Friday, November 8th, 2019

Mexico City, Mexico

26th operating temple

Dedicated: 2-4 Dec 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 41:3

And by the prayer of your faith ye shall receive my law, that ye may know how to govern my church and have all things right before me.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 23:1-14

What value is there in searching the scriptures and the prophets?

Answer: Today I quote from 3 prophets because I couldn't choose one. The Prophet Joseph Smith: "Search the scriptures, search the revelations and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory, nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for yourselves. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for speculation. When men/women receive their instruction from Him that made them, they know how He will save them."

President Gordon B. Hinckley: "I am grateful for the emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that rather it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine."

President Henry B. Eyring: "The Holy Ghost will guide what we say if we study and ponder the scriptures every day. The words of the scriptures invite the Holy Spirit. With daily study of the scriptures we can count on this blessing. We treasure the word of God not only by studying them. We may be nourished more by pondering a few words, allowing the Holy Ghost to make them treasures to us, than by passing quickly and superficially over whole chapters of scripture. 

One of my grandchildren said to me: "Grandma, I love reading the scriptures." I think it may have been Addy, but why didn't I write down who it was? 

New Testament

Hebrews 5; I/F: FSS and FHE - Hebrews 1:8-9; 2:1-4

SS: Hebrews 5:1-5 Those who serve in God's Kingdom must be called of God.

10/19 General Conference

"Found Through the Power of the Book of Mormon"

Elder Reuben V. Alliaud

"Jesus Christ Himself is the Lord of lost things. He cares for lost things That is surely why He taught the three parable that we find in the 15th chapter of Luke: the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin,and, finally, the prodigal son. All these stories have a common denominator: It doesn't matter why they were lost. It doesn't matter even if they were aware they were lost. There reigns supreme a feeling of joy that exclaims, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found that which was lost.' In the end, nothing is truly lost to Him."

I was at Dr. Shah's at 7:00 this morning per their request. There was a lot of sitting around and waiting. Cute Noah who is 22 took x-rays, did my consultation, and assisted Dr. Shah with the tooth extraction. I think maybe some of the girls in the office are a little jealous of him. Others might have a crush on him. I think I would if I was 22.

Tooth #14 is to be extracted. Can you find it?

Can you find the implant?

Noah showed me the full head X-ray shot. It is kind of creepy to see yourself as a skeleton.

While I was waiting for the surgery I got cold so Noah brought me a blanket. Such service! 

We started out with a price of $1,600. Dr. Shah deducted $300 when I said budget was a concern. I elected to have a local shot instead of oral sedation and the price was brought down to $600.

Dr. Shah gave me two shots. One was in the roof of my mouth. Noah said that would be the worst part, but it wasn't. The grinding, and the pressure from the pulling was the worst part. I'm not sure I want to be awake for that ever again. 

Because this is a major chewing tooth, Dr. Shah did some bone graft for a future implant. 

The nice thing about the local anesthetic is that I was able to walk out the front door of the office instead of having James come around to the back to get me. I saw some poor woman with two pieces of bloody gauze in her mouth waiting in the back for someone to pick her up. 

I was supposed to wait an hour before eating, which would have been around 11,  but we headed straight for Culver's where both James and I got a vanilla malt. It was delicious. I was ready to head for home but James had to stop at the Montessori school in Mesa. This job isn't even going to start until school is out in the spring. They are having difficulty finding the sewer line so James and the architect keep having these little mini-meetings. 

I went to McDonald's and got some chicken nuggets with hot mustard sauce. James was so excited about the hot mustard sauce. He said the last time he asked for it they told him they didn't have it anymore. 

We finally headed for home the Payson way a little after noon. Stacy, Paul, Joshua, Shipley, and Vader are coming up to Vernon this afternoon. They left a two going the Globe way. They stopped at El Rey in Globe for dinner. 

We got home around 4 o'clock. I hurried and put my stuff away so I could watch a Hallmark movie before Stacy and Paul got here. Neither one of them are in to Hallmark movies and neither is Joshua. I watched "A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas." I love the house/lodge in this movie. I've seen it in another Hallmark movie. It was fun to see all that they did to decorate the lodge and the barn for Christmas.

Stacy, Paul, Joshua and the two dogs got here a little after six just after my movie ended. Paul and Joshua are here to help James split and stack wood tomorrow. We work in the temple tomorrow so it will be in the afternoon.

I made rolls and baked them before going to bed.

Photos:

 Lola and friends

 Charlie's all in. Not so sure about Scarlett.

 One year anniversary of the Paradise, California fire.

Lucretia Barton's home where she lived over 50 years

was destroyed. She left everything behind and came to

live with her granddaughter, Candi Campbell, who 

had just moved to Vernon with her family.

Last visit to the cabin a few weeks ago.

 Former "So You Think You Can Dance" contestants.

Allison was also a pro on "Dancing with the Stars."

 Lynda is a member of our ward.

My friend Elida Pope took this picture in 

Pinetop-Lakeside.

Thursday, November 7th, 2019

Papeete, Tahiti

25th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 39:13

Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills and flourish.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 22:1-17

When have you felt Heavenly Father reach out and touch your heart to draw you to Him?

