitivity, common sense and our understanding of the plan, to be bold and straightforward , but if we don't teach true doctrine - and teach it clearly - the world will teach those we love Satan''s lies."
