Gila Valley, Arizona
132nd operating temple
Dedicated: 23 May 2010
By: Thomas S. Monson
Jesus Christ, Trials of
Mark 14:64
Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
Book of Mormon
Alma 7:14-27
ComeFollow Me
Review this week & DMT next week
AprGenCon
The Imperfect Harvest
Elder Vern P. Stanfill
Of the Seventy
Becoming perfected in Christ is the process, lovingly guided by the Holy Ghost, of becoming more like the Savior.
After The Fourth Day
Elder W. Mark Bassett
Of the Seventy
When the Savior arrived in Bethany, all had lost hope that Lazarus could be saved - it had been four days, and he was gone. Sometimes during our own challenges, we might feel like Christ is too late, and our hope and faith might even feel challenged. My witness and testimony are that as we move forward with faith in Jesus Christ, the fourth day will always come. He will always come to our aid or to raise our hopes back to life. He has promised:
"Let not your heart be troubled."
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
My printer would not print color this morning and I wanted color for my lesson. Later I asked Kerri why and she said to clean the heads. I will, later.
Chuck is sick again so James went to ward council. Yesterday my car had a flat tire. I was concerned about how I would get to church with him gone so I determined that I would take him to ward council. Well, my dear sweetheart bought a tire repair kit and repaired my tire so I could drive my car to church.
When I got to church I sat my bag in the second row on the left side where we always sit. Very few people were in the chapel, they were just beginning to gather. I had Janna's gift and small cake with me. She wasn't there so I went out in the south foyer to wait for her. As I sat there more than 50 people came in and I did not know one of them. Most of them were young people. I almost wanted to go outside and see if there was a bus unloading people outside. The hills are alive with people this weekend. We were filled clear back to the baptismal font in the second overflow. Someone said there were 300 people but I think there were more. We always have a crowd on holiday weekends but this is the most in the 12 years I have been here.
No Janna, so I put the cake in the kitchen refrigerator and put the gift at the side on the counter.
Bridgett Jordan and her son who is visiting her sat by us. Still no Sue Hubble. I contacted her later and she is okay. She has just been visiting family. She said she will be back next week.
As we were waiting for sacrament meeting to start Wendy DeWitt came over to speak to me. When I asked if she wanted to teach today she had told me that she would not be here. She came over to explain. She said that instead of going to the valley her family had come up here. Before she left she said I had a piece of straw in my hair. She looked at James to indicate that he should get it out for me and then she left. James looked at my hair and said, "You do not have any straw in your hair." I was worried so I looked in my phone. I couldn't see any. Then I began to think: What would I need to be doing to get straw in my hair. Did Wendy really mean, "Your hair looks like straw." I don't know but I can't dwell on this because I have to get up in front of all of the sisters and teach Relief Society. I wasn't offended and didn't think she meant to criticize me but I just wondered what she saw.
We had six priesthood holders passing the sacrament today instead of the usual five. Most all of them took two water trays. It took much longer than usual to pass the sacrament to everyone.
Makaila Finnagen was the youth speaker today. She is Rebecca McCamy's daughter. She spoke on love, share, and invite and how we show love to others when we talk to them about the gospel and invite them to activities or to church.
Christ and Mike Brady were the main speakers. In all the time I have lived in Vernon I don't think they have ever spoke in sacrament meeting before.
Chris used Elder Soares's conference address, "Followers of the Prince of Peace" as the basis for her talk. Cease to contend one with another. Focus on the Lord. Clothe ourselves with the bond of charity. "Charity is the outward expression of an inward understanding of grace." ( I heard this on Don't Miss This and added it here). We live in tumultuous times. The devil rages in the hearts of men. We must be peacemakers as our prophet has asked us to do.
Mike said his family has lived in Vernon for over 100 years and he has lived here all of his life. He talk was based on "The Lord Teaches Us to Minister" by Elder Uceda. With our Savior's help, we can love His precious sheep and minister to them as He would. Our privilege is to bear His love and to add our own love to friends and neighbors, feeding, tending, and nurturing them, as the Savior would have us do. His servants will minister to the one. We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving kindness.
I teased James, who is conducting elder's quorum, that his teacher, Ron Hall wasn't here. He and Denice were not sitting in their regular spot. During sacrament meeting I saw him studying the lesson. As we walked out of the chapel I saw Ron and pointed him out to James. Brother Hall was our bishop when we moved to Vernon and is very responsible. James mentioned to him he didn't think he was here and Bishop Hall said, "When I have a responsibility I will always be here." James said he did a great job. I am sure he did. He is a very spiritual man.
As I was setting up in the Relief Society room Kerri Halcomb said to me: "I saw Janna, she's here." I had forgotten. I went into the chapel and saw Janna. I wished her a happy birthday and then told her that her gift and cake were in the kitchen. I would go get them but I was teaching Relief Society. As I walked hurriedly back to the Relief Society room I decided I needed to take her the gift and cake. I got them, went back to the chapel and she wasn't there. As I was going back I saw Willy. I handed him the pink gift bag and the mini-cake and asked him if he would please give them to Janna as I was teaching. He said he would.
My lesson went well. Lots of discussion on finding personal peace. As we read John 14:15-27 it was evident that the Savior was referring to the Holy Ghost as the other comforter. Barbara's friend Mary, a visitor from Tucson shared how her non-member husband joined the Church because he felt the Spirit. She said they were the second couple to be sealed in the Tucson temple. A return missionary young adult sister shared a time when she was on her mission in South America and she received a sign that the Lord knew her and loved her. Great stuff.
When I got home I texted Janna and asked if she got her gift and cake. She said she did and thanked me. Our texts went like this:
Me: Did you get your cake and gift? I gave them to Willy.
Janna: Yes. Thank you so much.
Me: Oh good. Have a great day!
Janna: Thank you.
Me: I forgot to explain the #1 candle. You are #1 on your birthday.
Janna: Lol. Thank you. I took it as my first birthday cake that you made.
Me: That too!
Janna: I hope you know Karen how much I love you and the example you and Jim have set for Willy and I. You are one of my biggest blessings.
Me: Thank you Janna, that means a lot to us. I am so glad we got to develop a friendship. That's what the gospel does. It brings people together.
Me: Tell Willy thanks for carrying a pink bag and a mini cake around the church for me. He is the best!
Janna: Pink is his favorite color. Seriously. He painted his race cars pink blue and white. Your cake was delicious.
Me: Wow! I love him even more! Thank you Janna.
Today was a good day. I am always grateful for the Sabbath day.
Saturday
Happy Sabbath!
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