Saturday, January 27th, 2018

Santiago, Chile

24th operating temple

Dedicated: 15-17 Sept 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Authority of

Matthew 7:29

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Book of Mormon

*When has the Lord asked me to do something and then given me the instructions rather than do the work for me?

*How can you build your life just like Nephi built the ship, not after the manner of men but "after the manner which the Lord has shown unto" you?

Old Testament

Exodus 11-12

11 The departing Israelites are authorized to ask for jewels and gold from their neighbors - The Lord promises to slay the firstborn in every Egyptian home - He puts a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites.

12 The Lord institutes the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread - Lambs without blemish are slain - Israel is saved by their blood - The firstborn of all Egyptians are slain - Israel is thrust out of Egypt after 430 years - No bones of the paschal lambs are to be broken.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Daniel 2:44-45

44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

General Conference

Do We Trust Him? Hard Is Good

Elder Stanley G. Ellis

" Hard is part of the gospel plan. One of the purposes of this life is for us to be proven (see Abraham 3:25). Few have suffered more undeservedly than the people of Alma. They fled from wicked King Noah, only to become slaves to the Lamanites! Through those trials the Lord taught them that He chastens His people and tries 'their patience and their faith' (Mosiah 23:21)."

We left this morning at 5:45 and James was stressed that we were going to be late but of course we weren't. Preparation meeting started at 7 a.m. with President and Sister Palmer presiding and Brother Coltrin conducting. We watched a video and the meeting was over by 7:30.

I was assigned to be the 2nd follower in the 8 a.m. session. I am the one at the door with the counter making sure everyone has their cards checked and all the previous ordinances have been done. 

Sister Crosby, who knows the Wilhelm's, was the 1st follower. Brother Neff was the officiator and Brother McHood led the prayer circle.

The temple film gives the creation a little different than it is found in Moses. I noticed because I just gave the lesson on the creation in my Primary class.

I was also the first greeter downstairs, keeping track of who comes in for the 11 session. I had my break with Sister Humphrey, Sister Thomas and Sister Larsen. Sister Humphrey asked Sister Larsen about the windmills in Holland and so we learned about all of the different kinds of windmills. She said one of her great-grandmothers was born in a windmill.

I had a break for about an hour where I was "on call" in the upstairs sitting room. I got to visit with Sister Lundgren and Sister Cochran. Sister Cochran told me all about her family and her son-in-law joining the Church. Chester Crandall, was her brother.

I worked in initiatory for an hour with Sister McHood, Sister Shelton, Sister McCleary, and Sister Cochran. We finished with patrons around 12:45 and Sister Wenhardt who is our co-ordinator, wanted to do some more names. Sister Bradshaw looked at her and said: "But I'm cleaning up." I told Sister Wenhardt that I had to come back and clean tonight so she excused me. I am not sure what happened after I left.

On the way home we stopped at El Cupido's for lunch. I had a Big Jake burro. When we get home we take a nap and I spent a little time working on preparing for my Sunday assignments, Primary, and speaking to the Young Women. We left again for Snowflae around 5:15.

We clean with the Show Low Creek ward and between our two wards we had 50 people come to clean! Those from our ward: Us, Reynolds', Grapps', Westbrooks, Applegates, Skousens, Diewalds, 5 Hunsakers, Brothers Cooper, Curtis, Scott, Peeler, and bishop and Brother Butler. James and I were done quite early. We vacuumed the two endowment rooms. We were home around 9 p.m. It was one of the easier nights since we have been cleaning and I rather enjoyed it.

This deer was bedded down in a yard a couple

of years ago. The third deer we had seen

in two days which is pretty unusual.

This woman had suffered for 12 years with

an issue of blood.

Evan writing in his journal before going 

to bed. I am so proud!

Rowan pulled up the couch and got cozy

to practice the piano.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Phoenix temple

3 Nephi 13:1-15

Why is it so important to forgive our fellowman?

