Thursday, February 21st, 2019

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

95th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 July 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Matthew 27:43

He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 12:1-13:5

*What are things you tend to idolize in our exciting day? What kind of idols did Isaiah see in verses 7 and 8?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 5:17-48; Luke 6:27-35 The law of Christ supersedes the law of Moses.

"Be Ye Therefore Perfect - Eventually" Jeffrey R. Holland, 10/17

Ensign

"How Do We Judge Righteous Judgment," "Three Things Teens Want Parents to Know"

General Conference

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Jeffrey R. Holland

"Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven," Christ taught in New Testament ties. And in our day: "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." It is, however, important for some of you living in real anguish to note what He did not say, "You are not allowed to feel true pain or real sorrow from the shattering experiences you have had at the hand of another." Nor did He say, "In order to forgive fully, you have to reenter a toxic relationship or return to an abusive, destructive circumstance." But notwithstanding even the most terrible offenses that might come to us, we can rise above our pain only when we put our feet onto the path of true healing. That path is the forgiving one waled by Jesus of Nazareth, who calls out to each of us, "Come, follow me." 

I woke up to the message that we sold another book; "The Indian Triology," the story of the Indian in the cupboard.

In other good news someone deposited $920 in my bank account. Good things to wake up to.  

This quote from one of my Hallmark movies of the day, "Lucky in Love:" "It's how we rise to a challenge that defines us."

James and I split, hauled and stacked wood while it was snowing the morning. Snowmageddon is supposed to hit sometime tonight or tomorrow, depending on what part of the state you live in. 

I came in from the wood project before James to start the Book Profits webinar. The news for the day is the group coaching, which I would love to do but it costs another $2,000. I would love to be a part of Kris and Kathy's group. Oh well, I guess we will spend out money on buying more books.

Tilapia for lunch. Score: James 3, Karen 1. We both loved it.

We went into town today to check the mail. A book James ordered came but the two books he ordered to trade to Amazon still haven't come and he is supposed to mail them by the 23rd. On the way home we stopped at the library to source some books. We had been working in the .10 cent room for probably 30 minutes when I changed positions and found just the kind of book we were looking for, a textbooks called Anatomy and Physiology. I scanned it and the low Prime price on Amazon was $42.95. Yipee! This made the entire trip worthwhile.

We were supposed to go to the temple today with the Howard's but they cancelled because of the snow. It is supposed to snow all afternoon and evening and they were afraid they would not be able to get back up their road home.

This evening we sold another book, "The Rosie Project." All of this selling is probably the result of James doing some re-pricing. 

I inventoried several books this evening. We are selling the anatomy book for $40 and will make $25 if it sells. This is exactly the kind of book we needed.

This book is big...8x10 and about

2-3 inches thick.

Brian texted this evening and wanted to know how much snow we had. Right now it is minimal. He said there was 14" in Payson and 33" in Flagstaff. This storm is coming from the west and the brunt of it has not reached us yet.

 Happy birthday Kathy. She worked in the temple

this afternoon. James went over this evening and

delivered some Hershey's hugs and kisses and

a card to her.

 You can't tell in this picture but it was snowing.

 White Mesa Arch

 Our little cuties!

 We actually sold 3 books today.

Wednesday, February 20th, 2019

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

94th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 July 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

DC 68:25

And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized,that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 10:18-11:8

These verses show 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 are presented with what the devil wants?

- "If it wasn't difficult for us to make the right choices we would all be translated, and there wouldn't be much purpose to our being tested. the plan, the one we voted for, gave us the option to choose for ourselves between good and evil vs. 23. If we are smart we will make more agency choices that bring us closer to God." (Sue_heugly, Instagram bofm365.)

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 5:13 Why did the Savior compare His disciples to salt?

"Perfection Pending" Russell M. Nelson, October 1995

Ensign

"A Mighty Force for Good," "You Really Can Make a Big Difference," "Influence the World," "Women in the New Testament - Anna."

General Conference

Becoming a Shepherd

Bonnie H. Cordon

"We want our sheep to be gathered into the fold of God. To do so, we must consider where they are on the covenant path and be willing to walk with them on their journey of faith. Ours is a sacred privilege to come to know their hearts and point them to their Savior."

Happy 44th Birthday Sheri!

