Tuesday, June 4th, 2019

Chicago, Illinois

35th operating temple

Dedicated: 9-13 Aug 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

DC 76:54

They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.

Book of Mormon

Alma 11:1-25

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

John 13:34-38; John 15:9-17

General Conference

Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Members of the Church of Jesus Christ - both in past times as well as in ours - have enthusiastically and joyfully shared the gospel with friends and acquaintances. Their hearts are aflame with the testimony of Jesus Christ, and they sincerely want others to experience the same joy they have found in the Savior's gospel."

We sold the book, "Beginning and Beyond" for $48.99.

My friend Pam, who works at the hospital,  texted the following to me this morning:

Pam: Police are everywhere!

Me: He's here? Yikes! I'm going to the temple!

Pam: Yes. It's crazy. Cops are in riot gear with rifles.

Me: Where do they think he is? What did he do?

Pam: I pulled over and at least 6 cars zipped by. Pulling cars over near the doghouse subdivision. He killed his dad and one other.

Me: So where are the police? Vernon or Show Low? ( I wasn't sure where the doghouse subdivision was). 

Pam: Show Low. You know the doghouse thrift shop area. 

Me: Not sure where that is, is it on the 260 or the Deuce?

Pam: It was going down about 6:45 this morning, on the 260. Tons of police, helicopter. I didn't know what the heck was happening, but when I saw the tactical gear and rifles I figured it was not safe. Went straight to the hospital instead of shopping. LOL. Even the ER parking lot looked like it had activity. I don't know much more yet. so scary.

Me: I hope they catch him. You are safe in the hospital with the security. Keep your office door locked just in case. I'm saying a prayer.

These are photos from Pam's office. She has it decorated for Jen's birthday. Jen is her best friend and co-worker. 

Later in the day I received the following message from Pam:

Pam: The brother of the shooter posted a video asking everybody to stop saying mean things about his baby brother. The baby brother is mentally ill. He said that he and his dad are recovering and they want everyone to stop saying horrible things. It's heartbreaking. I loved his message. 

Me: Wow. So, they never caught him?

Pam: They did, and I was surprised at my reaction when I saw the picture. It was so sad. I said to Jenny his expression was remorse, sadness and trauma. He's not okay. Poor kid.

Me: Oh, that is sad.

Pam: He's 29 but I can call him a kid because I'm old.

As I told Pam earlier I had planned on going to the temple today with James and our 85 year old friend Catherine. Catherine wants to do her sister-in-law's initiatory and endowment. This is her beloved husband Clyde's sister and she knows that doing his sisters work is going to make him so happy.

We picked up Catherine around 9:15. I drove, Catherine was in the front passenger seat, and James was in the back. Catherine loves to talk and she is hard of hearing. I am afraid we left James pretty much out of the conversation all of the way to Show Low. 

We got to the temple around 10 am for the 11 o'clock session in order to have plenty of time to do the initiatory work. Initiatory was busy but our friend Donna L. was the initiatory director and she worked it out so that we could both do our names before the session. I got one more name done by a sister who didn't have a name. 

The session was packed with extra chairs set up in the aisle for both the sisters and brothers.  Catherine and I were seated in the corner of the last row. I got a little claustrophobic when we were putting on our ordinance clothing.

When we got to the celestial room Catherine was so happy. She said to me, "Oh this was such a wonderful family day. The new name was my mother's name and Pierce from our ward, who's niece is married to my grandson, took me through the veil. I know my husband is so happy right now that his sister's work is done."

With those good feelings we left the temple and headed for Eva's Mexican restaurant in Snowflake for a late lunch/ early dinner. 

I had a chicken enchilada with green sauce and rice and beans. James had a chili relleno with green sauce and rice and beans, and Catherine had a taco salad. When we got ready to leave Catherine insisted that she was paying. She said she "owed" us. I said that she owed us nothing but I allowed her to pay and I left the tip. Thank you Catherine.

The ride home was beautiful. We were surrounded by clouds and in some areas they were rain clouds. It was overcast in Vernon but we never got any rain to speak of.

We stopped at the post office and picked up about 8 books. My goal this evening is to get all the FBA books we have ready for shipping.

James was so happy to see that the iris's he planted last year, along with the flowers, had bloomed.

Clouds and flowers, two of my favorites!

My evening was spent getting my steps and preparing book shipments. I shipped 13 books, 12 to California and 1 to Washington state.

Happy Birthday Emmy!

Emmy turns 14 today.

This photo was taken in 2017 and all of the kids have grown

since then. We also have Charlie added to the group.

I'm not sure where James was, he should be in this photo too.

James washed the car and cleaned out the garage
and driveway before we went to the temple.

 Bettylea is named after my mother whose name
was Bettylea Strickland Maxwell.
She is the second oldest of my niece's Jenifer. Jenifer is my brother
Dennis's only girl.

Dennis and Denise in Texas.

They went to Bettylea's graduation.

Dennis says the Doobie Brother's had a song about

China Grove. I wouldn't know.

Barbara was one of the first sisters I visited as a visiting teacher when I moved to Chandler in 1971. Kathy Jones, the bishop's wife,
was my companion.

Our bishop and his wife on vacation. Not sure why the
word whiskey is on his shirt.

Buns of Cinnamon for the win