Sunday, April 28th, 2019

Barranquilla, Colombia

161st operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Dec 2018

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Acts 3:13

The God Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 18:17-35

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Review Matthew 18 and Luke 10

General Conference

Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing

David A. Bednar

"Blessings will come as we strive to fulfill our individual responsibility to learn and love the restored gospel of Jesus Christ."

I missed seeing Shelly this morning at church. She didn't want to cause a disruption in the chapel so she sat in the foyer and I missed her. Afterward sacrament meeting she went to the singles ward.

We sat by Kim and Brian during sacrament on the back row. Several youth spoke on conference talks and it was difficult to hear them. Elder Irish was the last speaker and we could hear him fine. He bore his testimony and shared some messages from the prophet, President Nelson. Kim and Brian went home after sacrament meeting. 

Cammy was nervous about teaching in Relief Society. She is teaching from Elder Holland's conference address, "Behold the Lamb of God."  The sisters came through for Cammy and we had a good discussion about reverence in the chapel and during the sacrament. I noticed that Holly G. wasn't there and I texted her after church to make sure she was okay. 

We had a family history meeting after the block. I forgot about it and was visiting in the RS room with Tamara, Kailee, and Kerri. I was a little embarrassed coming in late. Everyone was there except our teenager Ty. I texted him afterwards and told him we wanted him to visit Charlie G. and that James would go with him. Tamara his mom said he would do it but it would be after May 4th because he is preparing for the state track tournament.

James and I fixed biscuits and gravy for Kim and Brian before they left. James did all the work. I got the biscuits out of the freezer and warmed them up in the oven. The venison gravy was delicious!

Kim, Brian and I played a game of Five Crowns before they left. Brian whipped us each by over a 100 points. Maybe he was getting even with us for eating Rocky Road ice cream in front of him. (He's lactose intolerant).

After Kim and Brian left James went to the Howard's to help Tom with family history. While I was home alone I listened to a podcast interview with Sheri Dew about her association with prophets. She has written three books about prophets, Ezra Taft Benson, Gordon B. Hinckley, and now Russell M. Nelson. She told the story of the circumstances surrounding the meeting of Wendy Watson and President Nelson. She was a part of them getting together. I want this book that she has written for mother's day. I have told James and posted an advertisement for it on my white board. No jewlery honey, just a book.

I caught up on my blog this evening and watched a Mormon Message video, "The Passover Lamb." Tamara told us about this video in Relief Society today. This is something I will watch every Easter.

Happy Sabbath from these two sweet girls!

 Anxiously awaiting!

Dear sweet Ruby

Friday, June 23rd, 2017

St. Paul, Minnesota,

69th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan 2000 by

Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 20:19-30

*When Lamoni's father saw that Ammon could kill him, what did he offer Ammon? What did Ammon ask instead?

*How did Ammon's love for Lamoni influence Lamoni's father?

In what ways did the words of Ammon and Lamoni influence Lamoni's father?

Conclusion: As we show love and teach the truth, we can help others soften their hearts and become receptive to the gospel.

DC 90:1-16

1-5, The keys of the kingdom are committed to Joseph Smith and through him to the Church; 6-7, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams are to serve in the First Presidency; 8-11, The gospel is to be preached to the nations of Israel, to the Gent iles, and to the Jews, every man hearing in his own tongue; 12-18, Joseph Smith and his counselors are to set the Church in order;

How do these verses help us understand more fully the order and continuity of the Prophet and First Presidency?

* Counselors can do everything their presiding officer directs them to do, as if the president were personally acting; however, they have no power to act independent of the president.

General Conference

Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It

Elder L. Whitney Clayton

"Those who are deliberate about doing the "small and simple things" - obeying in seemingly little ways - are blessed with faith and strength that go far beyond the actual acts of obedience themselves and, in fact, may seem totally unrelated to them. It may seem hard to draw a connection between the basic daily acts of obedience and solutions to the big, complicated problems we face.

But they are related. In my experience getting the little daily habits of faith right is the single best way to fortify ourselves against the troubles of life, whatever they may be. Small acts of faith, even when they seem insignificant or entirely disconnected from the specific problems that vex us, bless us in all we do."

Another night of coughing.

James left a little after six for Chandler to take his truck to Cactus Muffler to get a new exhaust pipe.  His now almost touches the ground.  I leave around 6:40 to pick him up.  Thank goodness there was light traffic on the freeway.  

After picking up James from the muffler shop we went to Biscuits for breakfast.  This time we both order the Joe's Scramble. James gets biscuits as his side and I get pancakes, which were huge.  

The guy at the muffler shop informs James that he needs four new brakes.  This is a job for Erik, but he is out of town on vacation.  Before going back to Scottsdale we drive through Sonic to get drinks.  

After a short nap at the resort I take James back to pick up his truck.  He goes to the mattress shop to get a set of box springs for our king sized mattress and I do some shopping at the Fry's on Dobson and Ray.  

Back at the resort as I am carrying in groceries I lock myself out of the room.  I go to the front desk and the girl brings a key and follows me back to my room. She helps carry in my groceries and then asks to see my picture I.D.  

I am hot and sweaty. I turn down the air conditioner, put on my new house dress, and start washing the sheets on the other bed. Kacey and Jared are coming to stay with us a couple of nights.  

I also put the groceries away and clean up both rooms.  Afterwards I take a much deserved nap.  

After my nap I am doing my gospel study when James returns.  We cook crabcakes for dinner which we quite delicious. James bought them at the Signature Fry's here in Scottsdale. 

