Thursday, May 4th, 2017

Manhattan, New York

119th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 June 2004 by

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Mosiah 23:1-20

The Lord helps Alma and his people escape from the armies of King Noah and establish a righteous city.

* What do the phrases "caught in a snare" and "bound with the bands of iniquity" teach about the effects of sin?

* Why is it helpful for us to recognize the influences that have led us to sin in the past?

Gospel Principle:

When we repent and choose to live righteously, the Lord will bless us and free us from the bonds of sin.

3 Nephi 23-25

23:1-3 Great are the words of Isaiah - Isaiah is our checklist for the Second Coming of Christ.

4-13 Jesus commands the Nephites to add missing parts to their scripture records.  (Many Saints arose and ministered unto them, and the words of Samuel the Lamanite.)

24:1-18 Jesus quotes the Father's word to Malachi regarding tithing.

25:1-6 The coming of Elijah the Prophet.  The messenger is the gospel through Joseph Smith.  The wicked will burn as stubble.  Our hearts should be turned to our ancestors and our progenitors.

DC 67:1-14

The Lord hears the prayers of and watches over His elders; He challenges the wisest person to duplicate the least of His revelations; Faithful elders will be quickened by the Spirit and see the face of God.

Why is it important to teach by the Spirit?

*Because the Spirit testifies of truth.  Without the Spirit you preach and teach the philosophies of men.  The Spirit brings the message into the hearts of the people we teach.

General Conference

His Daily Guiding Hand

M. Joseph Brough

"Tolerating improper behavior without loving correction is false compassion and reinforces the common notion that wickedness might in fact be happiness."

I gave James some advice this morning when he was complaining about his laryngitis.  I told him to remember President Kimball after he had his throat surgery.  His raspy voice did not stop him from preaching the gospel.  

The banging on Cathi and Terry's roof started at 5:30 this morning instead of the scheduled 6:30.  It was fine for James and I because we were up early.  We had prayer before James left for work around 5:30.  I felt sorry for Cathi and Terry though.  They usually don't get up until 6:30 on days the go to the R.O.C.

I had a funny experience this morning.  We gave Cathi and Terry a gift card to Outback or Carrabbas for their anniversary.  We also had some giftcards I got as a result of the rewards program on my credit card.  We wanted to go to dinner together tonight.  Cathi told me that the Outback on Chandler Blvd.  had closed.  I knew there was one on Market St. in Gilbert.  When I looked on Map Quest it said to the side of all of the Outbacks and Carrabbas, Now closed in bright red letters.  I was beginning to get worried.  I tried Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory and got the same message.  I began to panic and think there must be some kind of an epidemic going on.  Finally I realized when it said: "Closed now."  It meant closed at 7:30 in the morning!  We will be going to either the Outback or Carrabbas in Gilbert on Market St.

I had lunch today with my friend Jean from Vernon.  We always go to Fresh Start.  She loves the french toast with fresh fruit and I got a grilled ham and cheese sandwich which was very tasty.  Jean is an amazing woman.  She has had a lot of sad things happen to her in her life yet she remains faithful.  Right now her grandson, who she raised as her son, is in jail.  Her family is the family that started a business with their horses, taking people on trail rides.  I asked her if we could arrange a trail ride in July for some of my grandchildren and she said she was sure they could.  They have horses of all sizes, some mini's even for the little ones.

After lunch I was supposed to pick up my friend Charlotte and take her to the Apple Store to receive some lessons on how to use her Ipad.  When I called she said she was too tired.  She said what she really wants to do is read the scriptures with her daughter using the BofM365 program.  I went home and typed her a schedule to use through May and part of June.  When I dropped it off she seemed very grateful.

I don't want to be cremated, but I 

couldn't resist posting this.

I went home and had a nap and then Sheri picked me up around 4:45 to go with her to Max's track meet at Payne Jr. High out near the Santan Mountains.  Max was supposed to run the 400 and he told Sheri if she was there by 5:30 she would be in plenty of time for his race.  We got there at 5:15 and Max had already ran.  He decided to run the mile instead.  We told him next time to let his mom know ahead of time if he changes his plans.  He had his backpack with him that looked awfully heavy.  He said it weighs about 30 lbs.  They no longer have lockers at Bogle Jr. High so he has to carry around all of his books all day long.

