Wednesday, September 18th, 2019

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

141st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 March 2013

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Glory of

DC 29:12
And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, and it hath gone forth in a firm decree, by the will of the Father, that mine apostles, the Twelve which were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem, shall stand at my right hand at the day of my coming in a pillar of fire, being clothed with robes of righteousness, with crowns upon their heads, in glory even as I am, to judge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments, and none else.
Book of Mormon
Helaman 6:1-14
New Testament 2 Corinthians 8-13 "God Loveth a Cheerful Giver"
2 Corinthians 10

General Conference

We Can Do Better and Be Better

President Russell M. Nelson

"The Lord needs selfless men who put the welfare of others ahead of their own. He needs men who intentionally work to hear the voice of the Spirit with clarity. He needs men of the covenant who keep their covenants with integrity. He needs men who are determined to keep themselves sexually pure - worthy men who can be called upon at a moment's notice to give blessings with pure hearts, clean minds, and willing hands. The Lord needs men eager to repent - men with a zeal to serve and be part of the Lord's battalion of worthy priesthood bearers."

I loved this talk by President Nelson even though it was given in the priesthood session. Here are some notes I took:

"Daily repentance brings purity and purity brings power."

Ways to improve:

1) Care for our bodies

2) Honor our spouses

3) Be a true disciple of Jesus Christ

4) Keep covenants with integrity

5) Communicate the Love of the Savior to your family

I texted my cousin Rita and wished her a happy birthday. She is one day less than a month younger than I am. We always wish each other happy birthdays.

I did some book buying today and repricing. I sold another copy of one of my most profitable books today. It's called Charlotte Huck's Guide to Children's Literature. I have sold five copies of this book and wish I had more.

James had a doctor's appointment today with Dr. DeLange. He is the doctor that did the procedure that determined that James has a hernia and needs surgery. They scheduled his surgery for October 15th. The doctor said most people opt out of this surgery because for two weeks afterwards you can only have liquids and then the next week only soft foods. 

One of the brothers that James ministers to, Anthony, had an allergic reaction to a medicine he was on. He went to the hospital and they put him on something to counteract the allergic reaction he had. They said if he had waited much longer it may have been to late. 

This evening James went up on the deck in Sheri's bedroom with his binoculars and found a huge bull elk with his cows. He was just across the way on the Crane's property.  I saw him too and he is beautiful. James says he has one of the widest racks he has ever seen. 

Tonight as I was eating one of my favorite snacks, brownie in a cup, I saw something fly close to me. I thought it was a bird but James said it was a bat. It flew over by the fireplace and he whacked it with something.

Yikes!

Living in the country requires critter control inside and out. James's bucket mouse trap is working great outside.

 Arizona Highways

 Charlie's new hairdo!

Tuesday, September 17th, 2019

Calgary, Alberta

140th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Oct 2012

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

DC 7:3
And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people.
Book of Mormon
Helaman 5:28-52
New Testament 2 Corinthians 8-13 "God Loveth a Cheerful Giver"
2 Corinthians 9

General Conference

Where Will This Lead?

President Dallin H. Oaks

"The restored gospel of Jesus Christ encourages us to think about the future. It explains the purpose of mortal life and the reality of the life to follow. It explains the purpose of mortal life and the reality of the life to follow It teaches great ideas about the future to guide our actions today. Our present and our future will be happier if we are always conscious of the future. As we make current decisions, we should always be asking, "Where will the lead?"

I followed James to town today. He took his truck to a place recommended by a girl that works at O'Reilly Auto Parts. The place is called Southwest Transmission. James says the mechanic is a young guy named Tyler and he's really good. The place is on main street (the Deuce), across from what I call the old Cluff mansion.

We dropped his truck off and then went to Safeway to pick up a few items. I wanted to get ice but James said he needed to go to Lowe's and we could pick some up at Dollar General on the way home, which we did. 

I forgot to mention something important that happened last week. James bought me a new full-length mirror and installed it in the same place the last one was, on the back of our bathroom door. Thanks Honey, I really appreciate your efforts!

I came home and made a meatloaf for lunch, along with baked potatoes and green beans, one of our favorite meals. 

I spent some time this afternoon researching more books to buy. I sold two books today. Speaking of books I also finished reading the book, "Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil." It certainly had some surprises at the end.

We had to go back into town to pick up James's truck after Tyler called and said it has a bad integrated power module. James called Erik and he said that made sense. It would cost $900 for Tyler to fix plus labor so we didn't have him do it because we can't afford that right now. James got a quote online of $375 at Carid but they don't have any in right now. Anyway the fixing of the truck has been delayed again but at least we know what's wrong with it.

James worked on the rotten log at the end of our bedroom deck. He is filling it with epoxy. James has cut way back on his walking. He walks at least 10,000 a day. He also quit the group he was in on Pacer. He can't stand being in the group if he's not going to get 1st place everyday.

I watched President Nelson's BYU Devotional live on BYU-TV.

  "The Love and Laws of God"

I wish to discuss five truths that I feel impressed to share with you.

1.) You are sons and daughters of God. 

One thing is certain: You are of the House of Israel and you have been sent here to help gather God's elect.

2.) Truth is truth.

Some things are simply true. The arbiter of truth is God - not your favorite social media news feed, not Google, and certainly not those who are disaffected from the Church.

Truth is based upon the laws God has established for the dependability, protection, and nurturing of His children. Eternal laws operate in and affect each of our lives, whether we believe them or not.

3.) God loves every one of us with perfect love.

