Sunday, November 20, 2016

President Henry B. Eyring dedicated the Hartford,

Connecticut temple today.

Elder Holland and President Eyring

Mormon 2:17-29

What happens when the strength of the Lord is not with us and we are left unto ourselves as it says in verse 26?  

* We may not recognize and appreciate how much Heavenly Father helps us in our daily lives as we try to live faithfully.  Mormon wrote that when his people became wicked they lost the strength of the Lord that had previously protected them.  While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Ray H. Wood explained: "When a person violates any of God's commandments, if there is no repentance the Lord withdraws His protective and sustaining influence.  When we lose power with God, we know of a certainty that the problem lies within us and not within God. 'I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise' (D&C 82:10).  Our misdeeds bring despair.  They sadden and extinguish the 'perfect brightness of hope' offered by Christ (2 Nephi 31:20).  Without God's help, we are left to ourselves " (Ensign, May 1999, 40-41).  I am personally amazed and grateful to Mormon for his righteousness amidst such wickedness.  It must have been difficult to stand as a witness of Christ against such odds!

Jackson Allen, Denice Hall, and Brother Smithson from the high council were the speakers in sacrament meeting today.  Denice spoke on the holy ghost and it was such a good talk.  She shared stories about her mother and how she always knew where she was because she said the Holy Ghost told her. It was a good meeting and I felt the Spirit.

I gave Sadie her card and after Primary she came and gave me a hug.  I also gave Kaeli her loaf of pumpkin bread.

Curtis and Zemira were the only kids in my class today.  We had a lesson on the Jaredites and they seemed very interested and we had a great discussion.  This was the handout we did at the end of the lesson:

Also known as the Pride Cycle which was the

eventual downfall of both the Jaredite and Nephite

nations.

After our church meetings James went home teaching.  When he returned home I made him a salad and then he wanted for both of us to go take a nap.  I told him I was too stressed about getting ready for the marriage class this evening so instead of taking a nap he brought up the Christmas decorations and decorated our Christmas tree.  I was so grateful for his love and support.

In our marriage class this evening we discussed ways to manage anger.  These are our assignments for the week:

1.  Think of something we can do to draw closer to the Savior individually and as a couple.

2.  Fill out the anger log handout.

It was another wonderful Sabbath Day!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

"I am the Light of the World."

3 Nephi 28:1-24

Does anyone have any questions about these verses? (I ask this question of my scripture study group).  Does everyone understand the difference between translated, transfigured, and resurrected beings? (see Book of Mormon Student Manual, Religion 121-22, p. 339).

GC:     "For Our Spiritual Development and Learning" by Elder W. Mark Bassett

' For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, 

and my heart pondereth them,

and I writeth them for the learning and the profit

of my children.  Behold, my soul delighteth in the

things of the Lord and my heart pondereth continually

upon the things which I have seen and heard.'

2 Nephi 4:15-16

I was excited to see one of my Primary children I have never seen before at church come to sacrament meeting.  Curtis invited him to come to our class but he went home with his family instead.  I did have his cousin who was visiting from Springerville in my class.  Her name is Brodie.  I also had Zemira and Curtis.  Curtis never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of the stories from the Book of Mormon.  Today he knew about the three Nephites and why they wanted to stay on earth.  He was not here last week for that lesson so it must have been during family scripture study that he learned this story.

James went home teaching this afternoon so I was home alone for a couple of hours.  I read a conference talk and studied my scriptures.  I also watched a Christmas movie, "Christmas Incorporated," which had a very good message to it about the spirit of Christmas and giving to others.

We had some more visitors today:

 This picture was taken on my phone.

These were taken with my camera

James calls this guy, "the Big Buck."

I do like antelope!

Oh the wisdom!

This evening we had the marriage class at our home.  It was taught by our friend Anne.  Before class James and I did our homework which was to go to the fivelovelanguages website and take the test.  My love language is definitely my spouse giving service and positive affimations.  We didn't do James's score but I think his is  physical touch and positive affirmations.