Answer: "Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy.  In fact, for most of us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking, even a change of heart.  But there is good news.  This 'mighty change of heart' is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives.  How is it done?  Through the love of God something good and pure happens to us.  The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions - the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts - the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ.  As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.  As always, Christ is our exemplar.  In His teachings as in His life, He showed us the way.  He forgave the wicked, the vulgar, and those who sought to hurt and to do Him harm.  Jesus said it is easy to love those who love us; even the wicked can do that.  But Jesus Christ taught a higher law.  His words echo through the centuries and are meant for us today.  They are meant for all who desire to be His disciples.  They are meant for you and me: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."  When our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become "kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God for Christ's sake forgave us.  The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other." - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

GC: ' If Ye Had Known Me' by Elder David A Bednar

"Do we only know about the Savior, or are we

increasingly coming to know Him?

How do we come to know the Lord?"

So far James had caught 3 live rats, 7 live squirrels, and 10 dead mice.  The mice were not in the house, but in the storage room of the garage.  I call him Trapper Jim.

Painting the storage shed.

James drove me to see Jean Howard this afternoon.  As soon as I stepped outside I knew there was a fire.  We drove out of the driveway and saw this:

Another "control" burn.

Why don't they just use a chipper?

Here is what it looked like at the Howard's:

Air quality goes way down when they burn.

Jean is having major surgery on Wednesday.  We had a nice visit and I gave her this:

The tag is a quote by President Monson

about families.

When we left the Howard's we headed for Desert Title in Show Low.  We knew we weren't going to get the title to Jared Ammon's Scion before we left for the valley tomorrow so we went to get a duplicate.  It cost $14 but it was worth if for my peace of mind.  We have to get the car and the only way to do it is to have a key made.  In order to have a key made I have to take it to Big Two Toyota with a title and my driver's license.

I love this picture of Max, Joshua, and Evan

taken a couple of years ago.

Zemira all ready for his first wrestling match.  He is

in my Primary class and invited me to come but 

I couldn't because of the temple assignment.

Back at home we had a little something to eat and then around six o'clock we left for the temple.  Tonight is the Vernon ward's night to clean.  These are our ward members who showed up to help:

Bishop Miller, Blaine, Chuck, Virgil, Mel, Donna and Owen, Barbara and Fred, the Freeman's, Jim and Linda, Millie and Jerry, and Alicia and Kip.  Blaine gave the spiritual thought and Chuck and Jim conducted for James because of his laryingitis.  

A picture I took of the temple:

A light on the hill.

It was over 10 p.m. when we got home.  We were in bed by 11 and tomorrow we get up and leave for the valley.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Alma 5:53-6:8
55 - Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?

James had a discussion with Wes Smith about helping the poor.  Wes thinks it's a copout to say, "If I feel inspired I will help them."  He says it's a commandment and we are not to judge.  Wes says he breaks down $100 into fives and gives them away and somehow his pile keeps getting bigger.  James wants me to get fifty dollars worth of five's so he can do the same thing.
I actually gave away $5 the other day to someone in Chandler.  He had a purple shirt on and when he turned around to walk away it said: GSU on the back, Grand Canyon University.  That's where Michael is going to go.

LaVerne and Shirley were back this morning right outside our bedroom window.

LaVerne is with child, or children,

antelope usually have twins.

I went out this morning to look in the car for my present to Emmy, hoping it had fallen under the seat.  No present, but I did find my debit card.  I had to call Chase and have them remove the cancellation.  James told me he looked everywhere in the car.  That's a man for you.

James called to get an appointment with Dr. LeSueur about his ears and they said they had a cancellation today at 3:45.  We were going to leave for the temple at 3 and do a session before we clean tonight, but I guess we will have to wait until tomorrow.  I don't want him to have to wait until the middle of June to get his ears cleaned.  Dr. LeSueur also wrote him a prescription for a hearing aid and now we need to make an appointment at Cosco for a hearing aid.

Addy had her tonsils out today.  I kept texting Trina to see how she was doing.  She said the surgery went well, but she is pretty sore and can't talk.  

We left for the temple around 6.  Again we had to stop at Maverick for Icebreakers because I didn't think I could make it through the night without them.  

