Friday, January 10th, 2020

Adelaide, Australia

89th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

1 Nephi 22:12

Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 5-6

General Conference Daily

"Lessons from Laman and Lemuel"

Elder Neal A. Maxwell

October 1999

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Come, Follow Me - the Lord's Counterstrategy and Proactive Plan"

Brother Mark L. Pace

"Gratefully, we live in a time when prophets and apostles teach us of the Savior Jesus Christ. Following their counsel helps us establish a firm foundation in Christ."

I love this quote from Sheri Dew's book, "Women and the Priesthood":

"Studying the scriptures is a key to learning the difference between feeling the Spirit and hearing the voice of the Spirit."

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. It looks like there is about 3 inches of snow and it is still snowing. 

We went to clean the church this morning at 9 a.m. Tina Allen was there too. The Gardner's were not able to come. We are cleaning on Friday because tomorrow we work at the temple. 

James always heads for the chapel. He likes to wear the vacuum on his back, anyway that's my take on it. He looks like a guy from ghostbusters. 

Tina collected all of the garbage, cleaned the bathrooms, checked all the classrooms, and checked the kitchen and Relief Society room.

I had the big vacuum and did the "big" vacuuming in the halls. It looks like there was a popcorn party because there were bits of popcorn all down the hall. I think it may have been a Primary party because there was lots of popcorn in the Primary room too. 

When I was finished I went to put the vacuums away and there was a guy I had never seen before sitting where I had put my purse, boots, and water. I went in to ask James where my stuff was and he had brought it into the chapel. 

The guys name was Jose. He came to work at the park but when he got here Virgil, who helps maintain the park and is in our ward, said he did not have any work for him. Jose's sister had dropped him off and was heading to Springerville where she lives. He needed a ride home.

We we glad to take him home. He lived on the 61 on the other side of Stanford store. I had to text my friend Maxine whom I was meeting at 11 to go see Pat Tedder, and tell her we might be a little late.

We were a few minutes late meeting up with Maxine. She was waiting for us at the hill and stop sign on 3144. We followed Maxine's red Jeep right in to Pat's place. While Maxine and I went in, James turned the car around. 

Pat fell in the temple about 3 months ago and broke her back. She looked better than I had expected. She wears a back brace about 8 hours a day. She is a pretty amazing woman. She spend some time in the hospital and in rehab and then her daughters house in the valley. She told everyone she would be home for Christmas, and she was. Pat is 86 years old. Maxine is her best friend.

I told Pat I wanted to bring dinner next Thursday. Her son lives with her and they help each other because they both have health issues.

After my visit to Pat,  James and I went in to town. We had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, LaCasita and then James took me to Walmart. I did some shopping while he got the oil changed in the car. 

When we got home I made rolls for the temple tomorrow and finished watching "Winter in Vail."

 Gilbert and Johnnie Gonzales

So proud!

 My breakfast this morning

Throwback to two years ago on this date.

 Awww

Saturday, January 4th, 2020

Dedicated: 20 May 2000

By" Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

2 Nephi 11:2

And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

Book of Mormon

"A Testimony of the Book of Mormon" Russell M. Nelson 10/1999

Oct 2019 General Conference

"The Joy of the Saints"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"God sees things in their true perspective, and He shares that perspective with us through His commandments, effectively guiding us around the pitfalls and potholes of mortality toward eternal joy. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: 'When His commandments teach us, it is in view of eternity; for we are looked upon by God as though we were in eternity; God dwells in eternity, and does not view things as we do.'"

At 8:30 this morning we met the Gardner's, Tina Allen and Shaelyn Smith at the church to clean. It comes around once a year and is always the first and second week of January. The Gardner's brought their boys and were very efficient. They were over the cleaning of the chapels in Tucson and so they know what needs to be done. It was great that Shaelyn came because she isn't even in our ward. She is Tina's niece and Tina asked her to come.

There is a memorial service for Lorrain Tieman, a former member of our ward who died of cancer. She has family in our ward, a sister, nieces and nephews and a brother. Her sister Nadine Singleton wanted to do this memorial service for her even though she lived in California with her daughter. Nadine made pulled pork and baked beans and the Relief Society brought rolls, salads and desserts. 

Kathy Crane is our compassionate service leader and she was here around 10 with Rosie Lauritzen to make sure the food was all ready for the luncheon after the service. 

Kathy had the cultural hall setup the night before. She did a nice job.

James and I brought clothes to change in to for Lorraine's service in the chapel. Nadine told her life story and Tamara talked about her example and dedication. Sean Hunsaker, who was her bishop also spoke. Lorraine was my visiting teaching companion for awhile when I used to go out to the Chaffin ranch to visit Hailey. The first time Lorraine went she offered to take her pickup. The road was so rocky she really did not like it. She never offered to take her truck again. We either took my car or James drove us in his truck. 

I sat by Catherine Halcomb during the service. Although Catherine did not know Lorraine she is Nadine's ministering sister. James sat by Ed Miller. 

