Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018

Apia, Samoa
22nd operating temple
Dedicated: 5-6 Aug 1983
Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator

Job 10:8

Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

Book of Mormon

Alma 26:17-37

*Alma 26:26. Perseverance Leads to Success

-The success the sons of Mosiah experienced among the Lamanites exceeded their expectations (Alma 26:30-31). As they began their missions, the Lord promised, "I will make an instrument of thee inn my hands unto the salvation of many souls" (Alma 17:11). With this promise they "took courage to go forth unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God" (Alma 17:12). Success in their endeavors did not come automatically, even though the Lord had promised it. During the course of their 12-year mission, they experienced "all manner of afflictions" (Alma 26:30). The record further indicates their hearts became "depressed, and they were about to turn back" (Alma 26:27). Yet, trusting in the promises of the Lord, they continued in their efforts. Then, as He always does, the Lord honored His promises and rewarded their perseverance.

Alma 26:27-30. The Realities of Missionary Service

-Elder F. Burton Howard of the Seventy shared how his reading Alma 26 as a young missionary impacted his testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon: "I was reading again the twenty-sixth chapter of Alma and the story of Ammon's mission. I read out loud, as I sometimes do, trying to put myself in the position of the characters in the book, imagining that I was saying or hearing the words, that I was there. Once more I went over the report, and, with a clarity which cannot be described and which would be difficult to comprehend by one who has not experienced it, the Spirit spoke to my soul, saying, did you notice? Everything that happened to Ammon happened to you? 

"It was a totally unexpected sentiment. It was startling in its scope; it was a thought that had never occurred to me before I quickly reread the story. Yes, there were times when my heart had been depressed and I had thought about going home. I too had gone to a foreign land to teach the gospel to the Lamanites. I had gone forth among them, had suffered hardships, had slept on the floor, endured the cold, gone without eating. I too had traveled from house to house, knocking on doors for months at a time without being invited in, relying on the mercies of God. There had been other times when we had entered houses and talked to people. We had taught them on their streets and on their hills. We had even preached in other churches. I remembered the time I had been spit upon. I remembered the time when I, as a young district leader assigned by the mission president to open up a new town, had entered, with three other elders, the main square of a city that had never had missionaries before. We went into the park, sang a hymn, and a crowd gathered. Then the lot fell on me, as district leader, to preach. I stood upon a stone bench and spoke to the people. I told the story of the restoration of the gospel, of the boy Joseph Smith going in to the grove and the appearance of the Father and the Son to him. I remembered well a group of teenage boys, in the evening shadows, throwing rocks at us. I remembered the concern about being hit or injured by those who did not want to hear the message. I remembered spending time in jail while my legal right to be a missionary in a certain country was decided by the police authorities. I still remember the feeling I had when the door was closed and I was far away from home, alone, with only the mercies of the Lord to rely on for deliverance. I remembered enduring these things with the hope that 'we might be the means of saving some soul' (Alma 26:30). And then on that day as I read, the Spirit testified to me again, and the words remain with me even today: No one but a missionary could have written this story. Joseph Smith could never had known what it was like to be a missionary to the Lamanites, for no one he knew had ever done such a thing before."

Old Testament

1 Chronicles 27-28

27 The officers who serve the king are named - The princes of the tribes of Israel are set forth.

28 David assembles the leaders of Israel - Solomon is appointed to build the temple - David exhorts Solomon and the people to keep the commandemnts - David gives Solomon the pattern and materials for the temple.

General Conference

The Heart of a Prophet

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"The period of time between the death of a prophet and the reorganization of the First Presidency is referred to as an 'apostolic interregnum." During this period, the Quorum of the Twelve, under the leadership of the quorum president, jointly holds the keys to administer the leadership of the Church. President Joseph F. Smith taught, 'There is always a head in the Church, and if the Presidency of the Church are removed by death or other cause, then the next head of the Church is the Twelve Apostles, until a presidency is again organized."

Ensign: "Three Modern Pioneers Journey's" "Feel Disconnected? Try Slowing Down"

I listened to four chapters from President Eyring's biography today. I watered the flowers, grass, and the bunnies. Although I don't particularly like the wind, I love to here it blowing through the pine trees, and I love the clouds!

This afternoon I went into town to do some shopping. First stop was Dollar Tree to get more silver cookie platters. I bought all they had left, 8. Next I went to J.C. Penney's and bought three new tops. Two of them were on sale. Last of all, Walmart.

I bought a few groceries, some birthday gifts for Lola, and items to put in the service bags the young women are doing for the firemen. Around here firemen are almost royalty. I know of one young woman who wants to be a fireman and she is going to take courses to qualify to be one. 

One I returned home and put all my purchases away I swept, cleaned and polished the hall and entryway floor, using the same polish I used on the wood floor. It looks very nice.

I also finished my steps and watch Hallmark's "Lovestruck Cafe" starring Andrew Walker, one of my favorites. I fell asleep during a Christmas movie so I went to bed.

Truckload #11 for James at the Phoenix

Country Club.

Ian's mom has a big family!

 

Addy's vacation with her cousins in Wisconsin

These two came to visit me before I left
for the valley.

Monday, July 18, 2016

I love this! Tony Robbins is a great motivator.

"If you saw the size of the blessings coming, you would understand the magnitude of the battle you are fighting." - Unknown

Alma 34:17-41

17- Begin to exercise faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon His holy name, that He would have mercy upon you.

18 - Cry unto Him for mercy for He is mighty to save.

19 - Humble yourselves and continue in prayer unto Him.

20 - Cry unto Him when ye are in your fields and over your flocks.

