OUR FAMILY: witness couple

Showing posts with label witness couple. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Tuesday, February 6th, 2018

Stockholm, Sweden

34th operating temple

Dedicated: 2-4 July 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Warning: This actually happened on Thursday, Feb 8th,
I skipped Wed, Feb 7th so it will be posted on Thurs, Feb 8th.

Jesus Christ Authority of

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 1:30-2:10

*How do I keep the balanced perspective of my dependence on God's grace with the desire to live righteously?

- I know that if I do the best I can that the Lord will do the rest.

Old Testament

Exodus 30-32

30 An altar of incense is to be placed before the veil - Atonement is to be made with the blood of the sin offering - Atonement money is to be paid to ransom each male - Priests are to use holy anointing oil and perfume.

31 Artisans are inspired in building and furnishing the tabernacle - Israel is commanded to keep the Lord's Sabbaths - The death penalty is decreed for Sabbath desecration - Moses receives the stone tablets.

32 Aaron makes a golden calf, which Israel worships - Moses serves as a mediator between God and rebellious Israel - Moses breaks the tablets of stone - The Levites slay about 3,000 rebels - Moses pleads and intercedes for the people.

Old Testament Favorite Scriptures

Genesis 17:3-4, 7

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

General Conference

"I Have a Work for Thee"

Elder John C. Pingree, Jr.

" Sometimes we feel that we don't have any particularly important gifts. One day, a discouraged sister pleaded, 'Lord, what is my personal ministry?' He answered, 'Notice others.' It was a spiritual gift! Since then, she has found joy in noticing those who are regularly forgotten, and God has worked through her to bless many. While some spiritual gifts may not be prominent by the world's standards, they are essential to God and His work."

"Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

We went to the 11 a.m. session at the Snowflake temple. James wants to watch the officiator so he will know what to do when he is asked to officiate. We were the witness couple which is always a special privilege. We noticed the the officiator said very little and at one point I even thought maybe he was mute, but not so.

Before going home we stopped at El Cupido's for lunch. I had a Big Jake burro and a diet Dr. Pepper. They have the best ice!

We also stopped at Walmart and I got some things to add to my Valentine centerpiece on the dining room table. We also had to get some gas. One the way home we noticed lots of dark clouds above us. We went home the White Mountain Lake way and I must say I was not impressed although the road was paved all the way. They really need some zoning laws up here.

On the way home Jared texted and asked if we could do a marriage survey for one of Autumn's college classes. She needs to interview a couple who have been married at least 20 years. I told him we would work on it when we got home from the temple.

We really thought the clouds were going to bring us some moisture, which they did, but it only lasted a few minutes.

We got home to find out that our internet and phones were down. There was no way to contact Jared or Autumn to tell them of our situation. They were down all the rest of the day. I couldn't pay bills either. So I watched an episode of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." I hadn't seen it before and I really enjoyed it but can't remember the name of the episode so I called it, "Until the Cows Come Home."

We also watched two episodes of "Victoria," "The Warp and Weft," and "Sins of the Fathers."

My knee started to hurt so I only got 4,650 steps today. James has over 20,000 steps. He has lots of people on Pacer who like his progress but someone named Denise likes his progress better than anyone.

We look so old!

Can you tell how much he loves

picking out new glasses?

Carmen's zebra cake

Monday, November 20, 2017

Sunday, November 19th, 2017

The Hague Netherlands

114th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Sept 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ's Atonement

Matthew 20:28

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 2:1-16

*What is the difference between sorrowing and sorrowing unto repentance? How can our sorrow help turn our hearts to the Lord?

President Ezra Taft Benson explained the nature of godly sorrow so that we might understand the sorrow that leads to cleansing repentance:"Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit' (DC 20:37). Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, (1988), 72).

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 10:4-5

4 Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end.

5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

General Conference

That Your Joy Might Be Full

Sister Jean B. Bingham

" As I have studied the life and teachings of Jesus Christ with more focus, and committed 'The Living Christ' to memory, my gratitude and love for our Savior have increased. Each sentence of that inspired document contains a sermon and has enhanced my understanding of His divine roles and earthly mission. What I have learned and felt through this period of study and reflection confirms that Jesus truly "is the light, the life, and hope of the world."

Ancient scripture and latter-day prophets words written or spoken in praise of Him bear witness that 'His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.'"

I got up early to finish preparing my two Primary lessons, "Winter Quarters," and "The First Pioneer Company Crosses the Plains." When I opened the blinds there were, in the dark, five bunnies eating the grass. It is 25 degrees outside.

As I was setting up my room this morning, Johnny, Curtis and their cousin Norma came in and set up chairs for me. Curtis told me about having to get up this morning to go milk their cow, "Hollywood." I ask him why their cows name was Hollywood and he said, "cause she has black around her eye that looks like makeup and people in Hollywood wear makeup." He then proceeded to tell him she was so fat he could hardly milk her but she was short and he could look right over her. I love hearing these stories!

The bishop got up and announced the agenda for our upcoming conference with the Show Low stake on Dec 9th and 10th. The visiting authorities will be: Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and two Seventy's, Elder Cornish and Elder Heyman. James and I were surprised and happy to hear about Elder Heyman. He is our former bishop and stake president and friend from Chandler. How exciting! I hope he brings Dianne with him and we can get a picture with them.

Today was the children's Primary Sacrament meeting program, "Choose the Right." The kids sang out beautifully and it went so much better than I thought it would. Here are the songs the children sang: "As a Child of God," "Choose the Right," "Stand for the Right," "When I am Baptized," "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man," "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus," (my favorite!), and "Nephi's Courage." I enjoyed Bishop Miller's remarks at the end. He almost always speaks with a message from the Book of Mormon.

I had Sister Kuffer's class in with mine today. These are the children I taught: Jace, Curtis, Colter, Liana, Gracie, Bailey, Kacey, Talena, and Zemira.

During sharing time Liana told me that I was one of her greatest blessings and that I was the best Primary teacher she has ever had. Wow, I sure do love that girl!

During lunch James told me about what both Brother Peeler and Brother Wilhelm told him about us being the witness couple Friday night in the temple. Brother Wilhelm was the officiator and Brother Peeler the follower. First Brother Wilhelm said we were the cutest witness couple he's seen in a long time and that we had a light surrounding us. He also mentioned again that we remind him of a couple of cute little quail.

Later Brother Peeler told James the same thing about the light surrounding us but he also said that for a few seconds we looked 40 years younger to him. I am grateful we were able to be the witness couple because it was a spiritual experience for me. I can't say that is always true but this time it was.

James and Brother Peeler left to visit with Sister Dyer and take her a food basket. While they were gone I rested and then began my studies. I committed to not turn on the television today. At one time I was faltering and James encouraged me to follow through with my commitment, which I did.

We did watch on James's phone Elder Oaks and Elder Ballard in a Face2Face with the Church young adults. They answered questions and it was a great discussion. They were both adamant about young people putting their phones down and getting to know each other. I wish all of my older grandchildren could have heard this discussion. They would see two apostles in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. They were serious but you could also see their personalities coming through and they created some appropriate humor.

It was a wonderful Sabbath day!