Saturday, March 10th, 2018

Billings, Montana

66th operating temple

Dedicated: 20-21 Nov 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Authority of

2 Nephi 9:5

Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 28:17-32

* Why do you think it is dangerous for people to be "at ease in Zion" thinking that no improvement is needed?

*What can we do to make sure we are building upon the Rock and are receiving with gladness?

Talk: "Upon This Rock"

By: Bruce R. McConkie, April 1981

Old Testament

Numbers 22-23

22 Balak offers money, cattle, and great honors to Balaam to curse Israel - The Lord forbids Balaam to do so - An angel opposes Balaam on the way.

23 The Lord commands Balaam to bless Israel - He does so, saying, Who can count the dust of Jacob? and, What hath God wrought!

Old Testament Favorite Scriptures

Exodus 20:15

Thou shalt not steal.

General Conference

Spiritual Eclipse

Gary E. Stevenson

" Eyewear designed to protect the sight of those in the zone of a total solar eclipse can prevent permanent damage and even blindness. Gospel glasses comprised of a knowledge and testimony of gospel principles and ordinances provide a gospel perspective that can similarly provide greater spiritual protection and clarity for someone exposed to the hazards of a spiritual eclipse. If you discover anything that seems to be blocking the light and joy of the gospel in your life, I invite you to place it in a gospel perspective. Look through a gospel lens and be vigilant not to allow insignificant and inconsequential matters in life to obscure your eternal view of the great plan of happiness. In short, don't let life's distractions eclipse heaven's light."

Happy Birthday Tanner!

"As we demonstrate our faith in Christ's delivering power, even to the point of getting our feet wet, the Lord will part the waters and bring about our redemption."

"The lid of the ark of the covenant was also called the mercy seat or seat of atonement. There was no more poignant symbol of Christ and His delivering power than the ark of the covenant."

(March 2018 Ensign, p. 50-51).

James and I arrived at the temple before 6:30 much to James's delight. We brought three dozen rolls along with butter and strawberry jam. 

President and Sister Palmer were our trainers today. We watched a video about patron names or temple family shared names. If a person comes in with only one name to do for initiatory they will no longer be able to also do the names the temple has. I am not sure why but that is the new rule. Temple names are now called family shared names.

My first assignment was in initiatory, clothing. Sister Shelton was our first patron. Soon a few more came. The assignment only last for 30 minutes and then I moved on to the locker room, which was very uneventful. Next I had a break along with Sister Elmer, Sister Humphrey, and Sister Gentry. 

Sister Gentry and I were the followers for the 9:30 session. I got to know her and I really like her. She lives in Show Low but used to be in the Pinetop-Lakeside stake. She was the stake Relief Society President and Sister Skousen from our ward was her counselor. They are very good friends.  There were 26 sisters in our session and 16 brothers. We found a name that had fallen on the floor from another session which made everyone happy. We had one sister with her apron on wrong side out, and one sister with her veil on wrong side out. We have been told not to embarrass people but let things go if they are not caught in a timely fashion.

James was a follower in the 11:00 session and offered the prayer. In his prayer he prayed for rain.

While I was a greeter downstairs there was a very noisy wedding party waiting for the bride and groom to come out. They were in the foyer and Sister Elmer went out to remind them that they were still in the temple. Soon they went outside and when the bride and groom came out the crowd let out a loud cheer. Sister Palmer, the temple matron said she could here it in her office upstairs.

I saw three people from high school, Kathy H., Kerry B., and Barry F. Barry is the one who pulled my car out of the mud at a party at Daggs Reservoir now known as White Mountain Lake.

It was raining when we walked to our car. James's prayer was answered.

We stopped at Walmart and Sonic. The green chili cheeseburger I got at Sonic was too hot and I didn't really enjoy it. 

I got up at 3:30 this morning so I had a long nap, but I got in my 10,000 steps. I worked on my Primary lesson this evening, "Abraham and Lot."

Looks delicious!

I ask James what this animal was,

thinking he wouldn't know, but 

of course he did. It's a Dik Dik.

 Ollie got a haircut.

He looks like he's ready to jump.

Impressive!

Tasha labeled this picture, The Crew.

The Jones's baby boy Leo who was born Friday must have

open heart surgery this coming Tuesday.

One of his valves is too small to pump 

blood to his body.  Annie, his mom,

was my visiting teacher when she lived

in Arizona.  She and her family just

moved to Indiana where her husband

will go to graduate school.

