Sunday, January 7, 2024: Study fasting, 8:30 temple recommend appt. w/ Brother Allen, Aaronic Priesthood advancements, Fast & Testimony mtg, Take Catherine home, SNOW, SNOW and more SNOW, Fredwood wet, BM testimony

Helena, Montana

178th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 June 2023

By: Gary E. Stevenson

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 1 - Tender mercies

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chose, because of their faith to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Come Follow Me

Fasting and Prayer

We access Christ's Atonement through the Holy Ghost.

October General Conference

"Kingdoms of Glory" by President Dallin H. Oaks

I studied about fasting and prayer today during my gospel study time and felt so much better about fasting and its power. It gave me the little boost I needed to get through these final hours of my fast. I am better but still not perfect.

James and I had prayer and scripture study before we left. We left early because I have an appointment at 8:30 with Brother Allen to get my temple recommend renewed. 

It was nice getting to the church early because we got to park right in front of the door. Axle Golly, one of the young men in our ward and his younger brother Gage opened the doors for me. I thanked them for their kindness.

Brother Allen took me into one of the classrooms for my interview.  I asked him if he had a successful hunt. He said yes, he got a javelina. I asked him if he was going to eat it. He said they take it and have it made into sausage to cover up most of the gamey taste.

Before the interview started he offered a prayer in my behalf, which was so sweet. Everything is done digitally. The questions are online and so is my recommend. After our interview he said my recommend would be online for the stake to see.

Brother Skousen asked if we would give the prayers in sacrament meeting. I said I would give the opening, which I did. 

Brother Skousen conducted the meeting. The first item of business was to vote on the Aaronic Priesthood advancements. 

Axle Golly and Johnny Wilhelm will be ordained Deacons. Nathan Crane is advancing to the office of a Teacher. Colter Hunsaker and Cole Flake will be ordained Priests. 

Lannie Gillespie was called as a Sunday School teacher for the 16-18 year olds. Those are some lucky kids. 

Testimonies

Chris Skousen - Inspired program for youth. BM podcast. Heavenly Father blesses us everyday.

Lorraine Vaught - Thankful for Jesus Christ's sacrifice for me and for priesthood blessings.

George Wilhelm - young boy, President Nelson, family, Church is true.

Brother Peralta - Become as little children. We must love and forgive. I know our Savior lives and loves us.

Jacob - Miller's grandson; I love Jesus.

Chimi Tesarek  - I love my Savior.

Bishop Wes Miller - Visiting from Kansas. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Life is hard. Joy is found in overcoming. Repent and continue striving.

Owen Peeler - I have an exploding testimony. God lives. Heavenly Father is the architect and Jesus Christ is the engineer.  The Holy Ghost, Joseph Smith, our Prophet today.

Cope Reynolds - My testimony of Jesus Christ's gospel has become stronger since I married Amy and became a member of this ward. Some of the best women of the Church are in this ward.

Natalie Robles - I have a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. I am excited to study the Book of Mormon this year. I testify of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Tamara Applegate - Light always overcomes dark. David A. Bednar, "Patterns of Light." The gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

After James said the closing prayer in sacrament meeting and we got up to leave I looked across the aisle to my friend Catherine Halcomb and she was saying something to me. I went closer so I could hear her. She is not feeling well. She thinks she has a low blood sugar. She is a diabetic and is on insulin. I helped her out to the foyer and sat her down. She wants to go home. Kerri is our ward techie and is setting up in the gospel doctrine classroom. James told her about her mom and she came running out with a Jolly Rancher piece of candy to give to her mom. I told her Catherine wanted to go home and that I would take her so she could do what she needed to do. 

Some people, the Johnson's and Lorraine Vaught decided it was time to go home because of the snow.

It is snowing now, but I am parked right in front and it was easy for Catherine to get into my car. We drove up the road to the top of 3144 where Catherine lives. I parked as close to the ramp leading up to her door as I could. I told her I would come in and be with her but she said no, that wasn't necessary. She walked up the ramp and into the house. I said a prayer that she would be all right and drove back down the hill to the church. 

I went in to Jimmy Applegate's Gospel Doctrine house and sat on the front row by James. My takeaway from the class today was Amy Reynold's plea in behalf of her daughter Clare who left the Church because she said there are too many changes.  Amy wants to know why there are changes. Brother Applegate was leading a discussion about the Introduction to the Book of Mormon and the changes made since the original manuscript. He gave some good explanations but I don't think Amy was completely satisfied. I wanted to help her. I know her daughter Clare. I was her visiting teacher for several years and I visited her every month, even after she moved to Show Low. 