Sheri with those she loves the most

 James left for the valley this morning at 6 for a pre-construction meeting for the Chacon job in Mesa. He took Sheri's birthday card, a jar of peanut M&M's and the Chili's gift card he got for his birthday. When he went by Sheri's work to take her card and candy Ian was there getting his eye dialated. James invited them to go to lunch with him at Chili's, which they did. 

I think this was a special birthday for Sheri. Ben got to skype the family and offered the family prayer while the entire family was there. Sheri said she and Ian were bawling their eyes out when it was over.

James also went by to see our friends Reed and Janis Willis. They need some work done on their patio roof and he is the man for the job. He did another roof repair for them a few years back and the insurance agent told them that whoever did that job is the one you should get to do this one because that's the best job he's ever seen. 

Kerri and I had planned to go to Flagstaff to see Marie R. I am communicating with her ministering sister and dear friend, Marilyn Tice. When I tried to call Marie's phone, the one that her husband answered the other day, no one answered. Marilyn told me that Joel, Marie's husband, is meeting with the doctor today and Marie may be coming home. Well Kerri took the day off work and I didn't want it to go to waste. She came over this morning with the March birthday cards for me to sign and we got out our list of possible people to visit. I tried to text one sister but never got a response. When I saw the name Candace Sommer I remembered I had told Tamara I would visit her. I knew her mother, Aggie Brown who passed away a few years ago. I found out from Collin DeWitt that Aggie went to Creighton School just as Collin and I did. She was several years older but still, I felt a bond with her because of that. Aggie's husband always greeted everyone out in the foyer when we came to church. I miss them.

Candace lives way out near highway 61 which is the highway that goes to Concho and St. Johns. Kerri had the address on her GPS. The map showed two different routes and of course we took the wrong one first. It took us to the property but we were on the wrong side of the fence. We took "Buddy Blvd." a dirt road out in the middle of nowhere and found the house.  We knocked on the door but no one answered. There were three medium sized dogs on the porch that greeted us but thank goodness did not try to jump up on us. There was also one tiny dog that had a bone. He kept coming around the other dogs trying to make them jealous of his bone.

Soon a woman came around the side of the house. We introduced ourselves and asked her if she was Candace and she said yes.  She was a very nice woman, about my age. She told us about her miniature horses. We went down to look at them with her. She had two sorrel mares and a goat or two. She said the goats were going to go to someone else. We had a nice visit outside in the cold. I asked her if she preferred Candace or Candy and she said Candy at which point I handed her a Hershey's candy bar. She laughed. 
Kerri happened to have a "Come Follow Me" manual and we asked if she would like to have it. She seemed excited and said yes. She said she would come to church but she works on Sunday's as a dog groomer at Pet Sense.

Before we left we met Candy's son, Bruce. We talked for a few more minutes and then we were on our way. 

We stopped by the Vernon library to see if we could borrow Tamara's key to go into the clerk's office and look at the map on the wall that Brother Diewald created. We had to go to Tamara's house to get the key from Jordyn, then on to the church.

We are the last numbers on the far bottom right.

We wanted to visit the Neubert's but we never could find county road 3009.

While I was at the library I bought three books and spent $2.10.

Kerri took me home. I had leftover spaghetti and a salad for lunch and took a quick nap. I walked today and ended up getting over 22,000 steps.

I got a text from Marilyn this afternoon that Marie made it home safely. She was very tired and went straight to bed. Her husband will be staying her for a week before he goes back to Houston.

James got home at 5:45. I am always so grateful when he makes it home safely. 

In the last 30 days we have done $135.76 in Amazon book sales. 

I got a call from Brother Curtis. He set up a training meeting for our family history consultants with the stake on Sunday at 3 pm at the Vernon building. James was pretty happy because he is anxious to receive some training.

 Oh, such a sad face.

 Oh no, now Scarlett is sad.

 Sure do love these two.

 Love the faces in these photos.

Sheri's 40th birthday lunch.

 Our little "Arizona" girl who lives

in Arkansas.

 I don't know where they got these outfits

but they sure are cute!

Tuesday, February 19th, 2019

Veracruz, Mexico

93rd operating temple

Dedicated: 9 July 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

DC 55:2

And then thou shalt be ordained by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., to be an elder unto this church, to preach repentance and remission of sins by way of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

Book of Mormon

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?

