Redlands, California
116th operating temple
Dedicated: 14 Sept 2003
By: Gordon B. Hinckley
Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father
1 Corinthians 11:3
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Book of Mormon
Ether 7:1-27
"Come Follow Me"
RIC: The Messenger and the Manifesto
Official Declaration 1: The work of God must move forward.
OctGenCon
"God's Love: The Most Joyous To The Soul"
Susan H. Porter
First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught:
"The first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength - that's the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength."
How can each of us know deep in our souls that great truth of eternity?
Emily & Pyper
This morning after scriptures and prayers with James I listened to "Follow Him". The guest speaker was Brother Ahmad Corbitt who is a counselor in the Young Men's General Presidency. Brother Corbitt grew up in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, a member of the Islam faith. He joined the Church in 1980, and studied the priesthood ban that his newfound church had removed from people of African descent two years earlier. As he sought to deepen his relationship with God, he found his focus and energy continually more centered on Jesus Christ and His Atonement. As he ministered to others, including Heavenly Father's black children, it became clear to him that the Savior's Atonement is the most potent source of divine power and peace for anyone struggling with anything related to the restored gospel or the Church that administers it.
Brother Corbitt and his essays on race and the priesthood are mentioned in this week's "Come Follow Me" lesson under the topic: Official Declaration 2 We can trust in the Lord, even when we do not have a perfect understanding. I made a copy of each of these 4 essays written by Brother Corbitt and have finished reading the first one and am now reading the second with the intention of reading all four of them. Here are the titles: 1) Revelations in the Summer of 1978, 2) Seeing as We Are Seen, 3) He Denieth None That Come unto Him, 4) Till We All Come in the Unity of the Faith. The following is a paragraph from the second essay by Brother Corbitt:
"As my focus on the Savior's Atonement increased, the vision of Heavenly Fathers unified human family became clearer. Correspondingly, the priesthood ban and its particulars diminished in importance for me. I saw that this was also true for other Latter-day Saints who struggled with the former ban. Although they benefited from reliable, candid, and well-reasoned discussions of the priesthood ban, such as the Church-issued statement on race and the priesthood, they became converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ - and remained in His Church - only as they gained a personal witness and understanding of His Atonement and applied our Heavenly Father's plan of salvation in their lives. In my case, the doctrine of the Atonement expanded my sense of identity. It catapulted my identity as a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a minister of the gospel, and a brother in the human family far above even the most socially ingrained aspects of my black identity, despite my intense racial experiences.
This profound spiritual self-perception didn't diminish my earthly racial identity. Rather, it contextualized my racial identity in eternity. It enabled me to more clearly see persons of all races and ethnicities as my true brothers and sisters and to understand race and ethnicity from a more eternal perspective."
Brother Ahmad Corbitt in 2014 when these articles were written. He was then serving as the President
of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East
Mission.
One of my main goals for today was to visit the Grapps. I got a text from Cammy this morning. "We need to head to town a little after 3:00. Would you possibly be coming before that? We are excited to see you!" I told Cammy that I would be leaving my house at 2:00 and would be at their home around 2:20.
It was windy and cold today. I think a storm is blowing in hopefully bringing some snow. I told James I was leaving at 2 to see the Grapps and then I was going into town. He said he wanted to go with me.
For lunch I made BLT's and then started some snickerdoodle cookies for the Grapps. They are Thomas's favorite. I also went downstairs to get the puzzle I bought the Grapps at Hobby Lobby. It's a 1000 piece picture of the nativity, surrounding landscape and all. I wrapped it and then got a Christmas card to put in with the cookies and a snowflake tag for the puzzle package. James and I left at 2 and as I had predicted, arrive at 2:20 at the Grapps. Benson was waiting at the front door and when he saw us he ran barefoot over the cinders and in the cold to open the gate for us. Two dogs were also there to greet us. Benson's dog, Scout was tied up.
Cammy and the kids were in the house. I guess Thomas was still at work. James came in with me. I sat down in "my chair" and gave the two packages to one of the kids to put under the tree. Eventually Benson found that one of the packages had cookies so he got them out and began eating them. Cammy reminded him that snickerdoodles were dad's favorites and please save him some. I told him there were 24 cookies, 3 for each person. Cammy had made us a loaf of homemade bread and it smelled delicious. We had a nice visit and I asked each of the kids what they wanted for Christmas. Emsley loves Calico Critters, Benson wants Legos, Tildy is saving for a dog and Liana wants some specific books and a pony cart.
When we said our goodbyes Benson went back out to open the gate for us, still barefooted. We miss the Grapps at church. They have not been back since Thomas was released and the Primary program on November 14th. They say they are fine but we know something is bothering them but don't want to pry unless they want to tell us. In the meantime we will go on loving them and visiting them.
On the way to town James got out his pocket knife and I cut each of us a slice of bread. It was delicious even without any toppings.
James went to Home Depot and I went to Walmart to get some calendars to give as Christmas gifts. I also got our two gifts for our family white elephant gift exchange. Here are the two gifts I bought:
This evening James built a fire. The fire with the Christmas tree and decorations is something I love and it warms my heart. I walked and watched a Christmas movie while James began building a bed frame with the lumber he bought at Home Depot today.
I got a call from my friend Kerri. She has been on a list to receive a kidney for over a year now and she was called tonight to say that they had one for her. She will leave for the valley tomorrow and the surgery will be done immediately. Wow! What a great Christmas present for her. She said I did not have to worry about her mother because Sister Bartels was going to come and stay with her. They are both lonely widows and will care for each other. Barbara is a little younger than Catherine and will be doing the driving.
Closeup of our treeWe love this family!
