Calgary, Alberta
140th operating temple
Dedicated: 28 Oct 2012
By: Thomas S. Monson
Jesus Christ, Mission of
Mosiah 15:9 - satisfied justice
Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 20:1-22
"Come Follow Me" and Doctrine and Covenants
Review sections 6-9
OctGenCon
'Waiting on the Lord'
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf. That can be difficult in our modern world when many have come to believe that the highest good in life is to avoid all suffering, that no one should ever anguish over anything. But that belief will never lead us to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
'A New Normal'
President Russell M. Nelson
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Embrace your new normal by repenting daily. Seek to be increasingly pure in thought, word, and deed. Minister to others. Keep an eternal perspective. Magnify your callings. And whatever your challenges, my dear brothers and sisters, live each day so that you are more prepared to meet you Maker.
That is why we have temples. The Lord's ordinances and covenants prepare us for eternal life, the greatest of all of God's blessings.
P5 S1
We further witness that Joseph Smith was given the gift and power of God to translate an ancient record: the Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
I slept on the recliner again last night. James is preparing the sacrament today so he has to be at church 20 minutes early. We left at 8:30 to arrive on time.
I talked to my friend Millie and thanked her for the vitamin K2. She said I could have more if I needed it and to not worry about paying her back. Such a sweetie! Kerri made me a portable stool. Her mom convinced her that lifting my foot just a little would help me be more comfortable. Since I sat next to her during sacrament meeting I made sure I used the stool. How thoughtful of her!
I talked to my friend Ginger who was sitting by herself. I invited her to sit by us but she declined. She is worried today, something about her mom and sister. I told her if she ever needed to talk to anyone that I was available. She thanked me.
Brother and Sister Warren were the speakers today. They are fairly new in our ward. They are older and they are also temple workers. They work on Tuesday, the day Maxine always went so she knows them quite well.
Sister Warren spoke on Elder Bednar's talk, "We Will Prove Them Herewith." Here are a couple of quotes from this talk:
"I pray that we as individuals and families are learning the valuable lessons that only challenging experiences can teach us. I also hope that all of us will more fully acknowledge the "greatness of God" and the truth that "he shall consecrate our afflictions for our gain."
Two basic principles can guide and strengthen us as we face proving and trying circumstances in our lives, whatever they may be: (1) the principle of preparation and (2) the principle of pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ."
Brother Warren spoke on Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk, "Sustainable Societies." One of the things he said about his wife really struck me. He said she is a very loving and giving person and she has been known to take in homeless people. He said this has at times been uncomfortable for him, but he has always been grateful for her reaching out to help others and showing them love and concern. This made me think of Ginger and how she and her husband have taken in a family who was in need of a home. She is an example to me.
From Elder Christofferson's talk:
"What are the fundamentals that sustain a flourishing society, one that promotes happiness, progress, peace, and well-being among its members? We have scriptural record of at least two such thriving societies. Enoch and his city of holiness, and the first and second century peoples in the Western Hemisphere known as Nephites and Lamanites. What can we learn from them?
"Anciently, the great patriarch and prophet Enoch preached righteousness and 'built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.' It is reported that "the Lord call his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them."
Following the resurrected Savior's remarkable ministry among the Nephites and Lamanites, "they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord. . . .
And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."
The socities in these two examples were sustained by the blessings of heaven growing out of their exemplary devotion to the two great commandments: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind: and "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." They were obedient to God in their personal lives, and they looked after one another's physical and spiritual welface. In the words of the Doctrine and Covenants, these were societies with "every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God."
(This was one of my favorite talks!)
James helped prepare and then he helped bless the sacrament. He said the prayer on the bread. Greg Andersen said the prayer on the water. Those passing: Colter Hunsaker, Eugene Judd, a new Deacon Kevin Judd, Jr., Curtis Wilhelm, who was just sustained as a Teacher, and Sean Hunsaker.
After the meeting was over Benson Grapp came up to invite me to his birthday party on the 13th of February. His birthday is on the 14th, but that is on Sunday. He will be 11. I told him I would love to come. Cammy said they would love to come over and visit this afternoon and I said I would talk to James but I thought that would be great.
I also spoke to Jackson Allen and his fiance Kennadee Coplen and asked them when they would be getting married. They said March 13th. That's on a Saturday and happens to be James's brother, Terry's birthday.
The Grapp's came over this afternoon around 4. They came bearing gifts: Tildy brought us some treats she made with chocolate, honey, oatmeal and peanut butter, and a picture she drew of a rose. She also thanks me for the birthday presents. Brother Grapp was holding Leland, who was asleep, and a bowl of 20 eggs. They bought 32 chickens and they are getting about 22 eggs a day, which is too many for their family and Thomas's grandma. We needed eggs, we were down to our last one!
I showed Liana what I was indexing. She is 12 and is an indexer as are Thomas, Benson, and Tildy. Cammy said to me that I was her mentor. I told her I was amazed by her and all of the many talents she has. She and Thomas just remodeled their bathroom and she showed me the pictures. They live in an older home but gradually they are getting it fixed up.
Benson has a dog! He is an Alaskan husky named Scout. He is beautiful! Liana has her own dog too, an Australian Shepherd named Bandit. Each of the kids has their own horse and eventually Emsley will get her own dog too. I'm not sure that Tildy wants a dog, but if she does I'm sure she will get one. Liana is also getting a flop-eared rabbit and the other girls may get one of those too. What a fund family the Grapp's are. They do everything together and Cammy homeschools them so they really are best friends.
We loved our visit with the Grapp's! Thomas is an avid journal keeper for years he has written in his journal daily. Now he is trying to write a book, "The Blessings of Journal Keeping." He said he has to go back through and every time he mentions a name, he has to get their permission to include them in his book. He said it has been tedious but rewarding as he feels he now has a better storyline.
Just as they were leaving Ben texted me and ask me to send pictures of my 3-D Settlers of Catan game so he could show his friends. Benson was so interested in the game and made me promise he could play the next time he came over.
Liana, Bandit, Benson and Scout
James and Malea
She is now 6 months old and
is the sweetest baby!
Sabbath with Charlie
These shrimp tacos look so yummy!
Love!
