Monday, October 22nd, 2018

Cebu City, Philippines

133rd operating temple

Dedicated: 13 June 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

DC 138:35

And so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross.

Book of Mormon #1

3 Nephi 11:1-17

*How can we keep our ears and hearts open to the whisperings of the Spirit?

-We need to provide the opportunity for the Spirit to speak to us. 

We need to slow down and not be in such a hurry to move on to the next thing, especially while praying, that we don't stop to listen. We also need to have open hearts where we can be ready to hear the Spirit's promptings and focus on what is really important. 

When we turn ourselves completely to Christ it seems we understand and witness of Him on a higher level. The people turned their eyes, ears, faces and hearts to heaven. They stretched forth their hands to Christ. They bowed in worship at His feet. They were still. The key to keeping our ears and hearts open to the whisperings of the Spirit is to "be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10).

Book of Mormon #2

Jacob 5

Old Testament

Jeremiah 43-45

General Conference

Wounded

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"In the crucible of earthly trials, patiently move forward, and the Savior's healing power will bring you light, understanding, peace, and hope."

I was up at 3 am. I could't sleep and I hated wasting time. I think it's because I took Tramadol a little later than normal yesterday. The doctor always asks me if it makes me drowsy, but it has the opposite effect on me.

The first thing I try to do when I get up is think about yesterday and repent of those things I did wrong. That's what I did today. I plan my day and try to remember to record when I felt the Spirit.

Next I get my bowl of cereal and read from the Book of Mormon while I eat. I love the challenge President Nelson gave us to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. Every time I read I get something new out of the experience.

Hurricane Michael wrecked so much havoc in Florida and now there is supposedly another one coming. It was supposed to rain here today but it didn't. Maybe tomorrow.

I read a great article in the New Era today called, "The Why and How of Living the Gospel" Here are some notes:
Why 
W - Worship, Worthiness, Word of God
H - Health, Hope, Happiness.
Y - Yearning, Yoked with Christ, Youth, You.
How
H - Hearken, Holy Ghost, Humility.
O - Obey, Ordinances, Offer.
W - Works, Witness, Walk with God.

I made a trip to town this morning. My first stop was Chase bank to deposit the check from National Turf. I went inside, something I don't ordinarily do. 

Next stop was Walmart. As I was waiting in line to check out I called Mountain Thai and discovered they were closed on Monday's. I told Jean and she said to get her a sandwich at Firehouse because that is where I was going anyway to get sandwiches for Anthony, James and Tom.

I delivered the sandwiches to James and went home to unload my groceries. As I was unloading I was feeling bad about not getting Jean her soup so I invited her over to watch a Hallmark movie with me. She is supposed to stay down and keep her leg elevated and I knew she could do that here in one of our recliners. 

No problems on the way over to Jean's but the last leg of the trip coming back seemed awfully rough. About a mile from home I stopped and checked my tires. Sure enough, the front one on the driver's side was flat. I made an unwise decision and drove the rest of the way home on it. I called James and told him about it and he was a little upset with me. He said if I ruined the rim it was cost $700. Yikes! I said a little prayer that I had not ruined the rim.

The rim isn't ruined but the tire sure is..

Jean and I watched "Country Wedding," one of my favorite Hallmark movies. She says she likes country movies so I gave her Season 1 and Season 2 of "Heartland" to watch. 

Tom came to pick up Jean and James and I jumped in the backseat of their truck and drove to the Elkins' to look at the gate and fence. Tom was impressed. He wants to build one like it at his place.

Tom dropped us off at the bottom of our hill and we walked up the road. He was going to take us all the way home and we said no, we wanted the steps. 

For FHE we watched President Faust's YouTube presentation, "Voice of the Spirit." Afterwards we did another training session for our book arbitrage business.

I watched part of DWTS. Tonight is Disney night, my favorite night. Disney advertised three new movies coming out this winter:
"The Nutcracker and the Four Realms," "Mary Poppins" and a new Wreck it Ralph movie. I would like to see the first two but have no interest in Wreck it Ralph.

She is one happy baby!

Prayer book, Book of Mormon, 

and journal. My three books.

I just can't get enough!

Teacup kitty

Bubbles!

Charlie got a bouncer!

 There is something I love about geometric shapes

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

Perth, Australia

106th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 May 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

What should I pray for?

