Friday, April 20th, 2018

Columbia River, Washington

107th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 Nov 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

What should I pray for?

Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," paragraph 7

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Matthew 26:16

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 12:1-16

*Why do you think King Noah and his priests chose not to listen to Abinadi's warnings?

- Don't we hear what we want to hear? Who wants to be told they are wrong and need to repent? When we start to veer off the path our sight becomes clouded. We don't see things in their true light. It's so easy to get confused. What is the cause? Pride, wickedness, and rationalization, just to name a few. When we don't have the Holy Ghost with us, and we do all the thinking we can go off the strait and narrow path quickly. When we think evil is good, and good is evil, and have no need to listen to the Lord's anointed, we can be sure we are in trouble spiritually. No one wants to believe Satan has a hold on their heart. But when we aren't following Christ and his appointed leaders, then aren't we followers of evil?

Old Testament

Judges 18-19

18 The Danites send men to seek an inheritance - They take Michah's images and priest, burn the city of Laish, and set up idolatry. 

19 A Levite's concubine returns to her father - Her husband takes her back, and they lodge overnight in Gibeah - The men of Gibeah abuse the concubine and she dies - The Levite husband cuts her into twelve pieces and sends them to the tribes of Israel.

General Conference

His Spirit To Be With You

President Henry B. Eyring

"I pray with all my heart that you will hear the voice of the Spirit, which is sent to you so generously."

I got up late this morning and then James told me we had to go to town to get our tire checked out at Discount Tire. 

We arrived at Discount Tire at 8:30. Our tire is ruined, probably because I drove on it for quite awhile before I noticed it was flat, but they will still honor our warranty. They don't have any new tires to fit our car but they gave us a used one and they will trade it for a brand new one when it comes in. They said it would take about an hour. I had some shopping to do at Walmart so that was perfect.

The Grapp kids and Amaron are coming over tonight so I got some stuff to fix hamburgers. I also got some frozen lemonade, limeade, grape juice, and fruit punch. 

While I was in Walmart James went to Home Depot for potting soil and a couple of irises and a hydrangea bush. 

When we got back to Discount, an hour since we left our car, it was just sitting in the work bay. I knew an hour sounded too good to be true. I talked James into going back to the hiking trail on Show Low Creek just this side of the Hampton Inn. We realized we could not only hike here but could take the kids fishing too. Sheri and I did this hike once sometime back but I did not remember about the fishing. 

We hiked for probably 45 minutes and turned back. We could have gone further but decided it was time to go back to check on Lexy.

My picture of James

His picture of me

Selfie because Jared and Kacey 

requested it. 

Beware of the livestock

This is place is right by the highway so it's

very convenient.

When we got back to Discount James went in to get the car and I was supposed to drive the truck home. Instead I sent a couple of texts so he ended up leaving before I did. I also stopped at Dollar General on the way home to get marshmallows and chocolate for Smores tonight for the Grapp kids. I got a little carried away. I found baby gifts for the Wilhelm baby, some fun stuff for Andyn's birthday, and a pair of pants for James. 

When I got home I fixed lunch and then took a short nap. 

I worked on my blog while James went outside to work. 

Stacy texted me about the date for our anniversary party. We finally settled on June 2nd, which is the Saturday we will be at the timeshare in Scottsdale. I have the assignment to see if there is a room available for us to use. 

Stacy mentioned the Arizona Teacher's Walkout schedule for this next Thursday. I guess if demands are not met for better wages the teachers will not be showing up for school.

I tried to get all of my steps in before 5 p.m., the time that the

Grapp's are supposed to show up. I made it!

The Grapp's arrived at 5 but Amaron's mom, Laurann got lost and I had to go pick him up down by the Hunsaker's. She has a Prius

and she bottomed out in a couple of places so she was going to go home. I told her I would come and get Amaron who was crying.

A storm is definitely on it's way. It looks like it is raining pretty hard towards Snowflake and Taylor.  It finally arrived here while the kids were eating only it wasn't rain, but snow. We had a white cover on the ground when it got dark. 

Benson and Tildy watched The Little Mermaid II in our room and Liana watched Beauty and the Beast in the family room after dinner. Emsley played upstairs and Amaron hung out in the kitchen asking for food. He had a smore and then some more chocolate and I sent him upstairs to play. Emsley never came down for a smore, she did come down once for a drink of water. 

We only had one altercation, Emsley hit Tildy with something and made her cry. Tildy went to Liana for comfort but didn't seem like she was hurt too badly. I went up to talk to Emsley and she was curled up in a ball on the couch with her hands in her face. I just told her that Tildy loved her and was sad that she hit her. I could tell she already felt bad so I didn't say too much. 