When we sang "O My Father" Catherine got a little teary-eyed because that's one of the songs they sang at her husbands funeral. The closing song was "God Be With You Til We Meet Again" which we sang at my mom's funeral.

Here are some of the things said in the funeral.

When Lorraine was a girl growing up in northwest Phoenix, her family raised turkeys. They had over a 1,000.

She met her husband at the local swimming pool in Phoenix.

She and her husband lived in Hawaii for a year when he was in the Navy. Lorraine learned to cook Hawaiian food.

Lorraine and Nadine raised their kids together so the cousins would grow up knowing each other.

Lorraine worked at Honeywell for 15 years.

While their children were growing up she and her husband Bruce were not active in the church. They spent lots of weekends in the boat on Lake Powell.

When Lorraine decided it was time to go back to church Bruce sold the boat. The sad thing is the kids were teenagers by then and were not interested in going to church.

Lorraine loved music and played the organ in the Vernon ward, alternating with Analee Hunsaker.

Bruce was a Primary teacher. He never gave the kids candy but if they were good he would give them a green bean from his garden.

Bishop Sean Hunsaker says he was there home teacher and he loved Lorraine's chili relleno casserole. It was a treat he enjoyed when he went for a visit.

Lorraine was a temple worker in the Snowflake temple.

When her health began to fail her she moved to California to live with her daughter.

We sat by the Diewald's, Kerri Halcomb and Amy Reynolds. We enjoyed the pulled pork on rolls, coleslaw, baked beans, and Texas sheetcake both chocolate and "blonde." I prefer the blonde.

I excused myself from helping in the kitchen afterwards because I needed to go in to town to get some groceries. I am taking soup in to the Grapp's tonight who have had the flu. Kathy gave me some salad and a bag of rolls to go with the soup.

We went to Walmart for groceries and some of my prescriptions and then we got gas and washed the car. 

When we got home James carried in the groceries and I put them away. James went to take a nap while I fixed homemade chicken noodle soup for the Grapp's. James made the delivery. Later I got a text from Cammy. This is what she said:
"When you get a chance and can look up the 2014 Mormon Message, 'You Never Know,' I would love for you and your husband to watch it. This video describes the blessing that you have been to us so many times, especially tonight. Your soup was the greatest thing that has come of all this illness. Leland (1 yr old) hasn't wanted to eat much and he loved your soup. He is still with fever and others are recovering. Thanks so much for making the beautiful salad and sending crackers and rolls too. We love you!

Gratitude makes it all worth while.

New Hallmark movies are taping tonight and tomorrow night. 

Weaver's Needle in the Superstition Mountains

Silly Charlie

Saturday, October 19th, 2019

Cardston, Alberta

6th operating temple

Dedicated: 26-29 Aug 1923

By: Heber J. Grant

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

1 Nephi 22:25

And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 8:5-25

How can we prepare today for the Savior's Second Coming?

New Testament: "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me"

Colossians 3-4 & Colossians 3:1-17 Disciples of Jesus Christ become "new" as they live His gospel.

General Conference

Covenant Women in Partnership with God

President Henry B. Eyring

"Becoming a covenant woman in partnership with God is how great and good daughters of God have always mothered led, and ministered."

Two Great Commandments

President Dallin H. Oaks

"We must try to keep both of the great commandments. To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love."

As I said my prayers this morning I asked Heavenly Father, what lack I yet? The thought came to me that I need to be more self-disciplined in all areas of my life.

"RWC" DC 50:7 - Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed; 

This gives me hope for wayward grandchildren!

I love this quote from Joseph B. Wirthlin found in the New Testament Student Manual: "That we do a lot may not be so important. That we focus the energy of our minds, hearts, and souls on those things of eternal significance - that is essential."(p. 442)

I sold two books today for a total in sales of 145.00.

At nine o'clock this morning James and I went to the church to clean. We noticed last week in the bulletin that Blain Curtis was pretty much assigned to clean the church by himself. Diana is still recovering from surgery and everyone else probably don't know they have the assignment because they don't come to church. James told him he would be there Saturday to help him clean. 

Blain wasn't there when we got there so we started without him. I vacuumed, James emptied trashes and cleaned the bathrooms and was vacuuming the pews in the chapel when Blain came around 10:30. He was most appreciative of our help and he told us to please go home and he would finish up, which we did.

I am grateful to James for honoring his commitment to Blain. I tried to talk him out of it, saying that he was recovering from surgery and Blain would understand if he called and told him he couldn't make it. He would not do that. I had not planned on going but there was no way I was going to let James go by himself. I was grateful we did it. There is something so satisfying in doing something for someone else.

We missed the breakfast at the park kicking off the November Food Drive.

We also missed the political rally at the park for David Peelman and Cope Reynolds. I'm not sure what David is running for but Cope is running for Apache County Sheriff. Cope is a good friend and a member of our ward. I think he would make an awesome sheriff and he definitely has my vote! (Cope isn't his real name. He adopted it when in his less active days he chewed Copenhagen tobacco. Nevertheless, he is a great guy! He's also tall and can be intimidating.)

