Thursday, January 18th, 2018

Provo, Utah

15th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Feb 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Jesus Christ Atonement through

Leviticus 4:31

And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:40-14:8

*As I strive to follow the Lord, how have I seen Him take away my stumbling blocks?

*Why is it so important to hold fast to the plain and precious truths of the gospel?

Old Testament

Genesis 41-45

41 Pharaoh dreams of the cattle and the ears of grain-Joseph interprets the dreams as seven years of plenty and seven of famine-He proposes a grain storage program-Pharaoh makes him ruler of all Egypt-Joseph marries Asenath-He gathers grain as the sand upon the seashore-Asenath bears Manasseh and Ephraim-Joseph sells grain to Egyptians and others during the famine.

42 Jacob sends his sons to buy grain in Egypt-They bow before Joseph-He makes harsh accusations against them, imprisons Simeon, and sends them back for Benjamin.

43 Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin to Egypt-Joseph's brothers show respect to him-They all eat and drink together.

44-Joseph arranges to stop the return of his brothers to Canaan-Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin for their father's sake.

45 Joseph makes himself known to his brothers-They rejoice together-Pharaoh invites Jacob and his family to dwell in Egypt and eat the fat of the land.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Job 19:25-26

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

General Conference

The Lord Leads His Church

President Henry B. Eyring

"The Lord sees His servants perfectly. He sees their potential and their future. And He knows how their very nature can be changed. He also knows how they can be changed by their experiences with the people they will lead."

President Uchtdorf posted on Facebook today that he appreciated everyone's concern for him but that he loved being back in the Quorum of the 12 and he loves and supports the new First Presidency.

James is really in to our book, "Journey's End and asks me to read from it several times a day. 

I read this from "Rescuing Wayward Children:" 

"Personal repentance and sanctification are essential tools in asking for power from heaven in order to reclaim others." p. 91.

I have no more pain in my knee! I am not doing my steps until after my infusion. James has been walking between 15-20,000 steps everyday. I got over 8,000 steps today without even trying. I cleaned and polished the wood floors and moved furniture around again for the fireside. 

Our elder's quorum president, Steve Allen, fell off a house today and was air-evacuated to Phoenix. He was getting ready to go to a wrestling tournament with his son Jackson.

We watched the new Emma Fielding mystery movie on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries tonight.

I wonder if this is one of his grandchildren.

 I love the smell of bacon!

I cleaned off the games shelf before the fireside.

James got right up from his nap and fixed 

this bench for me today.

Jared Ammon was such a sweet little boy.

Very smart and competitive.

I have several photos of James playing chess

with various grandchildren. The last one was

with Lola.

Wednesday, January 17th, 2018

Ogden, Utah

14th operating temple

Dedicated: 18-20 Jan 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Jesus Christ Atonement through

3rd Article of Faith

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:28-39

*What is the #1 reason I'm thankful for the scriptures?

They help me feel the Spirit, they help strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ, and they teach me the commandments of God.

*Why do the Gentiles in Nephi's dream stumble? When were the plain and precious things recovered? 

Some were recovered in the Book of Mormon, and also the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible.

Old Testament

Genesis 39-40

39 Joseph, prospered by the Lord, becomes ruler of Potiphars house - He resists the advances of Potiphar's wife, is falsely accused, and is cast into prison - The keeper of the prison commits the prisons' affairs into Joseph's hands.

40 Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker - The butler fails to tell Pharaoh about Joseph.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

General Conference

Bearers of Heavenly Light

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The Lord has promised, 'If you eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light and there shall be do darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things."  This is the ultimate remedy for spiritual sickness. Darkness vanishes in the presence of light."

Happy 16th Birthday Anna!

James and I are reading the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament together. I get up at 5 and he doesn't usually get up until after 7 so I study other things until he gets up.

This morning in looking for more photos for Stacy, I found a couple of boxes of old photos upstairs. I sent a couple to her but decided I needed to go through them and organize them before our anniversary on June 1st. This is a big year for us. We both turn 70 and we celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

I started typing family memories and Alex's made me cry. He wrote an entire page and it's not too difficult to see how much he loves and respects his grandpa James. 

I rearranged furniture for Sundays fireside today. The bishop expects around 30 people. 

