Saturday, June 3rd, 2017

Perth, Australia

106th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 May 2001 by

Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 10:17-32

* 1. Become angry and defensive. 2. Doubt the importance of the counsel. 3. Criticize the person who gave the counsel. 4 Question or debate the counsel. 5. Humbly listen and obey.

What are some reasons people might respond to correction in these ways?

* How did the people of Ammonihah respond to Alma and Amulek? (See Alma 9:2-3; Alma 9:4-5; Alma 10:13, 16-17; Alma 10:24; 28-30.

* Why are these responses spiritually dangerous?

DC 84:40-53

33-44, Men gain eternal life through the oath and covenant of the priesthood; 45-53, The Spirit of Christ enlightens men, and the world lies in sin;

What spirit "enlighteneth" every man/woman?

*  The Spirit of God which is given to every man/woman.  We sometimes call it our conscience.
General Conference

Certain Women

Linda K. Burton

"When her son was needed to volunteer for the Mormon Battalion, at first Drusilla resisted and wrestled in prayer with Heavenly Father until, "it was as though a voice said to her, 'Do you not want the highest glory?' She answered naturally, 'Yes,' and the voice continued, 'How do you think to gain it save by making the greatest sacrifices?'" We learn from this certain woman that covenant-keeping discipleship requires our willingness to sacrifice."

James hurt his back working outside.  He came in and took a couple of aspirin and now he is lying on the floor.  I feel so bad for him.  There is so much he wants to do around here and it is difficult when you are only one person and you are working with pain and injury.

I read an article in the Ensign this morning while I was ironing James's white shirt for tomorrow.  The title: "Face Uncertainty with Faith."  It was directed at the young adults.  I wish my grandsons would read it.  There were several suggestions: 1.) Educate your desires. 2.) Align your desires with His. 3.) Move forward with faith. 3.) Glory in the mystery. 4.) Enhance the opportunity to grow.  

Alex started a discussion on Facebook about the children of Israel being fed "rain bread" and wandering in the wilderness for forty years and how the rain bread on a daily basis was impossible. We are fasting to know how to help him and our other grandchildren who are struggling.

We started our fast after lunch which was tuna sandwiches with tomato soup.  James and I then watched a Brooke Shields Hallmark movies and mysteries series which turned out to be pretty good considering neither one of us like Brooke Shields very well.

James worked on his trailer and I worked on my blog and my Primary lesson.  When the sun went down James came in to work on his Sunday School lesson.

Jared was supposed to have his kids this weekend but the two older ones would not get in the car when he went to pick them up.  It might have something to do with the fact that Tricia and Jeremy got a boat and they promised Emmy for her birthday on Sunday that they would take the boat to the lake.  It looks like Jared, Kacey, and Molly had a good time anyway.  

Jared says that Molly adores Kacey.

I think it is pretty evident that she likes her!

Kacey's last day of school 

This was taken last weekend. James and Tanner

fishing at Canyon Lake in Texas.

Their line got snagged so they had to swim out

to untangle it.

Playing the game Speak Out.

I can't decide who looks the best.

Celebrating National Donut Day!

Summer

She is so cute!

I am amazed at how high she is!

Molly loves to climb at the park.

Oh yes!

Her hair is getting so long!

Don't do it Kacey!

Six Flags a few weeks ago.

Tanner has the world on his shoulders, or should

I say head.

Scripture study

Sunset between El Paso and San Antonio.

Trina's weekend in Colorado Springs hiking

Pikes Peak:

I am not sure they were expecting snow!

While the moms were away the kids got to go see

one of the favorite characters from Studio C.

Friday, June 2nd, 2017

Payson, Utah

146th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 June 2015 by

Henry B. Eyring

Alma 10:1-16

*What do you think Amulek meant when he said "I would not hear" and "I would not know?"

*In what ways does the Lord call to us? (Promptings from the Holy Ghost, instructions from parents and Church leaders, and Church callings.)

*How do you think Amulek's decision to obey made a difference in his life?

*Gospel Truth:

When we hear and obey the Lord's call, blessings come to us and to others.

DC 84:29-39

33-44, Men gain eternal life through the oath and covenant of the priesthood; 

Why are the oaths and covenants of the priesthood so important?

*If we keep the covenant, we shall receive all the Father hath.  All those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually to sware with an oath is binding and sacred.

