July 22nd, 2021: PhoenixAZTemple#144: Oil changed in car, Aunt Gene, Deluge of Rain, Charlie, Scarlett, Brady and the Suns loss, Index, Blog, Walk,

 

Phoenix, Arizona

144th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Nov 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Prophecies about

John 1:45

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Book of Mormon

Alma 37:11-26

How do I stay diligent in keeping God's commandments?

A: Commandments, like everything else God gives us, are for our benefit. It's easier to be diligent when I see the commandments as loving gifts to guide me to where and how God lives.

D&C

82:11-24

"Come Follow Me"

"Remember Your Way Back Home"

Elder Jose A. Teixeira

Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Knowing who you are changes what you feel and what you do. Understanding who you truly are better prepares you to recognize and remember your way back to your heavenly home and yearn to be there.

Strength comes to us when we remain righteous, true, and faithful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, even when others overwhelmingly disregard the commandments and principles of salvation.

I know from personal experience that as we choose to hear His voice and follow Him, we will receive His help. We will obtain a wider perspective of our circumstances and a deeper understanding of the purpose of life. We will feel the spiritual stirrings that will guide us to our heavenly home.

"God Loves His Children"

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo

Of the Seventy

Sometimes God manifests His love by chastening us. It is a way of reminding us that He loves us and that He knows who we are. His promised blessing of peace is open to all those who courageously walk the covenant path and are willing to receive correction.

The Living Christ

#9

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth - "built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20). 

Inklings

Emily & Rio

If I were to write a one page summary of my personal encounters with Christ, what would it say?

"What think I of Christ"?

Can I honestly say I am who I am because of

Jesus Christ?

Up at 5:30, thirty minutes late.

 

It's so hard to wait. Knowing James has cancer and not doing anything. We have to wait until the other test results are in on August 3rd to determine how aggressive the cancer is and what the treatment should be. Trina said when Ruby heard that grandpa had cancer she "balled her eyes out." She is such a sweet, tender soul. I received a spiritual confirmation of that a few years ago and just being around Ruby, I can tell you that is true. 

Harold called James this morning. My brother Harold had cancer. He said he was in stage 4 and they did not give him much hope. He did not tell me about this until he had already had his treatments and was getting better.  He said the one good thing about his cancer was that it had not spread and they were able to get rid of it all in his prostate. That is what I am now praying for, that James's cancer will not have spread and it will localized in his prostate so they can get rid of it.

I cleaned upstairs this morning. This is my third week and I am finally done except for vacuuming. I needed a shower when I was finished so I took one and then got ready to go to town. I am driving my car into town to get the oil and filter changed. James is driving his truck in because he wants to pick up pipe for the waterlines and feed for Luna. Also, we want to go visit Aunt Gene at Haven in Lakeside.

We drop the car off at Walmart where it will only cost us $31.00. After the car is in line I jump into the truck and we drive over to Haven. Someone was visiting Aunt Gene and since they only allow two people in at a time, James couldn't come in. He walked outside while I went in for a short visit. Aunt Gene looked good and was happy to see me and gave me a hug. She introduced me to her friend, Tina Welch who is visiting from California. I didn't stay long, so they could visit. Aunt Gene says she is coming home next week. I told her I would come visit after she got home. Rita is going to live with her.

James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Home Depot and to get horse feed. I did a little shopping, including a couple of t-shirts for me and this one for Sheri.

When Sheri was here visiting she said she wished she had a houseful of dogs to take care of, and that was her job. 

Today I ate one Built bar, oatmeal and nuts, cantaloupe, strawberries, ravioli with sauce, salad, Chinese Buffet crab wontons, 4, sugar biscuit, sweet potato with butter and brown sugar, hot chocolate. My commitment to cut down on sugar is weak. 

I picked up my car and headed for home. Before I left Show Low there was a downpour. James was a little ways behind me. The rain was so hard it was difficult to see and many cars were stopping alongside the road. At some points the rain was hail. I got a flash flood warning on my phone telling me to be careful and to stay home. Finally when I reached the Y by Stanford things began to clear. The rest of the way home was fine. James arrived home about five minutes after I did. The back of the truck is filled with pvc pipe, $800 worth.

The sunflowers are beginning to grow on the side of our road. I love them, James hates them. 

 It is 61 degrees and there is rain all around us. Finally it gets here around 8:00 with lightning and thunder. It was still raining when we went to bed at 10. James said when he was up at 1:30 it was still raining and there was still the lightning and thunder. I didn't like it. It was so loud and seemed very close. I am thankful for the rain though.

I texted with Pam about her friend Pam who just lost her husband to Covid. She also told me about Gene Hall and his son who died from Covid earlier in the year. I remember Gene when I lived in Show Low as a teenager. 

I watched "The Chosen" Season 2 Episode 5, "Unlawful." Mary returns and the Savior forgives her. It was so touching, I loved it. James even liked it.

