Sunday, June 11, 2023: President Smithson presides @ our sacrament mtg, Colter Hunsaker, Bridget Jordan, John Finnell, Sue here, Brother Rosen's grapefruit, Wendy's lesson, James's fireside talk

 

Payson, Utah

146th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 June 2015

By: Henry B. Eyring

Jesus Christ, Trials of

1 Peter 2:23

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.

Book of Mormon

Alma 14:6-22

Come Follow Me

Review & "Don't Miss This" Luke 22; John 18 "Not My Will But Thine Be Done"

Inklings Affirmation

As I abide in Jesus Christ, He promises to abide in me. My capacity is magnified and my covenant connection is strengthened when I walk with Him daily.

AprGenCon

The Work of the Temple & Family History - One and the Same Work

Elder Benjamin De Hoyos

Of the Seventy

Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord encourages us as members of His Church to preserve our own family history, to learn from our ancestors, and to make the necessary arrangements for them to receive the ordinances of the gospel in the temples to help them to progress along the covenant path, which will bless them with an eternal family. That is a central focus of the plan of our Heavenly Father: uniting family for this life and for eternity.

I got up at 6:21 this morning. I really slept in. James was already up, showered and in the other room. I had nothing to eat this morning, just a few sips of a protein shake. 

President Smithson was in our sacrament meeting today. Some changes to the clerks in our ward were made by him. Brother Diewald is no the financial clerk and Brother Hipps is the ward clerk.

Colter Hunsaker was the youth speaker today and Bridget Jordan and Johnny Finnell were the main speakers. Colter spoke about the importance of gathering Israel through temple work. Sister Jordan, whose husband Michael passed away several years ago, spoke on Sister Camille Johnson's talk, "Jesus Christ Is Relief." "We can partner with the Savior to help provide temporal and spiritual relief for those in need - and in the process find our own relief." 

Brother Finnell had just a few minutes to discuss Elder Uceda's talk, "Jesus Christ Teaches Us To Minister." I am the Good Shepherd and the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. Because this is His Church we minister to each other. To minister to someone is to love them and serve them and become a part of their lives. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you do it with love. With our Saviors help we can minister as He would.

 Sue Hubble sat with us and Brother Rosen sat in front of us while his wife played the organ. They came up from the valley and brought two big boxes of grapefruit to share with the ward. 

Sue and I walked down to the Relief Society room together. We sat in the front row. Catherine came in and sat on the other side of the room in the second row by herself. I tried to get her to come over and sit with us but she was being stubborn and refused to do so saying she wasn't sure Sue would want her to.

Wendy Dewitt's lesson in Relief Society was based on Elder Renlund's talk, "Accessing God's Power Through Covenants." 

The lesson was mainly about the importance of having the Spirit in our lives. Wendy shared a couple of stories about how the Spirit told her to do something regarding her children. The stories were good and I tried to think of similar examples in my life, but I couldn't.  She caught her son smoking and her daughter staying out past curfew. She asked them how they thought she knew where they were. When they didn't answer she said she had divine help because she wasn't the only one who loved them. 

After the meeting was over I said goodbye to Sue and told her I would pick her up on Wednesday at 9:50 at Dollar General to go to the temple. After Sue was gone I went over to talk to Catherine. She was still unhappy. I asked her if she was going to go to the temple on Wednesday and she said she didn't think so. She acted as if she was upset with her kids and there was a story to tell but she didn't want to talk about it right now. I practically begged her to go to the temple and asked her to at least think about it. She said she would and I said I would talk to her in a couple of days.

I got a bag of frozen pork fajitas out of the freezer and cooked them for lunch. They were okay but nothing to get too excited about. James didn't mind if I threw the leftovers away. 

After lunch it was rest time. James didn't rest very long. He got up and began studying for his fireside talk tonight. He left around five for Snowflake. He didn't ask me to go so I assumed he didn't mind if I stayed home. 

He got home around 7:30. And I asked him how it went.  He said he thought it went quite well. There were around five adults and about 40 young men and women. Cory Johnson, the person who invited James to speak is the son of Dee Johnson who was a teacher at Snowflake High School when we went there. 

James went back to indexing, something he is very dedicated to. I went back to working on my blog until we went to bed.

Happy Sabbath with Charlie!

Salt River Canyon on Saturday

Saturday, June 10, 2023: Aurora Teagarden Marathon, Finish Love Stamp puzzle, Cards signed & mailed, Addy's letter, Taco Bell, Harbor Freight, new book Charlotte Lucas, Show Low Days

 

Cordoba, Argentina

145th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 May 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Trials of

John 18:29

Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

Book of Mormon

Alma 13:21-14:5

Come Follow Me

John 17:11, 21-23 Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are perfectly united.

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I choose to abide in His words and follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

"There Can Be Nothing So Exquisite and Sweet As Was My Joy"

Elder Craig C. Christensen

Of the Seventy

The gospel message is a message of hope, of "good tidings of great joy," and the means whereby all can experience peace and occasions of joy in this life and receive a fulness of joy in the life to come.

