Tuesday, February 11th, 2020

Aba, Nigeria

121st operating temple

Dedicated: 7 Aug 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Judge

Psalms 72:2

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

2 Nephi 7

Jacob continues reading from Isaiah: Isaiah speaks messianically - The Messiah will have the tongue of the learned - He will give His back to the smiters - He will not be confounded - Compare Isaiah 50. About 559-545 B.C.

Lesson Manual:

2 Nephi 9:1-26 Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ delivers all people from physical and spiritual death. (Video of Jacob preaching was awesome!)

"Consistent and Resilient Trust"

Elder L. Todd Budge

"It is recorded that the Jaredites then 'got aboard of their ... barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.' To commend means to entrust or to surrender. The Jaredites did not get into the barges because they knew exactly how things would work on their journey. They got aboard because they had learned to trust in the Lord's power, goodness, and mercy, and they were therefore willing to surrender themselves and any doubts or fears they may have had to the Lord."

I made a commitment today regarding drinking soda. I quit drinking diet soda because of health issues but now I'm drinking a sugar soda a day, fully intending to only drink one a week. This is my commitment: "I will not drink soda on a daily basis. It is bad for my teeth and my health. It has no nutritional value. I feel guilty when I drink it and it causes me to have issues with my stomach. By March 1st I will only drink an occasional, once a week or so, soda. 

I got a text from Barbara Goodman this morning. She and Pierce make collodial silver and they told James the other night they would make him some. He was excited. Barbara's text was to tell me that James's silver was ready. He immediately went out in the snow storm to pick it up. First he tried his truck but said the door was frozen shut and the windshield was iced up. He took my car. When he returned he parked it outside because he did not want to get mud in the garage. Poor Lexy, she's not use to the snow and cold.

We are so obsessed with the snow. This

photo was taken by Sister Finnell in our ward.

Front door view

James took this on his way to the

Goodman's

I bought books today and listened to part of the webinar with Kris and Kathy. Kathy has a new wig. I did not like it. They are the best presenters though. I wish I could be a part of their mentoring group but we just can't afford it.

For lunch I made baked chicken tenders. They were quite good. James had his with Heinz 57 sauce and I had mine with honey mustard. We also warmed up our left over rice pilaf. It was a tasty lunch.

James got a call from Tom Howard right after lunch. He is stuck and so is Sy Westbrook. James immediately hopped in his truck and went to the rescue. He said that the Howard's have more snow than we do. Tom said he is definitely selling their house. While they are gone to church he says family members have been coming in and taking things.

I am ashamed to say that I had 3 sugar cookies, two without frosting today. I think I have a sugar addiction and I am surprised I am not diabetic. Maybe the walking helps.

James was reading about stevia today. We use it to sweeten our herbal tea because it has no known side effects and no calories. He said Coke and Pepsi are experimenting with using it in their diet drinks. That would almost make me drink them again.

I started making valentines today. I got Jared and Kacey's ready to send and Autumn and Palmer's and Scarlett's. I will also send some to Darrel's family. Not sure about the girls families. I am also making cookies and rice krispy treats for the families James and I minister to.

This evening I studied the "Come Follow Me" lesson. 2 Nephi 9 is incredibly powerful. I also listened to several chapters from "The Saints."

Elder Trezise's Letter:

Sheri's Letter:

Neglected bananas will soon disappear
Pray for my marriage as I throw these
bananas away

Love the "long" hair flipping up
in the back

Farmstyle Decor

Do you like farmstyle?

I tried this but it didn't work. I guess
I was a day late.

The extent of my Valentine decor

Valentine central

Sending Charlie a book called
"Charlie and Tess". It's a little old
for her but I couldn't resist

Cute valentine notebooks I'm going to
send with stickers

 I found this book upstairs in my office while
looking for Valentine stuff. I started reading it and
I'm totally fascinated! More to come

Monday, February 10th, 2020

San Antonio, Texas

120th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 May 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Judge

Psalms 7:8

The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

2 Nephi 6

Jacob recounts Jewish history: The Babylonian captivity and return; the ministry and crucifixion of the Holy One of Israel; the help received from the Gentiles; and the Jews' latter-day restoration when they believe in the Messiah. About 559-545 B.C.

