Thursday, January 19, 2022: Up @ 6:46, Inklings, Courtney's cake, Chicken tacos, refried beans, corn, Three elders for dinner

 

Manti, Utah

3rd operating temple

Dedicated: 21-23 May 1888

By: Lorenzo Snow

Jesus Christ, taking His name

D&C 63:61

Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips -

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 14:9-30

Come Follow Me

John 1:1-18 Jesus Christ is the "true light," the Son of God.

Jesus's Name

The Word

OctGenCon

His Yoke Is Easy And His Burden Is Light

Sister J. Anette Dennis

First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

The Savior asks us to learn of Him and do the things we have seen Him do. He is the embodiment of charity, of pure love. As we incrementally learn to do what He asks of us - not out of duty or even for the blessings we might receive but purely out of love for Him and our Heavenly Father - His love will flow through us and make all that He asks not only possible but eventually much easier and lighter and more joyful than we could ever imagine.

100 Favorite Verses

Isaiah 1:18 - The Lord's Cleansing Power

Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Up at 6:46 and it is Emily's fault! I couldn't go to sleep last night after her grace fireside.

This morning I watched Inklings with Emily and Courtney Rich of CakebyCourtney. Courtney is in California waiting to go to Kelly Clarkson's studio to tape a segment about cake making to be aired next week. Wow! Three of my favorites: Emily, Courtney, and Kelly.

They talked about Elder Sitati's talk, and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. They told Elder Busche's devotional video on YouTube. You just search Elder Busche invites...to find it. Courtney also talked about "The Chosen" so today while I was working in the kitchen I watched the devotional which is about six and a half minutes long and then I began watching season 3 of "The Chosen."

We are feeding the missionaries today. The first thing I made was the first cake in Courtney's Cake Camp Course that I signed up for. It's a chocolate sheetcake with vanilla buttercream frosting. At first I didn't like the buttercream frosting. For the pieces I served the elders I scraped off the frosting and added Coolwhip. It tasted good but I should have left the frosting on because after setting for awhile it tasted delicious! The cake was so chocolaty and super moist.

This afternoon I made two dozen chicken tacos. There are three elders coming tonight. I told James that each of the elders could have six tacos and each of us could have three. The elders didn't eat nearly that many so we had about 8 tacos left over. James asked me to cook them in the air fryer, which I did. They turned out nice and crispy but in order to keep them warm I put them in a 200 degree oven which was a mistake because it made them soggy. They still tasted good. Elder Piper especially loved them. We also had some of Mama Julia's refried beans and corn. 

I suggested 6:00 for dinner but the missionaries asked if we could make it 5:30 and I said yes. The problem is, we were ready at 5:30 but they didn't get here until 6. Go figure. I guess the reason they wanted 5:30 was because they had an appointment with Cody, a guy who is being baptized who lives in Vernon. Here is a picture of Elder Piper, Elder Price, and Elder Walton who is the assistant to the President.

Elder Piper, Elder Price, and Elder Walton

After dinner the elders helped us download the new Book of Mormon app and Elder piper shared a scripture with us, Alma 26:22

Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing - unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

The elders brought such a wonderful spirit into our home and we are so grateful they came. They had to rush off to visit Cody who is scheduled to be baptized on Saturday, January 28th.

We both helped clean the kitchen before we settled in to our evening activities.

Charlie's 3rd birthday.

Sheri made the cake

Although he is not LDS I like

his philosophy.

I love mini-cakes

Wednesday, January 18, 2023:John the Baptist, Cold but sunny, "Hidden Key to HP", Bowen contracts, Kim, Rita bought a house in QC, Emily's Grace Fireside,

 

Logan, Utah

2nd operating temple

Dedicated: 17-19 May 1884

By: John Taylor

Jesus Christ, taking His name

D&C 50:4

Behold, I, the Lord, have looked upon you, and have seen abominations in the church that profess my name.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:40-14:8

Come Follow Me

John 1:1-5 Jesus Christ was "in the beginning with God."

Jesus's Name this week:

The Word

OctGenCon

Lifted Up Upon the Cross

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I know people, in and out of the Church, who are following Christ faithfully. I know children with severe physical disabilities, and I know the parents who care for them. I see all of them working sometimes to the point of total exhaustion, seeking strength, safety, and a few moments of joy that come no other way. 

100 Favorite Verses

D&C 14:9 The Living God and Creator of the World

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, a light which cannot be hid in darkness.