James can't find his temple recommend so he had to wait at the front desk while I went back to change clothes and start my cleaning assignment.  
I worked until about 7:40 and then went down to the chapel to wait for our ward members who were coming to help.  
We were so grateful to have so many people come: Chris and Becky Skousen.  Chris postponed his fishing trip so he could be here.  Wes and Theresa Smith, Blain and Diana Curtis, Ed and Wes Miller, Virgil Cooper, Jerry Scott, Judy Hunter, Lorraine Vaught, Dave and Rosa Westbrook, Fred and Barbara Klug, and us.  We had four people who didn't show up, but with us we had 20 that did.  We were so grateful.  We were finished around nine and home by 10, an hour earlier than I had figured.  It was a good experience!

Molly had her first grade play this evening.  It's the bug play that I have seen but is always so cute.  Thanks Jared for sending the pictures!

Molly was a bumblebee

Such a cutie!

Tonight was Show Low High School graduation.  Shelly from Vernon graduated, and Madison, Monte and Tasha's daughter.

Maddie has a scholarship to UofA.

She wants to be a veterinarian.

Shelly is the blonde and was one of

my young women.  She is going to

be going to EA in Pima.

 

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Alma 2:1-18.  Amlici seeks to be king nd is rejected by the voice of the people - His followers make him king - The Amlicites make war on the Nephites and are defeated - Alma salys Amlici.

 Notes:

4 - Amlici's intent was to destroy the Church of God.

5 - For or against Amlici division causes 'wonderful' contentions.  I think 'wonderful' contentions could mean, an opportunity to share and defend your beliefs.

16 - Alma goes at the head of the army to battle.  (To me this shows what kind of a leader he was.)

18 - The Lord did strengthen the hand of the Nephites.  (Remember the promise, keep the commandments and prosper in the land.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Listened to President Eyring's conference address, "Eternal Families."

Study Primary lesson about the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. 

James has a new 'concoction' with lemon, cinnamon, vinegar, etc.

It tastes nasty but it helps the laryngitis.

I saw eight bunnies outside this morning.  When they saw me they ran and hid.

Jared texted me this morning and said Enbrel was not working for his arthritis anymore.  His doctor is putting him on Remicade.  I told him it worked for me a few months and then I was miserable.  I am now on Actemra.

Adam is trying to paint the trim on the shed before it starts to rain.  He is concerned because it is supposed to be brown but it look purple.  James told him not to worry because purple was my favorite color.  Yeah, but I'm not sure how it will look on a brown shed.

 My view of Adam painting.

I was too lazy to go outside.

While Adam was outside working, James was inside working.

Now I know why he wanted Adam to come.

The rain finally did come, at least for a little while.  I couldn't even see my mountain.

 Mount Mentosa disappears

Here is the birdhouse James built and hung.

Right outside our bedroom porch.

 Here is a strange bird we saw today.  Maybe he will live in our birdhouse!

For lunch today I made calico beans and rolls.  James and Adam both love the beans.  

After lunch I read two chapters of "A Lady's Favor" to James.  This is his kind of book and mine too!

My project this afternoon was to plan my menus and shopping list for next week.  

Around six o'clock we left for the temple.  Just before we left we both saw a young bull elk in our backyard.  Actually I should say I saw him and told James.  It was funny to see one elk all by himself.

On the way to the temple we stopped at Maverick to get some water and Icebreakers.  

Brother and Sister West meet us at the temple and show us where to get our scrubs, and then we go to work.  We are being trained as the temple cleaning co-ordinators for the Vernon ward.

Tonight is the Snowflake sixth wards turn to clean.  I was so surprised and happy to see our friend from Chandler, Ruth Gale.  We visited for awhile and then I saw another friend, Jani Huso Johnson.  They are both members of the Snowflake sixth ward.

Sister Raylene DeSpain Perry and her husband were the co-ordinators.  They live in Heber but had traded with the Snowflake sixth ward co-ordinators.  Raylene went to school with Dennis and Randy, and of course Vickie knew her. (I called and asked Vickie later).

We didn't get home until after 10.  We were both tired but we visited with Adam who seemed lonely and we both had a snack before going to bed.