Monday, February 20, 2017

Apia, Samoa temple

2 Nephi 10:18-11:8
These verses show, quite simply, that we only have two sides to choose between: the Lord's side, or the Devil's.  Why then is it so difficult for us to make the right choices when we're presented with what the devil wants?
Mosiah 27:23-29:14
DC:29:12-22
How can we better prepare and not be afraid to endure to the end?
GC:  'The Great Plan of Redemption' by Linda S. Reeves

"Elder Jeffrey R. Holland declared:

'Hoever late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made..., or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.  It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines.'"

GC:  'To Whom Shall We Go?' by Elder M. Russell Ballard

"Where will you go to be taught about a Savior who is your best friend, who not only suffered for your sins but who also suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind so that His bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities, including, I believe, the infirmity of loss of faith?"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERI!

The many faces of Sheri:

At Home

At Work

At lunch with family

 On a school field trip

On a hike with friends

She has a lot of friends

more friends

On the phone

With Lola

 She loves her boys!

They love her too!

I know I kind of over did it with all the Sheri pictures but I seem to have a lot of  them.   

James chopped some wood today and then went to the post office to see if my mail order prescriptions had come.  We forgot that today was a holiday and the post office was closed.  

I did a lot of cleaning today and also fixed dinner.  I was on a roll!  We had toastadas with flour tortillas and leftover stew. 

After dinner we had FHE.  We listened to Bishop Davies conference talk: "The Blessings of Worship."

We read from our book, "Lady of the Lakes" and then watched a Hallmark movie, "Love Blossoms," starring Victor Webster, my favorite male Hallmark actor!

Fun Photos

 This picture has an eerie, surreal look.

I love the many faces of Arizona.

Lola and Ivy doing a little sunbathing.

Watch out world, here they come!

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Albequerque, New Mexico temple

2 Nephi 9:50-10:17

What are things I prioritize that won't "satisfy?"  How does 9:51 affect where I spend my time, money, and work?

Mosiah 26-27:22

DC: 29:1-11

What stood out to me in today's reading? I like verse one:

"Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I AM, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins;"

GC:  'Joy and Spiritual Survival' by President Russell M. Nelson

"And what was the joy that was set before Him?

Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us; the joy of paying for the sins of all who would repent; the joy of making t possible for you and me to return home - clean and worthy - to live with our Heavenly Parents and families.  If we focus on the joy that will come to us, or to those we love, what can we endure that presently seems overwhelming, painful, scary, unfair or simply impossible?"

GC:  'The Sacrament Can Help Us Become Holy' by Elder Peter F. Meurs

"What will I do this week to better prepare for the sacrament?

Could I contribute more to the reverence and revelation that can accompany the beginning of sacrament meeting?

What doctrine was taught in the sacrament hymn?

What did I hear and feel as I listened to the sacrament prayers?

What did I think about as the sacrament was passed?"

We saw a coyote on the way to church.  James was a little more excited than I was.  I would much rather seek elk or antelope or even a bunny.

Today was high council Sunday.  Brother Green from the high council was our main speaker.  He talked about the Book of Mormon and his own conversion to the gospel when he was 19 from Catholicism to Mormonism.  

My lesson in Primary was on the restoration of the Priesthood.  The kids, Jace, Colter, and Curtis were pretty good in class but not so good in singing and sharing time so none of them got to go to the treasure box.  

This is what I told them.

We had weird weather today.  It would snow for awhile and then the sun came out.  Once the sun was shining out the back window and it was snowing out the front.  Honestly, it changed that quick!

James went home teaching to the Wilhelm's and took a plate of cookies for them.  I stayed home and did my scripture study.  When he returned we read from "Lady of the Lakes".

According to James we don't need to buy any groceries this week.  He says we have plenty of food downstairs in our years supply.  We will see how this goes.  

We have decided not to watch television on Sundays and I have enjoyed our quiet Sunday evenings just studying the gospel or relaxing.  

Fun Photos

This brings back memories from my childhood.  I was a big Annette fan.  I watched her on The Mickey Mouse Club and then watched all the beach movies as a teenager.  I had this album and every other album she ever made.  Wow! Am I that old?

Ruby got an award at school last year and won a free dinner at BJ's.

We all went with her to celebrate.

Where are Trina and Lola you ask?

Playing peek-a-boo outside.

Rowan was our after dinner entertainment.

Grandpa loves it when he doesn't have to eat breakfast

alone!

In celebration of Dr. Seuss Day.

These two aren't quite as cute.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Accra, Ghana temple

2 Nephi 9:31-49

S.M.I.L.E. "To be spiritually-minded is life eternal.""

What does it mean to be spiritually minded?

Mosiah 24-25

DC 28:1-16

What are some things we can do to keep the Comforter with us so that we are not deceived?

