Thursday, April 6, 2017

Guayaquil, Ecuador
58th operating temple

Mosiah 2:29-41

King Benjamin exhorts his people to be obedient to God.

1. What warnings did King Benjamin give his people? (see verses 32-33, 36-38.)

2. How might we know if we are beginning to follow the wrong spirit?  Why is it important to recognize this early?

* Elder David A. Bednar: "We should endeavor to discern when we withdraw ourselves from the Spirit of the Lord.  If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us.  Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us."

3. According to verse 38 what consequences come to those who die in their sins?

4. What did King Benjamin want his people to consider and remember? (verses 40-41.)

Gospel truth

If we keep the commandments, we will be blessed temporally and spiritually.

Helaman 2

Helaman, the son of Helaman, becomes chief judge - Gadianton leads the band of Kishkumen - Helaman's servant slays Kishkumen, and the Gadianton band flees into the wilderness. About 50-49 B.C.

DC 52:12-32

Those enlightened by the Spirit bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom; Various elders are appointed to go forth preaching the gospel while traveling to Missouri for the conference.

General Conference

His Daily Guiding Hand

M. Joseph Brough

"Heavenly Father knows what you and I need better than anyone else.  One of Heavenly Father's most beloved tools in guiding His children is righteous grandparents."

Today is the Savior's birthday and the date the Church was organized in 1830.  

I love this picture of the 1st Presidency:

and the Savior

The Mesa Easter Pageant is going on right now and one of my friends posted this picture on Facebook:

I wanted to go to the temple this morning but James was too busy with work so we rescheduled until tomorrow morning before my infusion.  I stayed at Cathi's this morning studying and then a little before one James came back and we took my car to Sears to have the oil changed.  While they were working on my car we went to Olive Garden for lunch.  After lunch I dropped my glasses off at Chandler Eyecare.  Sheri put in new lenses for me and a new nose piece.  She also gave me a new glasses case.  Great service!

Rainbow Bridge

I worked on my blog while James went out to work on Sal's sewer line.  He had another mishap, and still now connection.

This evening for dinner we had a date with Ben at Eklectic Pie.  We told him we would take him out once a month for reading his scriptures.  Max and Evan came too because they had also read their scriptures.  We had a great time and I am so sad that I did not take any pictures.  We all loved the pizza because the crust is ultra thin.  We talked about the scriptures.  Ben has a great spirit about him and has a testimony of the scriptures.  It was a fun evening.

Fun Photos:

Holly's last day, surrounded by the people

who love her the most.

Joshua giving Max the stink eye,

while Evan enjoys a soda.

Enjoying smores at Darrel and Trina's.

Alex and Michael's seminary graduation.

I love this picture of Colin with

the Easter Bunny.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Guatemala City, Guatemala

32nd operating temple

Mosiah 2:10-28

* King Benjamin teaches about the importance of serving God and each other and about our eternal indebtedness to God.

* Mosiah 2:10-15

Can you find evidences of King Benjamin's concern about serving the people and not about his own status or recognition?

* President Howard W. Hunter:

" Don't be overly concerned with status....It is important to be appreciated.  But our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition; on service, not status."

* Mosiah 2:16-17

What did King Benjamin want his people to learn?

* Mosiah 2:18-24

Why would King Benjamin refer to himself and his people as unprofitable servants?

* What blessings have you received for which you feel indebted to God?

* Why is it important to realize that we are "eternally indebted" to God?

Alma 63-Helaman 1

Alma 63 

Shiblon and later Helaman take possession of the sacred records - Many Nephites travel to the land northward - Hagoth builds ships, which sail forth in the west sea - Moronihah defeats the Lamanites in battle. About 56-52 B.C.

Helaman 1 

Pahoran the second becomes chief judge and is murdered by Kishkumen - Pacumeni fells the judgment seat - Coriantumr leads the Lamanite armies, takes Zarahemla, and slays Pacumeni - Moronihah defeats the Lamanites and retakes Zarahemla, and Coriantumr s slain. 

DC 52:1-11

The next conference is designated to be held in Missouri; Appointments of certain elders to travel together are made; The elders are to teach what the apostles and prophets have written;

* What standard has the Lord set for how missionaries are supposed to teach?

- Verse 9.  What the prophets and apostles have written and what is taught the by the Comforter through the prayer of faith.

General Conference

Gathering the Family of God

President Henry B. Eyring

"God the Father wants His children home again, in families and in glory."

In preparation for the last days I learned the following:

"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear" DC 38:30

"Those who are not purified shall not abide that day" DC 38:8

Parables of Preparation are found in Matthew 25.