James had a high priest group presidency meeting this evening.
I worked on my blog and talked to my friend Jean who is going in for surgery next week. We are going to lunch next Monday.

When James got home we watched an episode of "Heartland."

Sounds like something I would do.

Except Sheri was a little "rough" with Jared.

Snow while we are gone this weekend!

Pete the Crow.

Not sure what the brown spot is.

James and I on a double date with my cousin Rita and her

date Terry Branson.

Me with my helmet head hair and James.

Just clownin' around.

James, Dave Dudding, Jeff Szoke, Harold.

Working on Mrs. Weech's house.

Christmas caroling with Dave and Sandy's kids.

Looks like Stacy got to be Mary this year.

I love Jared's face in this one.

James and Kevin.

Kim and Charlotte working for James.

Fun in Pinedale

Pinedale cabin before it burned.

Tuesday, January 16th, 2018

Oakland, California

13th operating temple

Dedicated: 17-19 Nov 1964

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Atonement through

Moses 6:54

Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.

Book of Mormon

1Nephi 13:10-37

*Has there been a time in my life when I "prepared" in one way or another because I had the Spirit with me?

*In Nephi's dream he sees that the Gentiles prosper as they heed the Spirit of the Lord. How have you seen this to be true in your own life?

Old Testament

Genesis 37-38

37 Jacob loves and favors Joseph, who is hated by his brothers - Joseph dreams that his parents and brothers make obeisance to him - His brothers sell him into Egypt.

38 Judah has three sons by a Canaanite woman - Er and Onan are slain by the Lord - Tamar, disguised as a harlot, bears twins by Judah.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

General Conference

Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family

Elder Richard J. Maynes

"The first step in our quest to earn the Lord's trust is to place our trust in Him. The prophet Nephi exemplified this type of commitment when he prayed:'O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh.'

Nephi was fully committed to doing the Lord's will. In addition to saying he would 'do the things which the Lord hath commanded,' Nephi was unwavering in his commitment to accomplishing his assignments, as illustrated in this statement: 'As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commmanded us. Because Nephi first trusted in God, God put great trust in Nephi. The Lord blessed him with great outpourings of the Spirit that blessed his life, the lives of his family, and the lives of his people. Because Nephi presided in love and righteousness and provided for and protected his family and people, he records, 'We lived after the manner of happiness.'"

I was up at 3 a.m. with a knee that hurt so badly that I couldn't sleep. I went to get my phone where I charge it in the bathroom and it was still at 10% because my charger no longer works. I borrowed James's charger because his phone was charged and 'set up camp' on the recliner. James got me out the heating pad last night but I didn't think I would need it. I changed my mind this morning. 

Oh, by the way, I quit my low-carb diet. For breakfast this morning I had peanut butter toast and a shake so I could take 3 tramadol and 2 aspirin. I tried to go back to sleep but I couldn't, so I finished watching the Hallmark movie, "Reading, Writing, Romance." I am pretty miserable. I spent most of the morning on the recliner. 

At one o'clock this afternoon Bishop Miller and James visited Sister Dye. When bishop saw the conditions under which she lives, his heart softened. He told James to bring her some wood, which he did later in the day.

We made a trip to town. When I got to Walmart I could actually bend my knee and walk normally. It's probably because of the six Methotrexate tablets I took yesterday. This is the first time I have been able to walk normally since last Thursday.

On the way home we stopped at Taco Bell. I was anxious to try their crunchwrap but it was meh...not enough filling. I threw most of it away and just ate my taco. James also got me some hot and sour soup at the Chinese buffet. Yum!

James got a new fan for downstairs to replace the one he took up and installed in the family room which replaced the one with burnt out light fixtures.

I got home and put the stuff away that I bought at Walmart and tried out my new phone charger. It is nice to have one that actually works!

I took a nap while James returned photo albums we had out, he also made a meal for me, and earlier today he made the bed. 

James has had some interesting experiences lately. Many times he can't find something he needs. The other day he couldn't find his keys to his truck. He looked several places and didn't find them so he knelt down to pray. As he was praying he saw in his mind his keys sitting on the bookshelf in the bedroom. Sure enough, that's where they were. 

Another time he couldn't find a tool he needed. After looking he said a prayer and saw the tool up on the hill where he keeps his equipment. It was sitting on a piece of heavy equipment. 

