Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Saturday, January 11th,


90th operating temple
Dedicated: 16 June 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah
Mosiah 3:5
For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 7


"The Power of Scripture"
Elder Richard G. Scott
October 2011

October 2019 General Conference
"Consistent and Resilient Trust"
Elder L. Todd Budge
"The Lord made it clear that ultimately the Jaredites could not make it to the promised land without Him. They were not in control, and the only way they could make it across the great deep was to put their trust in Him. These experiences and tutoring from the Lord seemed to deepen the brother of Jared's faith and strengthen his trust in the Lord."

We left at 5:35 this morning for the Snowflake temple. James is still stressed we are going to be late. 
President and Sister Reidhead are presiding during our shift. We watched a video we had seen before only this time instead of Thomas S. Monson introducing it, Russell M. Nelson introduces.
 President Reidhead told us that they had a visitor from Salt Lake. He said that the Church's goal is to have 300 operating temples in five years. Right now there are 166. Wow!

Did you know that Lucy Mack Smith prayed for 20 years to find the right church. If you aren't receiving answers to your prayers maybe you haven't waited long enough. Be patient. Answers will come. 

Sister Bradshaw, one of our dear temple friends and her husband, Brother Bradshaw are leaving the temple. They have been temple workers for 7 1/2 years. Sister Bradshaw lost her father on Christmas Eve and now her mother needs her help which means she will be spending more time in the valley. We will definitely miss them!

My friend Elwanda Reidhead was not here today. This is the third time in a row she has not been here. I asked her husband how she was doing and he told me that she is in Albuquerque caring for her mother. So many angel sisters caring for their mothers. It makes me miss my mother.

My first assignment which lasted an hour, was in sealings. I went down in my ceremonial clothing and was a proxy daughter and wife both. I took some of my sealings and Brother Flake and Brother Adair were happy to do them along with the others they had.

I had my break with James and Brother Bradshaw. Brother Bradshaw has a grandson who plays third base for the ASU baseball team. Brother Bradshaw will be going to the valley with his wife part of the time to watch his grandson's games. He said ASU is really good this year.

My next assignment was in the baptistry and it was packed! It's always nice to see young people doing temple work. I stayed in the dressing room. There are supposed to be two adults in the dressing room at all times. Most of the time one of the sisters from one of the wards visiting was also there so we were okay.

Next at was assigned to be at the top of the stairs. The first assignment I had was to wait for a Brother and Sister Bohn and where they came out in their ceremonial clothes, escort them down to the sealing room. Brother Bohn patiently waited for his wife.

I was assigned to be in the locker room and got to visit and greet people as they came in. I also presented at the veil two times. My last assignment was supposed to be in initiatory, I had already been in initiatory once. There was a first time sister coming through on the next shift so they took over the initiatory early and we were dismissed.

James and I had planned on going to the 1:30 session so I went downstairs to get my packet. James was already there waiting for me. He thought the session was at 1:00. When I told him it was at 1:30 he could relax a little. 

My friend Debbie (Rex Bergstrom's mother-in-law) came down and said if we were going in the next session we better hurry because there was already a new name line forming and she thought it was going to be a big session because the new person who is going through has lots of friends. 

She was right. I'm glad we came up when we did. We knew two people in this session from high school. High school sweethearts Mike Davis and Barbara Brinkerhoff Davis. I sat by Barbara and James sat by Mike. It was either a family member of friend of Barbara's who was going through to receive her own endowments.

I was a little groggy during the session but I am so glad we went. My friend Sister Andersen from Flagstaff was my presenter at the veil. She is friends with President Palmer and his wife and told me that their son had recently committed suicide. He was in a car accident in his younger years and was paralyzed from the waist down. He was in a lot of pain. You never know what tragedy or sorrow another person is enduring. That is why it is so important to be kind to everyone.

On the way home we stopped at Sonic for something to eat. I got a cheeseburger and a cherry limeade which I shared with James. James got a corndog because they are easy to eat while driving.

When I got home and changed my clothes instead of lying down for a nap, I redid the blog post that I lost last night. 

James is having a difficult time opening downloads on his new computer. He gets so frustrated that he goes back to his old computer. 

I did some walking this evening and spent one hour studying "Come Follow Me." 

Kim texted and said she got to shake hands with Elder Soares.
He was at their stake conference and had a meeting with presidents of organizations and since she is Primary President she got to go. 

We watched a Crossword Mysteries episode on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel. The name of the episode: "Abracadabra" starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott.






 Cousin Wendy's girls in Utah

I have this book for sale if anyone wants to buy it.

