Wednesday, June 7th, 2017

Porto Alegre, Brazil

102nd operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Dec 2000 by

Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 12:20-27

* What were the effects of the Fall?  Why were they necessary?

* How does the Atonement of Jesus Christ allow us to overcome the effects of the Fall?

* According to Alma 12:24, what did Alma teach is the purpose of life?

DC 84:103-120

103-10, Let every man stand in his own office and labor in his own calling; 111-120, The Lord's servants are to proclaim the abomination of desolation of the last days.

How can we be more aware of the "weak" around us so we may lift them up and help them become strong?

General Conference

Our Good Shepherd

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"As the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ views disease in His sheep as a condition that needs treatment, care, and compassion.  This shepherd, our Good Shepherd, finds joy in seeing His diseased sheep progress toward healing.  The Savior foretold that He would 'feed His flock like a shepherd,' 'seek out that which is lost,...bring again that which is driven away, ...bind up that which is broken, and strengthen that which is sick.'"

Just a few notes from my studies:

Something I want my grandchildren to know: "Know that God lives and Jesus is the Christ; To know the kingdom of God has been established; There is a reward for every commandment we keep."

What I want my children to know:

"The Forgotten Practice that Increases Personal Revelation" by Maurine Proctor, June 7, 2017, ldsmag.com

One night several years ago, we had an older teenaged daughter who did not arrive at her 12:00 a.m. curfew.  One o'clock came and she still wasn't there.  We did what any good parent would do.  We panicked. We prayed. We made those awkward middle-of-night calls to her friends. 2:00 a.m. Our imaginations were flying with the dangers she could be in.  We prayed harder. I cried with worry. The minutes seemed like hours. 2:30 a.m. 2:45 a.m. The world was asleep, but not us - two parents so concerned about their precious daughter.

At last, at 3:00 a.m., we heard the front door quietly open.  We had decided on a plan to divide and conquer.  My husband, Scot, stayed up in our bedroom and prayed for me while I went down to greet our daughter.  The conversation was just as you might expect.  I pounced on her-not literally, but there was an edge in my voice.  I reminded her of her curfew, told her of the dangers and temptations abroad in the late hours of the night, described our painful worry.

She was defensive. She asked if we didn't trust her. She told me she was too old for a curfew. The more she resisted my teaching, the more tension you could feel between us. I badly needed help to turn this divisive conversation into a sweet moment of love and teaching. Just then I felt the influence of my husband's prayers for me, and an impression came into my mind. I had been praying much for this daughter of ours whom I had been worried about, and just a few days earlier the Spirit had whispered something about her to me.

I stopped my lesson on curfews for a moment. I was still and knew that this was the moment to tell her that message. "Last week," I said, "the Spirit told me something about you." Her defensiveness began to fall from her. It was the first time she really yeard anything I said. "Tell me," she said with real eagerness. I answered, "The Spirit told me not to worry so much about your life because all things would work out for you, that everything would be OK."

"You heard that, Mom?" she asked eagerly. "What else did the Spirit tell you about me?" Listen to the faith in her questions.  She believed that God had heard my prayers and answered them. She believed that He knew her and loved her. When I saw her as a daughter pushing the limits by coming in late, He knew her heart and the faith that resided there that maybe she didn't even now. Our conversation became sweet as I told her of the confidence that God had in her and of his personal knowledge of her heart and goodness.

Before, she had been eager to escape my presence and lecture. Now, she was all ears and we talked until 4:00 a.m. I count it as a treasured hour in my mothering experience.

This experience demonstrates why we need revelation so much.

One more note from this article: "Serious reflection precedes revelation."

Happy 48th Anniversary to these two:

Two of my favorite people!

Cows may be dumb, but they are persistent!

James has some tangle problems

The Herd.

James went to town to get the part he ordered yesterday for his auger so he can start digging holes for corner posts.  He is so discouraged because the cows trampled his yard, a sprinkler head and the raspberry bush. He brought me home two fidget spinners from Cal-Ranch.

