Sunday, February 18th, 2018

Orlando, Florida

46th operating temple

Dedicated: 9-11 Oct 1994

By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ Authority of

3 Nephi 27:13

Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you - that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 9:31-49

* S.M.I.L.E. - "To be spiritually-minded is life eternal."

* What does it mean to be spiritually minded?

- As we make Christ the center of our lives and our thoughts turn to Him we become spiritually minded.

Old Testament

Leviticus 14

Laws, rites, and sacrifices are revealed for cleansing lepers, their garments, and leprous houses.

Old Testament Favorite Scriptures

Exodus 16:4

Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove the, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

General Conference

The Lord Leads His Church

President Henry B. Eyring

" I try not to judge servants of the Lord or to speak of their apparent weaknesses. And I try to teach that be example to my children. President James E. Faust shared a credo that I am trying to make my own. I commend it to you:

'We...need to support and sustain our local leaders, because they ... have been called and chosen. Every member of this Church may receive counsel from a bishop or a branch president, a stake or a mission president, and the President of the Church and his associates. None of these brethren asked for his calling. None is perfect. Yet they are the servants of the Lord, called by Him through those entitled to inspiration. Those called, sustained, and set apart are entitled to our sustaining support.

...Disrespect for ecclesiastical leaders has caused man to suffer spiritual weakening and downfall. We should look past any perceived imperfections, warts, or spots of the men called to preside over us, and uphold the office which they hold."

I was up at 4 a.m. to finish preparing for Primary. My lesson is on "Enoch and the City of Zion." At the last minute I decided I wanted the kids to make the City of Zion going up to heaven.

I should have used something different than thread and I forgot to bring enough scissors. Thank goodness James was there to help me or it would have been a real disaster.

James also did the attention activity which involved a clean container of water inside a dirty one to demonstrate how even though we live in a dirty world we can be clean.

We picked up Kathy Crane this morning and I was embarrassed because our car was so muddy. 

I traded classrooms with the other Valiant class and I love it. It is bigger. I have more kids in my class than the older class so this just seems right. 

Grandma and grandpa Wilhelm spoke today in sacrament meeting. They spoke about the temple and the importance of uniting families. Addy Parker, a young woman I do not know, played a piano solo of "If you Could Hie to Kolob." It was beautiful.

My Primary class today: Liana and her friend Ashlin, Andyn and her cousin Maggie, Colter, Amaron, Gracie, Curtis, and Zemira. 

James was there to help but it was still pretty chaotic. 

This is the first Sunday that sharing time was divided and our class and the older class were the only ones in senior sharing time. It was a dream! 

We went home had some lunch, took a short nap, and then were back at the church before 2 for Benson's baptism. There were lots of people at the church and we noticed that everyone was moving from the back of the church to the front when we arrived.  I asked someone where the baptism was going to be and they said, "Maybe in the bishop's stock tank." What? I guess there are major plumbing problems and the font did not fill and the back of the church does not smell very good. 

We all gathered in the chapel where the bishop conducted the program. His daughter Andyn sat by us. Bishop said they called Concho, the downtown Show Low building and neither one of them had fonts so the called both stake centers where they were still having meetings so they decided that his stock tank was the closest body of water big enough for a baptism. 

After the program we all drove down ACR3144 following bishop to his property that he rents from John Bear. The stock tank was right by the fence. We were the second ones there after the bishop. Here are some photos I took:

Such a great smile!

He looks so sweet and innocent.

I love this song!

The stock tank turned baptismal font.

The crowd begins to gather while the horse

looks on. There were lots of people who came

from out of town.

Benson's dad testing the waters.

Talking about it. Benson's not sure.

But he is obedient to his dad and lies

flat in his arms so he only has to go

under once.

The horse thinks we were there for him.

He was very friendly.

Benson was immediately wrapped in several blankets and taken to the church where he was confirmed. Afterwards there were refreshments for everyone. James and I did not go back to the church, we went home. I can tell you that was the most memorable baptism that I have ever been to.

This evening I read from both of our books and fixed tuna sandwiches and baked apples for dinner. James made a fire. Since he is going to the Wilhelm's for FHE tomorrow, I helped him work on names he wanted to print from Take a Name. I showed him how to print them and he was happy. 

There is a storm coming tonight. The wind is blowing and we are expecting rain and snow tomorrow.