New Testament

Hebrews 4; 3:7-4:11 In order to receive God's blessings I must "harden not" my heart.

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Watchful unto Prayer Continually"

Elder David A. Bednar

"Beware of Evil's beguiling disguises. To me, cheetahs are sleek, alluring, and captivating creatures. A cheetah's yellowish-tan to grayish-white coat with black spots acts as a beautiful disguise that makes these animals almost invisible as they stalk their prey in the African grasslands.

In a similar way, spiritually dangerous ideas and actions frequently can appear to be attractive, desirable, or pleasurable. Thus, in our contemporary world, each of us needs to be aware of beguiling bad that pretends to be good. As Isaiah warned, 'Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!'"

We left for the valley this morning around 9:45. We stopped at Donna Peeler's and gave her the birthday basket we made for her. 

Next we stopped in Show Low to get gas and wash the car. We went the Payson way because the road between Superior and Miami was closed between 9-1 today. We stopped at Culver's for lunch. I had sweet potato fries and a pot roast sandwich. James had a vanilla malt. 

As we drove in to Mesa I got a call from Liz. She is going to be a little late. She took her nephew who is on a mission here to lunch and they ran a little late. I texted Laura to let her know. 

We got to Dave and Laura's right around 2 o'clock. Laura looks great! We visited with them for awhile until Liz and her 17 year old son Trey arrived. 

Here are some of the things we talked about. Liz's husband James is an elk hunter and so she was very interest in seeing James's pictures of elk and hearing about how he calls to them on our back porch. 

Trey is going deer hunting in Missouri in a few weeks. After he graduates next spring he plans on going on a mission. After his mission one of the schools he is considering going to is ASU. Liz served at ASU on her mission in the student wards. Liz's daughter Lauren is finishing up her mission in the Ukraine. She will be home a few days before Christmas. Liz also has a 13 year old son named Miles. I saw a picture of both Lauren and Miles. 

Liz told about the first time she saw a tumbleweed. She had her companion stop the car and she ran across a field to grab it not realizing that it was stickery. After she told the story Dave left and came back with a tumbleweed.

She learned how to hold them with out

getting stickers.

Liz talked about how devastating it was to her that her parents got a divorce after she went out on her mission. She was both physically and emotionally unstable when she first came to our house. She said that we were her family and really saved her on her mission. 

She said that much of her family now lives in Georgia near her except for two sisters Amy and Autumn who live in Katy, Texas which is where Kevin lives. She said her youngest sister Tiffany committed suicide but we didn't discuss it. She showed us a picture of herself dancing with her 97 year old grandpa who lives near her.

Liz had rented a van today and had to have it back by 5 so at 4:30 we said goodbye. She will be going to the Gilbert temple tomorrow to the wedding of one of her former young women. 

James had a meeting at the Montessori school in Mesa so we left the same time as Liz and Trey. It would have been nice to visit with Dave and Laura a little longer but James was in a hurry. 

 We got old and Liz stayed the same.

 Laura loved Sister Bush

 Yes, my tongue is sticking out

What does that sign mean?

Trey with his mom

While James had his meeting I drove around looking for sustenance. The Corn Dog Company truck was no longer parked at The Soda Shop. They said they would be at Eastmark High tomorrow night for their Harvest Festival. I told them that was too late for me. I got a cookie and a drink at The Soda Shop to hold me over until dinner.

James wanted his "Happy Meal" so we went to Cheesecake Factory on Power Rd. by Superstition Springs mall. His "Happy Meal" is their crustless chicken pot pie.

Ahh, so worth the wait!

I had the crab bites, James had a couple too, and my favorite salad here, with beets, goat cheese, and candied pecans.

Addy and Rowan were the only ones home when we got to Darrel and Trina's. Trina was at a boutique selling leos, and Darrel and Lola were picking up Ruby at her "Seussical the Musical" play practice. 

James and I walked around the greenbelt while Addy did her running laps. We gave her high five's every time we passed her.

I'm glad I brought my fan.

 San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff

 I think Charlie is getting on 

Scarlett's nerves. She is tired of the hugs.

 Trina said this would be the only kind of dog she would

have because they don't shed. I showed her the picture

but she didn't seem too interested.

This is the theater I went to in high school. I also

went to high school with these two girls. I didn't know

Gail's mom, Alberta, owned the theater.

Wednesday, November 6th, 2019

Santiago, Chile

24th operating temple

Dedicated: 15-17 Sep 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 30:6

And be you afflicted in all his afflictions, ever lifting up your heart unto me in prayer and faith, for his and your deliverance; for I have given unto him power to build up my church among the Lamanites;

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 21:1-29

What signs of the gathering of Israel do we see today?

New Testament

Hebrews 3; Jesus Christ suffered temptations and infirmities so that He could understand and help me; SS: Jesus Christ is "the author of eternal salvation." 