Talk: "A Comforter, a Guide, a Testifier"

By: Margaret D. Nadauld

GC:  'Principles and Promises' by President Thomas S. Monson

"John later said that as he finished his prayer, he felt a great surge of strength.  He began climbing once again and fairly flew up the rope.  When he reached the deck, his breathing was normal and not the least bit labored.  The blessings of added health and stamina promised in the Word of Wisdom had been his.  He gave thanks to his Heavenly Father, and throughout the remainder of his life, for the answer to his desperate prayer for help."

GC:  'The Perfect Path to Happiness' by President Thomas S. Monson

"Essential to the plan is our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost.  It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission.  We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve.  We need to know God's laws and live them.  We need to receive His saving ordinances.  Only by so doing will we obtain true, eternal happiness."

We saw elk again this morning on our way to the 8am Snowflake temple session.  As is our habit, after our session we went to El Cupidos and then on to Walmart.  I also went to Safeway to get a drink for one of the sisters I visit teach.  It is a Kombucha drink and after reading the label I found out that Kombucha is fermented tea and may contain alcohol.  That will be the last time I buy that drink.

This sister is very health conscious and is also a vegan.  I wonder if she knows her "health drink" may have alcohol in it. She does not come to church and I felt a little guilty giving it to her but I did because I had already talked to her mother about it and I didn't want to make a big issue of it. 

No selfie today.  I had a cold sore on my lip.

One the way to Vernon we saw a small group of Arizona Rangers marching.  They are marching 14 miles to honor the original 12 Arizona Rangers in the Arizona territory.

It was a nice day for a hike

James got his truck out of the mud today but his tractor is still sitting half way up the hill.  He can't get it started.  He took his truck and picked up his home teaching companion and they went out to visit Brother Romyak, a new convert.  He lives way out near the Nicol's ranch.  He has no running water, heat, or electricity.  A real pioneer.  Eventually he wants to move a little closer to town.

In reading Mosiah 24 this afternoon as part of my gospel study I was amazed again how the burdens of Almas people were made light.  The Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.  

In D&C 28 Hiram Page has a false seer stone and is claiming to receive revelation for the Church.  Joseph Smith explains that only the prophet can receive revelation for the entire Church.  Hiram repents and becomes one of the eight witnesses of the gold plates.

We had the same dinner as last night, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese and a salad.  I made chocolate chip cookies for my class to replace the ones from last week that were a little hard.  I studied my lesson on the priesthood and read three chapters from "Lady of the Lakes" to James.

Fun Photos

Kacey, Tanner, and Jared got all dressed up and went to a Brazilian steak house for dinner.

The Wanlass's went to Harry Potter world and took some

pictures.  Addy, Kim, Sheri and I want to go!

Hogwarts

Last year running for Chandler High.

What happened?

Two of my favorites:

Ruthie and Trenda

I love this.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Boise, Idaho temple

2 Nephi 9:15-30

What is the difference between the knowledge in verse 28 compared to verse 29:  How do we insure our knowledge is godly?

Mosiah 22-23

DC 26-27:18 - Who is Raphael?  (It has not been revealed.)

What would your feelings be as you partook of the sacrament with the Savior being present?

GC:  'That He May Become Strong Also' by President Henry B. Eyring

"By the Prophets delegation every man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood can be endowed with authority and the privilege of speaking and acting in the name of the Almighty.

There is infinity to that power.  It is concerned with life and death, with family and the Church, with the great nature of God Himself and His eternal work."

I woke up at 3am thinking a black football player had tapped me on the shoulder.  He wanted my place in bed.  I got up and went to the bathroom.  I got back in bed since the black man had apparently left.  (Why do I have these things happen when other people have spiritual experiences with their dreams?)  James's machine was too loud so I went to sleep in my recliner until 4:45.

The first thing I read when I got up was chapter nine of "The Contrite Spirit."  Here are some notes I took: 

"We are endowed with Christlike capacities of godliness."

"What does it mean that Christ might seal us His?"

-The promise pertains to the temple.

-The temple is a house of love.

According to James, because I never count if there are more than 5-6, we had 110 elk in our yard this morning.

It snowed a little today but didn't really stick.  James got his truck stuck trying to take his trailer up on the hill.  We have got to get some cinders or granite to put on that road.  It will probably will cost over $1,000. 

Speaking of James's truck, here is a time he locked his keys inside and was trying to pry open the door.

 This was at Cathi and Terry's

Michael had a track meet in Flagstaff tonight.  His family went to support him and on they way home they stopped at a diner for biscuits and gravy.  Stacy said they were delicious.  I wonder if they were as good as James's.

James and I read from our book and watched an Amish movie called "Uncommon Grace."  I admire most of the Amish people but sometimes they are just a little too strict and clannish.

 Historical fiction

Fun Photos:

Two years ago.

About 50 years ago

The Case clan

Dallin singing on the rim.

James's home teaching companion.

He is 70 years old now.

My sweetheart.