This evening, James, Cathi, Terry and I decided to have dinner at Carrabbas because Cathi and Terry had never been there.  James told them that one of the best steaks he ever had was at Carrabbas.  Carrabbas is right next door to Outback.  The first people we saw inside the restaurant were the Ray's.  Their daughter Heather is married to Patrick.  We had a quick visit and then they left.  It looked like they had been to the temple.

Terry, Cathi, and I all ordered the same thing, medium fillets with asparagus.  James got the chicken Marsala.  He said he liked Olive Garden's a little better.  We got the Caprese for an appetizer.  Cathi and I loved it, small tomatoes with olive oil and herbs with soft mozarella cheese.  I could have made that my dinner with their warm bread.  We had enough gift cards to pay for our meal.  It is always fun to visit with Cathi and Terry.  

This evening I read to James from "To Kill a Mockingbird" before going to bed.

Fun Photos:

 My appreciation for cowboys has grown 

since moving to Vernon.

Evan got some new shoes.  He broke them in

running around the movie theater before the

show started.

I am always amazed at the variety of the

creations of Heavenly Father.

Meet Vader, Stacy and Paul's new puppy.

Stacy is not too happy about having

to be the one to potty train him.

Paul bought him without first consulting her.

Aunt Gene with some of her family when 

she was in the hospital last year.

Baby Lola

Joshua, Stacy, Paul out to dinner at

Xavier's Casa Reynoso in Mesa.

One of my most favorite views.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Logan, Utah

2nd operating temple

Mosiah 18:17-30

Alma establishes the Church of Jesus Christ among the people.

President Henry B. Eyring said: "From the day of baptism through the spiritual milestones of our lives, we make promises with God and He makes promises with us.  He always keeps His promises offered through His authorized servants, but it is the crucial test of our lives to see if we will make and keep our covenants with Him."

* How does your baptismal covenant influence the way you live each day?

Talk: "The Covenant of Baptism"

By: Elder Robert D. Hales

Oct. 2000 General Conference

3 Nephi 13

Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's Prayer - They are to lay up treasures in heaven - The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things - Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34.

DC 63:24-36

Inheritances in Zion are to be purchased; The Lord decrees wars, and the wicked slay the wicked;

How is baptism a point of spiritual departure in our journey?

General Conference

Then Jesus Beholding Him, Loved Him

Elder S. Mark Palmer

"Anytime you feel you are being asked to do something hard, think of the Lord beholding you, loving you, and

inviting you to follow Him."

I loved listening to Elder Palmer's conference  talk this morning, and not just because he has such a great accent.  It was all about loving as the Savior loves.  Here are some of the things that I wrote in my study journal: 

"How can I be filled with Christlike love so others around me can feel it?"

"Because I love you I care what you become."

"See others as the Lord sees the and love them as He loves them."

"Hearts will not change when love is not present."

"Never withdraw love."

"Be humble, repent, sacrifice, and love to receive forgiveness and peace."

"Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth."

Big Lake

I also listened to a talk given by Elder Robert D. Hales in the October 2000 general conference on "The Covenant of Baptism."

Here are some notes from that talk:

"Pain is a purifier."

"Peace be unto thy soul."

"Teach and live, Thy will be done."

Elder Hales had a visitation of Heavenly Hosts during a recent illness.

"The importance of the Lord's timetable and enduring to the end."

"We need to be in the world but not of the world."

"Heed the Savior's admonition, follow thou me."

"We humble ourselves with a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

"We commit to always Remember Him."

"When we are baptized we are changed forever."

National Geographic post

Kacey had her custody court date regarding Tanner today.  I got a text from Jared on my way to town and this is what he said:

"Short story of what happened.  We came to a short term

temporary agreement out of court.  Tanner will stay with us until the end of the school year.  During the first two months of summer

we get the kids for 4 weeks and their dad gets them for 4 weeks.

Starting in August Tanner will go with his dad and summer with us with each kid going to the other parent one weekend a month.

There is a clause in the agreement that says dad's girlfriend

can't stay overnight when the kids are there.  If he violates

this that makes it much more likely that long term we can

keep Tanner.  This agreement was recommended by

our attorney and after looking at all the facts we feel good about it.

So Tanner is coming home with us for now."

