Friday, December 2, 2016

Ether 2:1-12

Ether 2:8-11 states what Moroni called "the everlasting decree of God." (v.10) concerning this land of promise.  Stated three or four times, this decree is that "whatsoever nation shall possess this land shall serve God, or they shall be swept off" (v.9).  President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) taught that obedience is essential if the promised land is to keep its promised blessings: "Great are the promises concerning this land of America.  We are told unequivocally that it 'is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.' (Ether 2:12).  This is the crux of the entire matter - obedience to the commandments of God." (In Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 89).  Compare Ether 2:7-12 with Nephi 1:6-10.  List the promises and the warning given to the inhabitants of America.

GC:     The Master Healer by Carole M. Stephens

"Our faith in Jesus Christ enables us to meet any challenge.  We, in fact, often find our faith deepened and our relationship with Heavenly Father and His Son refined in adversity."

For breakfast this morning I had a chocolate Slim Fast shake and a croissant.  Quite good.  James left this morning to go work at the yard.  I left for my infusion a little before ten so I could go through Sonic and get 1/2 off drink.  I got to my infusion early and this time I did not have to wait long.  My friend Francis was home with sick kids but Kahwanda was there.  She drew my blood and started my Actemra.  

I was finished before noon and met James at Discount Tire to get my tires rotated.  I read from "United We Stand."  Of course he brought it with him.  He loves me to read to him!

James wanted chicken wings for lunch.  I had told him they were in the refrigerator.  He couldn't find them.  He made this comment: "They aren't in there.  Cathi can't find them either so maybe she has man's disease too."  When I dropped my car off at Discount I looked in the back and there were the wings, along with a package of uncooked bacon and a box of Toaster Strudels.  Oh dear.  Everything was still good because the weather was so nice and cool.

I am amazed and confused by this picture.

Such talent, but really, how long is it going to last?

This afternoon I went to lunch at Zupas with Sheri, Alex, and Kim.  Kim bought my lunch in honor of the Light the World challenge.  Thanks Kim!

After lunch we went Christmas shopping at the Chandler Mall.  We went to Just Sports so Sheri could get Evan a Kansas City Chief's hat.  I guess that is his favorite football team.  Max loves the Cardinal's, Ben the Vikings, and Alex the Patriot's.

It would have been fun if Trina could have come with us but she and Darrel are taking the kids to see Santa at the North Pole set up in Williams.

Here they are in their motel room.  Rowan is so

excited that he is dancing on the bed.

I ended up getting a Harry Potter chess set for Rowan, Star Wars bionicles for Evan and Joshua and a monkey for Lola.  It is the monkey from Claire's that she loved the night Ruby and I got our ears pierced.  

James and Cocoa.

After hitting Claire's, Barnes and Noble, and a short trip to the Disney store, we were busy for the day.  I went home and took a nap with James.  

While Cathi, Terry, Dave, and Laura were delivering cookies around the neighborhood James and I were going to fix dinner for them.  Laura came in and mentioned she thought she saw my car at Sheri's and we suddenly realized that we had never picked up our car from Discount Tire.  It was after five when we left to pick it up and they close at six.  

We grilled steaks left from last night and I heated up mashed potatoes and green beans.  We also still had some rolls and croissants and cranberry celebration and some cheesecake for dessert.  The six of us enjoyed our dinner and visit.  Laura told us about Thanksgiving at Kevin's and how the neighbors love Kevin!

Cathi loved the green beans I made and said they were the best she had ever tasted.  I enjoyed my steak tonight more than I did the one I had last night.  It was a fun evening.  The guys did the dishes.

This is Braylin from my Primary class.