Oct 2019 General Conference

Trust in the Lord

President Dallin H. Oaks

" What do we really know about conditions in the spirit world? Of course, we know from the scriptures that after our bodies die we continue to live as spirits in the spirit world. The scriptures also teach that this spirit world is divided between those who have been "righteous" or "just" during life and those who have been wicked. They also describe how some faithful spirits teach the gospel to those who have been wicked or rebellious. Most important, modern revelation reveals that the work of salvation goes forward in the spirit world, and although we are urged not to procrastinate our repentance during mortality, we are taught that some repentance is possible there."

When I got up this morning at 5 there was lightning and lots of clouds outside. By 9:30 we had rain. At 11:00 the sun was shining and at 11:53 it was raining hard. I remember Sister Diewald saying the closing prayer in church on Sunday. She prayed for rain. Her prayers were answered. 

James did not feel well today. He worked so hard yesterday and today he couldn't go work outside because of the rain, so he took a long nap. He got up and had some soup for lunch and then went back for another nap. (He would be upset at me for telling on him). I guess it's a good thing he doesn't read my blog.

At 3:30 I made my trip to town. I went to Walmart to pick up my prescription and to get a birthday gift for Cammy Grapp and Donna Peeler. They both have birthdays on November 2nd. I minister to Cammy and James ministers to Donna. There were dark clouds when I came out of Walmart and a little rain and some lightning and thunder. 

On the way home I stopped at Cammy's and delivered her birthday basket. I was running late so I didn't have time to stop at Donna's. We will have to go tomorrow on our way out of town.

I got home at 6:30, unloaded the car with some help from James, put things away, and at 6:45 I left for a meeting at the church. I took my umbrella because it was still raining.

The Relief Society presidency and Elders Quorum presidency had our quarterly meeting at Bishop Miller's request. He wants us to go through the ward list and compile a list of families we feel could use a food basket for Thanksgiving. We came up with 20 families subject to bishop's approval. Those attending the meeting: President Grapp, Blain Curtis, Kerri Halcomb, Tamara Applegate, Maxine Thompson, and myself. It is great to have Maxine and her husband home. They have been gone for a month to the valley where Brother Thompson was recovering from knee surgery.

Happy 13th Birthday Evan!

 Are you sure that's 13?

Such a handsome guy

 Twinners!

 The Three Amigos!

 First day of school

He rubs her feet every night

The beach at San Diego

Sports goggles

 Rowan and Evan at Big Lake

 Little brother?

 Someone in the high country

 Kyah, our ward's new family history
consultant

 Best friends!

 Lola and her cousin

Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

23rd operating temple

Dedicated: 9-11 Aug 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 18:5

Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, upon the foundation of my gospel and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 20:20-46

What does "be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord" mean?

New Testament

Hebrews 2; Who wrote the epistle to the Hebrews?; Hebrews 1-5 Jesus Christ is the "express image" of Heavenly Father.

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Unwavering Commitment to Jesus Christ"

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"Individuals who enter the Kinshasa Temple see an original painting entitled Congo Falls. It uniquely reminds temple-goers of the unwavering commitment required to anchor themselves to Jesus Christ and to follow the covenant path of our Heavenly Father's plan. The waterfalls depicted in the painting call to mind a practice that was common more than a century ago among early converts to Christianity in Congo. Before their conversion, they worshipped inanimate objects, believing that the items possessed supernatural powers. After conversion, many made a pilgrimage to one of the countless waterfalls along the Congo River, such as the Nzongo Falls. These converts threw their previously idolized objects into the waterfalls as a symbol to God and others that they had discarded their old traditions and accepted Jesus Christ."

"RWC": "The Holy Spirit is the key to happiness, and to lack the Holy Spirit is the source of misery."

I was ready for the book webinar this morning at 8. When it didn't start I thought maybe it was cancelled until I realized the rest of the country is on daylight savings time and it would be broadcast an hour later. My two favorites, Kathy and Kris present on Tuesday's so I always like to listen. They both said that on merchant fulfilled books they have the customer pay for the shipping. I am going to try to change the settings on my account so the customer will pay for the shipping. I bought six books today.

I helped James load the skidsteer tire into the back of the car so he could take it into town to get it fixed. He took the thank you card I wrote to Dr. Douglas for discounting my crown last week, and he brought back some hot and sour soup and three books that I had ordered.

We signed what are hopefully the final papers on our re-finance and then went outside to work. We are supposed to close on Nov. 14th.

I blogged for last Friday and Saturday, walked, and finished watching this week's episode of "Dancing with the Stars." It is so painful to watch Sean Spicer dance. He has so many people voting for him that he is never in the bottom two so the judges can't get rid of him. I can't bear the thought that he might go to the finals.

Sheri is so worried about Max. He is very unhappy right now. He hates going to school and says he wants to live at the cabin. I told her that was fine if it's what he really wants. She said she would talk to him. I never heard back from her. We are all praying for him right now. That he will be happy and feel like he is loved.

I looked for names for baptisms on the Family Search account but didn't find any. We may have to use someone else's family names when we got to the Gilbert temple on the 14th with Joshua and Evan.

 Chandler friends

 She looks good as a blonde!

 Scarlett is not sure if she likes it