Sunday, April 8th, 2018

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

95th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 July 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ Baptism of

John 1:32

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 3:19-4:3

*What can I do to more fully yield "to the enticings of the Holy Spirit"?

- I can do the things that King Benjamin listed in Mosiah 3:19:

Become as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon me, even as a child doth submit to his father. 

Old Testament

Joshua 13-14

13 There remain some lands yet to be possessed - Some inhabitants are not expelled - The inheritances of Reuben, Gad, and one half of Manasseh are confirmed.

14 The land is divided by lot among 9 1/2 tribes - Caleb inherits Hebron as a special reward for his faithfulness.

Old Testament Favorite Scripture

Deuteronomy 6:5

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

General Conference

Young Women in the Work

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson

" Every young woman in the Church should feel valued, have opportunities to serve, and feel that she has something of worth to contribute to this work."

What should I pray for? Alma 13:28

But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on His holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

I got up at 4:47 to work on my Primary lesson. I got a little distracted when I was making wordstrips and I couldn't find my ruler because the drawer where I keep it was so messy, so I ended up cleaning out the drawer. Luckily I still had enough time to finish up my lesson on Jacob and Esau.

My clean drawer. I wonder how

long it will stay that way.

James always helps me carry in my supplies when we get to the church and he helps me set up my classroom. It certainly would be a lot harder to fulfill my calling without him. 

James and I came home from town yesterday afternoon around 12:30 and started our fast. We had a prayer to start. We are fasting and praying for moisture. There is a forecast of three months of drought but our land is in dire need of some moisture before the fire season begins at the end of May. We would hope that when we open our weather app and look at the two weeks forecast there will be some sign of moisture.

Dave, the guy we sold the water trailer to says there is a hole in it and it won't hold water. James assured him that he would pay to get it fixed. This is not good news as it may cost hundreds of dollars. Something else to pray for.

I bore my testimony in our fast and testimony meeting today. I felt prompted to share two examples of how general conference has helped me in the past year. The first example was regarding President Nelson's challenge in the April 2017 conference regarding studying the life of Christ using the 57 topical headings in the Bible's Topical Guide. There are many scriptures under these 57 headings. I am reading one a day. This has helped me to more fully appreciate the Savior's life and all he has done for me.

The second example was from the October 2017 conference. I shared with them how I read each conference talk each month and March was the sixth month in the cycle. James and I fasted for better health in March and Sunday afternoon after we broke our fast I was thinking about what I could do to improve my health. At the same time I was looking at the Ensign and read from the section Conference Notes, a summary of Sister Joy D. Jones's talk. A quote jumped out at me and touched my heart. This is the quote.

"If the love we feel for the Savior and what He did for us is greater than the energy we give to weaknesses, self-doubts, or bad habits, then He will help us over the things which cause suffering in our lives. He saves us from ourselves."

The thought came to me, which do I love more, the Savior or my Dr. Pepper 10. That thought, along with the promise that the Lord will help me, propelled me to action. I drank my last Dr. Pepper 10 and offered a prayer of help from the Lord so that I could improve my health. I have not had a soda of any kind for over a month. I know I could not have done this alone because I have tried before.

I will be eternally grateful to Sister Jones and hope that someday I can meet her and thank her. (Trina is good friends with her daughter, and has met Brother and Sister Jones.)

This month I am giving up sweets. At the end of the month I will re-evaluate how I want to handle sweets for the rest of my life.

These are the children who attended my Primary class today:

Liana, Andyn, Gracie, Colter, Kacey, Curtis, and Zemira. The last three are from the older class. Their teacher didn't show up.

In our lesson Esau is angry because of the deception that went on when Isaac gave Jacob his blessing. He says he is going to slay Jacob when he is through mourning the death of his father. 

Jacob is sent away to choose a wife from his mother's brother's family. He is gone for 20 years. When he returns he bows down to Esau and offers him gifts. Esau says he needs no gift and he meets him, embraces him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. (Genesis 33:4). This was my favorite part of the lesson.

I am doing away with my Primary Treasure Box. It has been good for Liana and Andyn but Colter just can't deal with the fact that he doesn't get anything because he doesn't do the work. I let him have something from the Treasure Box 2 because he says I "owed him for a time he did a paper." I have no recollection but I told him he could choose something anyway. I will do it this next week and that's it. Not a good spirit, too much contention...not what I wanted it to do. 

After the block Chuck Crane asked to meet with us. Next week I will have a new calling. I am not going to say what it is until after next Sunday. In a way I am excited for a change but I will so miss my dear sweet Primary children whom I have grown to love.