I read from, "Eve and the Choice Made in Eden", "Cornerstones of the Restoration", and "The MindBody Kit." I am learning so much!

It's okay Brady, I felt the same way

Brady uses water therapy to get over

the Suns loss

Our friends the Hatch's are going to Tonga

on a mission

Cornerstones of the Restoration

Rio who cooks her kids eggs for breakfast and wonders

why they are still hungry when they are out doing errands.

She comes home and finds the eggs still on the stove in the

frying pan. Thank goodness it wasn't turned on.

Miss Ice Cream Face

James digging the waterline

Sweet Potato for dinner, yum!

Wed, July 21st, 2021: Ft.LauderdaleTemple#143: Snowflake again, Owen Taylor visits James, Charlie, 1st Day of School for some, "The Chosen", Indexing, Blogging, Walking

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

143rd operating temple

Dedicated: 4 May 2014

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Prophecies about

Luke 24:27 (24:44)

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.

(44) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Book of Mormon

Alma 36:25-37:10

How has God delivered me from my trials?

A: He sent some one to save our concrete on July 18, 2016.

He healed my pain on Easter, 2021.

God delivers me from my trials everyday. When I turn to him and follow His ways my anxieties, doubts, and fears disappear. God is everything good in my life. When I stop focusing on worldly things and focus on God, my life is happy.

D&C

82:1-10

"Come Follow Me"

82:1-7 The Lord invites me to repent and forsake my sins

AprGenCon

"Our Sorrow Shall Be Turned Into Joy"

Elder S. Mark Palmer

Of the Seventy

The glorious message of Easter morning is central to all Christianity. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, and because of this, we too will live again after we die. This knowledge gives meaning and purpose to our lives. If we go forward in faith, we will be forever changed, as were the Apostles of old. We, like them, will be able to endure any hardship with faith in Jesus Christ. This faith also gives us hope for a time when our "sorrow shall be turned into joy."

"Pressing Toward the Mark"

Elder Edward Dube

Of the Seventy

I reflect on our dear prophet President Nelson's prophetic questions to us in the last general conference. President Nelson asked: "Are you wiling to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? . . .Will you allow His voice to take . . . precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?"

The Living Christ

#8

"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:22-24).

Inklings

"What think ye of Christ?" I am realizing that how intimately I know the Savior significantly influences my ability to hear Him as well as how I respond. A few years ago, Elder David A. Bednar asked the following questions as part of his remarks: "Do we only know about the Savior, or are we increasingly coming to know Him? How do we come to know the Lord?"

As I studied and pondered, I came to the stark realization that what I know about the Savior greatly outweighed how much I really know Him. I resolved then to put forth more effort to Know HIM.

I wanted to go to Snowflake again today for two reasons. First, I wanted to get an envelope for my new ceremonial clothes. I also wanted to ask if the sisters and brothers robes are the same. I got the envelope and yes, the sisters and brothers robes are the same, and so are the aprons. Their computers were still down. I am glad that I had cash. The second reason I wanted to come was to get a planner that I saw yesterday at Walmart. It is called a "Happy" planner. It's the kind of planner I have been using this year and I really like it. This one is smaller, which is even better. 

This morning James said he needed to go to town. I said I wanted to go to Snowflake again and then I told him why. He gave me all kinds of reasons I didn't need to go. I could borrow one of his envelopes. I could come to town with him and check at the Show Low Walmart for the planner. The more we talked, the kinder he became and he finally said: "If it will make you happy to go to Snowflake, you should go." This is such a better way to communicate than for me to be offended when he doesn't want me to go. I listened to him and his ideas, and he listened to mine. It was a sweet experience. 

My trip to Snowflake was successful except for the fact that I ate two Klondike ice cream squares. I had wrote down in my Sunday journal during the sacrament that I would only eat sugar on Sunday. Here it is only Wednesday and I've already broken that commitment. I'm not going to give up. I am going to keep trying but I wonder if the Lord is disappointed in me. I keep making the same mistakes over and over. D&C 82:7 says: ... go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God. My former sins keep returning. How do I get rid of them. How does the Lord feel about me and my weaknesses? I came across this post on Instagram today which helped me.

This post was so comforting to me. There are so many scriptures where the Lord tells us He will continue to forgive us when we repent. Mosiah 26:30 - Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. As long as we are sincerely trying and our heart is in the right place, He will forgive us. We must never lose hope or give up on ourselves.

I am loving The Chosen. I love how just being with Jesus has changed those around Him, especially Matthew. I wonder if Simon Peter actually had such a dislike for Matthew because he was a tax collector. Today I watched Season 2, Episode 4 "The Perfect Opportunity" where the Savior heals a demonic who is attacking another man. Mary was reminded of her demons, and has run away. a Hopefully the others will find her before it is too late. Oh yes, the Savior also heals the man at the pool of Bethesda and has chosen the man's brother, Simon the Zealot as a disciple. 