Saturday, November 25th, 2017

San Antonio, Texas

120th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 May 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Atonement through

John 10:15

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 6:6-22

Mormon asks his people why they rejected the open arms of Christ. Mormon taught that their reunion with the Savior would have been joyful (6:17). We too must prepare ourselves to stand before the Lord at the Judgment. President James E. Faust explained: 

"We long for the ultimate blessing of the Atonement - to become one with Him, to be in His divine presence, to be called individually by name as He warmly welcomes us home with a radiant smile, beckoning us with open arms to be enfolded in His boundless love.

How gloriously sublime this experience will be if we can feel worthy enough to be in His presence. The free gift of His great atoning sacrifice for each of us is the only way we can be exalted enough to stand before Him and see Him face to face. The overwhelming message of the Atonement is the perfect love the Savior has for each of us. It is a love full of mercy, patience, grace, equity, long-suffering and, above all, forgiving. The evil influence of Satan would destroy any hope we have in overcoming our mistakes. He would have us feel that we are lost and that there is no hope. In contrast, Jesus reaches down to us to lift us up. Through our repentance and the gift of the Atonement, we can prepare to be worthy to stand in His presence."

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 11:25

Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things:

General Conference

God's Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon

Brother Tad R. Callister

"How did Joseph produce a book that radiates with the Spirit, and where did he get such profound doctrine, much of which clarifies or contradicts the Christian beliefs of his time? For example, the Book of Mormon teaches, contrary to most Christian beliefs, that the Fall of Adam was a positive step forward. It reveals the covenants made at baptism, which are not addressed in the Bible."

James gave me a blessing before we left for the temple this morning. It gave me comfort and peace. My day went something like this: Preparation meeting with President Palmer and his wife presiding. We saw a patron film that we had seen before. 

My first assignment was the locker room where I assigned patrons coming in for the 8 a.m. session. Sister Applegate was one of those patrons. My second assignment was as an initiatory patron, and then I had some study time and then went back to be an initiatory worker. I did the washing ordinances again and it was good practice for me. 

My next assignment was as the greeter downstairs behind the check in desk. A young brother came in for his own endowment. The only person who came with him was his escort, no other family or friends.

I had a break and got to sit down and have a snack with James and the Vance's. The rest of my time was spent as being the 2nd follower in the 11 a.m. endowment session. The 2nd follower counts the sisters as they enter the session and checks to make sure they received the new name. The 2nd follower gives the tokens and helps patrons at the veil. Last time I did not do so well at the veil but this time it went well. The only person I really had to help was a little Navajo lady who knew nothing. At first when I tried to help her she just stared at me and I thought maybe she didn't speak English. I then said to her, just say what I say. She did it and we got through it. It was a good day for me. President Williams, the Show Low stake president and his wife were in my session. Afterwards they James spoke with them. President Williams told him he loved having him on the high council in Show Low because then he wasn't the only one with a deformed ear. President Williams was a wrestler at ASU too. He loves wrestling!

On the way home we stopped at El Cupido's and I got my Big Jake burro. It was perfect. We also went to Home Depot and Lowe's in Show Low to look for replacement lights for the tree. We didn't get home until 3:30. Erik and Kristofor had come by with their families on their way to look for Christmas trees. When they left they said they were going on the McNary road. James called and told them there were no Christmas trees, only pine trees on that road. He directed them to go up by Green's Peak, which they did. This is what they got:

Erik said the most important thing to

him was the good smell from the tree.

Kristofor, Christine, and Erik's little girl

Tabitha

Tonight was the annual ASU vs. UofA game. It is a battle for the territorial cup. After a Razr ride with Kim Brian came back and turned the game on. We watched the game and played a game of Five Crowns, which I won. ASU also ended up winning, 42-30.

I got my steps in today inspite of being at the temple.

Lola says: 

"Not pity for the Kitty!"

Something Darrel taught her to say regarding

the ASU vs. UofA game.

How sad.

Saturday, September 23rd, 2017

Bogota, Columbia

57th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 April 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Helaman 8:11-28

*How can knowing of the Savior's mission help us to resist evil?

- Mosiah 7:33 - But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage, (or evil).

*Why is it so imperative to have a contrite spirit when we look unto the Savior?

-So that we might live, even unto that life which is eternal. When my spirit is contrite I am teachable. I am able to change and grow. I am filled with gratitude as I realize all the Savior has done for me and how dependent I am upon Him. I am sad when I add to His suffering. He is my Rock and my Redeemer. Nephi's use of the story of the brazen serpent emphasizes that we should look upon the Son of God with faith and live. Through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, that poisonous venom of Satan was overcome for all who would repent.

DC 138:11-25

*How is the absence of the spirit from the body a bondage?