We got home, broke our fast, and had lunch and our naps. I laid down on the recliner and tried to listen to a talk by President Nelson from 1989 but I fell asleep so I will have to listen to it again tomorrow.

Stacy called me because she was lonely and hungry. I wish I was there to help her. She said Paul went to Church today and that Joshua bore his testimony. It went something like this: 

" I'd like to share a story with you about something that 

happened to me this week. 

I was at scouts the other night and we were reciting the

scout law and oath. My scout leader told me to

slow down and listen for the meaning of the words and

I would feel reverent. I thought to myself, how can I feel reverent?

Today during the sacrament I decided to slow down and to listen

to the words. I felt a feeling of reverence and I know

that my Savior and Heavenly Father love me."

What a sweet testimony. I hope he is able to keep it strong. I remember when Dallin used to bear his testimony every fast Sunday.

This evening I helped James get on Family Search. He started to enter our children and their spouses and came up with two Stacy's and couldn't get rid of one of them and I couldn't figure out how to do it either. Merging didn't work and there was no place to edit. Both Stacy's have the same ID number. We tried the help center but they weren't much help. Family Search is doing upgrades so I told him we should try again tomorrow and maybe we would get to talk to a live person. I am sad he had such a frustrating experience.

I asked for help with doing endowments for several names we have. Jared and Sheri responded. Thanks to them!

Today is James's sister Rebecca's birthday. He sent her a message on Facebook and then was afraid she wouldn't see it so he texted Brent because he didn't have Rebecca's number. He remembers that she was born on Easter Sunday and after his Dad went to visit her and his mom in the hospital in Gallup he came back and took all of the kids on a picnic. He says he loves that memory.

I got a text from Hailey today who moved to New Mexico. I was her visiting teacher and she thanked me for always coming to visit her even though she lived on a horrible road. She said the Church needs more "Sister Lambsons." She mad my day.

My friend Sandra asked for the quote I mentioned in my testimony so I sent her Sister Jones's quote.

Channy Arnett's daughter got married in Queen Creek yesterday and we were invited. Although I have never met her daughter I am sorry we couldn't go because I absolutely love the Arnett's.

Channy's daughter Shandra and

her husband.

This was taken on Saturday

during a soccer game.

This is Jared's post, obviously.

Our friends the Lueck's.

There kids have grown up!

Wow! Our friend Betty as a teenager!

I love the Arizona desert in the spring.

When we were down last week it still

hadn't bloomed. Is that because of the drought?

This is the bookmark I received from

the stake Primary presidency. I 

sent it to Stacy today because of

Joshua's testimony.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

The First Presidency

President Eyring, President Monson and

President Uchtdorf

Alma 26:17-37

17 - God was merciful to us and snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state.

18 - We threatened to destroy His Church.

19 - Why didn't He allow the sword of justice fall upon us and doom us to eternal despair.

20 - . . . He did not exercise His justice upon us, but in His great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.

21 - What natural man is there that knoweth these things?  None, save it be the penitent.

22 - He that repenteth and exerciseth faith and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing - unto such it is given to reveal things which never have been revealed, to bring thousands to repentance . . .

23 - We were laughed to scorn when we said we were going among the Lamanites.

25 - The Nephites wanted to destroy the Lamanites.

26 - Our desire was to save some few of their souls.

27 - When we were depressed, the Lord comforted us and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give you success.

28 - We have suffered every privation but relied upon the mercies of God.

29 - We taught them everywhere and have been cast out, mocked, spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks, stoned, bound with strong cords and cast into prison.  Through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered.

30 - We did it that perhaps we might save some soul.

31 - We can witness the fruits of our labors.

33 - They have such great love, even greater than the Nephites toward their brethren.

35 - We have great reason to rejoice!God has all power, all wisdom and understanding, knowledge, and mercy.

36 - This is my life, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo.  Blessed be the name of my God who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

37 - God is mindful of every people.  I will give thanks unto my God forever!

GC: "I Was An Hungered" by Sister Linda K. Burton.

We  attended the Galveston 3rd ward meetings today.  Cathi and Terry rode with us to the church but we sat by Sheri's family.  

Mike Ellsworth conducted the meeting and bore his testimony.  It was wonderful and really got the ball rolling.  Cathi and I both bore our testimonies.  I loved Brother Arington's testimony.  He is a new convert.  Brian Ross who leaves for his mission this week, and his dad Mike Ross both bore their testimonies.  The Ross's are also moving this week.  Brooklyn Lieb sat by us and drew this picture for us:

Brooklyn just turned six and had on the cutest

Little Mermaid dress.