"The Atonement"

Russell M. Nelson

Oct 1996

"Humbly I join the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who asked,

'Why not speak of the atonement of Christ?' This topic comprises our third article of faith: 'We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.'"

"Come, Follow Me - the Lord's Counterstrategy and Proactive Plan

Mark L. Pace

Oct 2019

"Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

We got up this morning to rain, off and on most of the day, until tonight when it turned to snow.

James reminded me that we were going to call Launch and Discover to see what happened to the refunds we should have received when we paid their respective accounts off. Since I am the co-signer on both accounts, I made the calls.

Launch first. They said on January 3rd they mailed a check to Stacy Gonzales. They had told me they were going to send it to Amrock because they are the ones who wrote the check paying the bill. I guess they called Amrock and Amrock told them to refund the money to the borrower. Stacy is the borrower and I am the co-signer. I texted Stacy and she said if she got a letter from Launch she threw it away. James called Amrock and complained to them. Amrock called Launch and they said since the first check was not cashed they would send us a check. Problem solves, hopefully.

When I called Discover and spoke to a guy named Phil he said they had sent a check to, at first he didn't know and eventually he said Jared Gonzales, at an address on a Birch St. in San Bernadino, California because that's the address they had on file. I'm sorry, but your file is wrong. Now I am waiting while they do some research to see if the check has been cashed. If it has not, they can issue a new check to Jared and Stacy will get it and deposit it and send me the money. 

The total of the two refunds is over $600. We could use that money right now. This has been such a hassle, all because Amrock made the wrong amounts on the payoff checks they sent.

We said goodbye to Kim and Brian this morning. Kim was excited about the cloudy, rainy weather and didn't want to leave, but of course they had to.

Super amazing Kim and Brian!

Before they left Brian made me some oil capsules to take for my red and swollen eyelid. Kim gave me an oil to rub around my eye socket and told me I could also use lavender. I love that they have a remedy for so many things. I hope mine works as well as the one they made for James.

I left to go to town around 11:45. I wanted to make it to the post office before they closed for lunch at noon so I was in a hurry. James was on the phone. I didn't think he wanted to go but he texted me later and said he was sad I left without him. I am so sorry honey! Honestly I'm glad he stayed home because he sprayed off the entire driveway and it looks so great!

Most first stop was at Walmart where I bought a rotisserie chicken for my chicken and rice soup I am making for the Crane's. I also came to buy valentines, which I did. It was a quick trip but I still managed to spend over $130. It's so easy to spend money, why isn't it easier to earn it?

I went across the street and down to Wagon Wheel where I went through the drive-thru at Aliberto's and ordered an Arizona burrito and a green chili burrito. I love the Arizona burrito and ate half of it before I got home. I stopped for gas on the way home. My goal is to always have my tank at least half full.

Back at home I started a batch of sugar cookie dough and put it in the frig to chill while I made the chicken with rice soup for the Crane's. I also got some Sister Schubert rolls and heated them up and put them in a basket. I baked the sugar cookies, frosted them, and James took the soup, rolls and a couple of cookies wrapped in decorative bags over to the Crane's. 

I didn't take a picture in the decorative bag

but this is what the cookies looked like.

I baked and frosted more cookies for our "Come Follow Me" study group, the Peeler's and the Goodman's. They loved them. Barbara said they were the best she's ever had. I left some unfrosted for those who prefer them without frosting which James and Owen did.

After our guests left I got a message from Cathy Arnett about a book she has that she borrowed from Gail years ago. She wanted Erik's number so she could get it to him and he could give it to Gail. I told her that Pierce had just been here. She said he is like a brother to her and she still remembers going to the hospital with her mom and waiting in the car while her mom went in to see the new baby. She said she was four years old and it was okay to leave your kid in the car back in those days.

I wanted to do some more studying before going to bed but realized I didn't have all my steps so I walked instead and listened to a couple of chapters from "Saints" volume 1.

Saturday fun at the lake

 NASA says today was the day that the

earth was at a tilt to let your broom

stand alone.