I sent the last of the photos, or at least I thought, to Stacy. 

No more steps for me until after my next infusion on February 2nd.

Anna got her birthday card and thanked me.

James and I watched the press conference where the new First Presidency was announced. It was great.

One of my favorite things President Nelson said:

"When I get up in the morning I can't wait to see what adventures the day hold." President Nelson still skis with his grandchildren at 93 years old!

President Oaks said: "I've seen President Nelson take the stairs instead of the elevator and I've had a difficult time keeping up with him."

President Eyring: "The best is yet to come."

I sustain President Russell M. Nelson

I have met his wife Wendy, and I love her!

First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve(or the ten

right now).

He relates to people of all ages and nationalities.

James and Joshua watching the hummingbirds.

Stacy and James

Senior picture

Wounded by Terry

Monday, January 15th, 2018

London, England

12th operating temple

Dedicated: 7-9 Sept 1958

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ Atonement through

Moses 5:7
And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 12:11-13:9
*Why is it important to know that Satan organizes his forces to lead us away from God and His laws?
*How can we be made white by the blood of the Lamb?
Old Testament
Genesis 35-36
35 God sends Jacob to Bethel, where he builds an altar and the Lord appears to him - God renews the promise that Jacob will be a great nation and that his name will be Israel - Jacob sets up an altar and pours a drink offering - Rachel bears Benjamin, dies in childbirth, and is buried near Bethlehem - Reuben sins with Bilhah - Isaac dies and is buried by Jacob and Esau.
36 The descendants of Esau, who is Edom, are listed.
Old Testament Scripture Mastery
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
General Conference

The Priesthood and the Savior's Atoning Power

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"Severe consequences result from breaking priesthood covenants and altogether turning from them. Being casual or apathetic in a priesthood calling is like introducing material fatigue into a rocket component. It jeopardizes the priesthood covenant because it can lead to mission failure. Disobedience to God's commandments breaks the covenant. For a perpetual, unrepentant covenant-breaker, the promised blessings are withdrawn."

The Truth of All Things

Elder David F. Evans

"Patiently keeping our covenants while we do what is necessary' to receive answers from the Lord is part of Gods pattern for learning truth. Especially when things are hard, we may be required to 'submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.'

Patient covenant keeping increases our humility, deepens our desire to know truth, and allows the Holy Ghost to 'guide us in wisdom's paths that we may be blessed, prospered, and preserved."

I had difficulty bending my right knee this morning so I took six methotrexates, the prescribed dosage. I spent the day looking for and texting photos to Stacy for the power point presentation she is preparing for James's party. 

I loved Kacey's post about Jared today on Facebook:

"I have to brag on my husband because well, he's the best. Thanks to my sweet little firsties, I was on the couch most of the weekend with strep. But this amazing husband of mine attended to my every need and want. All I had to do was mention that chicken tortilla soup sounded good and he was on it. Homemade deliciousness. He wouldn't let me do anything for myself and made sure I did nothing but rest, which is something I am not good at doing. I'm still in awe every day at how loving and amazing he truly is. I love him more every single day. I am most blessed."

The sale of Jared's practice in El Paso finally went through and he is back living in San Antonio. 

Kathy C., our neighbor, had back surgery in the valley this morning. Chuck, her husband, said it went well. She is home from the hospital and was able to walk into her daughter's home where she is staying for a week or so. She can do very little sitting.

For F.H.E. James and I listened to Elder Renlund's conference talk. We also read from our book, "Life Everlasting," and "Journey's End." Afterwards we watched Heartland.

I had a talk today about Pam with Kaeli, the Relief Society president. Pam has not answered any of my texts to her in the last couple of weeks.

Today is Martin Luther King Day

The Show Low wrestling team wins another

tournament.

Jackson is #1 again.

This was taken from our 50th high school

reunion memory book.

Wedding reception upstairs at

the Maxwell House.

The pictures are poor quality because they

were taken with a polaroid.

Nice cake.

 James has his eyes closed but this is the only 

picture that has my mom in it.

You can barely see my dad in this one.

On our way to our room.

James feeding Alex at the Pinedale cabin

with Joe sitting next to Alex.

Alex and James.

Best buddies.

Eeyore, Michael, and James

It looks like we are at Peter Piper Pizza

I love this picture.