General Conference

The Beauty of Holiness

Carol F. McConke

"Holiness is in the striving and the struggle to keep the commandments and to honor the covenants we have made with God.  Holiness is making the choices that will keep the Holy Ghost as our guide.  Holiness is setting aside our natural tendencies and becoming "a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord." Every moment of our lives must be holiness to the Lord."

I read this today in the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual under Epnrichment H (H-8), The Church Must Stand Independent.

This quote is by Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

"We must maintain our own health, sow our own gardens store our own food, educate and train ourselves to handle the daily affairs of life.  No one else can work out our salvation for us, either temporally or spiritually."

I listened to "Christ and the New Covenant", chapter 9, The Father and the Son where we learn from Christ we can use discipline to overcome temptation. The will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

I also read from The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother and Primary lesson #20 about Joseph Smith translating the Bible and other Scriptures.  I think the kids will like to hear about the papyrus with the history of Abraham that were found with some ancient Egyptian mummies.  Also studied from "Teaching in the Savior's Way" on teaching the doctrine. 

 North rim of the Grand Canyon

James went to town this morning to get some supplies for the fence he is building.  He stopped at Firehouse Subs and brought me back a sub.  Around 2:45 we left for the Snowflake temple.  Thank goodness the 4 o'clock session was not nearly as busy as it was last week.  

Where are my sunglasses?

When we got back from the temple we watched the latest episode of "The Good Witch" and then went to bed.

Fun Photos:

I don't know everyone but those I

know in this family, I love!

I love these two!

Huntleigh, Braylin, and Taylor too!

Someone from our ward posted this

on Facebook.  We went by and saw

these young men working.

We are very grateful!

Summer fun 2016

Love this face!

Dallin's birthday 2016

Thursday, June 1st, 2017

Paris, France

156th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 May 2017 by

Henry B. Eyring

Alma 9:19-34

*According to Alma 9:19-23, what gifts and blessings had the Nephites, (including the people of Ammonihah), experienced because they were the Lord's covenant people?

*What are some ways we can stay true to the light and knowledge we have received?

DC 84:17-28

18-25, The greater priesthood holds the key of the knowledge of God; 26-32, The lesser priesthood holds the key of the ministering of angels and of the preparatory gospel;

What authority did John the Baptist receive from the angel?

*"To overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power." (verse 28).  John the Baptist was a preparer and he held the Aaronic priesthood or the preparatory priesthood.

General Conference

Trust in the Lord and Lean Not

Bonnie H. Cordon

"When we physically lean toward one side or another, we move off

center, we are out of balance, and we tip.

When we spiritually lean to our own understanding we lean away from our Savior.  If we lean, we are not centered; we are not balanced; we are not focused on Christ."

Happy Anniversary to us!
49 years and counting!

James placed a card on my study desk at Cathi and Terry's this morning.  It was the first thing I read.  I am so grateful to him.  He is my best friend, my priesthood leader, and the love of my life.  I wish everyone could be as happy as we are!

To celebrate we went to Biscuits for breakfast.  I got the same thing I got yesterday, Joe's Scramble, only this time I ate every bite.  James got the corned beef, potatoes, hashbrowns, and eggs. 

When we returned to Cathi's James put on his work clothes.  He is patching a section of drywall in Cathi and Terry's garage.  We he finishes he keeps in, takes a shower, and changes his clothes.  It is time for me to stop my gospel study and get ready to go home to Vernon.  I am sad we were not able to get our new windshield because we never heard back from our insurance company, National General.  On the way out of town we stopped at the Chandler Costco so James could get some batteries for his hearing aid.  We also got steaks, cough drops, and a few other items of groceries.  We ended up spending around $100.  Away we go!  We are still reading from "The Shack". Of course we went through Globe.

  

Our first stop on the way home was at the Burger King in Show Low for a Whopper Jr.  Next stop was the Vernon post office.  We got the book, "Joseph Smith, a Rough Stone Rolling," and two checks from Diana R.  I also got a thank you card from Rachel and a fidget spinner.  It is 65 degrees, overcast, and we get a little rain.  Perfect weather!  As I am unloading my suitcases and putting everything away a feeling of gratitude comes over me for my beautiful home and where we live.  We are truly blessed!

This evening we watch an old Taylor Cole movie on Hallmark.  James cooks steaks and I make some lemon pepper asparagus.  The perfect dinner.  These steaks are divine!

