Sunday, March 29th, 2020

Durban, South Africa

168th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Feb 2020

By: Ronald A. Rasband

Jesus Christ, Judge

1 Corinthians 4:4

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Review Enos, Jarom, Omni, Words of Mormon and Easter lesson

October 2019 Gen Con

"Power to Overcome the Adversary"

Elder Peter M. Johnson

"Brothers and sisters, I share with you my love and declare unto you my witness that I know Heavenly Father lives and Jesus is the Christ. I love Them. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's kingdom upon the earth. We have a divine appointment to gather Israel and prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Messiah. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

"Take Up Our Cross"
Elder Ulisses Soares
"Brothers and sisters, I want to testify to you that taking upon us our cross and following the Savior requires us to follow His example and strive to become like Him, patiently facing the circumstances of life, denying and despising the appetites of the natural man, and waiting on the Lord. I testify to you that following our Master's footsteps and waiting on Him who is the ultimate healer of our lives will provide rest to our souls and make our burdens easy and light. Of these things I testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

"Pray Always"
Elder David A. Bednar
October 2008 GC

I am so enjoying Sister Freeman's book, "Grace Where You Are" especially her drawings and explanation of The Tree of Life and The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

The Crane's are gone to Flagstaff. She is scheduled to have a colonoscopy on Tuesday and they went a few days early. 

We met at the Peeler's this morning at 9:00 am. Brother Goodman has to be at the church at 10:30 to help collect fast offerings.

First we sang an opening hymn and Brother Peeler gave the opening prayer. We then sang "How Great the Wisdom and the Love" and James and Brother Goodman blessed and passed the bread and water. It was a sacred experience.

For our lesson we watched on their TV Brother Ben Wilcox's "Teaching with Power" lesson on Easter. It was wonderful. Afterwards we had a small testimony meeting. James bore his testimony and so did I along with Brother Goodman and Brother Peeler.

We visited a few minutes and then Brother Goodman had to leave so we left too. It is a beautiful Sabbath morning here in Vernon.
Both he and Barbara, and James coughed during our meeting. He said, "Everytime we walk passed those juniper trees we get the Coronavirus.

We broke our fast when we got home and had a rest time.

 I spent some time today catching up on my study of JS-H. I also did two blog posts and most all of my ministering interviews for this quarter. 

This afternoon we FaceTimed with Jared, Kacey, and run around Charlie. Charlie said he is probably getting layed off this week and we tried to convince them to come and see us. If Jared can't come, then Kacey, Tanner, and Charlie could. If James gets the corral finished we will be getting "Dottie" this week. I'm calling the horse/mare Dottie until we come up with a better name.

It was a wonderful Sabbath day. We always look forward to Charlie's Sunday photos and to Facetiming with our Texas family.

 President and Sister Reidhead of the 

Snowflake temple presidency. I think

they could play Joseph and Emma,

don't you?

Two cute kids!

 Oops!

Sunday, June 30th, 2019

Bismarck, North Dakota

61st operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Sept 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Exemplar

Moroni 7:48

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Book of Mormon

Alma 24:19-30

New Testament "He Is Risen"

Review: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21

General Conference

Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"Brothers and sisters, we are at war with Satan for the souls of men. The battle lines were drawn in our pre-earth life. Satan and a third of our Father in Heaven's children turned away from His promises of exaltation. Since that time, the adversary's minions have been fighting the faithful who choose the Father's plan.

Satan knows his days are numbered and that time is growing shorter. As crafty and cunning as he is, he will not win. However, his battle for each one of our souls rages on.

For our safety, we must build a fortress of spirituality and protection for our very souls, a fortress that will not be penetrated by the evil one."

Closing Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"We hope and pray that each member's home will become a true sanctuary of faith, where the Spirit of the Lord may dwell. Despite contention all around us, one's home can become a heavenly place, where study, prayer, and faith can be merged with love. We can truly become disciples of the Lord, standing up and speaking up for Him wherever we are."

I missed church this morning because I was miserable with a sore throat, cough, and achy joints. James went without me.

When he got home he said, "that was one of the best sacrament meetings I have ever been too." Of course. 

The new couple from Maricopa, the Tesarek's spoke. They have been members for four years and they told about their conversion and joining the Church.

James and I will have an opportunity to work closely with the Tesarek's because we have been assigned to work with them on Family History.

I slept and rested most of the day and worked on my blog. This afternoon/evening we FaceTimed with Jared and Charlie. I showed Charlie my "Hello Kitty" bank and James's new "Pinkie Piggie" bank. We tried to play pattycake but weren't too successful. 

We love Jared and Kacey so much and know they are struggling right now and we pray for them and wish we could help more.

I made ministering calls this afternoon as this is the end of the second quarter. All I need to do is make contact with one of the partners in each of the ministering partnerships I have been assigned. It is sad when people don't respond to a text. Out of 13 partnerships I heard from 9. 

Some changes need to be made in my district and we need to get companions for Millie, and Barbara. I also need to get an active ministering sister for Sister Tedder. She just lost her son to an illness.

This evening I watched "The Good Witch" while James wrote a letter to Ben. I am so naughty.

"He Is Risen"

 Sunday Best

Poor Scarlett, she feels like I do today

 Our former neighbors, the Andersen's

So sad

 Babies on the loose

 Charlie's best friend

Raspberries from our bushes delivered

by James

 It doesn't take much to make a dog happy

Quilt or rug?

Sunday, March 31st, 2019

Cebu City, Phillipines

133rd operating temple

Dedicated: 13 June 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Jacob 4:5,11

Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten. 

Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

Book of Mormon

Omni 1:1-11

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Review: Matthew 14-15; Mark 6-7; John 5-6

General Conference

Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints

President Russell M. Nelson

"My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in you future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord - to be in His holy house - then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will being the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples."

Today was our fast and testimony meeting because for the next two weeks we have General and stake conference. I bore my testimony. I felt prompted to tell about the feelings I had yesterday in the celestial room of the temple when Holly and Charlie embraced for such a long time. I said I thought was how it was going to be when we meet our loved ones in Heaven.

The second hour Bishop Miller talked to us about finances. He said all bishops were instructed to do so by the First Presidency because of the financial status of so many members. It was quite sobering as James and I realized how ill prepared we really are for retirement. The only way for us to go is up. 

Sister Barton, a 90 year old member of our ward who lost her home in the Paradise, California fire, bore her testimony and talked about how she used to be a Baptist. She said there were lots of great baptists, and that John was one. Somehow that just struck me funny. I tried not to laugh out loud because after all, we were in sacrament meeting.

After the block we had a family history meeting where Brother Curtis went over a list that the bishop provided and each consultant was given some people to work with, except for Ty and Sister Klug who were not here.

James got a text from his sister Dawn. His mom was back in the hospital for back pain. She will probably go home tomorrow as soon as they get her blood pressure under control.

I had my quarterly ministering interviews today. I spoke or texted with everyone except Sister Deatherage. She is my ministering sister so I pretty much know that she has not visited. Besides, she has also been ill.

Today is the 20th anniversary of my mom's death. Stacy always remembers. She posted this on Facebook:

Snow White

Mickey Mouse

Trident original flavor gum

blue green eye shadow

leather purse

yummy food'unforgettable laugh

Can't believe it's been 20 years

Love you Gramma

Charlie loves books for many reasons

Scarlett is ready for Sunday photos!

 

Such a cute girl!