Up at 4:06. I love this early morning time to pray and study the gospel. I call it my "morning walk with Jesus."

It is very cold outside although the sun is shining. James opens the cupboard doors under the sink and turns the heater on during the night when it gets below 20 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing. 

James got a call from Dr. Powell's office today. She is the doctor at St. Joe's who assisted with his last procedure. She wants to set up a phone meeting with him and with me on Friday at 2:15. Finally we are going to hear something. Because it has taken so long I am a little worried. 

I finally made an appointment with Barnett-Delaney-Perkins today. My appointment is on the 24th at 2:30. The appointment is to go over paperwork, etc. to get the procedure done on my left eye which seems to be cloudy after the cataract surgery. 

I talked to my cousin Rita today and she was excited because she finally bought a house in the valley. She said she is ten houses down from her daughter Gina in Queen Creek. 

Tonight I was listening to Emily Freeman's fireside on grace when James came in to walk and listen. Emily's fireside coincided with her book, "Grace to Become. I am so glad I bought the workbook because she has a diagram in the workbook that I love.

I wrote in sin and death under saving grace and temple covenants under exalting grace as Emily was talking. I love this chart!

 Emily also explained Abraham's covenant with God as found in Genesis 15. This can be found in her book, "Grace to Become" on pages 19-25. 

Emily's nonmember, religious friend called and wanted to know the difference between salvation and exaltation. "If the celestial kingdom, ordinances, the covenant path and striving for exaltation are so important," she wondered, her question sincere and honest, "why is that never mentioned in the Bible the way you talk about it?" Emily says she will do some looking and they will talk later. 

The next morning Emily turns to the story of God's people found in the book of Genesis. She wants to discover the reason for living a covenant life, the reason she belongs to a faith that teaches about exaltation. There, near the beginning, I come across a Hebrew word I have written in the margin in my messy script: Abram - exalted father. I notice the word exalted, and because of the conversation with her friend, she is instantly drawn in. 

She reads a story that weaves together themes of weakness and faith, staggering and hope, unbelief and promise, and wonders how Abraham held fast to a promise that was sure and a God who was able when the conditions of his life suggested otherwise.

Then Jehovah appeared to Abraham, saying, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1). It was a promise of protection, but also increase - I am your saving and your exaltation. She pauses here for understanding. It is the first time she has ever noticed a scripture that contains the promise of a grace that saves and a grace that exalts. Two promises crucial to Abraham's mortal journey. But instead of immediately grasping hold of the promise, Abraham focused on his lack. there was no future in Abraham's home, no possibility for increase. Sarah was barren.

It seemed Jehovah had offered an impossible promise. In fact, the conditions of mortality ensured that Abraham could not obtain it.

But Jehovah was not hindered by Abraham's mortal inadequacy. He spoke of stars flung across the heavens, of exceeding great reward, "and Abraham believed in the Lord" (Genesis 15:6). But enduring faith did not come immediately. "Whereby shall I know . . . ?" Abraham questioned the Lord (Genesis 15:8).

A few verses down from there, Abraham's story teaches us what it looks like to live in covenant relationship. The Lord instructed Abraham to obtain a heifer, a she-goat, a ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. It was the preparing of a covenant. In those days, it was custom to cut each sacrifice in half and place them all in a line, each half across from the other. Then the two covenanting parties would pass between them, and when both had walked through the carcasses, the promise would be sure. Instead of signing a document, this was covenant ritual. In Hebrew, the phrase "make a covenant" is karath berith - more precisely meaning "to cut a covenant." The walking between the pieces signified the promise, "If I do not keep my covenant, may I become as this animal."

So, Abraham prepared the covenant and then waited on the Lord. All day long he waited. As morning turned to afternoon and then on to evening, Abraham drove the hovering fowls away from what was meant to be the sign of his promise.

Exhausted, Abraham fell asleep.

When it was dark, "behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp . . . passed between those pieces" (Genesis 15:17). In the middle of that dark place, only the Lord walked through. "Then it was that the covenant was made; not, as usually, by both parties passing between the divided sacrifice, but by Jehovah alone doing so, since the covenant was that of grace, in which one party along - God - undertook all the obligations, while the other received all the benefit." In that moment, the Lord placed the penalty of violating the covenant on Himself. 

