Monday, May 21st, 2018

Manaus, Brazil

138th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 June 2012

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, birth of

2 Nephi 26:3

And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs given unto my people of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them.

Book of Mormon

Alma 3:20:-4:4

*What changed in the land as a result of the wars with the Amlicites and Lamanites?

- Their food source was gone due to the crops being trampled and herds were missing or slaughtered. On top of that so many were killed or wounded, even Alma was wounded. The survivors had to start over in every part of their lives. The minute they had time to think "they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty, and they began to establish the Church more fully;" The words more fully means they did it with full purpose of heart.

Old Testament

2 Samuel 15-16

15 Absalom conspires against David and gains the support of the people.

16 Mephibosheth is alleged to be seeking to be king - Shimei, of the house of Saul, curses David - Ahithophel counsels Absalom, and Absalom takes his father's concubines.

General Conference

He That Shall Endure to the End, the Same Shall Be Saved

Elder Claudio D. Zivic

"Jesus Christ assured us that 'he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.' To endure means to remain firm in a commitment to be true to the commandments of God despite temptation, opposition, and adversity."

James left for Legacy golf course early this morning. He has some cleanup to do and he is submitting the invoice for payment to the owners. 

Lola and I left around 7:45 to take Evan and Max to school. We took Evan first but before we left Lola went in and gave Ollie a piece of cheese for a treat. At Evan's school a little girl with glasses got out of the car in front of us. Lola wanted to know why she was smaller than Evan. I had to explain to her that not all children are the same size and Evan's school included children lots of different ages.

We went back to Sheri's and waited with Max and Ollie until it was time to take Max to school. Max gave Ollie some treats but first he made him sit up and roll over. Lola thought that was so funny she asked Max to do it again, which he did.

I guess we wore him out.

When we got to Bogle Jr. High, where Max goes to school, I told Lola this was where her dad went to school. Max asked if his mom went there too and I said no. Your mom and Jared went to Andersen Jr. High, and Stacy and Kim went to Willis.

After dropping Max off we drove over to Stacy's. I needed to give her some pictures and Lola was anxious to see Shipley and Vader.

Shipley was on her best behavior but Stacy had to hold Vader most of the time because he was so excited to see us and was a little overzealous. 

Next stop was the Target in south Chandler. Lola said that her Target did not have red doors and the big balls out front were smaller. I started to tell her that all Targets have red doors but I decided not to. 

We spent a good deal of time in the bathroom for Lola. The first time someone took our cart so the next time I stood guard at the door, watching our cart. Lola kept asking if our cart was ok. Once I went to check on her and she said, "Don't look at me grandma." I apologized and said I would give her a private moment.

We shopped in Bulleye's corner where Lola got a zippered plastic container with stickers, a pen and pencil and a pad of paper. She also got some sunglasses. Next we went to the back of the store where the books are. 

Lola picked out a Peppa Pig coloring book with paints, and I got her a Princess book with 5 minute Princess stories in it.  I also bought myself a couple of children books. 

I bought a few groceries and then we checked out. The lady at the checkout stand said Lola looked like a movie star with her glasses and I said, yes, and she even has a movie star name. Her name is Lola.

Before going home we stopped at Olive Garden for lunch. Our waiter was very kind and very cute. He paid special attention to Lola. She ordered mac and cheese, with mashed potatoes and a Sprite to drink. He also brought her some grapes. I had soup, salad, and breadsticks. Those breadsticks are just too good. Lola had two before her lunch came and then she  just had a couple of bites of mac and cheese and some grapes.

She drank all of her Sprite.

Feeling the burn.

Those mashed potatoes were totally ignored.

Lola fell asleep on the way home. I thought she was being awfully quite so I said something to her and she didn't answer so I looked in my mirror and saw that she was asleep. When we got home I layed her down on Rowan's bed. I guess getting up at 6 o'clock with me was just to early for her.

Sleeping Beauty

Worn out from our big day.

When Trina got home from getting her hair done Lola and I were still laying down but we were both awake. Trina said she missed her little girl who usually goes everywhere with her. I said that today she was my special angel, and she was. 

When James got home he took a nap and then I ordered him some dinner from Olive Garden, stuffed Marsala chicken and we went to pick it up and then got lost trying to find Rowan's flag football game. When we finally arrived Rowan's team was ahead in this championship game, 13-2. The final score was 19-14 with Rowan's team winning. 

 Rowan caught a long pass and ran in

for a touchdown but they called it back

because of a penalty of some sort.

Darrel said Rowan made 3 touchdowns in

his game on Saturday.

Darrel was at work today so he didn't make it to this game and 

Trina was at Ruby's concert. We went to the game and she went to the concert.

Cute little Ruby in the front row. She said her favorite song

was "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad."

I told her that I liked that song and wished I could have been

there to here her sing it.

After the game Rowan went with us to visit Lois and Dawn. Of course Lois fed us. She was watching the finale of "Dancing with the Stars" and I asked her to leave it on. Our favorite couple won!

Adam, the Olympian ice skater, and pro, Jenna

Lois had a nice collection of flowers for Mother's day:

 This one was from Dave and Laura.