The Grapp's took Amaron home so Laurann didn't have to venture over here again.

I did listen to one of President Nelson's talks today. This one was from October 1994, "The Spirit of Elijah."  After our company left, they left after nine, James and I read from our books and then went to bed.

President and Sister Nelson in India

The fires have already begun.

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

Perth, Australia

106th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 May 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

What should I pray for?

Bible Dictionary "Prayer" paragraph 6

Prayers were said at the Sanctuary (1 Sam. 1:9-12; 1 Kgs. 8; Ps. 42:2, 4) or looking toward the Sanctuary (1 Kgs. 8:44, 48; Ps. 5:7; Dan 6:10); on the housetop or in an upper chamber (Dan. 6:10; Acts 10:9). The Pharisees prayed publicly in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets (Matt. 6:5). The Lord prayed upon the tops of mountains (Matt. 14:23; Luke 9:28) or in solitary places (Mark 1:35).

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Matthew 26:2

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 11:16-29

*Why do you think false prophets and false teachers flourish among wicked people?

Talk: Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers

By: M. Russell Ballard

- False prophets and teachers flourish among the wicked because they appeal to the natural man. The church of the devil is easy..no rules. Are you materialistic? No problem, having wealth is encouraged, especially if you have to walk on a few people to get it. Maybe your challenge is with sexual immorality. Hey, the church of the devil with all his false teachings encourages free love, and experimentation, and broken covenants. You were made that way right? Let's not forget pride, the me, me attitude is accepted. False teachings are taught by false teachers who want followers. They want to be popular and well liked. They don't teach whole truths, but bits and pieces of truth mingled with natural man desires, and for some that is enough to want to convert to the church of the devil. Satan is the master of deception, the father of lies. False teachings draw us away from truth. Truth taught by those anointed can warn us of false teachers and prophets.

Old Testament

Judges 15-17

15 Samson burns the grain of the Philistines - They burn his wife and father-in-law - Samson slays a thousand Philistines at Lehi with the jawbone of an ass.

16 Samson carries away the doors of the gate of Gaze - He loves Delilah, who delivers him to the Philistines - He destroys a building, killing himself and 3,000 others.

17 Micah has a house of gods (images) and consecrates his own priests.

General Conference

He That Shall Endure to the End, the Same Shall Be Saved

Elder Claudio D. Zivic

" Let us be faithful to what we have believed and know."

We have a friend in the ward named Anthony. James is/was his home teacher. He lives way out in the wide open spaces where there is no water or electricity. The other day he saw a wolf stalking a small herd of antelope. He called James. James told him, "don't worry the antelope will get in a circle facing out and the wolf will leave." Sure enough that is what happened. Anthony had to call James back and tell him how smart he was. 

I listened to President Nelson's talk "Teach Us Tolerance and Love," from the April 1994 general conference.

For lunch today I cooked some cabbage and boiled some sausage tortellini. It went together well and was very tasty, James even said so. 

This afternoon Laurann and I went visiting. Our first stop was to see Catherine Halcomb. Laurann had all three of her kids. Amaron is out of school because he had pinkeye earlier in the week. Laurann grabs the twins carseats and loops one through each arm. I don't know how she can carry both of them.

We had a nice visit with Catherine and Amaron gave her one of the blueberry muffins I made. When we were getting ready to leave she said she was having a biopsy on her arm this coming Monday. I will have to check back and see how she is doing.

Our next stop was at the Grapp's. The entire family was home. Of course everyone wanted a muffin. I didn't stay too long but took Amaron home with me.

I supposed to be helping Amaron with his reading but I wasn't really prepared today. I had him do a couple of worksheets and then I read to him one of my favorite books, "Miss Suzy." We played with the dominoes and dice and of course he had to have a treat. He ate two cups of my mandarin oranges and took some Teddy Grahams home to his brothers. 

I got Amaron home just when the missionaries came to their house for dinner. I left and when I got out on the highway I realized that I had a flat tire. I stopped by the new tower on highway 60 and tried to call James. Of course I could not get through so I just kept sending texts. Finally he called me back. When he got here he took the tire off and we took it home where he tried to patch it. The first two attempts failed but on the third try he used Rubber Cement and it worked. Back to put it on Lexy. I drove her home and it was a very shaky ride but the air held in the tire. I was so happy to finally be home!

I only got 11,000 steps today. Instead of walking I watched an episode of "When Calls the Heart" with James.

Happy Anniversary to Sheri and Ian:

22 blissful years, 4 boys and 1 dog.

Jackson announced on fast Sunday

that he's going on a mission.