Amy is a sweetheart and I want to help her too. This is what I went away with after class.

 We broke our fast when we got home and then James fixed us some lunch. BLT's, a side of ham, and a delicious potato patty made out of the leftover mashed potatoes that Michael left.

We took naps with our electric blankets as it was snowing outside. 

Stacy told me that Jared Ammon was broken hearted when he found out about Tabby. He was sad that we didn't tell him. I apologized to him. She left a week or two after he went back to the valley. He said that maybe she was looking for him. I agreed. 

James is concerned about our woodpile being covered with snow so after building a fire with wood that was inside,  he takes the air compressor out to blow off the woodpile.

It worked well until the hose, which was frozen,

broke.

I was so concerned about how cold it was. I gave James a blanket to put in Tom's sleeping house. He said Luna has icicles on her from rolling in the snow. I said there was a thick wool blanket downstairs we could put on her. James said she didn't need it. She would be fine in the stable. Okay James, but Kim isn't going to be happy. She has been texting me.

I shared my testimony of the Book of Mormon to my family online this evening. I encouraged them all to do "Come Follow Me' with their families this year.

Christina's kids

Sabbath Day Charlie

Trina & Darrel but not sure where or when

Tom loves the snow.

James has a video of him hopping

through it. I wish I could download

videos on here.

 

Saturday, January 6, 2024: Clean the church building & help take down Christmas trees, RSActivity, Culver's waffle cone & salad, HD, Meeting w/ Applegates, fasting for grandkids

Richmond, Virginia

177th operating temple

Dedicated: 7 May 2023

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Book of Mormon

Brief Explanation

Come Follow Me

"The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon" by Elder Ulisses Soares, April 2020 General Conference

October General Conference

"Love Thy Neighbor" by Elder Ian S. Arden

I woke up at 3:48 but didn't actually get up until 4:25. These early morning hours are sacred time. It's my time to pray, study, plan and prepare and hopefully receive some personal revelation.

At 7:25 James and I left for the church. The first two weeks of the year we are always assigned to cleaning duty. We work with Tina & Steve Allen and this year Ken & Anne Johnson. Nicolette Gardner is also assigned be she is totally inactive now. 

We met Tina Allen who has a key and unlocked the door. Her husband Steve is the first counselor in the bishopric. He won't be here today to help because he is gone hunting with their son Rusty.

  

I met Rusty while serving in the youth program in the Vernon ward.

Such a polite, kind, and fun young man. He always held the door for me or offered to carry things for me.

The Allen's are a wonderful family.

James always wants to clean the chapel. It took him twice as long to do the chapel as it did for Tina and I to do our chores. Tina emptied garbages, cleaned windows, and did spot vacuuming throughout the building. I cleaned the bathrooms. I know, I know, I'm slow. Tina and I visited a few minutes before she left. She offered me a donut which she was offered by Teresa Heinz who is in charge of the RS sewing activity this morning. I declined and boy am I glad I did. I told her I had already eaten, which I had. Tina said she only ate half of her longboy but it made her lightheaded and woozie. She was going to go home and make some scrambled eggs to counteract all of the carbs. 

It was great to see young women participating in the RS basic sewing class. I saw Lily Flake and the Jameson girls. Some of the sewing experts from our ward were there to help; Catherine Halcomb and Pam Wood. Pam Wood is known for her gorgeous quilts. Here is her latest project.

Because this is all hand-stitched Pam says

it will take her 3-5 months to finish, working

on it sporadically.

 I offered to help James but it's really a one person job. He is determined to get every piece of lint off those brocade benches.

As I was waiting for James, our Relief Society president, Cheryl Sedig came in to the foyer and mentioned that she needed to take down the Christmas trees. There is one in each foyer. I told her I would help her. Brother Lauritzen, who was at the church to provide security for the Relief Society activity offered to go to the storage room on the other side of the parking lot and get the required boxes to put the trees and decorations away. He is our executive secretary so he has a key.

I started taking down the ornaments in the south foyer. Soon James was finished in the chapel and he helped too. He "stuffed" the Christmas trees back in their boxes and taped them up using scotch tape and caution tape because that's all we had. 

