Saturday, January 25th, 2020

Winter Quarters, Nebraska

104th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Apr 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Revelations 21:6

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

1 Nephi 15

"The Second Great Commandment"

President Russell M. Nelson

October 2019

"Latter-day Saint Charities has provided more than two billion dollars in aid to assist those in need throughout the world. This assistance is offered to recipients regardless of their church affiliation, nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, or political persuasion.  This is not all. To assist members of the Lord's Church in distress, we love and live the ancient law of the fast. We go hungry to help others who are hungry. One day each month, we go without food and donate the cost of that food and money, to help those in need."

We left at 5:41 this morning for the Snowflake temple. We brought two dozen rolls and one dozen cinnamon rolls I had in the freezer. On the way over we listened to scriptures and conference talks and I did a little sleeping. 

The Palmer's presided over our preparation meeting. President Palmer discussed the new ceremonial clothes that will be available at the end of March. We watched three training videos. One was the importance of smiling at the front desk so the first impression people get of the temple is a positive one. 

I started out at the sealing desk downstairs and was there for an hour. The Merrill's came in with names and so did the Bowen's. These are regular temple attenders who are always working on family names. The Bowen's had lots of Scandinavian names but I guess they have trained Brother Flake how to say them. At least that's what his wife said when she came to take over at the sealing desk.

I visited with Sister Cochran and Sister Lofgreen during my break. 

After my break I was the presenter at veil 2 and then I was "as assigned." During my as assigned I continued my reading of the Old Testament chapter headings. I am about half way through Isaiah.

I spent an hour in the baptistry. Although the rest of the temple was rather slow, we had no weddings or own endowees, the baptistry was very busy. Sister Caldwell said they hadn't had a break all morning and as I left another large group was coming in.

I worked in initiatory, locker room and was the presenter at veil 2 for the 11:00 session. I was scheduled to do initiatory after being at the veil but because the veil time went over, I was 15 minutes late. Sister Hancock said the only patron was a worker and they had her covered so I got off 15 minutes early.

I went down to the break room and had a cupcake. It's been a long time since my morning break. James went outside to get my phone and to get in a few steps before the 1:30 session which we attended. 

I was so tired that at one point I fell asleep and a sister had to tap me on the should to wake me up. I hope that never happens again.

For the second week in a row Sister Andersen from Flagstaff, was my presenter at the veil. 

After our session we went to Eva's Mexican Food in downtown Snowflake. I had a chicken enchilada with rice and beans, same old thing I almost always have. James had a seafood enchilada and a tostada.

We are scheduled to clean the temple tonight at 6:30 so we had some time to kill after lunch. I suggested we go to Walmart to walk, which we did. While we were there I also bought some tea, Citrus Sunshine, Apple Cinnamon, and Cinnamon Orange. The Walmart in Show Low has none of these flavors right now.

We drove back to the temple and parked so we could see Greens Peak, Mt. Montoso, and Negra Knoll, all mountains over by Vernon.

We walked around the temple a couple of times and then James got in the car to take a short nap. I sat down to redo my daily schedule. 

Around 6:00 we walked in to the temple with our friend Kerri Halcomb. We signed in and got our temple cleaning clothes on. We were so happy to have 19 people from our ward attend. The Show Low Creek ward had 10 people. These our the ward members who came to help us clean: Kerri Halcomb, Virgil Cooper, Anthony Romyak, Jerry Scott, Becky and Chris Skousen, Jim and Linda Diewald, Barbara and Fred Klug, Pierce Goodman, Blain Curtis, Alicia and Bishop Hunsaker, MaKenzi and Tyler Forrester, and Ron Chandler, plus James and I. 

James and I dusted the two ordinances rooms, the wood in the hallway and on the stairs. It was a lot but pretty easy. 

We were home before nine o'clock. When we got home I finished my steps and then James made us herbal tea and then we watched "Hearts of Winter" starring Jill Wagner and Victor Webster, two of our favorite Hallmark actors. It was a long day and this was a good way to unwind.

I am so grateful for the temple!

 Bench at Eva's

 Evan really knows how to have fun!

Who buys a 5 lb tube of hamburger.

I guess you could freeze it and use it for a weapon.

Wednesday, February 6th, 2019

Memphis, Tennessee

80th operating temple

Dedicated: 23 Apr 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Luke 4:41

And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 1:30-2:10

How do you keep a balanced perspective on your dependence on God's grace and your desire to live righteously?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Luke 4:33-44

"Trust in the Lord" Marion G. Romney; Oct 1977

General Conference

Gather Together in One All Things in Christ

Elder David A. Bednar

"Truth faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ - in Him as the divine and Only Begotten Son of the Father and on Him and the redemptive mission He fulfilled. 'For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men.' Exercising faith in Christ is trusting and placing our confidence in Him as our Savior, on His name, and in His promises."

We got up this morning to snow and fog. We had planned on going to the temple today but after looking outside I tried to talk James into going tomorrow instead. He said he really wanted to go today because he already had his mind set. I said okay.

We brought in wet wood to dry out on the hearth. We had scriptures and prayer and I worked on my blog for awhile before going in to get ready for the temple. 

We left for the temple a little after 9 for the 10:30 session. It was slow going to Show Low and when we got there we headed straight for the carwash. The roads to Taylor and Snowflake were pretty clear, not any snow. 