- The Prophet Joseph Smith taught about the importance of mortal bodies: "We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the Celestial Kingdom. The great principle of happiness consists in having a body. The devil has no body and herein is his punishment. All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not."

Since disembodied spirits cannot obtain a fulness of joy until they are resurrected (See DC 93:33-34, they consider their sojourn in the world of spirits, awaiting the reunion of body and spirit a bondage. 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that: "Obtaining exaltation consists in gaining a fulness of joy; it is to enter into the joy of the Lord. (DC 51:19)....a fulness of joy is found only among resurrected exalted beings. (DC 93:33). (See also Mormon Doctrine, p. 397).

General Conference

Whatsoever He Saith Unto You, Do It!

Elder L. Whitney Clayton

"Everyday, consciously or otherwise, we all choose 'whom we will serve.' We demonstrate our determination to serve the Lord by faithfully engaging in daily acts of devotion. The Lord promises to direct our paths, but for Him to do that, we have to walk, trusting that He knows the way because He is 'the way.' We must fill our own waterpots up to the brim. When we trust and follow Him, our lives, like water to wine, are transformed. We become something more and better than we ever otherwise could be. Trust in the Lord, and whatsoever he saith unto you do it.'"

I was up by 4:15 this morning. I had some breakfast, said my prayers, and then got ready for my day at the temple. 

There was no rain in Vernon this morning but we could see cloudy skies ahead as we approached Show Low. By the time we got to the Y it started raining and rained all the way to Snowflake. We arrived and went straight to the kitchen to put our egg salad sandwiches in the frig and then on to the dressing rooms to get dressed.

I love my schedule! After prayer meeting I get to go to the 8 a.m. endowment session. I am sorry but this is the first time in a long time that I have not had a family name to do. After my session I got down to the kitchen for lunch and a break. I sat by Sister Browning from Holbrook. She used to live in Joseph City and knows the Hunsaker's. 

Also in the break room were my friend from Chandler, Sister Vance and Sister Scott whose husband is a counselor in the temple presidency.  Sister Scott said there last day is November 1st and then they will go on to their new assignment. Their daughter who lives in Mesa is going to be having triplets. She already has two young children so she will be needing lots of help. 

Our new temple president will be President Palmer from Flagstaff. He is our friend Analee Hunsaker's cousin. Its a small world in the church and especially in Snowflake.

After my break I was scheduled to do initiatories as a patron but the sister in charge said I wasn't needed. Next time I am going to insist so I can learn what I will have to do when I am called to work in initiatory. I got a copy of the initiatory ordinances and went in the closet, one of the designated areas, to study. After my 30 minutes of studying I was assigned to be in the Celestial room. Someone always has to be in the Celestial room and the sisters are assigned when no one else is there. I was there when the next session came through and saw my dear sweet Trenda and her husband Emery. James was in this session too and he said they were the witness couple. They came to Show Low to be with Emery's dad who is celebrating his birthday. They live in Flagstaff.

For the next two hours James and I were both assigned to do sealings. We were able to finish up those family sealings Jared had given us. Sometimes things work out the way you want them to!

My last 30 minutes I was assigned to study but the study guides had already been sent back to the office so I called it a day and went downstairs and got ready to go. I was happy to see that all of our egg salad sandwiches disappeared. When James came out, which was about 30 minutes later, he said he had not had a break and was starving. While waiting for James I met Sister Wenhardt's daughter and her children. We had a nice visit. I also saw Brother Freeman who lived in Vernon but who now lives in Taylor. He was waiting for his wife and daughter. It was extremely windy so since we already have a windy selfie we decided to skip todays. Here is one taken when Jared and Kacey were here last year.

James and I stopped at Walmart to pick up a few items and when we were leaving James and the car behind us backed in to each other.  Oh dear, our perfect day now has a blemish.

To cheer us up we went to LaCasita for some lunch. James is hungry no more. The last time we were here we saw our waitress friend Charlotte. She wasn't here today. She only works on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The other days of the week she works at Sal and Teresa's a mexican restaurant by Cal-Ranch.

James diggin in to his green chili Navajo taco.

When we got home James took a nap. I took a short nap and then started my chocolate chip cookies. I promised a batch for Liana, a little girl in my Primary class for finishing her Valiant Newsletter.

I am especially impressed that she did the pedigree chart. I know that parents help with these assignments, but that is expected and desired. I had another child come up and say: "If I do my paper will you make me cookies?" Of course!

I prepared a little for Primary tomorrow and then sat down to watch the women's session of General Conference.  It went something like this:

Waiting to get in the conference center

Inside the conference center.