James had a three hour doctor's appointment today.  They did all kinds of tests and gave him a breathing treatment.  I worry that he has been coughing up blood and having a hard time breathing.

I watched another John Larroquette movie today, this one was called, "Wedding Daze."  It is about a dad who has a triple wedding for his three daughters.  It was older, 2004, but I liked it.

I miss James, especially when it is time to go to bed.

Fun Photos:

Kelly, a young woman in our ward,

breaking her high jump record.

9.9 inches.  Go Kelly!

Sweet Addy

Mayfield's and Covert's at the

Snowflake temple.  The Covert's 

moved to Alpine.

Storm coming

2011

Look how cute they are!

Kid House

Michael and Alexis

Michael says: "My computer is bigger

than yours."

Friday, July 15, 2016

There is a great need for this in our world right now.

Alma 33:1-11

1 - the people want to know whether they should believe in one God. or how they should plant the seed, or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

2 - You don't have to be in a synagogue to worship God.

3 - Have you read what Zenos said about prayer or worship?

4 - The Lord was merciful and heard Zenos's prayer in the wilderness.

5 - The Lord was merciful and heard Zenos's prayer in the field.

6 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayer in his house. 

7 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayer in his closet.

8 - The Lord is merciful when His children cry unto Him.

9 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayers in the midst of a congregation.

10 - Thou hast heard me when I have been cast out and despised of mine enemies.  Thou didst visit mine enemies with speedy destruction.

11 - Thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of Thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of Thy Son.

GC: "Family Councils" Elder M. Russell Ballard

I got this  quote from the New Era:

"The work of the youth is to prepare for missionary work and then do missionary work." - Elder Hugo E. Martinez

A whole food plant based diet will prevent attacks, cancer, and chronic diseases.  Wheat is the staff of life. From my WoW book.

We have six empty beds in this house and this is where

they choose to sleep.

Part of the fun today was catching a lizard that

the boys named Scales.  Lizzy, Jenifer's daughter helped catch him.

I guess she catches frogs at home all the time.

So glad Jenifer, Lizzy, Dennis, Amanda, and

Sammy came to visit.

I took all the kids on my one hour Razr ride to Christmas Tree Trail and back.  We stopped and picked some flowers.

This is Lizzy's bouquet.  It was the

prettiest.

I talked to Dennis about Timothy Ballard and his organization,

"Operation Underground Railroad" that helps to rescue children sold into slavery.  His organization has rescued over 2 million children.  He calls himself a modern day abolitionist.  He wrote the two books that I am reading, "The Washington Hypothesis", and "The Lincoln Hypothesis".  I bought The Lincoln book for Dennis and told him he could read it and then I would loan him the Washington book when I was finished. We had a nice visit and I am glad that Jenifer and her kids came.  Lizzy played a piano piece for me but seemed a little shy so I didn't press her for me.  Sammy went out and started to help James spread abc but the shovel was a little heavy so he gave up.

After saying goodbye, I worked on my Primary lesson for this week which is about Helaman and the Stripling Warriors.  I couldn't help overhearing the boys playing.  Here is what I heard:

Evan: "I can't see."

Joshua: "Use your x-ray vision."

Max: " I don't like the way your face looks." (I am not sure who he was speaking to.)

I made some chocolate chip cookies.  Jenifer's kids really enjoyed them, and so did the boys.  Amanda ask: "Did you make these cookies?"  

James fixed the gasline today so I could take a shower and wash my hair!  I am grateful for indoor plumbing and hot water!

Alex is "home alone" and so of course he had to take a selfie.

Wait a minute.  How can this be a selfie if I can see his phone.

Seth must have been there to take the picture.

Dallin's band left to go on tour and here is a picture of them practicing.

Dallin standing with his arm up.

Someone is going on vacation to the beach.

I think she is pretty excited!

Darrel and Trina's beach bodies.

Kreed and Ruby or Kruby as their mother's call them.

Well, back to my life here in Vernon. I cleaned upstairs and then fixed dinner and played some games with the boys.  Evan wanted to play the match game but we talked him in to playing Apples to Apples instead.  He loved it.

It might have helped that he won.

Max and Evan playing the Match game.

I am horrible at this game.  Thank

goodness Max wanted to play.

Stacy sent this picture for Joshua.  Shipley tore up her shoes.

I love the guilty look on her face.