Tokyo, Japan
18th operating temple
Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1980
Spencer W. Kimball
Alma 33:12-23
*What can the account of the Israelites and the brass serpent teach about what we must do to be healed spiritually?
*How does Alma 33:22-23 answer this question?
*How has your choice to believe in the Savior influenced your everyday life?
*How has personal scripture study, prayer, and worship strengthened your faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
*Belief in Jesus Christ is a choice we make. Alma 33:23 says: "And even all this can ye do if ye will."
*President Henry B. Eyring: "Each child in each generation chooses faith or disbelief. Faith is not an inheritance; it is a choice."
DC 101:75-101
76-80, The Lord established the Constitution of the United States; 81-101, The Saints are to importune for the redress of grievances, according to the parable of the woman and the unjust judge.
How does the constitution benefit all men?
*In verses 77-80, the Lord repeatedly reminds us Who set up this constitution! He refers to Himself and then lets us know why He set it up. "That every man may act in doctrine and principle...according to the moral agency which I have given unto him" "...that every man may be accountable for his own sins..." (78). He prepared this land. He brought the explorers here to discover it! He set up, with a divine hand, the constitution. He carefully worded it so that all men who set foot on this soil could "act in doctrine" and be "accountable" for themselves. Agency is important to the Lord. It is what the war in heaven was all about. Acting and not being acted upon is crucial for us to learn. How blessed we are to have this land. The history of the setting up of the constitution is replete with sacrifice of lives and inspired acts of giving their all. May we always be grateful and show gratitude to Him by using our agency to find Him in our daily worship and our everyday living.
General Conference
Return and Receive
Elder M. Russell Ballard
" To return to is presence and to receive the eternal blessings that come from making and keeping covenants are the most important goals we can set. We return and receive by having 'unshaken faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, relying wholly upon' His merits, pressing 'forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men and women..., feasting upon the word of Christ and enduring to the end.'"
We attended the Galveston 3rd ward sacrament meeting this morning. We sat in the second row with Sheri and her boys.
April St. Onge was the youth speaker and Lynda and Ernie Cull were the main speakers. They all did a great job. I went up and spoke with Lynda afterwards. She says she has been working on getting her YW's Personal Progress and every time she does a value she reads the Book of Mormon cover to cover. I was her visiting teacher when she and Ernie got married around 20 years ago.
We also attended the Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class taught by Gerry P. (I was her visiting teacher when we lived here in 2015). We sat by Cathi and Terry. We participated by reading some assigned parts. The lesson was on the Kirtland missionaries.
I went to the first part of Relief Society. Hillary J. came over and sat by Cathi and I. I was only there a few minutes when Sheri came and pulled me out for Max's ordination.
Max was ordained in the teacher's quorum. Brother Allen, and Brother Ellsworth were there along with James and Ben and the other boys in the teacher's quorum. Sheri, Evan and I were also there. Grandpa James did a great job with the ordination although there were times when I couldn't hear him.
After the ordination we didn't go back to our meetings. We went home a little early and had a snack and then took a nap.
Around 3:30 or so we went down to Sheri and Ian's for dinner. It was Sheri's way of say thank you to dad for ordaining Max.
Sheri had a feast prepared: steak, salmon, shrimp, rice, potatoes, veggies, brownies and grape juice, and DP10, some of James's favorites! (And mine too!) Everything was delicious!
We packed up and left for home around 4:30. We got in to a very heavy rainstorm where it was almost impossible to see. Some people stopped along the side of the road. When we arrive home it looks like it has rained in Vernon. It is 64 degrees and you can smell the wet pine trees when we stop at the post office to pick up our mail. It is great to be home!
We unload and unpack and watch an episode of "The Good Witch."
Kacey and Jared had a flood in their new home in the laundry room, but I guess it was too bad. Kacey sent this picture:
Jared the elf.
Other Random Photos:
Since we didn't get any pictures of Max and
Gpa James today I am posting pictures that have Max in them.
A couple of years ago at Darrel's and Trina's.
Kids around the table eating smores.
2016 1st day of school
Not sure what year this is but it looks like
another school picture.
2016 Greens Peak
2016
Love the hats!
Greer
This is where they like to sleep.
1/23/17
Happy Birthday Gpa!
Max and his snowman
January 2016
Game time. It looks like poker.
Ice skating with family.
Fun with Shayna
So handsome!
2016