Bible Dictionary "Prayer" paragraph 6

Prayers were said at the Sanctuary (1 Sam. 1:9-12; 1 Kgs. 8; Ps. 42:2, 4) or looking toward the Sanctuary (1 Kgs. 8:44, 48; Ps. 5:7; Dan 6:10); on the housetop or in an upper chamber (Dan. 6:10; Acts 10:9). The Pharisees prayed publicly in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets (Matt. 6:5). The Lord prayed upon the tops of mountains (Matt. 14:23; Luke 9:28) or in solitary places (Mark 1:35).

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Matthew 26:2

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 11:16-29

*Why do you think false prophets and false teachers flourish among wicked people?

Talk: Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers

By: M. Russell Ballard

- False prophets and teachers flourish among the wicked because they appeal to the natural man. The church of the devil is easy..no rules. Are you materialistic? No problem, having wealth is encouraged, especially if you have to walk on a few people to get it. Maybe your challenge is with sexual immorality. Hey, the church of the devil with all his false teachings encourages free love, and experimentation, and broken covenants. You were made that way right? Let's not forget pride, the me, me attitude is accepted. False teachings are taught by false teachers who want followers. They want to be popular and well liked. They don't teach whole truths, but bits and pieces of truth mingled with natural man desires, and for some that is enough to want to convert to the church of the devil. Satan is the master of deception, the father of lies. False teachings draw us away from truth. Truth taught by those anointed can warn us of false teachers and prophets.

Old Testament

Judges 15-17

15 Samson burns the grain of the Philistines - They burn his wife and father-in-law - Samson slays a thousand Philistines at Lehi with the jawbone of an ass.

16 Samson carries away the doors of the gate of Gaze - He loves Delilah, who delivers him to the Philistines - He destroys a building, killing himself and 3,000 others.

17 Micah has a house of gods (images) and consecrates his own priests.

General Conference

He That Shall Endure to the End, the Same Shall Be Saved

Elder Claudio D. Zivic

" Let us be faithful to what we have believed and know."

We have a friend in the ward named Anthony. James is/was his home teacher. He lives way out in the wide open spaces where there is no water or electricity. The other day he saw a wolf stalking a small herd of antelope. He called James. James told him, "don't worry the antelope will get in a circle facing out and the wolf will leave." Sure enough that is what happened. Anthony had to call James back and tell him how smart he was. 

I listened to President Nelson's talk "Teach Us Tolerance and Love," from the April 1994 general conference.

For lunch today I cooked some cabbage and boiled some sausage tortellini. It went together well and was very tasty, James even said so. 

This afternoon Laurann and I went visiting. Our first stop was to see Catherine Halcomb. Laurann had all three of her kids. Amaron is out of school because he had pinkeye earlier in the week. Laurann grabs the twins carseats and loops one through each arm. I don't know how she can carry both of them.

We had a nice visit with Catherine and Amaron gave her one of the blueberry muffins I made. When we were getting ready to leave she said she was having a biopsy on her arm this coming Monday. I will have to check back and see how she is doing.

Our next stop was at the Grapp's. The entire family was home. Of course everyone wanted a muffin. I didn't stay too long but took Amaron home with me.

I supposed to be helping Amaron with his reading but I wasn't really prepared today. I had him do a couple of worksheets and then I read to him one of my favorite books, "Miss Suzy." We played with the dominoes and dice and of course he had to have a treat. He ate two cups of my mandarin oranges and took some Teddy Grahams home to his brothers. 

I got Amaron home just when the missionaries came to their house for dinner. I left and when I got out on the highway I realized that I had a flat tire. I stopped by the new tower on highway 60 and tried to call James. Of course I could not get through so I just kept sending texts. Finally he called me back. When he got here he took the tire off and we took it home where he tried to patch it. The first two attempts failed but on the third try he used Rubber Cement and it worked. Back to put it on Lexy. I drove her home and it was a very shaky ride but the air held in the tire. I was so happy to finally be home!

I only got 11,000 steps today. Instead of walking I watched an episode of "When Calls the Heart" with James.

Happy Anniversary to Sheri and Ian:

22 blissful years, 4 boys and 1 dog.

Jackson announced on fast Sunday

that he's going on a mission.

I know this is long and a little messed up

but I loved the part about how he was going

to announce six temples and the Lord told

him to announce the one in India.

Scarlett, Kacey posted this.

Hilarious!