He stopped coming a couple of months ago and

I really miss him.  He is handicapped, but a voracious

reader.  I pray everyday he will come back to Primary.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

The Nauvoo temple

Ether 1:1-43

The Lord explained to the brother of Jared that blessings had come to his people as a result of prayers offered over a long time.  President Spencer W. Kimball taught that we must put great effort into our prayers and that we must pray frequently: "Do you get answers to your prayers?  If not, perhaps you did not pay the price.   Do you offer a few trite words and worn-out phrases, or do you talk intimately to the Lord?  Do you pray occasionally when you should be praying regularly, often, constantly?  Do you offer pennies to pay heavy debts when you should give dollars to erase that obligation??  When you pray, do you just speak, or do you also listen?  Your Savior said, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' (Rev. 3:20).  Should we ever fail to get an answer to our prayers, we must look into our own lives for a reason." (BMSM, 363).

GC:     I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel into My Home by Jean B. Bingham

Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of charity.  His premortal offering to be our Savior, His interactions through out His mortal life, His supernal gift of the Atonement, and His continual efforts to bring us back to our Heavenly Father are the ultimate expressions of charity.  He operates with a singular focus: love for His Father expressed through His love for each of us.  When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus answered: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 

-Matthew 22:37-39

Today the Church started the 

"Light the World" campaign.  

Today: 

Jesus lifted others burdens and so can you.

James turned off the water and left for the valley this morning.  I left a little after 9.  I stopped in Show Low for gas and to wash my very dirty car.  I was so tired I had to stop at the Circle K in Heber to get something to eat in order to stay awake.  My next stop was

the Dollar Tree in Payson.  I bought five more glass plates and 18 Christmas stockings for my grandkids.  I also got two tacos at Taco Bell for lunch.  

When I got to Chandler I went straight to Stacy's to deliver her tree stand.  I noticed she had a snowman puzzle she was working on.

I guess Shipley noticed the puzzle too.

She couldn't resist messing it up.

Boy does she look guilty!

From Stacy's I went down Ocotillo to Gilbert Rd. to the new Fry's Artesian Marketplace.  What a beautiful store.  I bought some wings, potatoes, green beans, cranberry celebration and some drinks.  My next stop was the Gilbert Costco.  I got both fillet and ribeye steaks for our scripture dinner this evening at Kim and Brian's.  I also got Alpine Valley bread for James, some croissants and a caramel pecan cheesecake for dessert.  I also got a couple of pies at Fry's and two at Costco for our ward party on Saturday night.

After shopping at Costco I headed for Kim and Brian's to start preparing dinner. James headed for Phoenix to pick up Michael.  He was over halfway there when Adam called and said he was close to the school and would pick Michael up.  I am glad because James needed to get back to cook our steaks.  

It was a fun evening but I felt a little unorganized.  I even forgot to serve the drinks!  Alex left for school before we could take his picture.

Michael and Adam pretending to have an arm

around Alex.

I guess Seth has moved back to Oregon and was not able to attend.

I still send the scripture reading assignment everyday to him and Gail.

I was exhausted and Brian and Kim offered to clean the kitchen.  I am grateful to them for that and for allowing us to have the dinner at their house.  

James and I dropped the leftover food, etc., at Cathi's and then we drove over to Phoenix to take Michael back to school.  I read to James from "United We Stand" on the way home.

Cathi was up making cookies.  Now that they are at the Chandler ROC they only work Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  

I visited with her for a few minutes before going to bed.

Blue Canyon

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Manti temple

Mormon 9:22-37

Mormon knew that Moroni faced overwhelming challenges due to the wickedness of the Nephites.  Nevertheless, Mormon also knew that Moroni could endure with the assistance of divine grace.  The book 'True to the Faith' explains that grace provides strength to persevere in the daily struggles of life: "The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to the divine help and strength we receive through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In addition to needing grace for your ultimate salvation, you need this enabling power every day of your life.  As you draw near to your Heavenly Father in diligence, humility and meekness He will uplift and strengthen you through His grace."

GC:     Repentance: A Joyful Choice by Elder Dale G. Renlund

" Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.  By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins, - behold, he will confess them and forsake them." - D&C 58:42-43

One of the first things I did this morning was read an article called: "Why Being Bored is Good for Children."  "We don't have to have a particular creative talent or intellectual bent to benefit from boredom.  Just letting the mind wander from time to time is important, it seems, for everybody's mental wellbeing and functioning.  Children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to be quiet enough that they can hear themselves.  Inner quiet equals self-awareness.  Their interests are stimulated as they come to find solutions to boredom."