Trusting The Doctrine Of Christ

Elder Evan A. Schmutz

Of the Seventy

If we trust the doctrine of Christ, we will trust Christ enough to live by His every word. We will make a lifelong study of Jesus Christ, His ministry, His teachings, and His infinite Atonement, including His glorious Resurrection. We will study His promises and the conditions upon which those promises are given. As we study, we will be filled with greater love for the Lord.

I got up at 5 but went back to bed for about 30 minutes. I've lost my mojo. 

I finished the Love Stamp puzzle today. Here is what it looks like:

A fun one 

There was an Aurora Teagarden marathon on today and I taped every episode, 8 of them. I love the ones with Yannick Bisson in them. I really like him. Funny that when I was at Kim we watched a Christmas movie with him in it, the only one I have ever seen.

This morning James and I signed birthday cards for Ian, Brian, Dallin, and Ruby who all have birthdays this week. I also wrote the letter Addy asked me to write to her which she will open in ten years. 

T

Our trip to town today took us to the Show Low post office drive-thru. Pickup time today is 4:15 and we made this deadline. Vernon has no pick up on Saturday. We listened to our new book, Charlotte Lucas on the way to town and back. James is such a romantic. I don't know very many men who would listen to romance novels by choice.

After depositing our mail we headed for Taco Bell for lunch. I got my two tacos and James got a Mexican pizza. 

James went in to Harbor Freight to get some kind of tool while I finished my tacos. Two young boys parked next to us. They went in to Harbor Freight and came back out about 10 minutes later. They bought a ladder and now they had to get it into their small car. It was fun to watch them figure it out and finally be successful.

As we went through the middle of Show Low I saw a sign "Show Low Days"  which pointed down to the new Frontier Park. I looked and saw a large group of people mulling around. What is the purpose of Show Low Days? They didn't have it when I was growing up in Show Low. I guess I probably will never know by experience because it does not sound appealing to me. 

James is so cute with these kittens of his. I call them Tommy and Tabby. He bought them a bag of cat food which he feeds them in the morning. In the evening he feeds them warm cream. I think he missed his calling in life. He should have been a zookeeper in charge of feeding the animals.

I need to hear this.

Friday, June 9, 2023: James borrows gas from Chuck and they have kittens too, Willy & Ralph weld posts for James's stable, Kitty rescue, James falls, Trip to town

 

Phoenix, Arizona

144th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Nov 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Trials of

John 18:19

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

Book of Mormon

Alma 13:10-20

Come Follow Me

John 17 Jesus Christ intercedes for His disciples.

AprGenCon

He Could Heal Me!

Elder Peter F. Meurs

Of the Seventy

Jesus taught the Nephites about the importance of repentance, about becoming as a little child, and about the need to be baptized by one having His authority. He then taught much of the doctrine that we are studying this year in the New Testament.

Your Patriarchal Blessing - Inspired Direction From Heavenly Father

Elder Randall K. Bennett

Of the Seventy

A dear friend who joined the Church as a young adult shared: "When the patriarch placed his hands on my head and spoke my name, everything changed, . . . not just then but for the rest of my life. I immediately sensed that - through the power by which he spoke - I was known intimately and deeply. The words he spoke penetrated my entire being. I knew that Heavenly Father knew me, inside and out."

James borrowed some gas this morning from Chuck for his generator. He went over to get the gas and Chuck had a couple of 

kittens in a cat carrier. Chuck said they were tame and just showed up at their house. Interesting, since the same thing happened to us except ours were not tame.

Willy Grombach and Ralph Sedig came over today to do some service for James. Ralph is a welder. Willy, Ralph, and Steve, their friend who came with them all worked together at the Palo Verde power plant west of Phoenix. James said they worked 3 hours welding six poles for the stable James is building for Luna.

Willy brought one of his dogs with him and they scared the kitties and they ran up a tree. James went outside later and heard the kittens crying and ended up climbing the tree two times to rescue them. He loves these kitties about as much as he loves Luna. 

Later he was standing on the short wall next to the driveway. He jumped down and fell, landing on his head, bracing himself with his arm and hand. He did some damage to his wrist which has a big bruise. Sometimes I worry when he goes outside.

This afternoon James and I made a trip to town. I need to pick up three prescriptions and birthday cards for Ian, Brian, and Dallin who all have birthdays next week. James dropped me off at Walmart while he did an errand. He was back a little while later and picked up my prescriptions for me while I finished shopping.

When we were finished at Walmart we went to Sonic for a snack and then James picked up a prescription at CVS before we headed for home. 

This evening James and I watched the new Aurora Teagarden. This particular episode went back in time to when Aurora was working on her Masters in college. The girl who plays Aurora is much younger than Candace Cameron Bure. Sally was different too. It's hard to get used to new people playing the main parts. Arthur is different too.

May have been my next puzzle except for that darn cow!