Very interesting.

I think this bouquet was from Connie.

Those dark purple leaves are real which

Dawn is pointing out.

Orchids and philadendron

Not sure who they are from.

James parked his truck at the church. He said he caught a bunny for Lola so of course all the kids had to go over and see if they could find the bunny locked in grandpa's truck. They never did find him and the only thing he could figure out was the bunny must have gotten out when he opened the truck and he didn't see him.

This is what Lola had to say: "Grandpa, you should have taken better care of my bunny."

This evening James and I went for a walk and we checked on the truck. I didn't get a ton of steps, but I got over 10,000.

 Delbert is hold a bear that he carved out of a stump and telling his funny bear story. This photo was taken last July at his grand-daughter Kyra's funeral. Jaelyn is Kyra's sister.

Uncle Delbert was the last survivor of his generation

in the Frank Bates - Annie Laurie Mangum

Family.

When I first met Delbert it was at the State Fair

in Phoenix sitting in front of the Apache county

exhibit which he created. He almost always

won first place for his exhibit.

His funeral is June 2nd in St. Johns, the

same day as our anniversary celebration in Chandler.

I think James is going to go and then hurry back for

our celebration.

Monday, August 28th, 2017

Taipei, Taiwan

31st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Nov 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Atonement

DC 29:1

Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins;

Jesus Christ, Antemortal Existence of

2 Timothy 1:9

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Alma 57:17-36

Why were the Nephites able to prevail against the Lamanites? (See Alma 57:19-22)

*Helaman said that his warriors "did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness" (Alma 57:21). 

President Russell M. Nelson said: "You will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and ignore others that they choose to break. I call this the cafeteria approach to obedience. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God,, one keeps all of His commandments. It takes faith to obey them, and keeping His commandments will strengthen that faith" ("Face the Future with Faith," Ensign, May 2011, 34).

DC 124:70-90

What special rights were bestowed upon Hyrum?

He was the Church Patriarch, after his father, and the 2nd elder of the Church.

General Conference

To the Friends and Investigators of the Church

Elder Joaquin E. Costa

"Every decision I have made in my life since then has been influenced by that moment when I humbled myself and prayed for forgiveness, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ on my behalf became part of my life."

Then Jesus Beholding Him Loved Him

Elder S. Mark Palmer

"No true teaching or learning will ever occur when done in frustration or anger, and hearts will not change where love is not present. Our homes should always be safe havens for our children."

Happy Birthday Addy

This girl became a teenager today.

She is Amazing Addy and she is

wearing a Miraculous Lady Bug T-shirt.

Owen and Donna Peeler will be taking our shift at the temple on September 9th, when we are gone to San Antonio.

I visited Hailey today as her visiting teacher and took her a basket of fruit. She and Huntleigh were the only ones at home. For the first time Huntleigh was very friendly to me. Hailey is packing. They sold their ranch and they are moving to Deming, New Mexico. The deal closes on November 1st. 

I also took Taylor, Hailey's daughter, a triple combination with my testimony in it. Taylor is in my Primary class but she does not attend. As I was driving to Hailey's I told myself the most important thing I could do was have prayer with her. Once I got there, I totally forgot. I am not a very good visiting teacher!

I hit a rock pretty hard on Hailey's road. Luckily my tire didn't go flat. The ride home was pretty miserable because my knee hurt so badly. As soon as I got home I ate a tamale for lunch, the last one, and took two Tramadol and sat down to watch a Hallmark movie.

Eventually I started working on my blog and I also made a batch of brownies. Those two things go together well. I also like to watch Hallmark movies while I am blogging.

James is so frustrated with his tractor. He drove it to the front so he could load it on the trailer to take to the valley when we go on Wednesday. He wants to trade it in at Bingham Equipment. Today it wouldn't start and also the lights on James's trailer don't work after Chuck and Owen borrowed it. He is very discouraged.

For FHE he and Brother Westbrook went to meet the Wilhelm's at the new house they are building. James gave a lesson on the Word of Wisdom and took the brownies I made. It was a nice evening for everyone. I stayed home.

Photos:

This sounds about right.

Black Hawk helicopter rescue.
Te helicopters are made in Mesa, Arizona.

Having a little fun in the disaster

School starts in Texas

This is what we use when our lights go out

Lola and her mom love Home Depot

Who knew? 
I want this barn!

Shipley and Vader fighting on Stacy and Paul's bed.
I guess this is pretty much a daily occurrence.

Thursday, May 4th, 2017

Manhattan, New York

119th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 June 2004 by

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Mosiah 23:1-20

The Lord helps Alma and his people escape from the armies of King Noah and establish a righteous city.

* What do the phrases "caught in a snare" and "bound with the bands of iniquity" teach about the effects of sin?

* Why is it helpful for us to recognize the influences that have led us to sin in the past?

Gospel Principle:

When we repent and choose to live righteously, the Lord will bless us and free us from the bonds of sin.

3 Nephi 23-25

23:1-3 Great are the words of Isaiah - Isaiah is our checklist for the Second Coming of Christ.