Do either one of these girls look bored?

James got a call from Brother Skousen who is our ward High Priest Group Leader in the Vernon ward.  He asked if he and President Jensen from the new stake presidency could come by for a visit this evening.  James got out the nativity set and I got out some more Christmas decorations and tried to clean the wood floor where James had tracked mud in before their visit.

President Jensen is the retired member of the stake presidency.  He lives in the Pinetop Lakes Country Club and must be quite wealthy.  He knew our former bishop, Bob Horne and so did Brother Skousen.  We had a nice visit.

No, they did not give us a balloon.

We watched two Christmas movies today:

"Finding Christmas," and "Married by Christmas."  The first one is one of my favorites but the second was meh.

Last years week after Christmas.

I love pictures of Arizona

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

G

This was my view this morning.

Mormon 9:1-21

What experiences have you had that confirm that God is still a God of miracles?

* One of the greatest miracles I have seen is the transformation of peoples lives as they accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was privileged to be a ward missionary when both Laura and Cathi accepted the gospel.  There is no greater joy in this life than to see someone accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and to align their lives in accordance with His teachings.  It is truly a miracle.  One of the reasons I love the Book of Mormon is because it teaches so clearly the steps we must take to return to the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  Jesus Christ and His Atonement is our greatest miracle.  I am thankful for my mom and grandma (Nannie), who accepted the gospel.  I am thankful for Laura, Cathi, Brian and Ian in our family today for accepting the gospel.  The Plan of Salvation is a miracle which bring families together for eternity.

GC:     God Shall Wipe Away All Tears by Elder Evan A. Schmutz

" When we view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of faith in Christ, we are able to see that there can be godly purpose in our suffering.  The faithful can experience the truth of Peter's seemingly contradictory counsel.

He wrote, 'If ye suffer for righteousness sake, 

happy are ye.'" - Peter 3:14

GC: No Greater Joy Than To Know That They Know by Elder

K. Brett Nattress

"If all that your children knew of the gospel came from you -

as their only source - how much would they know?

If there any greater gift we can give to our children than a memory

burned deep into their hearts that we know that our 

Redeemer lives?  Do they know that we know?

And more important, have they come to now for themselves

that He lives?"

At seven o'clock this morning it was 18 degrees. The high for the day was around 30.  James said there was raccoon tracks on our porch and now the raccoon is hiding in the woodpile.  I love it when the sun shines on the snow because it makes it sparkle!

Snow makes everything more beautiful.

Neuschwanstein Castle.

Kaeli, Natalie and baby Guy and I visited Jean today.  We got stuck in the snow going up one of the hills going to their house which is in a thickly wooded area.  I called James but he is almost 30 minutes a way.  In the meantime an older guy with a hat and a long beard comes by in a truck and stops and asks if I need help.  "Yes, I do."  He asks me to get into the back seat and he gets into the driver's seat.  We back up probably almost a half mile and then he guns it and makes it up the hill.  "Thank you, Wyatt.  You are my guardian angel."

This is Ruby with a styrofoam tube which she

calls her elk call.  This is something she

learned from James.

Some good news for Kacey and Jared.  Kacey got the job in San Antonio.  She starts on January 2nd which is just a little over a month away!  Congratulations!

This evening we went into town to get our hot and sour soup and we decided to stay for dinner.  It was a mistake.  Much of the food had been out since lunch under the heat lamps and it was not good.  That will be the last time we will eat there for a long time.  From now on it is just the hot and sour soup. The one good thing that came from this trip besides the soup, was the huge, I mean probably a 100, elk in the field across from the post office.  We noticed them after we turned on to highway 60.  We hurried back to get my camera but we were not able to get a good picture.  It was amazing.  I have never seen that many elk together before!

Multnomah Falls in Oregon.

When we got home we read from "United We Stand" by the fire and then watched a new Christmas movie, "Journey Back to Christmas" starring Candace Cameron Bure.