I know this is long and a little messed up

but I loved the part about how he was going

to announce six temples and the Lord told

him to announce the one in India.

Scarlett, Kacey posted this.

Hilarious!

Wednesday, April 18th, 2018

Guadalajara, Mexico

105th operating temple

Dedicated: 29 Apr 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

What should I pray for?

Bible Dictionary, Prayer, paragraph 5

The attitude of prayer ordinarily was standing (1 Sam. 1:26; Neh. 9:2, 4; Matt. 6:5; Luke 18:11, 13); also kneeling (1 Kgs. 8:54; Ezra 9:5; Dan. 6:10); or prostrate (Josh 7:6; Neh. 8:6). The hands were spread forth to heaven ( 1 Kgs. 8:22; Ezra 9:5; Ps. 141:2; Isa. 1:15). Smiting on the breast and rending of the garments signified special sorrow (Ezra 9:5; Luke 18:13). The Lord's attitude in prayer is recorded only once. In the Garden of Gethsemane He knelt (Luke 22:41), fell on His face (Matt. 26:39), and fell on the ground (Mark 14:35). It is noteworthy that Stephen (Acts 7:60), Peter (9:40), Paul (20:36; 21:5), and the Christians generally (21:5) knelt to pray.

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Matthew 20:18

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 11:1-15

*How are King Benjamin and King Noah different? How can we develop character traits of King Benjamin?

- Verse 2 sums up King Noah's life pretty well. He didn't keep the commandments, he made his own rules, violated God's laws, sponsored all kinds of evil, which led the people away from Christ. Everything King Benjamin did was to bring people towards Christ. He didn't want to be a burden to his people, and worked hard to provide of his needs. King Noah on the other hand, expected others to support his laziness, idolatry and whoredoms. These two leaders illustrated differences of righteous and unrighteous use of power and authority, how to handle conflicts, attitudes toward temples, physical labor and service. One had a lust for worldliness, and one had courage, faith and worshipped God. Which leader would you rather have? In the end King Benjamin retired from the kingship, lived in peace, and passed the kingdom to his son, and his obedience secured him a place in God's kingdom. King Noah spent his life on the desires of the flesh, his cruel treatment of Abinadi became his own death sentence. 

Old Testament

Judges 12-14
12 The Gileadites slay 42,000 Ephraimites - Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon each in turn judge Israel.
13 Israel is in Philistine bondage for forty years - An angel comes to Manoah's wife and promises a son who will begin to deliver Israel - The angel comes again; he ascends in a flame from the altar - Samson is born, and the Spirit of the Lord moves upon him. 
14 Samson slays a young lion with his bare hands - He marries a Philistine wife, propounds a riddle, is deceived by his wife, and slays thirty Philistines.
General Conference

With One Accord

Reyna I. Aburto

" In order to reach our sublime destiny, we need each other, and we need to be unified."

President Russell M. Nelson #20, "Constancy Amid Change" October 1993. 

" Three things that will never change:

Personages, Plans, Principles."

James and I left for Show Low at 7:20 this morning. We stopped at Dr. Moffat's office so James could get a steroid shot before going to the hospital for an MRI on his shoulder and upper back. I shopped a little at Walmart buying veggies and water for our trip and then walked around the parking lot at the hospital. James finally came out around 10 a.m. Just in time. I guess it was quite an ordeal because the MRI machine was so tiny.

We arrived at Sheri's work right at 1 p.m. when she gets off for lunch. Kim was already waiting in the parking lot. James dropped me off and went to get Lexy and take back the rental car. Kim drove us to Cafe Rio across from the Chandler mall. I had a green chili pork taco with some pinto beans. It was nice to visit with my girls even if it was for a short time. James texted and said he was on his way so Kim and Sheri said their goodbyes and left me in front of Cafe Rio. James drove right up as they left. 

Guess where we went? Olive Garden so James could have some lunch. I had a $50 giftcard I got with the rewards program on my credit card.  I just had soup and salad and of course two breadsticks! 

Next stop was Stacy's house to take her the Savior book mark. Well actually I forgot to give Kim and Sheri theirs so we stopped by Sheri's and after Stacy's we went to Kim's.

Joshua was home from school with a tummy ache and of course we were greeted by Vader and Shipley. Vader ran away and Joshua had to go chase him down.

Stacy was in bed upstairs. She says she is doing much better. When I asked if there was anything we could do she said no, Paul was taking good care of her. I guess he has order her "Freshly" the food service that is delivered to your home.