Monday, July 10th, 2017

Sydney, Australia

28th operating temple

Dedicated: 20-23 Sept 1984 by

Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ

Acts 10:38; 13:23; 18:5; 19:15; 22:8; 26:15

Alma 30:46-60

*In Alma 30:46-50 Korihor, still not accepting the signs he had been given, demanded that Alma show him a sign of God's existence. In response, Korihor was struck dumb by the power of God. Convinced of God's power, Korihor wrote about why he had been preaching against God the Father and Jesus Christ. Read Alma 30:51-53.

*What do you think Korihor meant when he said that he taught things that were "pleasing unto the carnal mind?"

*In Alma 30:54-59 Korihor asked Alma to pray so the curse could be removed from him. Alma refused, saying that if Korihor received the ability to speak, he would again teach false doctrine to the people. Korihor was cast out and went from house to house, begging for food. Eventually he went to the Zoramites, who had separated from the Nephites, and was trampled to death.

*Read Alma 30:60 and look for the principle Mormon teaches. What principle does Mormon teach in this verse?

"The devil will not support his children (followers) at the last day."

*How is this different from the way Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ care for us? (Read Alma 36:3.)

DC 101:1-12

1-8, The Saints are chastened and afflicted because of their transgressions; 9-15, The Lord's indignation will fall upon the nations, but His people will be gathered and comforted;

General Conference

Brighter and Brighter Until the Perfect Day

Elder Mark A. Bragg

" We read in the Bible Dictionary that "only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness." We now have 155 operating temples and more coming soon. More and more families are sealed for time and all eternity. Members are submitting more and more names of ancestors to the temple to perform their saving ordinances. We truly are experiencing great joy and celebration on both sides of the veil! In a darkening world, the light of the gospel will shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day."

Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives

President Russell M. Nelson

" The importance of the Savior's mission was emphasized by the Prophet Joseph Smith, who declared emphatically that 'the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."

Sheri made bacon and eggs for breakfast and I made pancakes. After breakfast Sheri and the younger boys went for a walk. Stacy and Paul got ready to leave to go to Dorina's hearing in Show Low. Joshua is staying here with us and when the hearing is finished, I told Stacy I would take Joshua into town so they wouldn't have to come back out here to get him.

I guess Joshua is meditating

Nice photo!

Sheri, Ian, Max, Evan, Rowan, and Joshua took a drive to the top of Green's Peak. It is one of Sheri's favorite places in Arizona, and mine too, and it's only 15 miles away.

Ian with his cowboy hat.

Sheri takes this picture of the boys every year.

I should make a collage.

I love how Evan has his arm around Rowan.

I am so glad that Ian went with Sheri. They had a flat tire on the way back down.  Ian had a really hard time getting the lug nuts off because they were stripped.  When they finally return James, Sheri, Joshua and I go in to town. Stacy, Paul, and Paul's sisters and their families are having lunch at Pizza Factory. Paul put this picture of Tara on Facebook.

I like how it says awesome on the wall behind her.

When I dropped Joshua off Stacy introduced me to Tara's husband Jeff.  He shook my hand, spoke to me in a British accent, and kissed my cheek. I was charmed and impressed. Stacy says he is a great guy. He works on the TV show, "Dr. Who".  Sorry I didn't get a picture.  I ask how he liked the U.S. and he said he loved it.

We drop Sheri's tire off at Discount and pick up our Razr tire.  James goes to Home Depot and Sheri and I go to Walmart to kill some time. They said it would be over an hour before the tire was fixed.  James also stopped at American Fence. I ordered a thin crust veggie pizza from Dominoes for Sheri and I. James said he didn't want any. He opted for KFC. We stopped there too to take home some chicken for Sheri's family.  After picking up Sheri's tire we head for home making one more stop at Conoco for ice. 

It rained while we were at Walmart, but no rain in Vernon.  

Five Crowns with Sheri and Ben and I lose again. Ben wins.  We just can't beat him. Last time he got six points. After family scriptures and prayer, Sheri, Ian, and Ben watch the movie "Love and Mercy" which is the life story of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.  The boys play upstairs. I go in my bedroom to study and take a nap. James and I read a chapter from "The Reluctant Duchess."

Ben helps James fix the tractor. Stacy, Paul, and Joshua arrive home safely. Joshua said thank you and said he had a blast.