When everything was out of the south foyer I vacuumed up debris from the tree and moved the furniture back in its proper place.

Cheryl and James were already in the north foyer finishing up. I came over and vacuumed that foyer too. Cheryl was very appreciative for our help as she was going to do it on her own. We were happy to help.

It was late morning when we left the church. James had promised me lunch in town after our cleaning. He also needed to go to Home Depot to exchange some screws. While waiting for James outside of Home Depot I finished up a Christmas movie I had been watching on my phone.

We went to Culver's for lunch. Neither of us wanted to go inside so we went through the Drive-thru. I ordered a vanilla waffle cone and a chicken cashew salad. I had to eat the cone first because it was melting. James ordered a chicken sandwich. James ate his chicken sandwich and finished up my salad when we got home. 

After my nap I decided to start making reservations for our Disneyland trip with Ruby and Lola on the 22nd of this month. 

I made a reservation at Embassy Suites on Harbor. Afterwards I realized I had made a one room instead of the standard two room suite reservation. I asked for an upgrade and they said they would give it upon availability. This is hanging over my head. One of the things we like about ES is their two room suites.

Next I went on the Disneyland site to buy tickets. I got all the way to checkout when there was a credit card offer for a premium Disney card where they would deduct $300 from your bill for the first three month usage. I applied and am waiting to hear back before I order tickets. 

While I was working in the bedroom on my computer, Jimmy & Tamara Applegate came over to meet with James about the building of their new home. They met for over an hour at the dining room table. I gave them each a glass of water and Tamara a pen, pencil and pad of paper so she could take notes. Ty is working in Tucson as an apprentice to an electrician. He wants a job where he has to use his brain not just his brawn. He will be a good influence on his brother Jace who also lives in Tucson.

This evening James and I worked on taking down the Christmas decor. The hardest job is getting all of the strands of lights off the tree. Also, it came with lights which are clipped on and no longer work. You have to work around them when taking off the other lights. So many strings of lights. Kim loves lights. We did not finish.

Walking stories, "Lily of the Manor" for me and "A Hopeful Christmas" for James and I. 

I started watching a new Hallmark movie, "Love on the Right Course" starring Ashley Newborough and Marc Rosner. 

We are fasting for our adult grandchildren who no longer attend their meetings or partake in the gospel.

RS Activity

I want a wagon like this. Kerri says

she has one she will sell to me for $10.

I told her it was worth more than that.

Waiting for more people

Pam's quilts

Brian Maxwell

Jared Ammon posted these pictures. He was so sad to

here that Tabby ran away.

 

 

Friday, January 5, 2024: Up @ 4 Yay! BM, Your Endowment, Big brkfst for Ro & friends, Call frm Jared Cali trip, New family name for temple, J office in bedrm, taking down Christmas, broken lantern chimney by me, Amazon orders, books, Card from Connie, new dust mop

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

176th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 Jan 2023

By: D. Todd Christofferson

Book of Mormon

Testimony of Joseph Smith

Come Follow Me

"The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith" The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was a Miracle.

October General Conference

"The Sealing Power" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

I was up at 4 am. Yay! That's my goal, not somewhere in the 4's. 

I prayed and read from the Book of Mormon and my book about the temple, "Your Endowment." 

Here are a few notes I took from "Your Endowment." 

p. 166 New Names Prefiguring of Covenant Blessings * Michael literally means "who is like God." I didn't know this when I gave Michael his birthday card. I wrote in it that he was a very Christlike person. Interesting. 

James told the boys last night that we were going to fix breakfast for them in the morning and that it would be ready at 8 am. 

I cooked biscuits, fried bacon, and made homemade hashbrowns while James made scrambled eggs. As I was in the middle of making hashbrowns Jared called. I asked if I could call him back in 15 minutes and he said yes. They were on their way to the Dallas temple in the middle of a rainstorm. Jared is a member of the high council and in conjunction with their stake conference on Sunday, the high councilmen and their wives are going to a temple session today.

I got things under control in the kitchen and excused myself as the boys came in to eat. They were all very appreciative for the meal.

Jared wanted to talk about our trip to Disneyland March 2nd - 6th.

We discussed things and finally came up with a plan. We will be staying at the Embassy Suites on Harbor Blvd. Jared & Kacey will pay for our room for three nights. We will rent a car and drive from Arizona to California. Jared will pay for the gas. We will drive over on Saturday, visit Newport Beach and temple grounds on Sunday, go to Disneyland on Monday, California Adventure on Tuesday, and drive them to the airport on Wednesday and then drive home. I hope that's right. Let me know Kacey if it isn't.