21 - Cry unto Him in your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

22 - Cry unto Him against the power of your enemies.

23 - Cry against the devil who is an enemy to righteousness.

24 - Cry over your crops.

25 - Cry over the increase of your flocks.

26 - Pour out your souls in your closets and your secret places.

27 - And when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those around you.

28 - You must also care for the poor and needy or your prayer is in vain.

29 - Ye must be charitable.

30 - ... Come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.

31 - Harden not your hearts any longer.  Now is the day of your salvation.  If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

32 - This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.  

33- ... do not procrastinate the day of your repentance . . . if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 - Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God.  Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

35 - For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

36 - And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temple, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb.

37 - And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ.

38 - That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

39 - Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.

40 - And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

41 - But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

That was long but I just love these verses by Amulek!

GC: "Eternal Families" President Henry B. Eyring.

James and Ben were outside this morning around 5:30 getting ready for the concrete pour.  Talon, Curtis, and Zemira were here at 7, and Sheri and Ian too.  

I made blueberry muffins for breakfast and to share outside.  Sheri and I also filled up the five gallon water container.  Here are some pictures of the action of the day.

Talon, Ben, Curtis, and Zemira

The truck is here but the concrete was so hard

they had difficulty getting it out of the truck.

James thinks that instead of adding a retardant

the concrete company, Perkins, added an

accelerator instead.

Things go so bad that when Talon's dad, John Wilhelm,

called to see how it was going Talon told him that

they needed help.

John showed up and right along with him was someone who had called about getting an inspection done.  John is the building inspector for the city of Show Low. John told him we needed help and he wanted to help too. The person's name is Brandon Garvin. (It turns out he is Brian Maxwell's boss).  Brandon is a general contractor, a concrete contractor, and part owner in Perkins Concrete.  James said he offered a prayer for help and not three minutes later Brandon, someone we don't even know, turns up with concrete tools in hand and takes over the operation.  James was exhausted from trying to get the concrete out of the truck.  Brandon and John literally saved the concrete.  Ben, Sheri, and Ian were all helping too but they really had no experience so it was great that someone came who knew what he was doing.  John Wilhelm walked up to James and said: "You just received Divine Intervention."  James said, "I know.  It was a tender mercy."  I have heard of these things happening to other people but I have never seen it so profoundly exhibited.  We are so grateful.

John and Brandon working the concrete.
Johnny on the left and Zemira on the right.

This afternoon Sheri and I took Joshua, Max, and Evan to Greer.  We went on the Green's Peak road and enjoyed the scenery and cows.  That's about all the wildlife we saw.  Our ice cream shop in Greer was closed down but we found another one.

Cute little shop with an ice cream counter.

Sheri took the boys down by the creek but there were alot of people so we didn't stay long.  I didn't get out of the car at the creek because my knee was bothering me.

On the way home we drove to the top

of Green's Peak.

The views are gorgeous.

The sky was awesome!

Green, dark green, blue, and dark blue.

Some places got more rain than we did.

When we got home Sheri grilled chicken and made mashed potatoes for dinner.  I cooked some corn in the microwave.  Ben, Sheri, and I also played Five Crown's.  I still haven't won a game.

Ben is the big winner.  The TV is on the Game Show network most of the time.  This family is a big fan of Family Feud and "Let's Make a Deal."

For FHE I had everyone fill out a four-generation pedigree chart.

It's kind of sad that Ian has never met his maternal

grandparents.

In other parts of the world:

A dust storm in the valley.

Mary Johnson posted on Facebook that it 

was raining dirt.

The Case cousins are getting ready to leave the beach.

We missed Aurora's baptism this evening but we sent her a card and a CTR necklace.

Erik and Aurora

Newly baptized!

Baptism is a family affair.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith.  And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life.  And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.  And even all this can ye do if ye will.  Amen.

-Alma 33:23

Can you find the three black birds?

 Joshua and I went to chocolate lake this morning.  Alex caught a fish there on Saturday which is amazing because there is so little water in it right now.  On the way home Joshua spotted a jack rabbit and we had fun chasing him for awhile.  

Back at home Joshua watches TV and eats soda crackers and drinks pink lemonade while I try to clean.  I swept and mopped the kitchen after doing the dishes and wiping down all the counters and the stove.  I vacuumed the family room and our bedroom, swept and mopped the hall, bath, laundry room and entryway and then I swept and polished the wood floors.  

 James got up in the middle of the night with his crew and

poured this concrete at the Chandler Airport.

Joshua and I made a trip into town this afternoon to get a helmet for him to wear when he's riding on the Razr.  

Joshua's new helmet for the Razr.  His favorite color is red.

We also washed my car but because of all the rain we have had it got muddy on the way home.  

Stacy called and said she was coming into Vernon but wasn't sure she could find her way to our place so Joshua and I hopped on the Razr to meet her.  The funny thing is we missed her when she went on  N3465 instead of N3466.  She also turned in at Pierre's, but when finally  brought her home.  

While I went to Mutual Stacy and Joshua had Arby's for dinner, courtesy of Stacy.  Tonight at Mutual the young women worked on Personal Progress, Choice & Accountability value experiences 1&2.  Kilee Hunsaker is my Mia Maid class president.  I gave her the assignment to call Hope, Maddie, and Kelly and remind them to bring their Personal Progress books and their For the Strength of Youth books.  She reported that she tried texting all of them but got no response.  Next time I need to remember to emphasize the word call.

Watched part of Despicable Me 2 with Stacy and Joshua until Joshua and I got so tired we had to go to bed.

Facebook finds:

 Ben at Big Surf.

Max and Evan got school haircuts today.

Adorable cheeks on two adorable girls!