There are three ways to prepare: 1.) Spiritual Power 2.) Stewardships 3.) Christian service.

The First Presidency

President Monson and his two counselors,

President Eyring and President Uchtdorf

It is a monumental day!  I am actually caught up on my blog.  I would do a little happy dance but I am afraid I might hurt myself.

After I finished blogging I started to get ready for my trip to the valley.  I ironed two blouses, and listened to a couple of conference talks, I ran off my strengthening marriage talk and Primary lesson, showered, packed, and loaded everything into the car. It is such a beautiful day here, around 65 degrees with a slight breeze.  It was around 1:30 or so when I left.  My first stop was at the Vernon post office.  Again my box was packed full.

It's a good thing I brought my doggie bag.

On to Show Low where I stopped for gas at the Splash and Dash.  I was going to get my car washed but the line was too long.  I stopped at Arby's before leaving Show Low for a sandwich and a drink.  The regular Arby's was too big, I should have ordered a junior, and my drink was flat.  I donated a $1 to some charity.  My bills was over $7.  I should have just made a donation and forgotten about the food.  

The trip to Salt River Canyon was pretty uneventful.  There was no traffic so it didn't take me long to get to Globe.  To keep myself awake I listened to music and at butterscotch baking chips.  In Globe I stopped at McDonald's for an ice cream cone and another drink.  By the way, did you know McDonald's now has Grand Big Mac's, regular Big Mac's, and junior Big Mac's.  A Big Mac for everyone, except me that is.  I passed up Burger House because I figured James bought them on Monday.  Outside of Miami the traffic picks up and my speed slows down.  They are still working on the road so my speed doesn't pick up until I get to Gonzales Pass.

I stopped at Darrel and Trina's on the way in to town to bring Addy her boots that she left at the cabin.  Darrel and the girls were home. Trina was at work and Rowan was at ball practice.  When I ask to use the bathroom Lola said to me: "I want to come to, I want to see your bum."  I told her that was not appropriate, and besides I didn't think she would like my bum anyway.  She is hilarious!

I did some shopping at Deseret Book and stopped at Sam's Club to wash my car.  This is what I bought at Deseret Book:

The Ensign is for my friend Charlotte,

Covenant Hearts is a marriage book by Bruce C. Hafen,

the old guy carrying the pack on his back is Sheri Dew's new book, "Worth the Wrestle", it's based on a talk of her's that she gave at BYU-Idaho that I loved.  The Julie Klassen book is a proper romance for James and I to read, and the two triple combinations are for less active kids in my Primary class.  We are going to visit them as a class, take them cookies and give them the scriptures as we invite them to come to Primary.

I find James quite stressed when I arrive at Cathi and Terry's.  He was supposed to get paid for a job today but found out that the person he emailed the billing to never received it.  I helped him and we finally found the document but we couldn't mail it.  We finally gave up and went to Winco to get some dinner.  Early in the morning James figured how to send it off.

Fun Photos:

Baby Lola a couple of years ago

My friend Julie teaching the girls at girl's camp

about tree rings.  Fascinating stuff.  You can tell how much 

moisture in a year by the tree ring.

Mario and Peter

Paul's dad Gilbert with his boys

I love this picture 

Brian at the place he loves the most

Dallin and friends at the cabin

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Guadalajara, Mexico

105th operating temple

I was surprised when I opened the blinds early this morning to find two inches of snow on the ground.

I am tempted to use this for my

Christmas cards.

Mosiah 2:1-9

* Families gather and prepare to receive King Benamin's words.

* The people prepared to receive King Benjamin's words by offering sacrifices associated with the law of Moses.  In making these sacrifices, the people expressed gratitude to God and dedicated themselves to Him. (What kind of sacrifices are we ask to make today?  How did you prepare to receive the messages given at General Conference?)

* According to the last part of Mosiah 2:9, what did King Benjamin believe would happen if the people opened their ears and their hearts to his message?

* What do you think it means to open our ears and hearts to those who are called to teach?

Alma 62;15-52

The king-men who refuse to defend their country are put to death - Pahoran and Moroni retake Nephihah - Many Lamanites join the people of Ammon - Teancum slays Ammoron and is in turn slain - The Lamanites are driven from the land, and peace is established - Helaman returns to the ministry and builds up the Church. 

DC 51:7-20

The Saints are to deal honestly and receive alike; They are to have a bishop's storehouse and to organize properties according to the Lord's law; Ohio is to be a temporary gathering place.

* Why did the Lord counsel the saints to act upon the land "as for years?"