Tonight the lesson was on Fostering Equality and Unity.  In a marriage there is no inferior or superior person.  Here are some questions I ask myself: 

Do I take correction well?  (No!)

Do I follow my husbands council and advice? (Sometimes)

Be careful about correction.  It can be hurtful and destroy a relationship.  Correction is sometimes needed in spiritual matters. 

Don't sweat the small stuff.  The Spirit of God never creates contention.  

Where am I controlling?  Try to be better and learn to serve my spouse.

John 13:34-35, Ephesians 5:33, D&C 38:27, D&C 121:39.

Cammy made some delicious banana nut bread and we enjoyed visiting after the class. I talked to Sandra about Zemira's upcoming wrestling match on Thursday.  James and I are going.

No blog post would be complete without posting some family pictures:

Jared and Kacey when they went with us to the Snowflake temple.

Addy at California Adventure a couple of years ago.

Addy and Max.

They were so great together!

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Fall in Vermont

3 Nephi 6:15-30

Why is it so important to follow our leaders, especially in these the latter days?

Answer: Because these "men are inspired from heaven." (v.20)

There was a great divide, in these years just before the coming of Christ, between the righteous and the wicked, just as there is a similar divide happening today before the Second Coming of Christ.  "Some were lifted up in pride and others were exceedingly humble."  The parallels today are not by chance.  Christ is coming again.  Satan knows it so he is ramping up all his efforts again.  The chasm between the wicked and the righteous is widening at an extremely fast pace, just as it did in this chapter.  How does this happen?  By allowing Satan to stir up our hearts to do iniquity.  We must decide whose side we are on, the Savior's or Satan's.  There will be no middle ground.  By following our church leaders we are choosing to follow the Savior.

GC: ' There is Power in the Book' by Elder LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr.

" The greatest power of the Book of Mormon is its impact in bringing us closer to Jesus Christ."

Today in sacrament meeting we had the Primary Children's Program.  I thought the children did a great job.  

"I Know the Scriptures are True"

Journey with us through the Book of Mormon 

and other scriptures and let us teach you

what we have learned this year.

Children participating: Johnny, Ruthie, Curtis and Zemira Wilhelm, Braylin and Taylor Chaffin, Kacey Westbrook, Kharima Penrod, Talena and Jace Singleton, Marlie Mercado, Benson, Tildee, Liana Grapp, Andyn and Cathryn Miller, Colter Hunsaker, and Ashten Hall.

Songs:

"Book of Mormon Stories", "I Will Follow God's Plan",

"Stand for the Right", "Fourth Article of Faith", 

"I Love to See the Temple", "The Lord Gave Me a Temple",

"I Hope They Call Me on a Mission", "If I Listen with My Heart",

"Praise to the Man"

Closing Remarks: Bishop Wes Miller 

Our lesson today in our Primary class was: "Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites to Pray."  Braylin, Curtis, Kacey, and Zemira were all in my class.

After church was over James stayed to home teach Virgil C.  Afterwards he drove me home and then went with his partner Rick, and visited Millie and Jerry, Kip's family, and George and Ruth.  It must feel nice to get it all done in one day.  That never happens for me.  I stayed home ate, and took a nap.

I love this picture of Michael taken a few years back.

When James got home he fed himself while I got ready for the marriage class.  

Anne arrived a little after six with some cookies and milk.  She is the teacher of the class.  Only two other couples showed up, Cammy and Thomas, and Sandra and John.  We had a great class anyway.  We discussed the family proclamation and how its principles apply to us.  Afterwards we had a nice visit around the milk and cookies.

This thing is called a peacock grasshopper.

Weird.

Sheri texted me this afternoon and said that Evan told her this last night: The cabin feels like home.  He misses it and you and dad. 

Well guess what?  I miss him too!

I sent this to Addy because she is such a 

Harry Potter fan.

Oh I forgot to mention that one of the couples that James home teaches saw a jaguarundi carrying off a rabbit in their yard.

Creepy.  Its tail is as long as its body.

It was another one of those great Sabbath days.

Which temple?