Sunday, February 9th, 2020

Manhattan, New York

119th operating temple

Dedicated: 12 June 2004

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Judge

Deut 32:36

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Review 2 Nephi 1-5; Begin 2 Nephi 6-10

"To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency"

Elder Robert D. Hales

April 2004

"Witnesses, Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, and Young Women Classes"

President Russell M. Nelson

Oct 2019

"In each ward, the Lord's youth battalion is led by a bishop, a dedicated servant of God. His first and foremost responsibility is to care for the young men and young women of his ward. The bishop and his counselors direct the work of the Aaronic Priesthood quorums and the Young Women classes in the ward."

"Adjustments to Strengthen Youth"

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"How will our beloved and hard-working bishops fulfill this responsibility? As you remember, in 2018 Melchizedek Priesthood quorums were adjusted to work even more closely with Relief Societies so that elders quorums and Relief Societies can, under the direction of the bishop, help shoulder important responsibilities that previously consumed much of his time. These responsibilities include missionary work and temple and family history work in the ward - as well as much of the ministering to ward members."

Jean was not at church today. I need to call and make sure she is ok.

The Westbrook's, Joe and Corrina and their three girls Jolee, Macy, and Kyah were the speakers in sacrament meeting today. The them was "Go and Do" in the Savior's Way.  

Jolee - Everything I do brings me closer to Christ.

Macy - Macy said she wrote an outline for her talk but she lost it. She talked about being a good listener when others share their belief's with her. She said she would share her belief's too but she would never tell the other person that their belief's were wrong. Very diplomatic.

Kyah - Spoke about awareness, transformation, and love. She said that her awareness begins with knowing that she is a child of God. She says that everyday we need to work on our mind, body, and soul. She said this was one of her favorite quotes: "When obedience becomes a quest and not a burden then we will be endowed with power." We need to love as Jesus loved. Relationships are very important. Bring out in others what they already know instead of trying to change the other person. I think the missionaries do this when they are teaching investigators. They begin with what they already know.

Corrina - Corrina is part of the Pathway program and you can tell it has had a big impact on her life. She talked about her new understanding of the definition of networking. Networking is simply building new relationships with more people. Be genuine without having an agenda. The Savior established the gospel through a network of believers, one person sharing with another. The gospel came from Jesus and John. Jesus shared with the 12 apostles and told them to go out and teach the world. She spoke about learning to track her spending. The Pathway program calls it tracking, trimming, and targeting. Through tracking what she spends, which she says has helped her marriage and therefore something the Savior would want her to do, she can see ways they can trim back and save for their target goal of taking a vacation. She said we need to treat money as a friend. She closed with this from the scriptures, "Out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

Joe - Joe was nervous. You can tell that public speaking is not something he enjoys doing. He does have a wonderful testimony of his Savior and he shared that with us. He spoke about the character of Christ and how one of His greatest characteristics was His concern for others. Act on promptings. The Holy Ghost pushes us to act, or "go and do." He closed with this quote from the Savior: "Love one another as I have loved you." 

Sister Skousen gave the lesson in Relief Society, based on Elder Rasband talk, "Standing By Our Promises and Covenants."

The Savior was our greatest example.  He always did the Father's will, he taught the principles of the gospel in word and deed, and He atoned for our sins. His name if the only name by which salvation is possible.

Elder Rasband said that one of the first promises he remembers keeping was the Scout oath. Becky showed a picture of she and her husband and their two boys receiving their Eagle Scout awards. She said she knew that the scouting program helped her sons become better men.

We discussed the youth theme of "going and doing." Tamara said the opposite of going and doing is sitting and watching. I immediately thought of my Hallmark movies. I'm glad I've cut down to watching only one or two a week.

Becky said yesterday she was prompted to go see her friend and fellow ward member Connie Bell. She said Connie was babysitting for her great grand baby. When Becky came to the door with a bag of candy she put the baby down and walked over to give her a hug and said: "I thought everyone had forgotten about me. Thank you so much for coming." Becky is a wonderful example of someone who follows her promptings.

When we say to someone we will pray for them, do we? 