Jaden Hood's baptism. Jaden is mentally but he has come up through the ranks in Primary and I have seen a definite improvement. He understands more than you think, he just cannot speak so you can understand him. At least I can't understand him. Maybe there are those who can.

We left our house this evening a little after five to clean the temple in Snowflake. On the way we stopped at the church and picked up our friend Tom Howard who is going with us. He is Jaden's Primary teacher and he attended Jaden's baptism. Jean, Tom's wife was going to come too but she was not feeling well. He said she was at home with the electric blanket I got her for Christmas wrapped around her.

On our way to Snowflake I got a text from Tamara Applegate. This is what it said:

"Sorry, Jimmie and I got asked to accompany youth to corn maze. Hope you have enough to clean the temple. So sorry not to be there."

We were already going to be a little short so this was disappointing, especially to James who loves Jimmie Applegate.

We are grateful to these ward members who were there to help clean the temple: Amy and Sam Gordon, Wes and Teresa Smith, Anthony Romyak, Kerri Halcomb, Jerry Scott, Virgil Cooper, Tom Howard, Owen Peeler, Chuck Crane, Cammy Grapp, Collin DeWitt (came from the valley to honor his commitment), and of course James and myself. 

James and I vacuumed. I vacuumed and he held the cord. I got to wear the backpack vacuum and someone said: "Who you gonna call, Ghostbusters!" The backpack vacuum is for vacuuming the stairs.

We stopped at McDonald's on the way home and I got an ice cream and a Happy Meal burger and James got an ice cream without the cone. We stopped at Maverick so Tom could get some mints for his Primary class tomorrow. He says they love them and try to get them out of his pockets. He loves kids and I'm sure he is a great Primary teacher.

We were home before nine and read from Aunt Dimity and watched part of the new episode of "Good Witch" before going to bed. James said he didn't feel any pain while he was cleaning the temple.

It was our privilege to help clean the Snowflake temple

this evening.

 Oh Charlie, you are so funny!

 Little Lola

Michael

Friday, January 12th, 2018

Bern, Switzerland

9th operating temple

Dedicated: 11-15 Sept 1955

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ Atonement through

DC 74:7

But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 10:11-11:11

*What do I think it means to "diligently seek?"

*How has the gift of the Holy Ghost blessed my life?

Old Testament

Genesis 26-28

26 The Lord promises Isaac posterity as the stars of heaven in number - In his seed, all nations will be blessed - The Lord prospers Isaac, temporally and spiritually, for Abraham's sake - Isaac offers sacrifices - Esau marries Hittite wives to the sorrow of his parents.

27 Rebekah guides Jacob in seeking blessings - Jacob is blessed to have dominion and rule over peoples and nations - Esau hates Jacob and plans to say him - Rebekah fears that Jacob may marry one of the daughters of Heth.

28 Isaac forbids Jacob to marry a Canaanite - He blesses Jacob and his seed with the blessings of Abraham - Esau marries a daughter of Ishmael - Jacob sees in vision a ladder reaching up into heaven - The Lord promises him seed as the dust of the earth in number - The Lord also promises Jacob that in him and in his seed all the families of the earth will be blessed - Jacob covenants to pay tithes.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

General Conference

By Divine Design

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"What should you be looking for in your own life? What are God's miracles that remind you that He is close, saying, "I am right here"? Think of those times, some daily, when the Lord has acted in your life - and then acted again. Treasure them as moments the Lord has shown confidence in you and in your choices. But allow Him to make more of you than you can make of yourself on your own. Treasure His involvement. Sometimes we consider changes in our plans as missteps on our journey. Think of them more as first steps to being "on the Lord's errand."

Another quote from Elder Rasband:

"The Lord does not do things by coincidence but by divine design."

I can't bend my knee this morning and it hurts. Nevertheless I helped James and Chuck clean the church. We have to do it today because tomorrow we work in the temple. On the way home we checked the mail...nothing...Diane Rico said she would send us a check for December's payment, but we haven't seen it.

For lunch James grilled steaks and I made lemon pepper asparagus in the oven. Everything tasted so good and we must have been hungry because we ate it all. 

I watched President Monson's funeral this afternoon. I wonder if his favorite color was purple. The tabernacle choir had purple robes and ties, and so did some of the speakers. I really enjoyed his daughter's, Ann Dibb's, talk.

I spent most of the day looking for photos of James in the photo albums in the family room. James scanned some of them into the computer and sent them to Stacy, two at a time. There were 70 of them so it took awhile. Stacy is making a power point for James's birthday party. 

Here are some of the photos I found in an album Dawn gave me for Christmas a few years ago. 

I think he looks like James Hayden

in this picture.

David is the tall one.

In spite of my knee I pushed myself and walked over 11,000 steps today. 

This evening our episode of Heartland was called, "The Road Ahead."

More old photos:

Jared and James

Family Letter 1978 or 1979

James and Rocky

Joel Heaton, Jared, James

San Antonio temple

Tanner and James

The shootout last summer

Tanner won.