The Lord promised Abraham that He would uphold both sides of the covenant, even if it meant the shedding of His own blood. From the beginning He was willing to offer HIs life for Abraham's. It is one of the first examples of grace recorded in the story of God's people, and there is an important lesson here. Abraham's posterity was ensured salvation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, but there was more. His posterity was promised a path that would exalt them if they chose to enter into the covenant relationship. It was the promise of priesthood ordinances that would lead to exaltation and eternal increase. This was different that just receiving salvation - everyone in Abraham's posterity who received salvation through belief in Christ now became eligible to also receive the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant if they chose - they were entitled to this eternal increase - but they would be required to live a life worthy of obtaining it. Every blessing, through their faithfulness. A life of covenant becoming.

Because we are the children of Abraham, Jehovah offers each of us that same promise filled with impossibility. Your personal conditions of mortality, your inadequacies and weakness might make you question whether you will ever realize that promise.

Jehovah is not now, nor ever has been, hindered by mortal inadequacy. 

In your darkest places, look for the burning lamp. In the barren places, watch for His increase.

"I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1). His is the promise of protection and increase - I am your saving and your exaltation. 

Here was the answer Emily's friend was seeking. An invitation to pursue exaltation found in the Bible. An invitation for every one of us. 

Every so often in a life, a sudden insight into an essential truth will come from an ordinary experience. An epiphany. Our feet may be firmly planted in the dirt we have lighted upon, darkness may surround, but for a time we are given a glimpse of who we are and the potential of who we can become through grace. In those fleeting moments, the earth fills with a burning light and our fingertips trace the promise written in the stars flung wide. Then, trailing clouds of glory and encircled by His grace, we step onto our own path of becoming and begin to write our own story filled with grace, and exalting, and Him . . .

I had difficulty going to sleep tonight and it was 11:30 when I finally dozed off. 

I listened to my book "Parables of Jesus" learning about the Olivet Discourse which includes these three parables: The Ten Virgins, Parable of the Talents, and the parable of The Sheep and the Goats. These parables are to prepare us for the Second Coming of the Lord.

I also texted Addy, Rowan, and Ruby and asked them to read the Book of Mormon everyday. Addy sent me a heart. I also told them to ask Lola to read too.

  

 

Tuesday, January 17, 2022: Anna's 21st birthday, Snow, snow, snow, Cancel w/ Ruth, Contracts for J. Bowen, Nifedipine $330, "Jesus the Christ, Our Master & More"

St. George, Utah

1st operating temple

Dedicated: 6-8 April 1877

By: Daniel H. Wells

Jesus Christ, taking His name

D&C 112:26

First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:28-39

Come Follow Me

Who was John? JST John 1:1-5 & Russell M. Nelson, "Jesus the Christ, Our Master and More" 

Jesus's Name

The Word

OctGenCon

Drawing Closer To The Savior

Elder Neil L. Andersen

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

As we better know and love the Savior, we desire even more to promise Him our allegiance and trust. We make covenants with Him. We begin with our promises at baptism, and we confirm these promises and others as we repent daily, ask for forgiveness, and eagerly anticipate receiving the sacrament each week. We pledge to "always remember him and keep his commandments."

100 Favorite Verses

1 Nephi 10:18-19 One Eternal Round

For he is the same, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto Him;...wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

Up at 4:46. I need to go to bed earlier! James asked Barbara Bartels what was the secret to her youthful looks. She is 87 and looks younger. She said that both of her parents had alzheimers and she did some research on the disease and found out that many people who get it do not get enough sleep so she always makes sure she gets plenty of sleep. Now when James wants to talk after we go to bed I say to him: "Do you want me to get alzheimers?" "You know I get up early."

Happy 21st birthday to dear, sweet Anna. I miss her so much.

Posted by Anna's boyfriend who is

seen in the picture.

Snow, snow, and more snow this morning. I texted Ruth some pictures and told her I wouldn't be coming to the temple today because of the snow and asked if we could postpone a week. She agreed that I shouldn't drive in the snow but she can't go next week because she is going to be out of town. We agreed we would pick up again on February 21st.

I love the snow!

Every morning, first thing, I drink a glass of warm lemon juice. The lemons I bought from Costco are seedless which is so convenient and I love them. Lemons are a cleanser but they can also eat the enamel off your teeth so I drink my lemon juice with a straw and rinse my mouth out when I am finished.

I saw the following on Instagram the other day and don't know why I didn't take a picture. When I went back to find the picture, of course it wouldn't come up. Tim Tebow put John 3:16 on the blackout under his eyes before the Superbowl game in 2009. 92 million people looked up the scripture which means 92 million people read from the Bible that day. What a way to "stand as a witness." Too bad he isn't a member of the Church.