After Kim's we drove out to see Darrel's family. Everyone was home, including Darrel. We gave them their bookmark and James took a nap on the couch. We stayed about an hour and then we were on our way home. When I walked in the door Lola came running to me and jumped into my arms. That made my day. She had a friend, Scarlett over to play. She needed help building something and James helped her. Trina's Chunky Monkey challenge starts on Sunday. I am excited! 

We stopped at Taco Bell in Globe for dinner. We arrived home at 7:45, the exact time James said we would. I think Lexy was happy to be home, I know I was.

I walked until I got 15,000 steps and finished watching "The Greatest Showman."

 Helping me make enchilada sauc

for grandpa's birthday party.

 Lunch today with Sheri and Kim

 Robert and Kambri's baby June

 Happy Bday to the Hunsaker twins!

Can you tell? It's the mammas!

 Resort memories!

 Wilhelm baby girl

She's #10

 Her big sister said the world needed

one more sassy Wilhelm girl!

Lanell Sheree

Sister Arburto spoke about

monarch butterflies in her

conference address.

I have two friends in this old Young Adult

photo. Pam front and center and Tamara

in the back, far right.

Tuesday, April 17th, 2018

Winter Quarters, Nebraska

104th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Apr 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

What should I pray for?

Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," paragrah #4

It was the custom to pray three times a day, as David (Ps.55:17), Daniel (Dan.6:10), and the later Jews. Prayer was said before meat ( 1 Sam.9:13; Matt. 15:36; Acts 27:35).

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Matthew 17:22

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 10:1-22

*What happens if traditions are based on things that aren't true?

- Unwanted traditions are those which lead us away from performing holy ordinances and keeping sacred covenants. Our guide should be the doctrine taught by the scriptures and the prophets. Traditions which devalue marriage and family, abase women or do not recognize the majesty of their divine nature and God-given roles, or honor temporal success more than spiritual, or teach that reliance upon God is a weakness of character, all lead us away from eternal truths.

Old Testament

Judges 9-11
9 Gideon's son Abimelech is made king - He slays his seventy brothers - Jotham tells a fable of trees choosing a king - The Shechemites conspire against Abimelech - He is slain at Thebez.
10 Tola and then Jair judge Israel - The children of Israel worship false gods, are forsaken by the Lord, and are distressed by their enemies - They repent and ask the Lord for deliverance.
11 Jephthah is chosen as the captain of the armies of Israel - The Ammonites assail Israel in war - Jephthah is guided by the Spirit and defeats Ammon with a great slaughter - He makes a rash vow, which leads to the sacrifice of his only daughter.

General Conference

Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ

Elder Massimo De Feo

" The gospel of Jesus Christ is centered on the love of the Father and the Savior for us and our love for Them and for one another."

Along with reading the Old Testament I am reading the BYU Old Testament Student Manual. It says this about this period of time, the time of the Judges, in the Israelites history:

"After this, the Israelites grew effeminate as to fighting any more against their enemies, but applied themselves to the cultivation of the land, which producing them great plenty and riches, they neglected the regular disposition of the settlement, and indulged themselves in luxury and pleasures; nor were they any longer careful to hear the laws that belong to their political government: whereupon God was provoked to anger, and put them in mind, first, how, contrary to His directions, they had spared the Canaanites: and, after that, how those Canaanites, as opportunity served, used them very barbarously.

Extraordinary courage was required for an Israelite to be devoted to the Lord during this ear. Unfortunately, this situation arose not because of pressure from outside of Israel but because of pressure from within. Gideon's neighbors, not a group of pagan Canaanites, were worked into a murderous frenzy when Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal. Jotham's prophecy was uttered against his own brother, not against some Philistine king. Indeed, Israel's problem did not stem from the pagan masses they faced. It lay within their own hearts. Their greatest enemies were not the power-hungry Midianites or Moabites but inward vacillation, apathy, disobedience, and rebellion. Their outward enemies raged through them constantly only because the inward weaknesses raged unchecked also. 

The Canaanites and Philistines are gone today. But are not the offspring of their gods, metamorphosed into modern form and made intellectually acceptable, still with us And what of apathy, disobedience, vacillation, and rebellion? Is not our greatest enemy within? If so, then the same kind of courage displayed by the people of whom you have just read is as necessary now as it was then."

Ensign reading: Freedom or Captivity - "sometimes the wrong path looks more interesting. We have to remember our ultimate goal, or we'll lose the destination we are seeking." (p. 56)

I read a conference talk that Jared recommended: "Waiting Upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done" Elder Robert D. Hales, October 2011 GC. 

"The purpose of our life on earth...is to grow, and develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences." 

This was a great talk. Thank you Jared for recommending it.