It was freezing cold and windy at the temple. James made a joke. He said the pioneers upon entering Snowflake said: "We will stay here until the wind stops." That's how the town was founded by Mr. Snow and Mr. Flake.

I gave Kathy, a friend from high school, a hug upon entering. Judy, a friend from Vernon was also near the entrance. She teaches the temple prep class in our ward and she said that a member of our ward, Paula, would be going through the temple on Friday to take out her endowments. This is exciting news! Paula is an amazing person who does lots of community service and is always helping someone. I am so happy for her. Judy asked me to please let Tamara know. I said I would.

James and I sat across from each other for the first part of the endowment session. I must say that I am quite happy with the changes that were made in the endowment session athough now it is slides instead of a video.

We discussed who's names we wanted to put on the prayer roll and we divided them up. I put Harold's, Max's, and some people from the ward. James wanted to put Alex's and Sister Peeler.

So much for the car being washed. By the time we got home it was covered with mud again. 

After resting and walking I worked on my blog this evening.

James is anxious to get back to working at the temple, especially after going today and seeing that he could make it through a session.

 Our view outside this morning

This face makes me happy

Wednesday, April 11th, 2018

Birmingham, Alabama

98th operating temple

Dedicated: 3 Sept 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Betrayal of

Psalms 22:16

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 5:1-15

*What benefit is there in taking upon us Christ's yoke?

- Because his yoke is the one best suited for us...it is custom fit to our needs. The Savior's ways help us live in harmony with our true nature because He knows us and can succor us individually.

Camille Fronk Olson mentions the benefits of discipleship, and ways our burdens become lighter when we are yoked with Christ.

We can dispose of unnecessary baggage thru repentance...

We can gain power thru covenants we make, because when we covenant, God promises to bear us up...There is mutual support from other saints. We help one another, and rejoice with one another. The Lord makes us stronger and helps us build spiritual muscles... Christ teaches us how to carry burdens. We learn to not be weary, and how to be patient in trials and submit to God's will. 

The yoke of Christ is heavy in meaning, though it is designed to make things lighter.

Old Testament

Joshua 19-20

19 Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan receive their inheritances by lot.

20 Six cities of refuge are appointed for those guilty of manslaughter.

General Conference

What Every Aaronic Priesthod Holder Needs to Understand

Brother Douglas D. Holmes

" Your Aaronic Priesthood ordination is central to helping God's children receive Christ's atoning power."

Today is Dennis and Denise's 20th wedding anniversary so I texted them to wish them a Happy Anniversary. I remember my Mom being Dennis's best man (mom). They were married outside at Greer on a beautiful spring day.

Today is also Jeffrey's birthday so I wished him a happy one.

From the Ensign today I read the article and looked at the picture, "The Savior's Final, Lonely Journey."  'No mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane. His suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sins, and made mercy available to those who believe in His holy name.' President Boyd K. Packer

From "Rescuing Wayward Children:  By the power of our righteousness and not by force, bad things will improve and good things will flow to us.' (p. 185)

#13.Talk by Russell M. Nelson: October 1987 General Women's Meeting:

" Lessons from Eve": From our study of Eve, we may learn five fundamental lessons of everlasting importance:

1.) She labored beside her companion (see Moses 5:1).

2.) She and Adam bore the responsibilities of parenthood (see Moses 5:2).

3.) She and her partner worshipped the Lord in prayer (see Moses 5:4).

4.) She and Adam heeded divine commandments of obedience and sacrifice (see Moses 5:5,6).

5.) She and her husband taught the gospel to their children (see Moses 5:12).

From my study of Preach My Gospel Chapter 5, What is the Role of the Book of Mormon? quote by Boyd K. Packer, p. 108:

" In a world ever more dangerous...the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ has the nourishing power to heal starving spirits of the world."

With all the walking I do, about three hours or so, I have tried different things to listen to while I walk. I have tried conference talks, books, and music. Music seems to work the best. I have the soundtrack of the movie, "The Greatest Showman."  The tract is 40 minutes long and I like all of the songs so that is what I have been using. Most of the songs are upbeat and help me to move along a little quicker than I normally would. 

I set a new record!

My running track. Start at the end of the table

by the window, walk around the island in the 

kitchen and back down around the table.

I love listening to Robert L. Millet's book, "The Atoning One."

Today I listened to chapter two, 'Life in a Fallen World.' Here is a quote: " A redeemed man is capable of rising much higher than an unfallen man. Natural men are not redeemed, living by their own light."

My silk flowers are planted. I hope they don't blow away in the wind. 

Looks like I need to paint the pots. 

James and I went to the 8:30 session at the Snowflake temple this morning. We both did a family name. My name was Sarah and she was born in 1792. That's all I really know about her. I also sent Sheri two names to do.

We came straight home after the temple, only stopping for gas at Maverick. We fixed lunch at home. A frozen Korean BBQ dinner, salad, and for James some ham and eggs. 

I spent the afternoon walking, blogging, and listening to music and gospel talks. It was a beautiful day but tomorrow it is supposed to be very windy and James's weather app says there is fire danger in Vernon. Already?

I ate my last carbs before 6 p.m., strawberries, whipped cream, and yogurt. I only had 12,000 steps around 6 and my goal is 20,000. I made it! (See above)

James and I watched the next episode after Jack and Elizabeth get married of "When Calls the Heart."

Pretty much the same for 39 years.