James spent a good part of the day working on contracts for the jobs he is going to be doing for Jared Bowen and his company. He took a break and we went to town this afternoon to pick up his prescriptions. His Nifedipine, his blood pressure medicine, cost $330 for 90 days. That is stressful for us right now but he has to have it. We celebrated afterwards by getting drinks at Sonic and tacos and a Mexican pizza at Taco Bell.

We listened to "Only the Brave" in the car. When I returned home I walked and blogged. I made James and I both a cup of Pero with chocolate and stevia and we listened to a talk President Nelson gave at BYU in 1992 called, "Jesus the Christ, Master and More." It was sooo good! 

There were lots of things that made me happy today.

Pretty

 

Monday, January 16, 2022: My prayer, James's knee is better, "Unforgettable", MLK Day, Catchup day for me, "Only the Brave", "Follow Him", FHE

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

176 operating temple

Dedicated: 15 Jan 2023

By: D. Todd Christofferson

Jesus Christ, taking His name

D&C 41:1

Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me; and ye that hear me not will I curse, that have professed my name, with the heaviest of all cursings.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:10-27

Come Follow Me

John 1 We Have Found the Messiah" BD: John & Gospel of John

Jesus's Name Week 3

THE WORD

OctGenCon

Are You Still Willing?

Elder Kevin W. Pearson

Of the Seventy

The Church is a gathering place for imperfect individuals who love God and who are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. That willingness is rooted in the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This divine truth can be known only by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, our willingness is directly proportionate to the amount of time we commit to be in holy places where the influence of the Holy Ghost is present.

Courage To Proclaim The Truth

Elder Denelson Silva

Of the Seventy

The holy scriptures teach us, "Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come" (D&C 93:24).

The knowledge of the truth does not make us better than other people, but it teaches us what we must do to return to God's presence.

Up at 4 a.m. Plan, Pray and study. I said a prayer today regarding the pain in James's knee.  It went something like this:

Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ suffered for my sins and I am so grateful! He made it possible for me to overcome sin, sorrow, pain, and discouragement and everything else that is holding me back. I know Jesus also suffered for James's sin, sorrow, and pain. It that is the case, can his knee be made well. On top of the cancer, it is making him absolutely miserable. Could Thou take this pain away from him so he could focus on his other problems. Through my faith and Thy power, could he be healed? What wilt Thou have me do to receive this blessing Father? 

When James got up this morning as is my habit, I asked him how he was feeling. Before he really had a chance to say, I said, I know you are going to feel great today because I asked Heavenly Father to please heal your knee. I told him it was just too much for you and I know that through His power and my faith that you can be healed. 

James was tranformed in that moment. He smiled and said my knee doesn't hurt right now. 

Last week he was so miserable it was like his personality just disappeared. I felt like I was living with a stranger. Today my sweetheart is back. He felt good and he was happy all day long!

I listened to Kelly Clarkson sing "Unforgettable", the song my Nat King Cole this morning on Kellyoake. I love her voice and the way she sings. She was meant to sing this type of song.

I called this a "catchup" day only I didn't really catchup on anything. The weather was snowy and blowy. I moved slow and although I was going to clean out a closet I remembered the back of my car was already filled with stuff to take to Goodwill. I emptied garbages and cleaned a couple of things out of the fridge and that was about the extent of my cleaning for the day. James had asked me to bake bread this week and I was going to do it today but because of the weather, or for some other reason, I just didn't feel like it. There is a fine line between being tired and lazy. I wonder which one I am today.

I talked James into driving into Show Low tonight for dinner. Just Sonic because I didn't want to get dressed up to go in anywhere. James thought he could pick up his prescriptions at CVS but we didn't get into town until around 5 and CVS closed at 4 today. He felt like it was a wasted trip but I told him it was our little holiday celebration for Martin Luther King day. 

Back at home we had family home evening. We listened to President Nelson's talk, "The Everlasting Covenant." We have been asked by our stake presidency to read it this week in preparation for our ward conference on Sunday. 

The Relief Society temple trip planned for tomorrow morning got cancelled because of the snow. I will probably need to cancel with Ruth for tomorrow afternoon if it snows any more.

James went to the post office today and picked up some beeswax that I ordered. Oh yes, I listened to Eric Huntsman on "Follow Him" and James and I started the sequel to "The Undaunted." It is called, "Only the Brave", the continuation of the story of the San Juan Pioneers.