Women's Choir

President Monson's empty chair

Sister Eubanks of the General

Relief Society Presidency and the

head of LDS Charities

Turn On Your Light

"Righteous women have a significant part to play in building the kingdom in the latter days."

Five things women can do to "play our part" in the building of the kingdom on the earth: be righteous, articulate, different, distinct, and happy.

Sister Eubank reminded listeners that there is an energy that comes from happiness and optimism that blesses and builds everyone around them.

"I appeal to each of you to put yourself in a place where you can feel the generous love God has for you," she said. "You cannot put yourself beyond the reach of that love. When you feel His love, when you love Him, you will repent and keep His commandments. When you keep His commandments, He can use you in His work. His work and glory is the exaltation and eternal life of women and men.

"The prophets are calling on us, my sisters. Will you be righteous? Will you articulate your faith? Can you bear being distinct and different? Will your happiness in spite of your trials draw others who are good and noble and who need your friendship? Will you turn on your light? I testify that the Lord Jesus Christ will go before us and be in our midst."

Neill F. Marriott 

Second Counselor in the Young Women

General Presidency

Abiding in God and Repairing the Breach

Sister Marriott asked women to continually deepen their knowledge of and obedience to God. "Our relationship with Him is eternal," she said. "We are His beloved children, and that will not change."

Sister Marriott recognized that challenges can pull a person off their "course of happiness," that is, if they allow trials to distract them instead of sending them to their knees.

"A matter of lasting value to the Father is that we learn of Him, humble ourselves, and grow in obedience to Him through earthly experiences," she said. "He wants us to change our selfishness into service, our fears into faith. These lasting matters can test us to our core. It is now, with our mortal limitations, that the Father asks us to love when loving is most difficult, to serve when serving is inconvenient, to forgive when forgiving is soul stretching.

"How? How will we do it? We earnestly reach for Heavenly Father's help, in the name of His Son, and do things His way instead of pridefully asserting our own will."

"This living water will begin to fill us, and brimming with His love, we can tip the pitcher of our soul and share its contents with others who thirst for healing, hope, and belonging. As our inner vessel comes clean, our earthly relationships begin to heal."

Sister Joy D. Jones

Primary General President

Value Beyond Measure

"Let's not be confused about who we are," said Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary General President. "While it is often easier to be spiritually passive than it is to put forth the spiritual effort to remember and embrace our divine identity, we cannot afford that indulgence in these latter days."

When women truly know they are a daughter of God, it will affect every aspect of their life and guide them to service, she said.

Sister Jones said no matter what, God's children always have worth in His eyes.

"If the love we feel for the Savior and what He did for us is greater than the energy we give to weaknesses, self-doubts, or bad habits, then He will help us overcome the things which cause suffering in our lives," said Sister Jones. "He saves us from ourselves."

"May we, as sisters, 'Be faithful in Christ;...may Christ lift us up, and may his sufferings and death,... and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in our minds forever' (Moroni 9:25). As the Savior lifts us to higher ground, we can see more clearly, not only who we are, but that we are closer to Him than we ever imagined." 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

2nd Counselor in the First Presidency

Three Sisters

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, encouraged LDS women to find joy.

"I pray that you will choose to lift up your voice and make your life a glorious symphony of praise, rejoicing in what the love of God, the wonders of His Church, and the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring to the world," he said.

"Dear sisters, dear friends, if you find it difficult to hold fast to the iron rod and walk steadfastly toward salvation, if the laughter and ridicule of others who seem so confident cause you to waver, if you are troubled by unanswered questions or doctrines you don't understand yet, if you feel saddened because of disappointments, I urge you to remember Lehi's dream," he said. "Stay on the path! Never let go of the rod of iron - the word of God! And when anyone tries to make you ashamed for partaking of the love of God, ignore them. Never forget, you are a child of God."

President Uchtdorf said the promises of praise and acceptance by the world are unreliable, untrue, and unsatisfying. In contrast, God's promises are sure, true, and joyful.

"My beloved sisters, you can do this," President Uchtdorf said. "I pray with all the affection of my soul that you will make the choice to press o toward the tree of life. I pray that you will choose to lift up your voice and make your life a glorious symphony of praise, rejoicing in what the love of God, the wonders of His Church, and the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring to the world."

It was a wonderful session of General Conference!

Just one more thing before I close.

On September 23rd, 1827, 190 years ago, Joseph Smith received the Golden Plates from the angel Moroni in upstate New York.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

The sunrise was gorgeous this morning.