4-13 Jesus commands the Nephites to add missing parts to their scripture records.  (Many Saints arose and ministered unto them, and the words of Samuel the Lamanite.)

24:1-18 Jesus quotes the Father's word to Malachi regarding tithing.

25:1-6 The coming of Elijah the Prophet.  The messenger is the gospel through Joseph Smith.  The wicked will burn as stubble.  Our hearts should be turned to our ancestors and our progenitors.

DC 67:1-14

The Lord hears the prayers of and watches over His elders; He challenges the wisest person to duplicate the least of His revelations; Faithful elders will be quickened by the Spirit and see the face of God.

Why is it important to teach by the Spirit?

*Because the Spirit testifies of truth.  Without the Spirit you preach and teach the philosophies of men.  The Spirit brings the message into the hearts of the people we teach.

General Conference

His Daily Guiding Hand

M. Joseph Brough

"Tolerating improper behavior without loving correction is false compassion and reinforces the common notion that wickedness might in fact be happiness."

I gave James some advice this morning when he was complaining about his laryngitis.  I told him to remember President Kimball after he had his throat surgery.  His raspy voice did not stop him from preaching the gospel.  

The banging on Cathi and Terry's roof started at 5:30 this morning instead of the scheduled 6:30.  It was fine for James and I because we were up early.  We had prayer before James left for work around 5:30.  I felt sorry for Cathi and Terry though.  They usually don't get up until 6:30 on days the go to the R.O.C.

I had a funny experience this morning.  We gave Cathi and Terry a gift card to Outback or Carrabbas for their anniversary.  We also had some giftcards I got as a result of the rewards program on my credit card.  We wanted to go to dinner together tonight.  Cathi told me that the Outback on Chandler Blvd.  had closed.  I knew there was one on Market St. in Gilbert.  When I looked on Map Quest it said to the side of all of the Outbacks and Carrabbas, Now closed in bright red letters.  I was beginning to get worried.  I tried Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory and got the same message.  I began to panic and think there must be some kind of an epidemic going on.  Finally I realized when it said: "Closed now."  It meant closed at 7:30 in the morning!  We will be going to either the Outback or Carrabbas in Gilbert on Market St.

I had lunch today with my friend Jean from Vernon.  We always go to Fresh Start.  She loves the french toast with fresh fruit and I got a grilled ham and cheese sandwich which was very tasty.  Jean is an amazing woman.  She has had a lot of sad things happen to her in her life yet she remains faithful.  Right now her grandson, who she raised as her son, is in jail.  Her family is the family that started a business with their horses, taking people on trail rides.  I asked her if we could arrange a trail ride in July for some of my grandchildren and she said she was sure they could.  They have horses of all sizes, some mini's even for the little ones.

After lunch I was supposed to pick up my friend Charlotte and take her to the Apple Store to receive some lessons on how to use her Ipad.  When I called she said she was too tired.  She said what she really wants to do is read the scriptures with her daughter using the BofM365 program.  I went home and typed her a schedule to use through May and part of June.  When I dropped it off she seemed very grateful.

I don't want to be cremated, but I 

couldn't resist posting this.

I went home and had a nap and then Sheri picked me up around 4:45 to go with her to Max's track meet at Payne Jr. High out near the Santan Mountains.  Max was supposed to run the 400 and he told Sheri if she was there by 5:30 she would be in plenty of time for his race.  We got there at 5:15 and Max had already ran.  He decided to run the mile instead.  We told him next time to let his mom know ahead of time if he changes his plans.  He had his backpack with him that looked awfully heavy.  He said it weighs about 30 lbs.  They no longer have lockers at Bogle Jr. High so he has to carry around all of his books all day long.

This evening, James, Cathi, Terry and I decided to have dinner at Carrabbas because Cathi and Terry had never been there.  James told them that one of the best steaks he ever had was at Carrabbas.  Carrabbas is right next door to Outback.  The first people we saw inside the restaurant were the Ray's.  Their daughter Heather is married to Patrick.  We had a quick visit and then they left.  It looked like they had been to the temple.

Terry, Cathi, and I all ordered the same thing, medium fillets with asparagus.  James got the chicken Marsala.  He said he liked Olive Garden's a little better.  We got the Caprese for an appetizer.  Cathi and I loved it, small tomatoes with olive oil and herbs with soft mozarella cheese.  I could have made that my dinner with their warm bread.  We had enough gift cards to pay for our meal.  It is always fun to visit with Cathi and Terry.  

This evening I read to James from "To Kill a Mockingbird" before going to bed.

Fun Photos:

 My appreciation for cowboys has grown 

since moving to Vernon.

Evan got some new shoes.  He broke them in

running around the movie theater before the

show started.

I am always amazed at the variety of the

creations of Heavenly Father.

Meet Vader, Stacy and Paul's new puppy.

Stacy is not too happy about having

to be the one to potty train him.

Paul bought him without first consulting her.

Aunt Gene with some of her family when 

she was in the hospital last year.

Baby Lola

Joshua, Stacy, Paul out to dinner at

Xavier's Casa Reynoso in Mesa.

One of my most favorite views.