I have been reading about the law of consecration in the Doctrine and Covenants student manual and came across this quote by Joseph Smith: "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary to lead unto life and salvation." (Lectures on Faith, p. 58.)

James had laryngitis today and he got a call from Anthony. He needs a ride into town.  I called Brother Butler and arranged it for him.  

James worked all day and into the night to put up a makeshift fence so the cows couldn't get in our yard while we are gone to the valley tomorrow.  He was exhausted when he came in. 

Random thoughts:

I made a tomato, cucumber, onion salad to go with our meatloaf leftovers.  I worked on getting all the birthday cards ready to go tomorrow: Ian, Brian, Dallin, and Ruby.  My knees are so bad from chasing cows yesterday with a sling shot that I ended up taking six tramadol. I typed the story of James being saved from a fire when he was 8 months old.  I am starting a blog about his life story, and mine too.  I am going to make them a series of stories.  Both Stacy and Charlotte called today.  It was fine because I just sit at the computer and work on my blog while talking to them.

I ordered these things this week:

Sheets from MobStub for #32.95.  An Indiana Jones hat from Amazon for James for father's day, I also placed two orders of fidget spinners, one from Amazon and one from MobStub.

We leave in the morning around 7.

Summer fun at Water Wheel.

Two bathing blondies

James took this picture while he was working

at the Howard's.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

"It is almost impossible to be lifted

up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 Happy 10th Birthday to Rowan!

Rowan is a smart, loving, kind, and adventurous boy.

Right now he loves Harry Potter and Legos.

James left early for high council this morning.  I had to take a picture of him in his new suit.

 

He looks so handsome, and yes,

that is a purple tie!

Before church this morning I made french toast for breakfast and put five racks of ribs in the oven at a low heat.  They will be ready to eat when we get home from church.

Talon Wilhelm, Cambri Westbrook and Ed Miller were the speakers in sacrament meeting.  Jared and his kids and Richie all attended with us all three hours.  Alice took Anna to Sunday School and Young Women's.  Jared came with us to Sunday School where Bro. Wilhelm taught the lesson about Elijah.  The Primary sang Happy Birthday to Molly.  She said is was her third Happy Birthday party.  The first was at Ruby's church, the second on Friday, and when she gets home she gets another party.  Randa Covert gave the lesson in Young Women's about eternal marriage.  

When we got home the ribs were ready to eat.  I think they were a hit.

Of course the kids wanted to go on more Razr rides before they left to go home.  Jared took them to the pit.  It was Richie's first time.  I got to talk to him a little about his conversion.  He really is a nice guy.  

It really looked like it was going to rain this afternoon.  It was overcast but never did rain.  Finally it was time to say goodbye.

  I'm going to miss them.

 Emmy?

Here are some things I learned about these grandkids while they were here:

James - He loves to give hugs and is very sweet.  He loves to read about military missions and watch military documentaries.  He can play the piano and the guitar.  He says he wants to be a cage fighter.  I hope not.  

Anna - loves to read scriptures and then discuss with her dad what she has read.  She loves dogs and cop shows. She says her best friend is her dog Penny.

Emmy - Loves to be active.  She was either playing on the walker, using it a monkey bars or bouncing a ball most of the time she was here.  She is a tether ball champ.  She also loves to play math games on the computer.  One of her favorite sites is Sum Dog.  She also can do her own hair and does a fantastic job!

Molly - When you say something to her she says: "Seriously?"  Is a little cranky when she is tired. She loves to have her nails painted and wear lipstick.  Every time she went outside she brought me back flowers which melted my heart.  Here is my bouquet:

 This evening after our El Paso visitors left we had some other visitors.

 The herd.

James and I finished our book "A Glimmer of Hope."  We both really liked the story and will soon start another Sarah Eden book.

James heated up some enchiladas and we watched a Hallmark move, "For Better or for Worse."  I fell asleep but that's ok because I had already seen it.  It was a wonderful Sabbath day.