Family Fotos:

Adam and James fell in love with the Hangar Cafe at

the Chandler Airport when they were working on 

the Hatch job in 2014.

Emmy and Molly recovering in the ER 

after their roll over accident on 

Thanksgiving 2014.

A few years back Alex helping Rowan

learning to fish at Power Ranch.

Monday, November 28 2016

Mormon 8:26-41

Generations are affected by the choices you make.  Your decisions today determine your destiny.  In a day when some people might be inclined to abandon faith in the face of great difficulties, Moroni's words teach us to see miracles and revelations as evidence that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Although the spiritual and social conditions in the world may be in a state of constant change and decline, God's covenant people can have full confidence that He is eternally the same.  

Some notes from these verses: The Book of Mormon will come in a day when it shall be said miracles are done away.  It shall come even as if one shall speak from the dead (v.26).  The way the Book of Mormon came forth is a miracle and the book teaches of the miracles of God to the obedient and faithful.  The Book of Mormon has been a miracle in my life! ... look ye unto the revelations of God...(v.33).  The Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly comes (v.34).  Jesus has shown you unto me and I know your doings (v.35).  What kind of "pollutions" do you you see in the world today?  Do we love money more than we love serving and caring for others, especially the poor (v.37)?  Are we ashamed to bear testimony and stand as a witness of Christ or do we look for opportunities to do so everyday?  Just some food for thought.  

GC:                       Serve by Elder Carl B. Cook

"As we serve, we draw closer to God.  We come to know Him in

ways that we otherwise might not.  Our faith in Him increases.

Our problems are put into perspective.  Life becomes more

satisfying.  Our love for others increases, as well as our desire

to serve.  Through this blessed process, we become more like God,

and we are better prepared to return to Him."

GC:            Lest Thou Forget by Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"Jesus Christ knows about fierce struggles and trials.

He gave His life for us.  His final hours were brutal, beyond

anything we can comprehend, but His sacrifice

for each one of us was the ultimate expression of

His pure love."

GC:     God Shall Wipe Away All Tears by Elder Evan A. Schmutz

"When we view the difficult experiences of life through the lens of faith in Christ, we are able to see that there can be godly

purpose in our suffering.  The faithful can experience the

truth of Peter's seemingly contradictory counsel.

He wrote 'If ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye.'"

1 Peter 3:14

We have about 1 1/2 inches of snow, and more is falling.  Sometimes I think it's falling but it's just blowing off the trees.

James took this picture of the sunrise.

It looks like powdered sugar on the mountains and ground.

James and I drove into town this morning to get the oil changed in our car at Walmart.  It snowed on us most of the way and much of the time we were there.  While the car was being serviced, we walked over to Firehouse Subs for lunch. Btw it was freezing outside.  We saw our missionaries, the ones that stood us up for dinner on the 19th, at Firehouse.  James went over and spoke with them.

  We were going to stop on the way home for some hot and sour soup but for some reason, we forgot.  It made me quite sad when I got home and was soupless.

We finished "Justice of Affliction" on the way home.  Book number seven is called "United We Stand." 

For FHE we listened to Elder Schmutz's conference talk, "God Shall Wipe Away All Tears."  I watched "A Bunny for Christmas" while working on my blog.  It is one of my favorites.  I think Florence Henderson should have gotten an Emmy for her performance!

Kim sent me some of the pictures she took of Ian, Sheri and their kids for their Christmas cards.  I love them!

When I say I love them I mean the pictures and

most especially the family!

Who needs a professional photographer

when they have Kim!

Sunday, November 27, 2016"

I love this scene!

Thanks honey!

Mormon 8:12-25

How can Moroni's words: "For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled," strengthen us as we labor in the Lord's cause?

We know that no matter what happens the Lord is in charge and His eternal purposes will be accomplished.

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

As the Savior concluded the Sermon on the Mount,

He emphasized the eternal truth that 

"only by doing the will of the Father is the saving grace

of the Son obtainable."

GC:     "The Doctrine of Christ" by Brian K. Ashton

Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught:

"Being born again, unlike our physical birth, 

is more a process than an event.

