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

Saturday, February 29th, 2020

Brigham City, Utah

139th operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Sept 2012

By: Boyd K. Packer

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 30

Converted Gentiles will be numbered with the covenant people - Many Lamanites and Jews will believe the word and become delightsome - Israel will be restored and the wicked destroyed.

Fruit
Elder Neil L. Andersen
"If you have been without the fruit of the tree for some time, please know that the Savior's arms are always outstretched to you. He lovingly beckons, 'Repent and come unto me.' His fruit is plentiful and always in season. It cannot be purchased with money, and no one who honestly desires it is denied."

Closing Remarks
President Russell M. Nelson
"You may wish to begin your preparation for April General Conference by reading afresh Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price. Our course of study for next year in 'Come, Follow Me' is the Book of Mormon. You may wish to ponder important questions such as, 'How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?" or 'How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?' Also, with the Book of Mormon videos now becoming available, you may wish to incorporate them in your individual and family study."

Today we worked at the temple. It's the 5th Saturday and it is our shifts turn to work. The Reidhead's presided. Brothers and Sisters met separately in preparation meeting. Sister Elmer and Sister Reidhead taught the women. Sister Reidhead made a sad announcement. She said Brother John McCleve, who was one of the engineers here at the temple, was hit while riding his bicycle and killed. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. Here is what I read about it in the White Mountain Independent:

Sister Reidhead was broken hearted. She said she had worked with Brother McCleve here at the temple for years. He knew more about the workings of the temple that anyone else and he will be sorely missed. 

After the preparation meeting I had the opportunity to be a witness for sealings. Brother Adair and Brother Yates were the sealers. I sat next to Brother Adair who was performing the sealings of relatives of the Merrill's, a young couple who come in almost every Saturday to do temple work. She is 8 months pregnant and had to stop before all of their names were completed. 

The next couple was the Miller's. They seemed to know Brother Adair, the sealer, and the sister said: "Patriarch Adair, we wanted you to know that our son who received his patriarchal blessing from you has received his mission call. He will be going to Lima, Peru. Brother Adair asked, "Did he receive the gift of tongues?" Sister Miller, "Yes." Brother Adair, "Oh, good." He is such a kind and considerate man. I just love him.

Sister Miller said they had a son who went to the Ukraine in Russia. They also have a son serving in Slovenia right now. She said he is in the Adriatic North Mission. There are five countries in the mission and they speak 10 different languages, so when you get transferred you are most likely going to learn a new language. They do not do transfers as often as most other missions.

I also presented at veil two for all three sessions during our shift. I was responsible to take all of the names to the office. I am wondering if they got tired of seeing me there. 

I also worked in initiatory twice today and was reminded of the great blessings that are received there. What a privilege it is to help bestow those blessings on others. Sister Elmer reminded us today that we need to speak slowly and distinctly when giving these blessings. Those deceased sisters receiving the blessings will only hear them once. Don't let them become so repetitious that you don't focus on what you are bestowing and the great meaning therein.

During break James and I got to visit with Brother Hancock again. He is such a fun person to talk to. He told us about his recent trip to Houston to learn about reverse osmosis water systems. He talked a little bit about how his wife and he got together. She had a dream about him and also she met a sealer in the temple while doing sealings whose name was L.J. Hancock, which is his name. I got some of the rest of the story when I went upstairs and talked to cute Sister Hancock. She was holding a baby. One of her friends is being sealed to her husband and then having their baby sealed to them. I told her she was going to get baby fever if she held that baby very long. She said, "Oh I've had baby fever since the day I got married."
She told me about the dream she had when she was younger about whom she would marry and when she met L.J. Hancock the sealer, she knew who she was supposed to marry, Levi Joseph Hancock whom she was dating at the time.  They seem perfect for each other and are so cute together.

After our shift was over James and I got dressed in our ceremonial clothes and went up to do some sealings for my family. We did six couple sealings and six sons to parents. Brother Brewer was the sealer. I just love temple sealers. They are so amazing and always so kind and considerate. He stopped so I could get up and stretch my knees a couple of times. I guess James thought he had to make an excuse for me so he told everyone I had rheumatoid arthritis. 

We were going to stop at Walmart on the way home but we were just too tired. We went to McDonald's and got chicken nuggets to share. We go there because James loves their hot mustard sauce and I like the honey mustard sauce. The sauce was fine but the nuggets were not that great. We vowed we would never order chicken nuggets again.

At home I rested, walked, and worked on "Come Follow Me" for tomorrow night. 

 I love the desert this time of year

 storing up for the winter...since it's

almost over, just one cheek.

 One of Satan's tactics

 Come Follow Me

 Great news!

Ziggie loves Evan

 Autumn lost her phone. In all of the mayhem,

and while calling Apple, Scarlett ended up in

the trash can. 

Autumn did say that Scarlett was saved her

and helped her to focus on what was really

important in life.

Saturday, March 2nd, 2018

Winter Quarters, Nebraska

104th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Apr 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 24:1-32

*Babylon will be destroyed. What kinds of rest do you think Israel will experience in the Millennium?

-A respite from the temptations of the devil.

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 6:25-34; I come to know Jesus Christ by doing His will.

"Developing Good Judgment and Not Judging Others" George A. Schwitzer, April 2010

General Conference

Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"What do these adjustments mean for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? We are confident that members will be blessed in extraordinary ways. Sunday can be a day of gospel learning and teaching at church and in the home. As individuals and families engage in family councils, family history, ministering, service, personal worship, and joyful family time, the Sabbath day will truly be a delight."

Patricia Heaton from "The Middle" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" spoke at the Rootstech conference in Salt Lake City today. She is all about family. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio to a very Catholic family. Her grandmother had 15 children and was Catholic mother of the year one year and received a medal from the Pope. That medal is now a cherished family heirloom. 

Thursday night there was a training session as part of Rootstech for family history leaders and consultants. James and I listened to it. There was a lot of talk about the family search phone app, family tree. It is amazing all of the knowledge and information we have at our finger tips in our phones. James calls them our Urim and Thummim's. 

James and I also listened to the CEO of Ancestry tell of all the advances that Ancestry has made. I also listened to Elder and Sister Bednar speak. Elder Bednar told a neat story about some of his ancestors. 

I went to the dump this afternoon with James. It was very windy. I was hoping we could skip the wind this year. We listened to our book, "Healing Hearts" on the way over to the dump and back. 

We started our fast this afternoon. We are fasting that Stacy will get the job that she interviewed for yesterday, if it be the will of the Lord.  James said in the prayer, "that she will have the righteous desires of her heart."

This evening after finishing my walking I watched "Victoria" with James. There is only one more episode for this season.

 

 Charlie loves books!

Scrunching up her nose

Such a silly girl!

 Mentos gum is my favorite.
Good but this one loses it's flavor too soon.

Sandra Wilhelm's birthday today.
She loves grapefruit.

Alice is graduating from high school
and fire science school.

This Saturday's new Hallmark movie