Mexico City, Mexico
26th operating temple
Dedicated: 2-4 Dec 1983
By: Gordon B. Hinckley
Book of Mormon
2 Nephi 3:1-11
Come Follow Me
Review
October General Conference
"God Knows & Loves You" by Elder Alan T. Phillips
Relief Society
"In the Path of Their Duty" Elder David A. Bednar
"The Sealing Power" Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Book
"Rescuing Wayward Children" by Larry Barkdull
The Fall and It's Affects
James left for ward council this morning around 7:15. Chuck usually goes but today he asked James to go for him. James took the truck which means I came in the car by myself. I used all-wheel drive the entire way.
I noticed that neither of the Halcomb's was here today so I texted to see why. I guess Catherine is fine but Kerri had a cough and a head cold. I also noticed my friend Janna Grombach and her husband Willy weren't here either. I texted her and she said they had been snowed in most of the week. She said someone was working on her road right now and that two Jeeps had been stuck. I told her that Kathy and I would like to visit her on Tuesday and she said she hoped the road would be all right by then.
Georgia Jameson was the youth speaker today. Her talk was about how we should not compare ourselves to others. See reality through Heavenly Father's eyes. You are loved. Nephi and Sam. We never here about Sam's righteousness but we know he was righteous. It is Satan's plan to have you compare yourself to others.
After sacrament meeting was over I told Georgia I enjoyed her talk. I asked her if she wrote it herself. She said yes she did. She said she wrote another talk first, but she didn't like it very well so she wrote this one instead. I told her she should file it away and keep it. She said she was going to.
Alicia Hunsaker, the bishop's wife was the next speaker. She spoke on patriarchal blessings. She started out by comparing a patriarchal blessing to the Liahona because they both give inspired direction from Heavenly Father. Any baptized member may receive their patriarchal blessing. A blessings lists your eternal possibilities. It is yours and yours alone. Elder Randall K. Bennett gave a conference address about patriarchal blessings. He said: "My patriarchal blessing helped me understand my true eternal identity, who I really was and who I could become." We need to study our own patriarchal blessing often to gain eternal perspective regarding our lives.
The sister missionaries assigned to our ward performed a special musical number. One of them played the piano and the other one sang. It was very nice but I did not recognize the song.
Brother Laren Ellsworth was the final speaker. Brother Ellsworth's remarks were based on a talk given by President Jeffrey R. Holland in the October 2018 General Conference. The name of the talk: "The Ministering of Reconciliation." Grant Morrell Bowen left the Church and eventually came back at the insistence of two of his children.
We need to minister as the Savior ministered. We should plead for help and direction to reconcile with those we may have offended or who may have offended us.
Wendy DeWitt gave the lesson in Relief Society based on Elder Bednar's talk, "In the Path of Their Duty." She told pioneer stories and the sisters shared stories from some of their pioneer ancestors. She talked about people who have callings that aren't high profile. She even mentioned our nursery leaders, Sean and Heather Bowen.
I sat by Paula Johnson during Relief Society. It was good for my soul. She told me how much she thought of me and what a good example I was. Paula is someone who does lots of community service. She runs the food bank and is president of the Vernon Park. I told her she was a great example of service to me. Sister Ulmer, who was sitting on the other side of Paula said she agreed with both of us. She is such a sweetie!
After lunch, I had a nap with Tom while James napped on the bed by himself.
I got a call from Sheri today. She works in the nursery for her ward Primary. They are combined with another ward. Sheri was talking about wishing her boys were more active in the Church and that she had been a better example to them. One of the girls from the other ward made this comment: "I was in Ben's seminary class the year you texted him an inspirational quote every morning. The entire class looked forward to those quotes as Ben read them to us. We all thought you were so awesome and we wanted to meet you."
Sheri said she started crying, but it was a good cry. This was just the boost she needed!
Sheri also said the Braddock's spoke in their sacrament meeting today and they announced that they are moving to Phoenix. Sheri loves the Braddock's and Brother Braddock has been their family's ministering brother for the last several years. Brother Braddock told a story about President/Elder Heyman. He said he was visiting with him recently and he told about being set apart as an Area Authority Seventy by Elder David A. Bednar. In the blessing Elder Bednar gave he blessed Elder Heyman with the gift of discernment. Elder Heyman thought to himself, I have been a bishop and a stake president and I think I have been given the gift of discernment. He questioned Elder Bednar as to what he meant by the gift of discernment. Elder Bednar said: The gift of discernment I am talking about is the ability to see others as the Savior sees them and to love them as He does." Wow! That brings a whole new meaning to discernment.
This afternoon we made some Sunday visits. First we went to see the Peeler's. Donna Peeler has been house-bound for several months now. She has cancer she can't seem to get rid of. She has a hurt back, diabetes, and now she has bedsores. She is quite miserable and Owen has to change her bandages for her bedsores three times a day. I think he needs some help and may be getting some soon. He shared this with us: Amy Reynolds has been coming in and helping with housework. She said that Hospice will come in and help even though Donna is still getting medical treatments. It used to be Hospice would only help when treatment was done and the patient was waiting to die. Sorry to put it so bluntly. Amy helped Owen sign up to get the help that he needs.
I gave Donna the cookie I got in Relief Society today from the RS Presidency. I doubt whether she will eat it as she doesn't eat much but when Owen acted like he was going to take it she protected it.
We love Donna and Owen, so very much. They are sweet, kind, and totally dedicated to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It makes me sad that Donna has to suffer so much but perhaps it is part of the sanctification process for both her and Owen.
From the Peeler's we went over to the Tignor's who live in the same neighborhood. Barbara Tignor had called me yesterday to ask if we could come over this afternoon and if I could help her get on Amazon to place an order. The Tignor's don't have a working computer so everything is done on their phones.
Barbara wanted to order some bee venom which she uses for pain relief. We went on Amazon but couldn't find the particular brand Barbara wanted to refill. Amazon's choices were quite a bit more expensive. I looked at the bottle and in very small letters I found a website. We went on the website and found the bee venom which is about $20 a bottle. Barbara wanted 3 or 4 bottles. I had her do everything on her phone and soon we had her order completed. She was happy.
Next T-Bo took us out to see his radio shop. He has a radio tower and talks with people all over the world, like Anthony does. He also repairs radio. Some of his equipment is quite sophisticated and he seems quite proud of it. I told him we needed him to help us know how to use our radios and he said he would be happy to do that.
We had been gone almost 3 hours and when we got home Tom was still asleep. Kim says cats sleep 18 hours a day and that seems to be true with ours.
While working on my blog this evening I listened to Barbara Morgan Gardner and Tracy Browning discussing 2 Nephi 3-5. It was great to get Sister Browning's view on 2 Nephi 5:20-21.
We were in the bedroom getting ready for bed when Tom disappeared. We called him, James looked upstairs, I looked all over the family and living room and kitchen. No Tom. I looked in James's closet where he said he already looked. Nothing as I called Tom. A few minutes later James opened the closet again and Tom was standing there looking up at him. He was probably responding to my call. Tom goes outside when we go to bed.
We were in bed by 9, which means I should get up by 5.
Memory: Lola's blessing day
Don't you just love Rowan's intense smile
If it seems as if I am fixated on our cat Tom, You are right, I am!
Never had an animal I loved so much!
The Whalen family friends from Chandler who now live in Gilbert
Sweet Charlie on the Sabbath!Look forward to these pictures
every week!