Because the Father and the Son love us with infinite, perfect love, and because They know we cannot see everything They see, They have given us laws that will guide and protect us. 

God's greatest blessings are reserved for those who obey His laws, as He explained: "For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing."

God's laws are motivated entirely by His infinite love for us and His desire for us to become all we can become.

4.) The Lord Jesus Christ, whose Church this is, appoints prophets and Apostles to communicate His love and teach His laws. 

Each of the Lord's Apostles is in a position to observe and feel the love that Heavenly Father has for His children, particularly for those who are struggling. He cares deeply about those who have strayed from the covenant path, especially when they fear there is no way back.

My dear friends, there is always a way back. 

Because we feel the depth of God's love for His children, we care deeply about every child of God, regardless of age, personal circumstances, gender sexual orientation, or other unique challenges.

5.) You may know for yourself what is true and what is not by learning to discern the whisperings of the Spirit.

I plead with you to seek earnestly a confirmation from the Spirit that what I have told you is true and is from the Lord.

Ask your Heavenly Father if we truly are the Lord's Apostles and prophets. Ask if we have received revelation on this and other matters. Ask if these five truths are - in fact - true. 

Now, in my capacity as President of the Church, I invoke a blessing upon you, to be able to discern between right and wrong, between the laws of God and the conflicting voices of the world. I bless you with power to detect the adversary's deceptions. I bless you with greater capacity to receive revelation. And I bless you to be able to feel the infinite reach of God's perfect love for you. 

I so bless you and express my love for you, along with my witness that this is the Lord's Church and that He presides over and guides all we do, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

What a great blessing to the entire world is our Prophet, Russell M. Nelson!

 Looks like she has some good reading material.

 Scarlett loves to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle

Little Star."

 In 2009 my friend Karen and I took the Deseret Book

"Harry Potter" tour of England.

Can you find me?

Sunday, July 2nd, 2017

Sapporo, Japan

151st operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Aug 2016 by

Russell M. Nelson

Alma 26:1-16

*How is it a blessing to be an instrument in the hands of God?

DC 96:1-9

1, The Kirtland Stake of Zion is to be made strong; 2-5, The bishop is to divide the inheritances for the Saints; 6-9, John Johnson is to be a member of the united order.

How can we make our home (stake) strong?

*As I read these scriptures I saw such words as Order, Prayer, wisdom, and keep my commandments...

We have an obligation to "bring forth my word" (vs-4,5) for the purpose of subduing the hearts of the children of men for your good." Good homes produce good people, who in turn produce good works and bless the Church and its members. 

Doing things that invite the Spirit will help us do the most important work of all. We also must assist the Lord in bringing forth His word. (8)

General Conference

The Beauty of Holiness

Carol F. McConkie

"Our Father in Heaven knows us. He loves us, and He has provided for us all that is required so that we can become holy as He is holy. Our hope for holiness is centered in Christ, in His mercy and His grace. With faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we may become clean, without spot, when we deny ourselves of ungodliness and sincerely repent. We are baptized by water for the remission of sins. Our souls are sanctified when we receive the Holy Ghost with open hearts. Weekly, we partake of the ordinance of the sacrament. In a spirit of repentance, wit sincere desires for righteousness, we covenant that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ, remember Him, and keep His commandments so that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.

Over time, as we continually strive to become one with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, we become partakers of Their divine nature. Most often it is the sacrifices we make to keep our covenants that sanctify us and make us holy."

We thought maybe we had a bat because we had seen evidence upstairs. James found him laying on the family room floor this morning and took him outside. Emmy and Molly thought he was so cool and Emmy took this picture.

It creeps me out to think that this critter was flying around my house. Later today Kacey mentioned that she thought a bird

was flying around in their room last night. I told her I didn't think it was a bird but I didn't think it would bother her tonight.

Today was our fast and testimony meeting. James and I are fasting for rain. I bore my testimony and bore my testimony of modern-day apostles and prophets. I also mentioned adding studying about the Savior's life to my scripture study because of President Nelson's talk. I enjoyed Bishop Millers, Brother Price's, and Brother Westbrook's testimonies. We had so many guests today that sacrament meeting was filled to the back of the second overflow.  

I had fifteen kids in my tiny Primary classroom. Sister Kuffer asked me to teach her class and there were lots of visitors.

Ashten and Kacey ducking their heads.

Couldn't get them all in one picture.

Molly made a friend in Primary today. He was a visitor and is four years old.

I can't remember his name, but 

I bet Molly does.

Back at home we fixed breakfast for lunch. James helped me by cooking the eggs.  It was quite delicious. I even had some cinnamon rolls for everyone.

Family time around the dining room table.

After lunch I took a nap. After my nap I got a call from Nadine Singleton. Two of her grandchildren who were visitors in my class today finished their homework papers and earned fidget spinners. Caden took the fast camoflage one and his sister Raylynn took my personal favorite, the purple. 

For dinner this evening we had burgers, steaks, beans, and corn-on-the cob.  Afterwards Jared and Kacey took their kids to Greenspeak. Some rode in the van and others rode on the Razr.

 Guess where these five rode.

Such a cute face!

We had FHE and scriptures together this evening. James told the story of how he was saved from the fire as a baby. 

I made popcorn and M&M's.

Emmy, Kacey, and Jared played Life. Molly watched The Incredibles. Earlier in the day Anna and Summer watched "The Help."  It was a good day.

Photos:

Christina and her baby Winter.

Winter was blessed today.

Cute little family.

I remember those days.

Congratulations!