Wow. I just realized I need to plan our trip on January 23rd with Lola and Ruby.

One of my goals for the new year is to take family names to the temple by doing more family history research. I got on Family Search and there was already a name ready for me. I feel blessed. This was a tender mercy.

James can't work outside today because of the snow. He does office work, working at the table in the bedroom I set up for him. This evening he helped me start taking down and putting away Christmas decorations. 

For some reason James was in the back somewhere when the boys were ready to leave. They hung out until about 11 playing games and riding the Razr. 

Eric, Rowan, Tannen, Graham

Such nice boys!

Some pictures they took today: 

As I was working around the Christmas tree I broke one of the chimney's on one of our kerosene lamps. James broke one when we were putting decorations are up so I guess we are even. It cost $20 to buy a new one. I guess I need to have a budget just for lamp chimneys.

I have a couple of quilts I would like to display so with the $50 Amazon gift card Lois and Dawn gave me, I ordered a quilt rack.

I'm excited for it to get here. 

James says he needs a new Sunday journal so with the $50 Amazon gift card he got from Kim and Brian, we ordered him a new leather bound journal.

While walking I downloaded a book I have read before but don't remember much about. It is called, "Lily of the Manor" by Anita Stansfield. 

James and I listened to "A Hopeful Christmas." 

Kim & Brian couldn't come until February.

James wouldn't wait that long to take the tree down.

Thursday, January 4, 2024: Up @5 to 6" of snow, it is beautiful! James shovels snow for hours, packed snow for Ro and friends, Janna cancelled lunch date, cleaned upstrs for Ro & friends from 12:30-4:30, pizza, games, smores,

 

Quito, Ecuador

175th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Nov 2022

By: Quentin L. Cook

Book of Mormon

Testimony of Eight Witnesses

Come Follow Me

"This Day" by Elder Ronal A. Rasband, October 2022 General Conference

October General Conference

"For the Sake of Your Posterity" by Elder Carlos Godoy

I was up at 5 am. When I looked outside, everything was covered with snow. James says we got six inches. It is so beautiful!

While I listened to Rio and Shima on Inklings, James shoveled snow from the porches, walkways, and driveway. It took him hours. If he doesn't shovel off the snow he says it melts and re-freezes and then we are walking on ice.

The talk and topic today for Inklings: 

"The Prodigal and the Road that Leads Home" by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Luke 15

Word: Worthy

We all know what it's like to be a prodigal.

Words: Submission, surrender, yielding, give way

Luke 15 was taught to the Publicans, sinners, and Pharisees by the Savior. He is a Master teacher. 

Justice & Mercy

A Certain Man had Two Sons

The Great Adventure

The Famine

The Return

The Celebration

A Parable for our Time

Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory

*Am I a judge, or am I a friend?

Shima - Lost Sheep - Isaiah 53:6

James also packed down the snow on the road coming in to our place for Rowan and his friends who will be staying here tonight. They are snowboarding at Sunrise today. It closes at 4 pm so they will arrive sometime in the early evening.

I had a lunch date with Janna Grombach and Patsy Tedder. Janna called around 7 this morning and asked if it would be all right if we postponed until next week because of the weather. I told her I was happy to stay home with a warm fire on a day like today.

I was hungry around 9:30 and tired. I had an early lunch and then took some Tramadol and a nap. By 12:30 I was ready to go to work upstairs in preparation for Rowan and his friends. I finished around 4:30. James helped in the last room by making the bed and vacuuming. I dusted because he always forgets too. He is so sweet to help me though after his tiring day. 

It was after six when Rowan and his friends arrive. Rowan introduced us to Eric, Tannen, and Graham. They seem like such nice boys! They kept thanking us for letting them stay here. 

After changing and taking showers they put a pizza in the oven for their dinner. They ate pizza, played games, and made smores, roasting their marshmallows in the fire James had built for them.

James and I went in the bedroom to walk and listen to "Breaking the Rules". It started getting inappropriate so I stopped it and deleted Google Play from my phone. That's why we listen to books from Deseret Book!

We were in bed by 8:10.

James writing out his New Years goals

Let It Snow!

Rowan and friends

Friends of Rowan and Ruby

Love this photo!