And engaging in that process is the central purpose

of mortality."

This was in my Primary lesson this week.

Moroni 7:45 says:

"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

Moroni had the pure love of Christ.  Explain the qualities of charity found in Moroni 7:45 using terms the children can understand.  

*Suffereth long: Is patient -  Moroni lived alone for over thirty-six years patiently keeping the records. (Mormon 8:5).

*Kind: Not cruel, or mean, loving - Moroni prayed for us, and he loved his brethren. (Ether 12:36, 38.)

*Envieth not: Is not jealous - Moroni saw our day and counseled us to not be envious or proud. (Mormon 8:35-37.)

*Not puffed up: Humble, not proud - Moroni was humble because of his weakness in writing. (Ether 12:23-25.)

*Seeketh not her own: Is unselfish - Moroni unselfishly worked and prayed for us that we would have a knowledge of Jesus Christ. (Mormon 9:36; Ether 12:41.)

*Not easily provoked: Slow to anger, quick to forgive - Moroni forgave his enemies and worked hard to write things that he hoped would be of worth to them. (Moroni 1:4.)

*Thinketh no evil: Is trusting, looks for the good - Moroni exhorted us to hold to good and touch not evil. (Moroni 10:30.)

*Rejoiceth in truth: Is honest - Moroni was honest. (Moroni 10:27.)

*Beareth all things: Is obedient - Because Moroni would not deny Jesus Christ, he had to wander alone for his safety. (Moroni 1:2-3.)

*Believeth all things: Is faithful - Moroni encouraged us to believe in Jesus Christ. (Mormon 9:21.) So great was Moroni's faith that he was able to see Christ face to face. (Ether 12:39.)

*Hopeth all things: Is optimistic, trusting - Moroni understood the importance of hope. (Ether 12:32.)

*Endureth all things: Is patient, persistent - Moroni was faithful to the end. (Moroni 10:34.)

I love Moroni, he is one of my heroes.

I sure do love these two!

Judy Hunter was back at church this week.  It was so good to see her.  She has been sick for over a month.  Now Sean Hunsaker is in the hospital.  He has very serious heart problems.  We as a ward were ask to pray for him.

The Grapp's spoke in sacrament meeting.  Cammy spoke about five minutes and Thomas spoke 40 minutes.  I could have listened to him another 40 minutes.  He spoke on how to be actively involved in the ward.  He gave personal examples of people in their previous wards who have been an example in their family's lives and then he shared a scripture to go with each example.  These are the scriptures he shared: Mosiah 18:9, D&C 121:37, 4 Nephi 1:12, D&C 18:15, Matthew 4:19, Mosiah 3:19, Mosiah 2:17, D&C 137:9, 3 Nephi 18:22, 2 Nephi 31:20, and Proverbs 31:10.

He talked about the temple and how important eternal families are and expressed love for his wife and children.  It was amazing!

I had three kids in my Primary class today.  Curtis, Zemira, and a visitor, Baden. I miss Braylin and Kacey so much!

 During the third hour we had our teacher's council meeting.  Brother Wilhelm ask us: How can we make teaching in the Church connect with teaching in the home?  We had a good discussion.

We got to spend a little time with Kim and Brian before they left for home:

Playing a game of Five Crowns.

Brian ended up winning.

They chose to get their picture taken in front of the

Christmas tree instead of the front door.

I got a text from Kim when they reached Heber:

It's snowing.

It didn't start snowing here until after 5 p.m.

Kim loves snow!

Brian does too!

There is snow in your beard Brian!

They forgot the tree stand for Stacy:

Uh oh.

Our marriage class was cancelled so James and I had the afternoon and evening to ourselves.  We had chili and hotdogs for dinner.  James did some indexing and I did some gospel study.

This was a tough batch to read.

We also read a chapter from Justice of Affliction and watched "Operation Christmas" before going to bed.  We are so boring and predictable.

This is Nemo.  I got it at last year's White Christmas

Party.  Alexis, Michael's friend, made it.