Monday, August 13th, 2018

Detroit, Michigan

63rd operating temple

Dedicated 23 Oct 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator 

DC 76:24

That by Him, and through Him, and of Him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.

Book of Mormon

Alma 50:1-20

* What cane we do to cut off our spiritual enemies from their strongholds?

- It's imporatnt that even when we are under "prosperous circumstances," that we do "not stop making preparations...to defend ourselves". There is a tendency for us to become at ease when things are going well. However, we can't let our guard down for one moment. We have to continually be building "strong and high" defenses against the adversary, "preparing strongholds" and "securing...our people from the hands of the devil and evil forces." We can't ever let our guard down and stop preparing."

Old Testament

Psalms 9-14

9 A messianic psalm of David - He praises the Lord for rebuking the nations - The Lord will judge the world in righteousness - He will dwell in Zion - The wicked will be sent to hell.

10 David speaks of various acts of the wicked - God is not in their thoughts - But the Lord is King forever and ever - He will judge the fatherless and oppressed.

11 David rejoices that the Lord is in His holy temple - The Lord tests the righteous and hates the wicked.

12 David decries flattering lips and proud tongues - He says, The words of the Lord are pure words.

13 David trusts in the Lord's mercy and rejoices in His salvation.

14 David says, The fool has said in his heart, there is no God - Israel will rejoice in the day of restoration.

General Conference

Introductory Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"These modifications have been under study for many months. We have felt a pressing need to improve the way we care for our members and report our contacts with them. To do that better, we need to strengthen our priesthood quorums to give greater direction to the ministering of love and support that the Lord intends for His Saints."

The Elders Quorum

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"Thanks be to God for the men of the priesthood and for the service they will yet render in lifting individuals and families and in establishing Zion."

Today is the 2nd Monday of the month. The empty nester RS sisters are coming to my house for a potluck lunch. I started out by making two Texas sheetcakes, one chocolate and one almond, pecan with white cake. 

James pitched in without even asking. He cleaned up around in the yard, tried to mow the lawn but he couldn't get the mower to work, sprayed the bird poop off the front porch and helped me set up the awning outside on the patio in case it is so crowded we need some people to sit out side. It looks like this:

We ended up having only 14 sisters so we did not use the outside setup. These are the people who attended: Catherine, Kerri, Stefani, Linda, Judy, Ellen, Tamara, Amy, Teresa, Maxine, Patsy, Debbie, Millie and myself.

After cleaning up and putting the leftover cake in the freezer, I sat down for a rest. James came in a couple of hours later and said we needed to go into town to fix my tire. It was all I could do to pry myself out of my chair. I am glad we went though. Not only did I get a new tire for only $28, I got in a good long walk, and did some of my weekly shopping at Walmart. It was a good use of time.
We listened to a conference talk on the way home and counted it for FHE. 

James and I are reading the book club book together, "The Secret Keeper," by Kate Morton.

 Last nights storm that landed in Cibeque

 Max and Ollie playing

 Erik and Amelia's kids:

Mabel, Oliver, Aurora, Tabitha Rose

 Relief Society sisters luncheon

Scenes from my walk

Our electricity was off from 8:18 to until a little after 10. We lit a couple of our kerosene lanterns. They don't give off a ton of light but they create a cozy atmosphere. I had to get a flashlight to read to James from "The Secret Keeper."

Saturday, June 30th, 2018

Seattle, Washington

19th operating temple

Dedicated: 17-21 Nov 1980

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Jesus Christ, Creation

Mosiah 4:2

And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

Book of Mormon

Alma 24:19-30

*24:24-26: "Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen..., for they repented of the things which they had done...The people were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved."

Elder L. Tom Perry: "While the message of this story is not to insist on universal pacifism, we do learn that by not returning aggressions from others we can have a profound effect on them. Literally, we can change their hearts when we follow Christ's example and turn the other cheek. Our examples as peaceable followers of Christ inspire others to follow Him."

Old Testament

1 Chronicles 21-22

21 David sins by numbering Israel - The Lord sends pestilence upon the people - David offers sacrifices and the plague is stayed.

22 David prepares gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, and cedar wood for the temple - He charges Solomon to do the work of building it.

General Conference

Let Us All Press On

President Russell M. Nelson

"This general conference marks the beginning of a new era of ministering. The Lord has made important adjustments in the way we care for each other. Sisters and brothers - old and young - will serve one another in a new, holier way. Elders quorums will be strengthened to bless the lives of men, women, and children throughout the world. Relief Society sisters will continue to minister in their unique and loving way, extending opportunities to younger sisters to join them as appropriately assigned."