Going and doing means rising above the ways of the world, acting on personal revelation, and making sure our thoughts and actions reflect our commitment to the Savior. If we do these things we are promised that we will always have His Spirit to be with us.

Elder Rasband shared a talk he had with his mother when he was young where she made him promise that he would always obey the Word of Wisdom. He says that he has always honored that commitment. Becky says when she is alone with her oldest grandson who is 13 she has him promise to always live the gospel and keep the commandments. She wants the gospel to always be uppermost in his mind.

After church James brought me home and took two deacons, Colter and Eugene with him to take the sacrament to people in our ward who are not able to come to church. They visited Lucretia, Brother Sicard, Pat Tedder, and Dave Kostusiak. Everyone was most appreciative. He also went to Cress Miller's but they were not home. 

When James got home Kim and Brian were waiting for him. Kim wanted a father's blessing. Brian anointed and James gave her a blessing of health and well-being. Afterwards Kim gave him a big hug. 

I worked on family history today. I went to my add a name and ran off everything I had in temple ready. I did the same for James and checked on some of those names we thought might be duplicates. Most of them were. I found two endowments for brothers and several for sisters so we have names ready for our sessions on the 22nd and 29th.

Vickie called and we set a date for Saturday at 5:30 at Licano's. Dennis and Denise won't be there because they are going to "Out of Africa" with Kyle's family.

This evening we had "Come Follow Me" with Kim and Brian. We discussed this week's lesson and then we introduced the coming week's lesson by watching "Teaching with Power." It was so good. We all enjoyed it. 

I am so impressed with Kim. She reads the conference talks on generalconference365 and takes copious notes. She shared some of her favorite quotes with us. 

James and I wrote a letter to Elder Trezise and I watched Emily and Dave on "Don't Miss This." 

It was a wonderful Sabbath day.

I think I forgot to post a picture of Stacy

for her birthday. I like this one when

she was a year old with her dad and

Teresa.

 Trina was thinking about doing Valentine 

baskets for her kids. I sent her this.

 Sheri says that getting their dogs was one of the

best decisions they have ever made because they

have brought so much joy and happiness into

their home.

 Sweetness abounds in the girl!

Sean and Stefani's crew

Saturday, February 8th, 2020

Copenhagen, Denmark

118th operating temple

Dedicated: 23 May 2004

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Judge

Psalm 94:2

Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Review 2 Nephi 1-5

"Found Through the Book of Mormon"

Elder Ruben V. Alliaud

"Nephi explained the central purpose of the Book of Mormon in this way:

'For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God. ...

And so we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, and we prophesy of Christ, ... that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.'

The entire Book of Mormon is imbued with the same sacred purpose."

I was up at 3:45 this morning to get ready to go to the temple. We left at 5:40 after having our morning prayer. We listened to four conference talks on the way to Snowflake. One was Elder Rasband's, "Standing By Our Promises and Covenants." Both the Relief Society and the Elder's Quorum are studying this lesson on Sunday. I am glad that President Crane wanted to study the same talk as we were studying.

We had to stop as we reached the Jake Flake bridge in Snowflake to take a picture of the full moon over the temple. The moon never turns out in a picture as it looks in real life. Today was no different. There was a glare in the picture but I'm going to post it anyway.

The moon was clear and yellow and it looks

pretty amazing.

The Palmer's presided at our preparation meeting. President Palmer is the temple president. He told us that President Brimhall was going to be released because of health issues. He recently has a heart procedure and is going to need another one in the near future. He and his wife (she's my favorite) have served faithfully but it has become more difficult because of his health. James was friends with President Brimhall when they worked on the Show Low High Council together and we both are sad that they need to be released. President Palmer asked us to pray for them, which we will.

Our training today was regarding baptisms. Brother and Sister Lofgreen are the baptismal directors today in the absence of the Weinhardts. There are lots of groups coming today for baptisms. I saw one young man who looked like he was no more than 10. It is exciting to see these young people serving in the temple.