 "Don't Miss This"












Friday, January 10th, 2020

Adelaide, Australia
89th operating temple
Dedicated: 15 June 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah
1 Nephi 22:12
Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 5-6


General Conference Daily
"Lessons from Laman and Lemuel"
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
October 1999

Oct 2019 General Conference
"Come, Follow Me - the Lord's Counterstrategy and Proactive Plan"
Brother Mark L. Pace
"Gratefully, we live in a time when prophets and apostles teach us of the Savior Jesus Christ. Following their counsel helps us establish a firm foundation in Christ."

I love this quote from Sheri Dew's book, "Women and the Priesthood":
"Studying the scriptures is a key to learning the difference between feeling the Spirit and hearing the voice of the Spirit."

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. It looks like there is about 3 inches of snow and it is still snowing. 

We went to clean the church this morning at 9 a.m. Tina Allen was there too. The Gardner's were not able to come. We are cleaning on Friday because tomorrow we work at the temple. 

James always heads for the chapel. He likes to wear the vacuum on his back, anyway that's my take on it. He looks like a guy from ghostbusters. 

Tina collected all of the garbage, cleaned the bathrooms, checked all the classrooms, and checked the kitchen and Relief Society room.

I had the big vacuum and did the "big" vacuuming in the halls. It looks like there was a popcorn party because there were bits of popcorn all down the hall. I think it may have been a Primary party because there was lots of popcorn in the Primary room too. 

When I was finished I went to put the vacuums away and there was a guy I had never seen before sitting where I had put my purse, boots, and water. I went in to ask James where my stuff was and he had brought it into the chapel. 

The guys name was Jose. He came to work at the park but when he got here Virgil, who helps maintain the park and is in our ward, said he did not have any work for him. Jose's sister had dropped him off and was heading to Springerville where she lives. He needed a ride home.

We we glad to take him home. He lived on the 61 on the other side of Stanford store. I had to text my friend Maxine whom I was meeting at 11 to go see Pat Tedder, and tell her we might be a little late.

We were a few minutes late meeting up with Maxine. She was waiting for us at the hill and stop sign on 3144. We followed Maxine's red Jeep right in to Pat's place. While Maxine and I went in, James turned the car around. 

Pat fell in the temple about 3 months ago and broke her back. She looked better than I had expected. She wears a back brace about 8 hours a day. She is a pretty amazing woman. She spend some time in the hospital and in rehab and then her daughters house in the valley. She told everyone she would be home for Christmas, and she was. Pat is 86 years old. Maxine is her best friend.

I told Pat I wanted to bring dinner next Thursday. Her son lives with her and they help each other because they both have health issues.

After my visit to Pat,  James and I went in to town. We had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, LaCasita and then James took me to Walmart. I did some shopping while he got the oil changed in the car. 

When we got home I made rolls for the temple tomorrow and finished watching "Winter in Vail."



 Gilbert and Johnnie Gonzales






So proud!

 My breakfast this morning



Throwback to two years ago on this date.

 Awww






Monday, January 20, 2020

Thursday, January 9th, 2020

Fukuoka, Japan
88th operating temple
Dedicated: 11 June 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah
1 Nephi 21:26
And I will feed the that oppress thee with their own flesh; they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 4


General Conference Daily
"Opening Our Heart"
Elder Gerald N. Lund
4/2008

Oct 2019 General Conference
"Witnesses, Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, and Young Women Classes"
President Russell M. Nelson
"You will remember that I have invited the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the Lord's youth battalion to participate in the greatest cause on earth today - the gathering of Israel. I issued this invitation to our youth because they are unusually gifted in reaching out to others and sharing what they believe in a convincing fashion. The cause of the gathering is an essential part of helping to prepare the world and its people for the Second Coming of the Lord."

"Adjustment to Strengthen Youth"
Elder Quentin L. Cook
"Today we announce organizational changes for youth at ward and stake levels. As President Nelson explained, Sister Bonnie H. Cordon will discuss changes for young women this evening. One purpose for the changes I will now discuss is to strengthen Aaronic Priesthood holders, quorums, and quorum presidencies. These changes align our practice with Doctrine and Covenants 107:15, which read, 'The bishopric is the presidency of this Aaronic priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same."

"The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console and cheer our souls."
President Russell M. Nelson

From Sheri Dew's book "Women and the Priesthood":
Have you asked the Lord to teach you what it feels like when He's communicating with you through the Holy Ghost? The scriptures are the handbook for learning the language of revelation.