Happy 29th Anniversary Paul & Stacy

The Messianic Expectation in the Book of Mormon

   Not all of the Old Testament people had misread the prophecies, however. All of the Old Testament prophets and the Book of Mormon prophets before Christ understood the true picture. In a great vision given some six hundred years before the Savior's advent in the flesh (1 Nephi 11:13-33), Nephi learned that Messiah would be born of a virgin "after the manner of the flesh," (v.18), would be baptized by a "prophet who should prepare the way before him" (v. 27), would go forth "ministering unto the people, in power and great glory" (v.28), and would heal the sick and infirm.

They knew that he would "suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people" (Mosiah 3:7). Nephi and others foresaw that he would be treated as a thing of naught, rejected by his people, scourged, spit upon, and crucified (see 1 Nephi 19:9; Jacob 4:3-4).

It was a busy day for both James and I after scriptures and prayers this morning. This is what James did:

-Loaded his truck for the job on Monday.

-He washed the kitchen, dining room, and family room windows both inside and out, at my request. 

-He took the garbage to the dump.

-Swept, washed and sealed the patio.

-Made a cherry cobbler for tonight's dinner.

-He helped finish the mashed potatoes. I gave him the butter and a small container of cream failing to tell him to pour in the cream a little at a time until the potatoes were the right consistency.

-Prepared a pitcher of iced water.

Here is my list:

-Polished the newly stripped floor.

-Peeled, and cooked potatoes for mashing.

-Made stuffing, gravy and cooked the pork chops.

-Made a salad.

-Made broccoli.

-Set the table with china and a tablecloth. 

-Set applesauce and cranberry celebration on the table.

-Made rolls.

We are feeding the missionaries and our friends Pam and Chuck this evening.

Pam and Chuck arrived right on time at 5 p.m. Pam came right into the kitchen to help. It's like Chuck said, she considers everyone her friend and she's never known a stranger. She is very thoughtful and sweet and I love her. Chuck is very nice too and is not a member of the Church.

I finally called the missionaries and got no answer. A few minutes later I had James call again and he got no answer. After the second call we got a text saying they would be late. They ended up being 45 minutes late and Pam and I went in to put the pork chops back in the oven and heat up the potatoes in the microwave.

Elder Bernecker apologized when they got here and said they had been arguing with Pete Acton. I told him that I recognized that name as being on a prayer list I still have in my prayer journal from 2014 when it was given to me by the missionaries.

Elder Bernecker called us the 'Lamberts' and Elder Smith corrected him. 

Everyone seemed to love the dinner and Pam kept saying it felt like Thanksgiving. James cherry cobbler was a big hit. It was divine with some Bluebell homemade vanilla ice cream.

It was a very nice evening and everyone stayed until around 7. I sent rolls and chocolate chip cookies home with the missionaries.

James and I started right in on the dishes. It only took us an hour or so to get the kitchen back in order. 

I finished my steps and then we went to bed. I was too tired to study or do much of anything else this evening.

Colter, one of my former Primary students.

The Lamoreaux Family Reunion

Jean and Ralph are our friends 

from Chandler.

Thursday, October 5th, 2017

St. Paul, Minnesota

69th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan. 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal

2 Nephi 11:2

And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

Helaman 15:7-16:18

*How can faith and repentance bring about a change of heart?

-President Ezra Taft Benson on following the words of the prophets:

"When the prophet points out the sins of the world, the worldly, rather than repent of their sins, either want to close the mouth of the prophet of else act as if the prophet didn't exist. Popularity is never a test of truth. Many a prophet has been killed or cast out. As we come closer to the Lord's second coming, you can expect that as the people of the world become more wicked, the prophet will be less popular with them" ("The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 133).

*What messages from General Conference stood out to you?

- I liked Brother Stephen Owen's talk on "Repentance Is Always Positive." Another good one was Elder Cook's talk on humility.

DC 18:10

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

General Conference

A Yearning for Home

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Turn your soul toward the light. Begin your own wonderful journey home. As you do so, your life will be better, happier, and more purposeful."

I am using the house as my racetrack to get my steps in. I love it because I can walk in my socks and no preparation is required.

Third day in a row

I made baked burrito casserole for lunch. Yummy! It tastes like a Taco Bell burrito supreme. I got the recipe from my friend Hailey.

James finished writing his talk for Sunday and now he's waiting for me to type it. It's 25 minutes long. He says that means I have 12 minutes. His talk is on parenting and mine is on my impressions of General Conference. 

There is a full moon tonight so of course James went outside and bugled for elk. To his disappointment, there was no answer.

No time for TV or reading because of our talks.

James did have some time to work on the patio.

It is going to have a fire pit in it.

Stacy posted this on Facebook

October 5, 2016

October 5, 2015

Case grandkids: Four of them are ours too!

We love that Sheri and Ian's family visit us every

fall break.

Puzzles are a favorite activity

So are smores

I guess he ate too many smores

Back at home Evan tries out his

Halloween costume.

We took Evan and Joshua to Rowan's 

wards Halloween party. This costume was no fun

when everyone else was jumping in the

bounce house.

This photo came up under October 5, 2015 but

I think it was taken a few years before.

I like these clouds