I got to sit in Primary with Sheri's class while she met with the bishop and here one of my favorite songs: "I Can Follow God's Plan for Me." After opening I went to Sunday School because Ian was there to teach the class. 

Julio Careces was the teacher and always does a great job and has lots of power point presentations.

Debbie Lieb taught Relief Society.  The lesson was based on Elder Cook's talk, "See Yourself in the Temple."  We had lots of good discussion.

We broke out fast when we got home from lunch and ate leftovers for our meal.  I had the rest of my food from Cheesecake Factory and James had the rest of some chicken he had from El Pollo Asado.

We visited with Terry & Cathi and then went to see James's mom and Dawn.  At first Dawn was gone helping Aunt June who has alzheimers.  Lois talked about how much she didn't like the Lambson's until I got her started on her life history.  We got as far as her first year of high school and stopped.  I told her we would continue again next month.  Dawn said she was amazed that she would tell me anything because she and Rebecca were trying to talk to her for months.

We had two invitations for dinner, first from Sheri, and then from Cathi & Terry.  We went to Sheri's and had steak, potatoes, asparagus, and rolls.  Yummy.  When we got back we tasted the potato salad and sirloin steak Cathi & Terry got at Sam's Club yesterday.  Very tasty.  

Jared, James, and Molly came by on their way to Darrel and Trina's.  Molly got along great with Cathi, and Indy.

Showing Cathi something on her arm.

Such cute little faces!

Who do you think is taller?

I think Ian by a very slim margin.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

My new ponderize scripture

for the week.

I got up early to pray and meditate and then to finish up my Primary lesson on Alma and Amulek.  Here they are walking out of prison after everyone else inside was killed as the prison walls collapsed.  

"For the Lord had granted unto them power, 

according to their faith in Christ."

Alma 14:28

After church James was going to check on George Wallace.  He heard he was in the hospital and that his wife, Ruth, is out of town.

He called Ed Miller and Ed said he would check at the hospital to see if George was there.  He wasn't.  James tried to call, but no answer.  What to do? We did nothing, hoping for the best.

We fasted until 3 pm.  We broke our fast with this meal:

Roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, salad, and rolls.  It was especially after fasting for 24 hours.  

We had some crazy weather today.  It was supposed to rain, but we didn't get much.  We got most of ours last night.  We could see it rain all around us and some places even got snow.

This picture was taken by Jani Huso Johnson.

I bet the skiing is good this week.

We had a good fast and testimony meeting.  I had told James earlier this week that I was worried about Deborah Brewer because I hadn't seen her in church for awhile.  She was here today and even bore her testimony!

I had five kids in my class today: Curtis, Zemira, Braylin, Kacey, and Izabel.  Curtis was tired.  He said they didn't get home from the valley until 2 a.m.  I guess they went to a D-backs game.

Trenda looks great!

This afternoon I worked on next week's Primary lesson and my blog.  James, Adam, and I watched the bunnies play outside.  There are about six of them now.  Some of them are very tiny.

This evening the three of us watched the Young Adult Fireside Broadcast featuring Elder Richard J. Maynes and his wife.  Elder Maynes spoke on the Restoration and the Prophet Joseph Smith.  It was excellent!

It was a wonderful Sabbath day.  I felt like I kept the Sabbath better today than I have for a long time.

Kim posted this picture on Facebook today:

 

 

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Words of Wisdom from an

Apostle of the Lord.

 

It seems funny not to be preparing a Primary lesson.  James and I read scriptures and had family prayer together.  I also studied from the New Testament student manual and played a rhyming game and did a Dora puzzle with Molly and then she fell back asleep before church.  Emmy showed me her favorite computer game.  I also tried to play "catchup" with my Sunday journal. 

 

Adam rode with us to church and told us about J.R. Gale's divorce and how his ex-wife has left the Church.  He is trying to get custody of his little boy.  So sad.  His temple marriage only lasted three years.

 

This will be our last Sunday as members of the Galveston 3rd ward.  James, Sheri, and I all bore our testimonies in fast and testimony meeting, and James and I said our goodbyes.  After James's testimony little Brooklyn Leib came down and gave us both hugs and sat on James's lap for awhile.  I love this little girl and told her mom I would love to take her with me.  We certainly are going to miss all of the kids in our Primary class.

Brooklyn is the sweet little blonde on the far left.

Taylor, Ryder, Broolyn, Malachi, Liam,

Isaiah, Shade, and Callie.

