Tuesday, November 20th, 2018

Logan, Utah

2nd operating temple

Dedicated: 17-19 May 1884

By: John Taylor

Jesus Christ, Death of

Proverbs 14:32

The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Book of Mormon #1

Mormon 2:17-29

* What happens when the strength of the Lord is not with us and we are left unto ourselves as it says in verse 26?

-We may not recognize and appreciate how much Heavenly Father helps us in our daily lives as we try to live faithfully. Mormon wrote that when his people became wicked they lost the strength of the Lord that had previously protected them. While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Ray H. Wood explained: "When a person violates any of God's commandments, if there is no repentance the Lord withdraws His protective and sustaining influence. When we lose power with God, we know of  a certainty that the problem lies within us and not within God. 'I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise' (DC 82:10). Our misdeeds bring despair. They sadden and extinguish the perfect brightness of hope offered by Christ (2 Nephi 31:20). Without God's help, we are left to ourselves." (Ensign, May 1999, 40-41). I am personally amazed and grateful to Mormon for his righteousness amidst such wickedness. It must have been difficult to stand as a witness of Christ against such odds!

Book of Mormon #2

Alma 34-36

Old Testament

Daniel 11-12

General Conference

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Last April, when President Russell M. Nelson introduced the concept of ministering, he stressed that it was a way to keep the great commandments to love God and love each other."

Alma 35:15 - ...they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word... (this is still happening today!)

I made LeVain Bakery chocolate chip cookies with walnuts this morning and took a plate to the Grapp's. The kids loves nuts in their cookies and so does Cammy. 

The Grapp kids surrounded me and I found myself in the middle of an Old Maid game. I am not really a fan of this game because whoever gets stuck with the Old Maid gets their feelings hurt. I think Emsley got it this time and she was not happy.

I heard that Cammy didn't teach Relief Society yesterday so I wanted to talk to her about why. It was just a simple family matter. Brother Grapp wanted her to go with him to church in Snowflake to her brother Freeman sing "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief." She talked to Kerri on Saturday and made arrangements for her to teach for her so she could go with her family to Snowflake. She loves teaching Relief Society and says it has helped her in dealing with depression.

Next stop was the Halcomb's. I got to visit with both Catherine and Kerri. Catherine loves to visit and I wanted to see what they were doing for Thanksgiving. They have plans and the Scott's and the Scott's neighbors are coming over for Thanksgiving. 

Sister Catherine knows the Goodman's we knew in Chandler. Her son is married to one of their nieces. It's a small world. I love this turkey Catherine made:

Catherine is diabetic so I did not bring her cookies, I brought her a candle instead.

On the way home I dropped by the Wilhelm's and picked up pies I ordered for Thanksgiving. The pies and Village Inn pies and the proceeds go to help the wrestling program in Show Low. All of the Wilhelm boys wrestle, except maybe for George who is three.

I bought a lemon supreme, cherry, and chocolate cream pie.

When I got home I put a pizza in the oven that claims to have a cauliflower crust but I could not tell the difference. It was really good!  I also had a taste of lemon and cherry pie. Quite good.

James came home for lunch and took a nap. While he was napping I realized that I had forgotten to go to the post office earlier and I knew we had a package waiting. I hopped in the car and made a quick trip, only 30 minutes. Sure enough, the scale I ordered to weigh books on had arrived. 

James went back to the Howard's to work for a short time. They are going to the valley for Thanksgiving. I paid bills while he was gone but didn't quite finish. When he got home we went to town to buy a meat smoker and to do the rest of our Thanksgiving shopping.

We found smoker's at Home Depot and chose the most reasonably priced one for $99. We got it into the car without too much difficulty and then headed for Walmart. We only had a few items to pick up so it didn't take long. 

We were home and had all of the stuff put away by 8:30. 

I paid bills and walked before bed. I did not do a blog post or work on the book business today, but what I did was important.

Wallen's Thanksgiving:

Jared's kids James, Anna, Emmy and Molly are

in this photo.

Patrick's family spent Thanksgiving in Utah.

Kit and Kristina had their first baby today.

Her name is Myra Lily Lambson.

Congratulations!

 Kilee posted this today.

Sunday, December 24th, 2017

Tijuana, Mexico

149th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Dec, 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ Atonement through

2 Nephi 10:25
Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.
Book of Mormon

Moroni 1-5
*When have you bee blessed because a priesthoods holder fulfilled his responsibilities?

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 33:16-18
16 And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction; and the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things.
17 Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom - 
18 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
General Conference

Fear Not To Do Good

President Henry B. Eyring

"The Lord told His leaders of the Restoration, and He tells us, that when we stand with faith upon His rock, doubt and fear are diminished; the desire to do good increases. As we accept President Monson's invitation to plant in our hearts a testimony of Jesus Christ, we gain the power, the desire, and the courage to go to the rescue of others without concern for our own needs."

We attended Darrel and Trina's ward this morning, everyone except Addy, who still has a bad cough. Trina said the opening prayer. 
They are members of the Everton ward, Eastmark stake. That may change next week as their ward is being divided. It was like a stake conference clear back to the end of the overflow. It took 12 deacons over 20 minutes to pass the sacrament to everyone.

There was a musical program presented by the choir and then the Bishop Glauser spoke on giving the perfect gift. He told about his handicapped brother who has brittle bone disease and how his parents gave his brother a desk one year for Christmas which turned out to be the perfect gift for him. Trina told me that recently the bishops brother took a bad fall and broke practically every bone in his body. Two days later he passed away.

A young boy in Ruby's Primary class sang "Silent Night." He has a beautiful voice for an eight year old.

Two sisters played the violins while another sister told a story. 

Two brothers sang "O Holy Night" in French and then a sister sang "Joy to the World" in French.

The closing hymn was "Away in a Manger."

After the service was over we went home, had some lunch and then took naps. After naptime we all went to see Lois and Dawn, everyone, including Addy. 

Later this evening James, Addy, Ruby, Lola and I went to the Wallen's to take Jared's kids their gifts. Jeanne and Mike were very friendly and so were the kids. We gave them their gifts and Molly opened hers. James and Anna were excited to tell James that they are planning on working in Washington next summer with their new found grandpa.

Darrel made a ham for dinner. It was good. I played Headbanz with Lola and Ruby.

Lola kept telling everyone what they were.

This evening the kids opened their jammies and their blankets.

 They already have on their new jammies.

Harry Potter for Addy

Ruby

Lola

For some reason I did not get a photo of Rowan in his new pj's.

All the kids with their blankets

Darrel and Trina with their new blankets

Ruby with her new pillow. 

She is not feeling very well.

That's Lola and baby Jesus there with her.

Visiting Santa

Star Wars Trivia at the Gonzales's

What a great photo of a great family!

The Barney's got matching jammies

Pam's dad had to have emergency surgery on

his neck today. This is what she said in a text 

to me yesterday: "My dad actually broke his neck, he has been getting worse since the fall in October. They said it was a pinched nerve and would heal but it hasn't. My sister brought him to the ER to work up for a possible stroke. The MRI revealed two fractures and a hematoma. A neurologist from Barrows will take him to surgery first thing in the morning.

I got this text this morning:

"The surgery has gone over by two hours so far, they're going slow and it's worse than what the surgeon expected, they are transfusing blood. They look concerned...I'm totally not freaking out, I'm totally not freaking out,...

And the final text:

"Omg. Six hours. They dug 7" to get to the spine. Four units of blood, two rods and screws. His spine was severely compressed. It is going to be a long recovery, very painful recovery.