I found this list to be both

extensive and amusing.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Padre Island

Today our scripture reading was Alma 1:1-14.  Here are some notes I took:

People care for the poor and the Church prospers.  Alma becomes the Chief Judge and the High Priest over the Church.  Nehor teaches that all men will have eternal life.  Gideon withstood him and Nehor kills Gideon.  Priestcraft is introduced and is enforced by the sword.  1:16 - priestcraft is "preaching false doctrines ... for the sake of riches and honor."  1:7-9 - Gideon "was an instrument in the hands of God."  1: 13-15 - Nehor suffers an ignomonious death which is a shameful death.  

"The Greatest Leaders are the Greatest Followers."  Brother Owen, the Young Men's President.  

"There will be times when the path ahead seems dark, but keep following the Savior.

He knows t he way, in fact, He is the way."

James and I had lunch with our friends Blain and Diana Curtis.  When we went to get in the truck, I noticed it had a flat tire.  

James put air in the tire and we were on our way.  We parked the truck at the Curtis's and drove with them to Show Low. We followed Dennis and Denise's recommendation and tried The House Restaurant.

It was very casual and the menu is very small, featuring appetizers, salads, and sandwiches.  

Blain and Diana both ordered The Show Low sandwich which is described as: 8oz. bacon laced ground pork, crisp bacon, carved ham, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle aioli.

James ordered the Founder: slow cooked pork shoulder, spinach, tomato, green chili aioli.

I ordered the Chicken of Clubs: grilled chicken breast, bacon, pepper jack, avocado, spinach, tomato, and red pepper aioli.

James was the only one who didn't like his sandwich.  

Our sandwiches came with chips and were served in a box.  I did not like the fact that I had to eat out of the box but the food was good enough that I would come back again.  

Diana and I shared a piece of decadent cherry cheesecake with shortbread crust.  It was delicious!

 Our friends the Curtis's

They are awesome.

I got a call from Sister West who is  the cleaning co-ordinator for the temple.  She wants to meet with us Wednesday night and train us.  Our first assignment is on Thursday, May 26th, at the beginning of Memorial Day weekend.  We are responsible to get 20 people there.  Yikes!

I took a little nap this afternoon while James put a plug in the tire.  He is going to the valley tomorrow and doesn't want to wake up to a flat tire.  

After my nap I worked on my Primary lesson and Article of Faith notebooks for my class, and my blog.  I like to watch "Chopped" while I am working at my computer.  

James came in a little late so before he was ready for FHE I watched part of DWTS.  I will watch the rest tomorrow.  I heard the news that Antonio and Wanya went home.  Wanya was my second favorite after Paige.  I am sad.  Nyle, Ginger and Paige are in the finale.  I hope Paige wins. 

For FHE we listened to Brother Owen's talk and then read from our ebook, "A Lady's Favor." 

I love this memory from my photo collection:

Max wears the 'stache well.

 

 

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

I love this picture of the prophets of this

dispensation.

 

Sheri's quote:

Richard G. Scott's talk in the April 2013 conference

is the bomb  He says:

"When we obey the commandments of the Lord and serve His children unselfishly, the natural consequence is power from God - power to do more than we can do by ourselves.  Our insights, our talents, our abilities are expanded because we receive strength

and power from the Lord  His power is a fundamental component to establishing a home filled with peace."

I want that power!

 

This morning I read from "Jesus the Christ", the New Testament Student Manual, all of the October church magazines, a Sunday School lesson, the Book of Mormon and the New Testament and a conference talk.  I am ready to face the day!

 

James worked on taxes and his Sunday School lesson today.  He is so nervous about this new calling.  He says he's never taught adults before.  

I unloaded two boxes today that were full of my books I had taken to Chandler.  I found the Book of Mormon I had written my testimony in for Dawn.  I would like to give it to her while I am down in the valley this week.

 

We went out to go to the post office this afternoon only to see that my car had a flat tire.  James puts air in it but it definitely has a leak so he put in a plug.  Hopefully this will work!

 

Kilee Hunsaker was supposed to call today about washing windows.  She called around 3pm and by then I wasn't feeling like doing windows so I postponed until November 7th.  She wants to raise money to pay her phone bill and to buy a car.

 

I made chicken tacos for dinner.  They were very good, one of our favorite meals, except the cheese was a little old. 

 

We read from our new book, "A Heart's Rebellion."  We love being together in our beautiful mountain home!

Facebook finds:

I want these!