Evan is sick, he can't keep any food on his stomach. Brian gave him a blessing. Trina was working at Mercy Gilbert in the ER check-in. She got him checked in as quickly as she could. He was on a drip because he was dehydrated and then sent home. We are praying for him.

I went around and took the sheets off of all the beds in the house and washed and dried them all. This evening James helped me put them all back on the beds. 

This morning I helped James put the Razr back in the garage. I have been asking him to do it for awhile. I steered it while he towed it with the truck to the driveway. The hardest part was getting it into the garage the last few feet. We had to push it, but we did it. James said he couldn't have done it without me. Was he saying that just to be nice? No, I think it was really a two person job.

I have taken a vacation from my book business but I am ready to get started up again. This morning I listened to the webinar. It's a slow start but I will get there.

James left after we got the Razr back in the house for New Mexico. Since he knows when his court date is, next Monday, he wants to do some research to make sure his statements are accurate when he goes before the judge. He was gone just a few hours, from about 10:15-1:30.

When he returned I read to him from Aunt Dimity Next of Kin and then he took a nap. 

I got a text from our friend Kerri asking if she could come over for a few minutes. Of course I said yes. She is being audited because her mother lives with her. She had written a letter and wanted me to read it, which I did. There was one small error which she corrected. The letter explains why Kerri's mom needs to live with her.

Kerri helped James on his computer. She showed him how to transfer his old files to his new computer. He was grateful for her help.

The frustrations of living in the country include: muddy roads, and slow internet. The internet is driving us crazy right now.

Random pictures from James:


 Now you know where I bathe and sleep

Mellow Mushroom the night before Ben left
for his mission


Cowgirl Lola

Summer and Jake


Posted by Randy's widow Deb:







 Sunset over Show Low Lake

Sheri's forgotten Christmas photos:


 A mountain on Christmas Eve. 
Joe, Michael, Joshua, Max, and Evan.
That looks like a giant menorah in the background.

Christmas morning, the living room is wrapped.

 Jedi Masters

 Alex with his grandma Betty

Evan's got wheels!

TBT#
Original Chandler 2nd ward bishopric right after
we moved to Chandler:

 Bobby Noel, to the right of Bishop Jones was my
priesthood advisor when I was the Primary President.







Wednesday, January 8th, 2020

Dedicated: 4 June 2000
By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Jehovah
Jonah 1:9
And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 3; Sunday School lesson; Book of Mormon Student Manual


General Conference Daily
"The Spirit of Revelation"
Elder David A. Bednar 4/2011

Oct 2019 General Conference
"Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon"
Elder Ruben V. Alliaud
"My uncle had called my mother to teel her not to worry, that I would get over this soon. Four years later, when I received my call to serve in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission, my mother called my uncle to ask him exactly when I was going to get over all this. The truth is that from the time I was baptized, my mother was a happier mother."

It was cold and windy today. I ventured out this afternoon to deliver the Relief Society birthday cards to Maxine so she could sign them. I am puzzled why it is already the 8th of January and we are just now signing cards for January. There are several birthdays the first week and these cards are going to be quite late by the time we get them to Paula  to mail. I'm going to suggest we sign them at our presidency meeting the month before.

On the way home from Maxine's I went by the post office to pick up the mail. In the mail James got his summons to court from the state of New Mexico. I got a thank you from Maxine for the calendar I gave her for Christmas and we got a star ornament of Charlie from Texas. It is so cute, I'm going to hang it and look at it all year. My car was covered in mud by the time I reached home.

James came out and cleaned off my windshield so the next time we go out we will at least have a clean windshield.

I had four glasses of herbal tea today. Making up for my diet coke addiction I guess but tea doesn't have caffeine or aspartame.

I depostied the check from Mario using my phone at home, vacuumed our bedroom and packed up the 2018-19 financial files both business and personal and took them to James's office. I emptied trashes in our bedroom, the laundry room, hall bath, and "recycle" in the pantry. I started watching the newest Hallmark movie, "Vail in Winter" starring Lacey Chabert and Tyler Hynes.I had walked 10,000 steps by 5:30 this afternoon. I blogged and studied "Come Follow Me." I listened to the following podcasts:
"All In" Morgan interviewed Emily Belle Freeman and Emily told about her new book, "Grace for All Seasons". I also listened to Emily and Dave in the "Don't Miss This" podcast and I listened to a new podcast on Joseph and the First Vision produced by the Joseph Smith Papers. 

It was a busy, productive and happy day.


 This picture was taken when they visited us.
She is trying to get in to a small black wire basket.

 generations





 James sent me some random pictures,
these are some of them:




Addy a couple of years ago