Sunday, September 1st, 2019

Helsinki, Finland

124th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Oct 2006

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Matthew 17:2

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Book of Mormon

Alma 60:1-13

New Testament "Ye Are the Body of Christ" 1 Corinthians 8-13

Review

General Conference

How Can I Understand?

Ulisses Soares

"When we accept the Savior's invitation to 'come and see,' we need to abide in Him, immersing ourselves in the scriptures, rejoicing in them, learning His doctrine, and striving to live the way He lived. Only then will we come to now Him, Jesus Christ, and recognize His voice, knowing that as we come unto Him and believe in Him, we shall never hunger nor thirst. We will be able to discern the truth at all times, as occurred to those two disciples who abode with Jesus that day."

Around 8 this morning as I was getting ready to go take a shower I got a text from Tamara asking if I could print out all of the ministering changes. I immediately began and realized that I was going to have to go to church without taking a shower. I think I got ready in ten minutes. 

James was able to do Maxine's temple confirmations and I handed the cards back to her before sacrament meeting.

President Beeler presided at our meeting today. Chuck conducted the meeting. James thinks President Beeler is here to 'scope out' for the new bishop. Today wasn't a good day for that because our congregation was four times as big as it normally is because of the holiday weekend.

At the end of the meeting President Beeler shared his testimony. He testified of the blessings our stake and this area in general has received from the Lord. We fasted and prayed for moisture for several months and we received it. Now we have a Prophet coming to speak to us in two weeks. He said that the Vernon members are the salt of the earth and they have not lost their savor. He testified of the Savior and the Restoration.

Sister Wood taught Sunday School. She used Emily and David's handout and told everyone about their Youtube videos. It was a good lesson with lots of participation. I sat by Cammy and Sister Tesarek was behind us. We visited a little afterwards. Sister Tesarek is our newly called Relief Society activities committee chairman. She is young, and out-going and I think she will do a great job.

Normally when we get home from church we immediately fix lunch before our rest time. Today we went straight to rest time because we had not completed our 24 hour fast. 

Every fast Sunday I get out the talk by Elder Shayne Bowen, "Fasting with Power." This talk helps me to understand why I need to fast as the Lord has commanded and according to His laws. It helps me to focus and to realize the blessings that come in no other way but by living the true law of the fast.

When we did break our fast I fixed corn and croissant sandwiches for lunch. 

This afternoon James and I FaceTimed with Jared, Kacey, and Charlie. This has become the highlight of my Sunday.

Charlie is a climber, not a walker. Kacey tried to help her was and she walked backwards. So funny!

James worked on helping the Tesarek's with family history and wrote a letter to Ben. I caught up on my blog.

Another thing I look forward to on Sunday is pictures of
these two sweeties!

I love that President Heyman is the 

presiding authority in our area.

Yellow flowers everywhere on our ride home from church.

Hunsaker's at their annual Labor Day weekend
campout on Green's Peak

 Gail's family 
Micah, Tim's son was baptized this weekend

Wendy's family enjoying some of the sites
near their new home in Utah

So happy for Tyler!

 Have you tried these?
Delicious!

Rain is always a welcome relief around here

Richmond, Virginia temple

Elder David A. Bednar dedicated this temple on Sunday, September 1st, 2019.

Jared said that Charlie was a climber. I mentioned it to Sheri and
she said Evan was too. She sent me these photos taken his
first year.

This one is the best!

Saturday, August 31st, 2019

Sacramento, California

123rd operating temple

Dedicated: 3 Sept 2006

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Book of Mormon

Alma 58:30-59:13

New Testament "Ye Are the Body of Christ" 1 Corinthians 8-13

1 Corinthians 13

General Conference

Closing Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"Brothers and sisters, we regard a temple as the most sacred structure in the Church. As we announce plans to construct a new temple, it becomes part of our sacred history. Now, please listen carefully and reverently. If I announce a temple in a place that is special to you, may I suggest that you simply bow your head with a silent prayer of gratitude in your heart. We do not want any verbal outbursts to detract from the sacred nature of this conference and the Lord's holy temples."

We left for the temple at our regular time. We listened to our scriptures and our conference talks on the way after starting out with a prayer. The gospel is so wonderful!

The brothers and sisters separated for training today. Sister Elmer and Sister Brimhall, wife of one of the counselors to the temple president, did the sisters training in the chapel downstairs. 

Sister Elmer spoke about the importance of not correcting one another during the performance of ordinances. She also said we should not trade positions with anyone else because she needs to know exactly where each sister is at all times. 

I am the veil director again and my dear friend Sister Humphreys from St. Johns is my assistant. She has worked at the temple for over 15 years and performs her duties well, yet she is quiet, unassuming and humble. Also, she is a big fan of my rolls. She is one of the only ones who knows the secret about the rolls.

We had two live sealings today. One was a couple from Concho who had previously received their endowments. The second was a couple going through the 9:30 session and then were sealed afterward. This was their first time at the temple. James was the assistant to the brother. He had never done it before and when he presented him at the veil he let the brother take his card with him. It was an easy mistake to make. But one of my jobs as the sister veil director is to make sure the own endowment cards are on the top of the stack before we take them to the office. Brother McHood was the brother veil director and I asked him where the own endowee card was for the brother. He looked through the stack and realized it was not there. I told him to check with Brother Lambson who told us the brother had his card and was now in the sealing. At first President Brimhall wanted Brother McHood to go into the sealing and get the card. But after some consideration it was decided he would wait until the sealing was over, which he did, and he got the card and there was no further problem.