My first assignment, for an hour, was at the sealing desk downstairs, under the stairs. Most of the time I just sat reading the headings of the chapters in the Old Testament. I am at the end of Ezekiel. The first people to come in were the Merrill's who come nearly every week we are here to do sealings. Sister Merrill looks like she's going to have a baby any day, and I wonder how difficult it is to kneel at the altar, but she is here which tells me a lot about her. Just as it was time for me to leave another sister, Sister Parker, came in and asked to do sealings. I filled out her card and told her the sister at the top of the stairs would take she and her husband back to the sealing room as soon as they were dressed in their ceremonial clothing. When I got to the top of the stairs, no one was there, so I waited for them and took them back. This cut in to my break a little but I still had plenty of time to eat.

I sat by Sister Humphrey's and Brother Hancock. Sister Hancock got a sub today because she is working at her job in Lakeside with special needs children. I guess her brother is one of her students.

Brother and Sister Hancock are cute newly weds who work on our shift. They live on the golf course that surrounds the temple near the 14th hole. Brother Hancock told a story about his wife. He said, you think she is sweet and kind, which she is most of the time, but let me tell you a little trick she plays on the golfers on the 14th hole. We have a row of trees that separate us from the golf course. She sneaks out with her air horn and when the golfer is ready to make a shot she blows her horn. You can imagine what the golfer does. She laughs and runs back to the house, unseen.

We had four sisters on our shift who did not show up nor did they call or get a substitute. Sister Elmer had to entirely redo her schedule. I felt sorry for her, but somehow we survived without these four sisters.

I was at the veil three times today, for every session during our shift. The first time I was the presenter at veil 2 and James was the receiver. That has never happened before and it was kind of neat.

After the veil I am always "as assigned" which is basically the same as a break. I went down to the break room to talk to James about the 1:30 session which is the session we attend after we are finished working. There will be two own endowee's and I told him that the session might be busy and we need to go up early.  He agreed.

Sister Elmer joined us, and told about the diet she is on where she has lost 22 lbs. She eats no flour and no sugar. I asked if it was a change in her lifestyle and she said she didn't know. It was too early to tell.

I had a chance to visit with my friend Elwanda Reidhead from Heber. She knew Randy and Dennis in high school and I told her about Randy's funeral. She told me about something very serious and upsetting that happened recently in Heber in front of the high school. One of the teachers at the high school, Mrs. Crandell, who lives across the street from the school and was walking to school one morning was attacked by three pit bulls who live down the street with an older man. They tore her scalp off and she had to have over 500 stitches. Someone came out and shot one of the dogs and the other two ran away or it would have been worse. This could have been one of the kids because several houses are located across the street and there is lots of kids who come and go. I asked if the other dogs were going to be put down and she said, "they better be."

Sister Reidhead was asked to be ready to help with the prayer circle in the 11 o'clock session because there were not enough sisters. She was excited and said the prayer circle is her favorite and whenever she does a session they always do the prayer circle. She is a great example to me. As a result of her attitude James and I did the prayer circle in the 1:30 session.

The 1:30 session was not busy. I did not have to be nudged this time when it was time to raise my hand. I won't say I didn't sleep but at least it wasn't as noticeable. I was the last sister to go through the veil and my friend, Sister Andersen from Flagstaff, was my presenter. I am always so glad when we do a session and I thanked James in the Celestial room for staying inspite of not feeling well.

On the way home we stopped at Sonic for a burger for me and a hotdog and a corndog for James. It was 64 degrees when we left Snowflake and 55 in Vernon. 

Brian was cleaning the kitchen when we got home, I guess they had just eaten and Kim was working on the new crossword puzzle Brian got her for Christmas. 

Quilt patterns. I did the one purple square with

the four blue squares.

James got 5,700 steps for me at the temple. I am sure I got at least that many as many times as I went up and down the stairs. I came home and walked until I got over 10,000. I also did some undisciplined eating because of that darn apple crisp. Kim wont' eat it because she is trying to eat glueten free because she has to have bloodwork done this week. Anyway I ate and walked and worked on my blog before James, Kim and I watched the newest Hallmark movie, "Matched Hearts." Brian watched the Suns game on his phone.

Ryan Pavey and Taylor Cole