After dinner, studying, blogging, and reading from "The Lost Heiress", we go to bed around 10:30. We leave a key under the mat for Jared and Kacey.  They arrive around 11:30 in a new silver mini-van.

Photos and a Quote

 It is fire season in the southwest. This is the Boundary

fire on Kendrick mountain. It has burned 11, 540 acres and is still burning.

Young Women Kilee and Shelly.

On our way to Scottsdale three years ago to stay in our

timeshare with Sister Nicoll, LeeAnn and Trenda.

A reward for reading the Book of Mormon.

Bearing one another's burdens.

Thursday, June 1st, 2017

Paris, France

156th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 May 2017 by

Henry B. Eyring

Alma 9:19-34

*According to Alma 9:19-23, what gifts and blessings had the Nephites, (including the people of Ammonihah), experienced because they were the Lord's covenant people?

*What are some ways we can stay true to the light and knowledge we have received?

DC 84:17-28

18-25, The greater priesthood holds the key of the knowledge of God; 26-32, The lesser priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels and of the preparatory gospel;

What authority did John the Baptist receive from the angel?

*"To overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power." (verse 28).  John the Baptist was a preparer and he held the Aaronic priesthood or the preparatory priesthood.

General Conference

Trust in the Lord and Lean Not

Bonnie H. Cordon

"When we physically lean toward one side or another, we move off

center, we are out of balance, and we tip.

When we spiritually lean to our own understanding we lean away from our Savior.  If we lean, we are not centered; we are not balanced; we are not focused on Christ."

Happy Anniversary to us!
49 years and counting!

James placed a card on my study desk at Cathi and Terry's this morning.  It was the first thing I read.  I am so grateful to him.  He is my best friend, my priesthood leader, and the love of my life.  I wish everyone could be as happy as we are!

To celebrate we went to Biscuits for breakfast.  I got the same thing I got yesterday, Joe's Scramble, only this time I ate every bite.  James got the corned beef, potatoes, hashbrowns, and eggs. 

When we returned to Cathi's James put on his work clothes.  He is patching a section of drywall in Cathi and Terry's garage.  We he finishes he keeps in, takes a shower, and changes his clothes.  It is time for me to stop my gospel study and get ready to go home to Vernon.  I am sad we were not able to get our new windshield because we never heard back from our insurance company, National General.  On the way out of town we stopped at the Chandler Costco so James could get some batteries for his hearing aid.  We also got steaks, cough drops, and a few other items of groceries.  We ended up spending around $100.  Away we go!  We are still reading from "The Shack". Of course we went through Globe.

  

Our first stop on the way home was at the Burger King in Show Low for a Whopper Jr.  Next stop was the Vernon post office.  We got the book, "Joseph Smith, a Rough Stone Rolling," and two checks from Diana R.  I also got a thank you card from Rachel and a fidget spinner.  It is 65 degrees, overcast, and we get a little rain.  Perfect weather!  As I am unloading my suitcases and putting everything away a feeling of gratitude comes over me for my beautiful home and where we live.  We are truly blessed!

This evening we watch an old Taylor Cole movie on Hallmark.  James cooks steaks and I make some lemon pepper asparagus.  The perfect dinner.  These steaks are divine!

I finished reading "Dad's Who Stay and Fight" and did some other studying.  As we are sitting outside on our bedroom porch I head cows mooing.  We have not seen any cows since the 2014 fire.  James takes off on the Razr to check it out and says he saw 215 cows.  Oh dear, and this before we get our fence up.

I love James because:

He is an awesome grandpa!

He can cook!

He loves to study the gospel.

He is a hard worker.

This was a service project he did for 

Kim and Brian.

He likes to take me out to eat.

El Cupido's after the Snowflake temple

This is a chinese restaurant in Phoenix

that Kim recommended.  We took Alex, Michael,

and Kim here last year as part of our 

scripture study, lunch program.

He looks handsome in his suit 

and purple tie.

He is a wonderful father.

He helps me with projects for my 

Primary class.

Here he is making paper airplanes.

He takes me to the temple!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

I love you!

Saturday, July 25 2015

View from our porch

 

The boys went on an early morning Razr ride with James.  When they returned James made steak, gravy and biscuits for everyone.  This is one of Alex's favorite meals!  I think Seth liked it too but he may have had a difficult time chewing because of his wisdom teeth being pulled this week.

 

I got a call from Becky Skousen this morning asking if I could teach the 9-10 year olds in Primary tomorrow.  I told her I would be glad to so she delivered the manual to me.  The lesson is entitled: "The Triumphal Entry and the Last Supper."

While I was doing the dishes and laundry, the boys and James went to Stanford's store to get gas for the Razr and passion fruit punch sherbet for dessert.  James loves this sherbet as much as I do.

 

This afternoon while sitting on the porch we saw a double rainbow.  It was raining and the sun was shining at the same time.

I posted this picture on Facebook.

When our neighbor Donna Peeler saw it she commented:

"You see everything on your porch."

 

Seth and Alex took a drive to the top of Green's Peak this afternoon.  When James checked his wildlife camera this picture came up:

I call this:

"The gathering of the bulls"

 

The guys went out coyote hunting this evening.  When they returned I fixed pancakes and sausage for dinner. 

 

James and I finished our book "The Tutor's Daughter" today.  I liked the heroine, Emma Smallwood.  She likes to make lists, read, collect books, and write in her journal.  I love these things too!

 

One more picture from our porch.

 

Back at home in Chandler, Michael gets a much needed haircut.  Joe promised he would cut his hair after Michael got his cut.  When we reminded him of this, he said: "I didn't say how long after."  Tricky Joe, tricky.  We were all disappointed, including Amanda.