This session was such a big session that I missed my scheduled half hour in initiatory. I also went down to the baptistry where I was scheduled to go after initiatory and there were no patrons, so I was released to go.

James took my phone today and got 9,000 steps for me at the temple. I know it sounds like I'm cheating but I probably took that many steps going up and down the stairs as many times as I did today.

It was 97 degrees when we left Snowflake and was 86 in Vernon.

We rested and snacked and then started our fast around 2:30. James went to the dump and worked on the railings this afternoon.

It is surprising how tired I am after a shift at the temple. The Spirit really is draining. I worked on my books for awhile this afternoon. I have now sold 215 books. My account balance is $2,270.81 which is the amount of money Amazon owes me. My total sales number is $7,637.02. I was hoping to get to $10,000 by the end of August but didn't quite make it. I'm am still pretty happy about where I am.

James said he heard an elk bugle this evening and also heard another one answer. I guess it's that time of year again.

I finished walking to get 15,000 and then James and I sat down and watched the new Hallmark movie, "My One and Only" starring Paschal Hutton and Sam Paige. Paschal play Rosemary on "When Calls the Heart" and I kept thinking she should act like Rosemary, but I am pleasantly surprised when she doesn't. You would have to know Rosemary to understand. 

 Scarlett at another birthday party

Scarlett in her favorite shoes.

No more daily Charlie pictures since she turned 1,

just a couple of times a week.

Lola and Ivy

 Joe looks like he's feeling a little better 

after having his wisdom teeth removed.

Friday, August 30th, 2019

Newport Beach, California

122nd operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Aug 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Zechariah 2:5
For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
Book of Mormon
Alma 58:13-29
New Testament "Ye Are the Body of Christ" 1 Corinthians 8-13
1 Corinthians 12

General Conference

Building a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"What are some ways we can fortify ourselves in troubled times, that we may be 'instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work'? Let's look to the scriptures. We are obedient. We trust the Lord. We stand for the truth. We make and renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament and by worshipping in the temple. The sacrament is the centerpiece of our Sunday worship, where we are receiving the promise to 'always have his Spirit to be with us.'"

I made rolls this morning for the temple tomorrow. I paid bills both personal and business. 

James got a call from Dr. DeLange's office today regarding some of the results of his surgery on Monday. He definitely has a hernia that is causing acid to get up into his throat. He has an appointment on the 18th to decide what the plan of action will be.

James and I took a trip to town this afternoon. I had to pick up my prescription and do some shopping at Walmart. James needed to do some pricing at Home Depot for the remodeling project he is bidding. On the way to town we stopped at the post office and picked up five books that I had ordered. Time to start buying again. 

I sold eight books today!

Walmart was insane. I am not sure why I chose to shop on a holiday weekend. The people were loud and so was the music. I was so happy to get out of there.

Hurricane Dorian is heading towards Florida. I hope my book buddies Kathy and Kris are okay.

Tomorrow we work at the temple again. It is a fifth Saturday and it's our turn so we went to bed quite early tonight.

Thursday, August 29th, 2019

Aba, Nigeria

121st operating temple

Dedicated: 7 Aug 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Ezkiel 1:28

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day or rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Book of Mormon

Alma 58:1-12

New Testament "Ye Are the Body of Christ" 1 Corinthians 8-13

1 Corinthians 11

General Conference

The Immediate Goodness of God

"I realize that sometimes life's experiences create confusion and turbulence that can make it difficult to receive or recognize relief. I have been through such times. I testify that, during such times, our mere preservation is a tender and powerful manifestation of the immediate goodness of God. Remember, ancient Israel was ultimately delivered 'by that same God who had preserved them' day to day."

We had prayer this morning before James left for the valley. He is going down to work on the door at Stacy's and to meet with some people about some remodeling. Armando did some landscaping for them and he gave them James's name.

As I looked out my bedroom window this morning I saw a woodpecker on the tree trunk where James has built two birdhouses. There was a bluebird dive bombing the woodpecker to get him off her tree. I guess she may have babies in one of those birdhouses. James says bluebirds nest two times a year, in the spring and the fall. The woodpecker moved to the other side of the tree but the bluebird kept dive bombing him. She was relentless.

I don't know how much more critters I can handle in my house. We just got rid of the bat and now I just saw a mouse in the pantry. This means war!

I finished Aunt Dimity's Good Deed and moved on to Aunt Dimity and the Duke. I now realize I should have read the duke one first.

Repricing took forever but it is totally worth it. I am selling so many books right after I reprice. I did only sell 3 books today though.

I heard from both Stacy and Sheri today and found out that Adam and Kaitlin won't be coming up this weekend.

It rained again today just enough for the car to get muddy when James got home from the valley. No green chili burros. Burger House was closed.

 Such a good little singer!

 Can't you just see them as teenagers!

Charlie loves to climb!

 While Autumn had the kids Kacey and Jared

got to go to the temple in Dallas.

On the Latin America Tour

Sister Nelson says when they get back from these

tours President Nelson hits the ground running and

she just hits the ground.

They were in prison in Utah for murder and

escaped on their way to Pima county, Arizona.

Sorry this isn't legible.

 I feel safe with my friend Lynda in the neighborhood.

Missed Dog Day yesterday.