- The Lord wanted the Saints to live the gospel and share it in Ohio as though they were to be there a long time.

General Conference

"My Peace I Leave With You"

President Henry B. Eyring

"The Lord promised peace to His disciples as He was about to leave them.  He has made the same promise to us."

Today I studied the Relief Society visiting teaching message, on The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.  Sister Burton asks the sisters to memorize the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood in DC 84: 33-44.  I thought it was an interesting request, but I will do it.

I am reading about the Last Days in the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual in the enrichment section.  Today I read: the Lord Will Preserve His People.  I found this statement to be interesting:

"It is part of the Lord's testing of his children in mortality to allow them to remain in the midst of difficulty to see if they will be true to him in times both of prosperity and of distress."

Can you see the Cougar?

I spent three hours working on my strengthening marriage talk.  I got it all written using the marriage manual as the basis for my text. Now I need to run it off and read it and revise it.  

I found out today that President Monson was

hospitalized earlier this week.  We all need to

pray for him.

This afternoon I made snickerdoodles from a mix I had to eat with the rest of the strawberries in the refrigerator.  They were delicious!

I should have never made them.  I ate 3 total today and put the rest in the refrigerator.  

By late afternoon all the snow was melted.  Outside my window looked like this:

It's hard to believe that snow can disappear so quickly.

No Christmas card here.

The snow disappeared but as an added bonus some elk crossed in the back:

There were seven for them.

This picture is blurry because I magnified it.

This guy was the leader and he was a little jittery.

I think our bunny was glad that the snow melted.

James is still trying to find that missing sewer line in Chandler.

At least he got his tractor out of this most precarious predicament.

What a mess!

I came across the idea on Facebook.  This little house is called a granny pod:

Do any of my kids have a backyard big enough for

one of these?

Monday, April 3, 2017

Gilbert, Arizona
142nd operating temple

As President Eyring mentioned in his conference talk on gathering the family of God, today is the 181st anniversary of Elijah's visit to the Kirtland temple to restore the priesthood sealing power to the earth.  How grateful I am for the glorious event and for the opportunity to do temple work for my family.

Mosiah 1:1-18

* King Benjamin teaches his sons the importance of the scriptures.

* What would your life be like if you never had the scriptures?

* What truths would be the most difficult for you to live without?

* When has scripture study helped you keep the commandments?

Alma 61-62:14

61 Pahoran tells Moroni of the insurrection and rebellion against the government - The king-men take Zarahemla and are in league with the Lamanites - Pahoran asks for military aid against the rebels. About 62 B.C.

62 Moroni marches to the aid of Pahoran in the land of Gideon

DC 50:40-51:6

Christ is the Good Shepherd and the Stone of Israel.

Edward Partridge is appointed to regulate stewardships and properties;

* In verses 40-42...replace your name when you read "little children." Read it out loud.  How do these verses help you understand the love our Savior has for each one of us?

General Conference

Certain Women

Linda K. Burton

"Certain women are disciples centered in the Savior, Jesus Christ

and have hope through the promise of His atoning sacrifice."

Today I also studied the Gospel Doctrine Sunday School lesson, "The Law of Consecration."  It goes along with some of the things I am reading in "The Contrite Spirit" about consecration.  I am beginning to understand that all we have, even our very lives, belong to the Lord.

James is leaving today.  He has a doctor's appointment at 4:15 in Show Low and will go on to the valley from his appointment.  Because he was leaving I read several chapters from our book, "A Fine Gentlemen: at his request.  I also fixed enchiladas for lunch using the leftover chili from our dinner Saturday night.  At first James thought it sounded a little weird, but they were delicious and he loved them. We took a nap together.  Of course we read scriptures and said our prayers together.  He left around 3:30 for his appointment with Dr. LeSeuer.  After waiting an hour there and never being called back, he left for the valley, arriving safely.  I am always grateful and thank Heavenly Father for his safe arrival. 

Saguaro National Park

Here at home I blogged, worked on my talk about strengthening marriage, and watched "Dancing with the Stars."

North Carolin won.

I wonder if there were any Strickland's on the team.

Fun Photos:

Ruby's birthday date last June.

Addy came with us and got a 

Harry Potter bobblehead.

 Isn't he cute?

Back at the condo

I can't for the life of me remember what she named

these bears.

Fun in the water.

Those are not my feet, by the way.

Addy is so sweet with Ruby.

We had dinner at the mall, but they needed some

refreshments after swimming.

I hope Ruby doesn't get a headrush.

I guess she didn't.