President Nelson, Sister Nelson and the Holland's continue their tour:

Tuesday, April 17, Harare, Zimbabwe

"Meetings will be held with missionaries and member in Zimbabwe. A devotional will be broadcast to all Latter-day Saint congregations in that African country. 

Nearly 30,000 Latter-day Saints call Zimbabwe home. Missionary work began in what was then Southern Rhodesia in the early 1930's.

At 11:30 today I met Denise, her mom Peg, and Vickie at Licano's in Show Low for lunch. Everyone else had chicken tacos and I had a chicken enchilada with green sauce. It was quite delicious. Vickie ended up buying it for me. Thanks Vickie!

We visited awhile and then we walked up the hill to Aunt Gene's house. She lives in grandma and grandpa's old house behind Licano's. We were an hour early and caught her without her wig on, watching the news on television. We visited a few minutes and she said we were going to have a party and excused herself to put on her wig. We all helped get the muffins and the hot chocolate and miniature marshmallows on the table. She even used her china plates. We took pictures, ate, and laughed, while Aunt Gene told us funny stories about growing up in Lakeside and Show Low. Once she and some friends ditched the last part of the school day. It was her idea. She said if they walked up Springer Hill which was covered with snow backwards, the truant officer would never find them. Well he did find them as they were trying to build a fire to keep warm. What was the truant officers name? Arlee Maxwell, Aunt Gene's dad!

Another time in high school she and a group of friends were in Snowflake and decided to steal some of the Neff family's chickens. (James and I work with some Neff's in the temple.) They stole the chickens, killed them by popping their heads, which Aunt Gene demonstrated, and then decided not to cook them that night. They took them to Aunt Gene's family's restaurant, the Show Low Cafe, and put them in the refrigerator with the idea they would go back the next day and cook them. Aunt Gene had to get up early in the morning, 6 a.m., to open the cafe with her dad, my grandpa. They heard a knock on the door and their stood a police officer. Aunt Gene said: "Darn, someone snitched on us!"

Aunt Gene talked about her 90th birthday party and how all of her grandchildren were there except Emmy, Rita's daughter who lives in Texas and one other of Randy's kids. She said even Rita's son Rusty, who works in Washington D.C. on the Foreign Affairs Committee was there. 

Aunt Gene is excited to be going with Gary in May to his son Max's graduation from Harvard. She is also happy that Senator Jeff Flake is the keynote speaker. She said, "His dad Glenn was one of my first boyfriends!" The Flake family is from Snowflake.

 Aunt Gene, Denise, Vickie, Me

Denise, Aunt Gene, Peg, and Vickie

(Peg and I were roommates when I went to

New York with Dennis and Denise. I love her!)

Denise, Aunt Gene, Me, Peg

You will notice how Denise has the seat closest to Aunt Gene. They

absolutely love each other. Those were poppy seed muffins and were very good although I only ate half of mine. 

Randy, my cousin and Aunt Gene's son, says his mom plays bridge in Pinetop on Thursdays and they warn everybody between Show Low and Pinetop that she's on the road. She has a beautiful new cadillac that she drives. How many 90 year olds still drive?

I am so grateful for my Aunt Gene's life. She is my oldest living relative. I told her I would be back to hear more of her stories.

I went to Walmart to pick up a few items and then to The Book Barn to get my Primary boy Amaron some scriptures and a scripture cover. This is the cover I got:

He asked me if I would buy him the kind 

that are open and don't have a zipper but 

they didn't have that kind for boys.

While at The Book Barn I spoke with Brother Rhoton, who is the stake clerk, about who he thought the next stake president was going to be. He said he didn't know but he was sad that President Shumway was being released. I told him I felt the same way.

He suggested Bishop Miller could be the next president. I told him I hoped he wasn't because he is a great bishop. 

As I have been thinking about it I think Brother Greer would be a great stake president. He has been a mission president and he loves people!

As soon as I got home I took a quick rest on the recliner and then read to James from "Ashes on the Moor."  

I listened to my 19th President Nelson talk. This was is from April 1993, "Honoring the Priesthood."

" Honoring the priesthood fosters respect, respect promotes reverence, and reverence invites revelation."

James wrote a check for $381 for federal income taxes. He said we would be getting $50 back from the state. The federal website is down so everyone was given a days extension on their taxes. They expect 14 million to request an even further extension.

Barbara Bush passed away and the flags will be at half-mast tomorrow.

Barbara Bush is the only woman besides Abigail Adams to have her son and her husband be president of the United States.

Area Seventies of African descent.

A new species of Bird of Paradise?

Brian and Cher on their Harley.

No wonder Colby wants one.

Look how cool the look. jk