These kids love Brother Lambson!

 

After sacrament meeting our family gathered in the family history room because it is bigger than he bishop's office for Max's ordination to the office of a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. 

James was voice for the ordination and the following were in the circle: Bishop Lewis, Paul, Brian, Ian, Michael, Darrel, and Jared. 

The Trezise Family

In Sunday School Brother Jeppsen gave a lesson on the Atonement.  During the course of the lesson Brother Jeppsen recited the words to "I Stand All Amazed".  James leaned over and told me his feelings about "I Stand All Amazed" the first time he heard it as a youth.  He said it affected him so that he went home and memorized the words because of how it made him feel.

In Relief Society Lynette Braddock gave a lesson on the importance of love in missionary work.  I sat by Gerry Price and had a nice visit with her and was able to say goodbye.  The bishop came in  and read a letter from the First Presidency regarding the gay marriage decision. 

 

When we got home from church we broke our fast and Michael cooked some of the leftover burgers Darrel and Trina left for lunch.  Michael, Adam, Jared, James, James Hayden, and Anna all had a burger.  Molly and Emmy went home with Trina and Darrel after Max's ordination. 

 

Jared and Paul and Michael watched the women's soccer team play against Japan for the World Cup.  I was cleaning the kitchen and I watched too.  It was an amazing game with the USA winning 5-2.  Our first World Cup in sixteen years.

 

 

 

 



Sunday, December 7, 2014

 

"The message of this season that is applicable throughout the year lies not in the receiving of earthly presents and treasures but in the forsaking of selfishness and greed and in going forward, seeking and enjoying the gifts of the Spirit, which Paul said are 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law' (Gal. 5:22-23)

-James E. Faust

 Happy Birthday to our son-in-law Paul who has been a part of our family for 25 years.

 

Ruby rode with us to and from church.  James let her "drive" home.  No wonder she likes to come with us.  

Today was our fast and testimony meeting.  We had five youth who bore their testimonies.  It was a good meeting.  I am fasting for the Fab Five: Joseph, Michael, Alex, Ben and James.  I am fasting that they will prepare themselves to serve missions.  

Trina, Lola and I learn about how to be good shepherds in Brother Wilhelm's Sunday School class.  James attended another class since part of his calling is to work with the Sunday School.

Ruth Wilhelm gave the lesson in Young Women's on building the kingdom of God.  Winna Ulmer is back in the hospital, this time for gall bladder surgery.  Alice, Trenda, LeeAnn, Maddie, Shelly, Jordyn, and Kyah attended.  

To break out fast we had roast with carrots, potatoes, and celery.  Afterwards I beat Addy and Trina in a game of Five Crowns.  

The kids watched the Christmas Dragon while Ed and Debbie Miller came to fix our heater.  The heater now works and we had a nice visit with Debbie and Ed.

James attended titihing settlement without me.  The Miller's were in my closet working on the heater so I couldn't change clothes.   

Trina and the kids left for home this afternoon.

Trina and the gang 

This evening we watched the First Presidency Devotional and then "Christmas at Cartwright's".

Robert came to work on the truck after dark but didn't stay long because a clip is missing.  He said he would get one and come back tomorrow.

Darrel stayed here again tonight.

  

 

 

Sunday, September 30, 2012

I had wanted to go to church today to partake of the sacrament.  When I looked in the mirror at my face, I just couldn't.  The Lord is probably displeased with me because of my pride.  James went to church and I stayed home alone.  I studied and watched some BYU TV until he got home and we broke our fast.  James grilled some chicken and I fixed the rice and corn.  It's become our standard Sunday meal and it is yummy.

Afterwards I fixed these for dessert.

Is this becoming a food blog?

I love studying the gospel and I am enjoying so much the book I am reading, "Rescuing Wayward Children."

It's not just for people with wayward children but for anyone who wants to learn more about redemption, sanctification, grace, and charity, just to name a few.

Reading uplifting books is my therapy.

A special meeting was held in the Chandler West Stake for the Galveston and Del Rio wards.  All the rumors were true.  Boundaries are being changed.  Everything north of Pecos between Alma School and Arizona Avenue is the new Del Rio 2nd ward.  Everything between Pecos and Germann, Arizona Avenue and Price is the Galveston 3rd ward.  Jackie Hall and Charlotte Mattice are very sad.  Change is hard but sometimes is needed and can be for our good.

Here is a picture of Alex with the new bow tie Tricia made for him.  I hope it's not too tight.  He kind of looks like he is in pain.

A handsome guy!