  

I made an appointment with Sister MacArthur, a sister I minister to who has been in Alaska, for Friday afternoon. I also spoke with Tanna via text about a blessing for her baby. She definitely wants one and one for her bf, Travis. She would like one of the Hunsaker brothers to give the blessings. I told James to talk to Bishop Hunsaker and he said he would.

I cleaned in our bedroom and bathroom today. I washed our sheets and put the second mattress cover on for more softness. It is so much better! I indexed Virginia Wolfe today and George Wolfart. I only have 700 more names to do by the 31st to reach 3,000.

James and I delivered Ruthie Wilhelm her gifts for her 11th birthday only she was not home. We left the gift bag hanging on the door handle and the small cake on a shelf. Sister Wilhelm sent us a video of Ruthie opening her gifts. Lotion, perfume, bubble bath, a scrubber, lip gloss, and a makeup case. She seemed very happy.

James never did make it to town today. His friend Owen, who worked with him in the valley, came by for a visit. Owen is buying some land over by Banning Springs and wanted James to go look at it with him. Owen said he also had a new neighbor he might need some concrete work done. Owen had a brother who died recently. He lived up here and worked for APS in St. Johns. Owen got his old job. Owen's wife got a job at the Show Low hospital. They are building a metal house.

I read from two of my books today, "Written On Our Hearts" and "The MindBody Toolkit." I registered for Dr. Kim's Facebook group and read about MindBody Tool #1. Change Your Thoughts. Interesting.

In "Written On Our Hearts" I read about Moses putting fringe on the bottoms of the priests robes so they would remember to keep the commandments. Do I have reminders in my home to help me keep the commandments? Yes I do. My scriptures, pictures of Jesus and the Temple, copies of "The Living Christ" and "The Family Proclamation." There are more but these are the most obvious ones.

Lola is in 2nd Grade

Ruby is in 7th Grade

Erik's kids

Aurora

Scarlett

First day of filming season 9

 

Tue, July 20th, 2021: Gilbert AZ Temple#142: Snowflake Distribution Center, Eva's, Walmart, Charlie, Evan & Josh, Classic Art, James's diagnosis, Suns lose

Gilbert, Arizona

142nd operating temple

Dedicated: 2 Mar 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Prophecies about

Luke 4:21

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Book of Mormon

Alma 36:1-24 In what ways do you relate to Alma's conversion story? A: Alma was not converted by the angel. What converted him was remembering something his father had taught him long ago, the name of Jesus Christ, and his choosing to call upon that name for deliverance.

D&C

81

"Come Follow Me"

81 I can be faithful in doing what the Lord asks of me

AprGenCon

"The Grave Has No Victory"

Reyna I. Aburto

Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

President Nelson has taught:

"Death is a necessary component of our eternal existence. No one knows when it will come, but it is essential to God's great plan of happiness. Thanks to the Atonement of the Lord, eventual resurrection is a reality and eternal life is a possibility for all humankind....

The Living Christ

#7

Of Him the Prophet also declared: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! 

"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-

Inklings

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite and eternal and all encompassing in it breadth and depth but wholly personal and individual in its effects."

-Elder Michael John U. Teh

 Up at 5 a.m. Studied "Come Follow Me" and Elder Teh's talk and then President Nelson's talk on faith. After taking my tramadol I laid down for a short while until I felt better. At 10:30 James and I left for Snowflake. Our first stop was at Eva's Mexican Food for lunch. I had a taco and a chicken enchilada. James had a green chili burro, enchilada style. James said it was not nearly as good as the one he gets at LaCasita. After lunch we stopped at the Church's Distribution Center. Their computers are down so I had to use cash to pay for my purchases. I bought a new robe, veil, sash, and apron. The men's and women's new robes and aprons are the same. 

James helped me do the shopping at Walmart but when we left I was a little upset because he had complained so much. We got into a bit of a tiff and were quiet for awhile until I decided I would offer to read, which I did. "Beyond the White River: is a compelling story and we are "in to it." 

Once James brings in the groceries and I put them away, we take short naps. We finished "Beyond the White River" and now we need to pick a new book. It did have a good ending although we both thought it ended rather abruptly.

While James was outside working, digging water lines in the backyard he got the call from the doctor that we have been waiting for. He sent me this text: I got the results back. They took 18 samples. All areas were positive but one. We won't know how aggressive the cancer is until the final lab work is complete on the morning of August 3rd.

This day will go down as one of our worst. I told all of the kids and they were so supportive. I also told Dennis, Denise, Harold and Vickie. Harold went through this same thing a few years ago and I thought maybe he could give James some advice.

I walked outside on the deck this evening. The sky over by Anthony's was so dark and I thought maybe it would come our way but it never did. We were on the wrong side of the rain tonight.

Game six of the NBA championship series did not end well for the Suns. They lost so their chance to win the championship is over. The Bucks are the new reigning champions. 

I finished my book, "Fly Home to Me" and need to start a new one.

Read from 5 of my books before going to bed.

Classic art in teaching the gospel

Grand Tetons