Alma Alma 42:26-43:14

This is Alma still speaking to his son Corianton:

26 - God brings about His great and eternal purposes.

27 - . . . come and partake of the waters of life freely.

29 - . . . let your sins trouble you unto repentance.

30 - Don't excuse yourself because of your sins.

31 - Preach the word with truth and soberness so the plan of mercy can take place in peoples lives who repent.

Alma 43

1-2- Alma and his sons continue to preach the word.

3 - Wars between the Nephites and Lamanites in the 18th year of the reign of the judges.

4 - The Zoramites become Lamanites.  The Nephites prepare for war as the Lamanites prepare to attack.

5 - Zerahemnah leads the Lamanites.

8 - Zerahemnah wants the Lamanites stirred up in anger against the Nephites.

9 - The Nephites desires were to preserve their liberties and protect their families and the people of Ammon.

Instead of a conference talk today I want to post this quote by Elder Renlund:

Two of my new heroes,

Elder Renlund and his wife.

James and I attended the temple this morning.  James didn't think he could sit through a session so he did initiatories and I took three names into the baptistry for a youth group to do.  The names were:

Gertrude Alice Louderback, Vickie's mother, Winnifred Braddy who is Levi Strickland's wife, and my new find this week, Mary Elizabeth Ennis.  I love doing temple work and I also put 20 names on the temple prayer roll.

After the temple we went to El Cupido's for brunch and then to Walmart to shop for food until Wednesday when I will shop again.  I like doing two shopping trips.  It's not quite so overwhelming.  we bought lots of fruits and vegetables but passed up the cherries because they were $4.48 a pound.  When we go to El Cupido's we pick up the Snowflake paper.  We can check out the Basha's ads for sales which Walmart with ad match.  On the way home we were slowed down by a bicycle race.  It was okay because we read from our book "Dawn at Emberwilde."  

When we returned home James needed a nap.  I was reading my chapter from the second Fablehaven book when I received a phone call from a guy named Andrew Macina who said he was with an Internet business Success Team.  He knew I had signed up for an internet business and wanted to know if I would qualify for their success team.  He asked me a ton of questions about our finances and our personal situation.  He wants me to set some goals and ask myself why I should be selected for their team.  I told him if it cost more money that I wasn't interested and he said I would make the money it would cost.  He is calling back on Monday and scheduling a two hour meeting for James and I to meet with his supervisor.  

Because our financial situation is not what it should be at this stage of our lives I am desperate to find a way to help James but I am leary of things on the internet and know i need to be very careful.  I can't stand the thought of James having to work another year or so because his body is wearing out.  He has supported me all these years and I want to support him now so we can go on a mission and fix up our property.  

After my phone call James was up from his nap and we loaded up the truck and went to the dump.  I came home and made cookies for Primary visits tomorrow and worked on my Primary lesson.  James worked on his gospel doctrine lesson.

James went outside to work for a little while.  

I think he was trying to beat this storm that's coming.

For dinner I made my Weight Watcher veggie soup.  It is so delicious!

As we went to bed tonight the storm we had seen earlier in the distance hit with a great vengeance.  We had lightning and thunder that was a little to close for my comfort, but we are so grateful for the rain!

In other news, Michael and his family toured the campus of Grand Canyon University where he will be starting school on a track scholarship at the end of August.

Michael looks good in purple.

Michael and his biggest fan.

As I understand it the plan is to attend a semester and then put in his papers for a mission.  I hope that goal rings true.

Lola and her cousin James

Sunday, February 12, 2012

"No work is more of a protection to this Church than temple work and the family history research that supports it. No work is more spiritually refining. No work we do gives us more power. ...Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people." - President Boyd K. Packer
A new couple in our ward, the Lieb's spoke in sacrament meeting. Sister Lieb says her parents were in Gail's ward in California and they love him! Oh by the way, that's Gail Lambson.
I attended a teacher development class during Sunday School taught by Jeff Chubbs. Two of our Relief Society teachers, Cathi Lambson, and Morgan Skeen also attended. We discussed the importance of teaching by the Spirit.
Cathi taught the lesson in Relief Society from the George Albert Smith manual, "Our Testimony of Jesus Christ".
Our neighbor's, Joe and Diana Johnston had a baby boy today, Giles Edward, 9 lbs. 9 0z. It's their 3rd little boy. Diana had the baby at home and Joe delivered it. I offered to bring in dinner on Tuesday.
Alex and Michael were out shooting birds again today. I told James he needed to talk to Sheri and Stacy, which he did. It's just not a good idea in a city neighborhood.