Joshua judging Max, not sure what for.

I gave a dollar for each Article of Faith

these boys could recite. Even partaking of

his reward.

Creamsicle Cake
 

Thursday, June 8, 2023: MacArthur's have moved to Fairbanks, Inklings, Love Stamp puzzle, Unshaken Saints, Follow Him, Your Endowment, J's trip to town, Garage Sale Mystery

 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

143rd operating temple

Dedicated: 4 May 2014

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Trials of

John 18:13

And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

Book of Mormon

Alma 12:28-13:9

Come Follow Me

 John 15:1-8 As I abide in Christ, I will bring forth good fruit.

Jesus' Name

True Vine

Word

Abide

Phrase

I am the True Vine and the Father is the husbandman.

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I chose to abide in His words and Follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

Accessing God's Power Through Covenants

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Before the earth was created, God established covenants as the mechanism by which we, His children, could unite ourselves to Him based on eternal, unchanging law, He specified the nonnegotiable conditions whereby we are transformed, saved, and exalted. In this life, we make these covenants by participating in priesthood ordinances and promising to do what God asks us to do, and in return, God promises us certain blessings.

James called Chelsea MacArthur this morning to see if Jarred needed help putting down the baseboard in the bathroom. Chelsea said, oh we just slapped something down before we left for Fairbanks. We will be back in a year and we will do something more permanent then. They have already moved. She told us they were moving in July. I was sad. I wanted to see the kids one more time. I wonder what they did with their dog. 

This Love Stamp puzzle is harder than it looks. Hopefully I will finish it soon. I'm listening to "Unshaken Saints" again with Jarod Halverson. He is long winded but has so much gospel insight. 

I also listened to "Inklings" today. Emily is still in Israel. Today is was Courtney Rich from "Cake by Courtney" and Shema. They were good but I miss Emily.

 James works outside for awhile and then comes in and says he just doesn't have any energy. I know how he feels. He went in to town to get his PSA bloodwork done. When he got to the hospital they told him his prescription expired the end of May. He's going to call the doctor to see if he can get it reinstated. 

Kathy Crane and I talked about Donna Peeler today our sweet friend who has cancer and is going to have chemo. We are so sad. Donna is always so frail and I just am so worried about chemo will do for her.

James asked me this evening if I wanted him to help with my puzzle or if he should index. I told him to index. I have enough guilt doing the puzzle myself.

Looking forward to this one and so

are Kim and Sheri.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023: My face is swollen, Benadryl & bed, James's failed inspections & fire sprinkler fiasco, Brian's 45 minute job interview, walk, blog, chores, read

Gilbert, Arizona

142nd operating temple

Dedicated: 2 Mar 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Trials of

John 11:50

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Book of Mormon

Alma 12:20-27

Come Follow Me

John 14-16 The Holy Ghost helps me fulfill my purpose as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus' Name

True Vine

Word

Abide

Phrase

If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love.

Affirmation

With faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I choose to abide in His words and follow His example. Through obedience to His commandments, I am blessed with divine guidance, eternal perspective, and the comforting assurance of His unfailing love.

AprGenCon

Finding Personal Peace

President Henry B. Eyring

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Second, the Holy Ghost will come and abide with us. The Lord says that as we continue to be faithful, the Holy Ghost will dwell in us. That is the promise in the sacramental prayer that the Spirit will be our companion and that we will feel, in our hearts and minds, His comfort.

 I woke up this morning with swelling on the right side of my face from under my eye down to my mouth. James and I are trying to figure out what causes this swelling. I looked it up on the internet and found that swelling in the face can be caused by aspirin which I have taken as of late. I will not be taking anymore for awhile.

I took some Benadryl throughout the day which helped with the swelling. I went back to bed after taking Benadryl and Tramadol. I slept until 10:30. I got up, got dressed and went into the kitchen to fix some lunch. I made hamburgers with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup. Yummy.

I did some laundry and cleaned the kitchen while James worked outside. He is pretty upset because Armando said they failed two inspections at the 51st avenue job. The thing James is the most upset about is a failure issued by the fire marshall saying they have to have more sprinklers even though there is one in every room, they have to be in the hallways too. The sprinkler company says it could be up to a month delay. 

James tried to call Frank but he is at youth camp this week. I guess he is a member of the Church. Samantha says he is going to hit the ceiling. We shall see.

Brian had a 45 minute job interview with the woman who is doing the hiring for the job in Montana for managing 4 hardware stores. 

I asked Kim how it went and she said it went well. It is between Brian and one other guy. Brian isn't sure he wants the job. I told Kim he needs to go to the temple and she said he was going on Saturday. 

I want Brian to find a job but Montana is so far away.

James went over this evening to check on Brother Ellsworth's progress on the ramp and porch he is building for Barbara. He said he was doing a good job even though he, James, would have done it a little differently.

This evening James and I walked and listened to "An Amiable Foe"

Oh so that's what happened.