- We all spend money on things that don't have lasting value. We work hard and long so that we can enjoy the best life has to offer. I have always felt that if I'm paying my tithes and offerings and trying to live the gospel, that of course we can do things..go places and have possessions that don't have an eternal value, but add beauty and wholesome enjoyment to my life and for my family. If we can't afford to pay our tithing or engage in activities that take us away from Sabbath day worship, or course we need to rethink our priorities. Money pays the bills sends missionaries, builds temple, buys meals for the sick and the poor, clothes the naked, pays for doctors and pays for vacations. Our life can enjoy all that God has created, and we can delight in the fatness of the gospel blessings. It's about priorities, balance, and obedience first, then letting your heart rejoice. (Sue_heugly)

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-26 Lasting happiness comes from living the way Jesus Christ taught.

"The Power of Self-Mastery" James E. Faust, April 2000

Ensign

"The Most Influential People" and "Time to Serve"

General Conference

"The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead"

President M. Russell Ballard

"The revelation he received on October 3 comforted his heart and provided answers to many of his questions. We too can be comforted and learn more about our own future when we and our loved ones die and go to the spirit world by studying this revelation and pondering its significance in the way we live our lives each day."

Sister Barton called me this morning around 7:30. She cancelled her appointment with the attorney in Snowflake because of the weather. She said that she spoke with someone in the office who said there was 10 inches of snow in Snowflake. I was shocked. I have never heard of Snowflake getting that much snow, especially when there isn't nearly that much in Show Low or here. I wish she would have called me before she cancelled because I am sure the roads would be clear. Later this evening I spoke with Maxine who goes to the temple every Tuesday. She said there was barely a skiff of snow in Snowflake. Just as I suspected.

As I was studying the "Come Follow Me" lesson this morning I discovered that in addition to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, there is the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6. It says the Savior came down from the mount to give this sermon. No one knows if this was a plateau or an actual plain. It also could have been a continuation of the sermon he was giving on the mount. We do know this: "Jesus Christ came to correct unjust conditions of a fallen world."

We had leftover spaghetti that I made for Max, Evan, Joshua, and Rowan when they were here and froze, for lunch. It was quite tasty and went great with the salad I made.

We had sunshine and snow again today. James worked on his online traffic class and finished by the end of the day. 

I had a meeting this evening with the rest of the Relief Society presidency, the Elder's quorum presidency, and the bishopric.

As I was driving to the church this evening I noticed how beautiful the full moon was shining on the snow. 

The focus of this meeting under the direction of the bishop was missionary, family history, and temple work. The bishop pointed out that this is how we gather Israel, and seal families in preparation for the Second Coming. The Elder's Quorum and the Relief Society are now directly responsible for missionary, and family history work. Kerri and Sean H. are assigned missionary work and Brother Curtis and I family history and temple work. 

I was impressed with the bishops desire and sincerity in doing the Lord's work. He has a powerful personal testimony of both aspects of this work. He said: "We can't stand idle any longer. We have to know our people and serve them better." 

The importance of effective ministering was brought up several times during the meeting. Bishop gave the example of visiting the Gordon's and asking them how their "Come Follow Me" study was going. They looked confused and said they hadn't started. (This is a mom and son who were recently baptized). The bishopric sat down with them and had a discussion using one of the lessons in the manual and they could see a lightbulb go on in the Gordon's. 

Bishop says we need to be asking these questions to the families we minister to and during our ministering interviews in addition to working with them on family history.

After the meeting Kerri, Tamara, Maxine and I had a quick discussion about Marie Robertson and whether Kerri and I should go to visit her tomorrow in Flagstaff. I texted Marilyn, Marie's ministering sister and she said Marilyn may be coming home tomorrow. I told Kerri I would call Marie's husband in the morning and find out what was going on before we leave.

I got permission from Ben to post a letter he sent to Sheri about how he gained his testimony.

 I look forward to Scarlett and Charlie photos

everyday!

 Going out to shovel snow out of 

the driveway.

Everyone in our stake was sent this letter.

 I may have had all of some of

these movies on today.

 James found these books in my library and

wants to sell them. The 3rd one has a good

sales rank. He is using that scanner to scan

all of our books.