I finished reading "Dad's Who Stay and Fight" and did some other studying.  As we are sitting outside on our bedroom porch I head cows mooing.  We have not seen any cows since the 2014 fire.  James takes off on the Razr to check it out and says he saw 215 cows.  Oh dear, and this before we get our fence up.

I love James because:

He is an awesome grandpa!

He can cook!

He loves to study the gospel.

He is a hard worker.

This was a service project he did for 

Kim and Brian.

He likes to take me out to eat.

El Cupido's after the Snowflake temple

This is a chinese restaurant in Phoenix

that Kim recommended.  We took Alex, Michael,

and Kim here last year as part of our 

scripture study, lunch program.

He looks handsome in his suit 

and purple tie.

He is a wonderful father.

He helps me with projects for my 

Primary class.

Here he is making paper airplanes.

He takes me to the temple!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

I love you!

Wednesday, May 31st, 2017

Papeete, Tahiti
25th operating temple 
Dedicated 27-29 October 1983 by
Gordon B. Hinckley
Rededicated: 12 November 2006 by
L. Tom Perry
(The angel Moroni is doing a balancing act)

Alma 9:7-18

*Why do you think the Lord had higher expectations for the people of Ammonihah?

*Why is it fair for the Lord to have higher expectations for those who have received the knowledge and blessings of the gospel?

DC 84:1-16

1-5, The New Jerusalem and the temple will be built in Missouri;

6-17, The line of priesthood from Moses to Adam is given;

Why is a priesthood line different from an ancestral line?

*A Priesthood line is passed down by one having authority.  An ancestral line is one's biological family.

General Conference

Foundations of Faith

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class-expert in anything."

The Gospel Doctrine Sunday School lesson this week is "Looking Forth for the Great Day of the Lord to Come."

In my ebook, "Twelve Steps Closer to Christ" I found these quotes:

"Consider prayer the central labor of your life and hold it in the center of your heart."

"To not be left alone Jesus sought a place to be alone, to pray."

"To be closer to Christ requires that we move in His direction."

I also listened to Jeffrey R. Holland read from "Christ and the New Covenant. Elder Holland says that one of the major messages of the Book of Mormon is, "Look to Christ and Live!"
 Thanks Jared, I am really enjoying my mother's day gift!

Stacy picked me up at 10:30 this morning to go to brunch at a cafe by the Fry's on the corner of Germann and Alma School called Biscuits.  I had the Joe's scramble with two biscuits and homemade strawberry jam.  It is my new favorite breakfast.  The scramble has eggs, potato chunks, bacon, spinach, tomato and is topped with parmesean cheese.  The biscuits were so moist and the strawberry jam takes like the fresh strawberry freezer jam I used to make.  It was so delicious!  Thank you Stacy. I will definitely be back!

After brunch we did a little shopping at Fry's and then went to Hancock to pick up Evan and Joshua from their last day of school.  They seemed a little sad about leaving school because they say they will miss their friends. I told them Trina and her kids were coming by later to go to Bahama Bucks and that I would pick both of them up to go with us.  If you made it to grandpa's table you were at the cool table:

A few blue lips before we left.

After Bahama Bucks took all of our money we went back to Cathi's to visit her pets and hang out in her backyard.

Of course Indy wanted his belly scratched.

Scooter was a big attraction for these three.

 At one point he was trying to eat Rowan's

blue shoes.

Cathi suggested they feed him his

favorite food, a hibiscus flower.

He swallowed it whole.

You are never too old to swing.

Later, on the way back from taking Joshua home we stopped at Sonic so I could get a corndog.  I mentioned to James that what I really wanted was some cottage cheese with tomato.  Later he went to work on his trailer and came back with cottage cheese, tomato, avocado, and cranberry celebration.  How very thoughtful of him!

I know it is true love because before he went to bed he gave me a pedicure.

Fun Photos:

On Monday Rebecca and Brent's daughter

Christina had her third baby, a little girl

they named Winter.  Here she is being held by

her three year old sister Eden.

Ander isn't quite as confident as Eden.

Congratulations!

This is Johnny.  He loves to dress

up for church.  His mom loves

his mullet, his dad hates it.

Either way, he is very handsome!

I want James to make us one of these.

He said he would, if he has time.  That's the disclaimer.