Sunday, April 6th, 2025: Joshua's patriarchal blessing, Elder Shumway speaks, Lunch: chicken quesadillas, Brian & Jared's cinnamon rolls, Charlie's questions, Max & Evan, Pres. Nelson - virtue & charity

 

Mt. Timpanogos, Utah

49th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Oct 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 2:28-41

Come Follow Me

The Gathering of Israel

April General Conference

'Draw Near Unto Me'

President Henry B. Eyring

"The Savior's invitation includes the way to feel that assurance. Draw near Him by always remembering Him. Seek Him diligently through scripture study, Ask through heartfelt prayer to Heavenly Father to feel closer to His Beloved Son."

Elder Shumway is speaking this morning and James and I are so looking forward to hearing him. 

Joshua had an appointment this morning at 7:30 with Patriarch Mitch Jones to get his patriarchal blessing. Stacy and Paul went with him. Stacy said the blessing lasted almost 40 minutes. The morning session of conference had already started. They were able to hear all of the speakers. Elder Shumway was the second, right after Elder Bednar. Come to find out Elder Shumway was Paul's brother Aaron's missionary companion in Spanish speaking Philadelphia. 

Elder Shumway spoke about service as a way of preparing for the Second Coming. It was great. 

Sheri said Max and Evan watched this session of conference with her and Max had some questions. She said she tried to answer them as best she could. Charlie listened to all of conference.

James helped me make chicken quesadillas for lunch. They were a Weight Watcher recipe which made them extra healthy.

I am jealous because Brian and Jared both made cinnamon rolls for their families. I think that is a great conference tradition.

President Nelson gave the closing address at the closing session of conference. His talk was based on the scripture, D&C 121:45:

" Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven." This will be the theme for Inklings for the next six months, confidence before the Lord and charity and virtue.

Sunday Morning Session

Sunday Afternoon Session

Charlie's questions:

Jared's cinnamon rolls

The Shumway's and our stake president,

President Beeler and his family.

Saturday, April 5th, 2025: Three sessions of General Conference, chicken stirfry for lunch, snow off and on all day, dump & Dollar General, plumbing problems, two Hallmark movies

 

Hong Kong, China

48th operating temple

Dedicated: 26 May 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 2:9-27

Come Follow Me

D&C 29:36-50

Jesus Christ redeems us from the Fall.

Why we need a Savior.

People, Places, Events

April General Conference

'My Love for the Savior Is My "Why'"

Ricardo P. Giminez

"The more we can connect the reason with our love for the Savior, the more we will be able to receive what we need or are seeking."

It snowed off and on all day today. James and I were inside watching conference. There were three sessions today. I watched all three. James missed part of the third session because he was outside working on getting the clog out of the sewer line. Still, no luck. We can't use the washer or the hall bathroom.

For lunch we made chicken stirfry. It was quite delicious and nutritious. 

All we have to do is add the 

chicken and sauce.

James went to the dump today and also to Dollar General to get me some drinks. For the afternoon session of General Conference Tom slept by me. I love it when he does that. 

This evening James and I watched the next installment of "Hearts Around the Table, Joshua's Third Serving." I also watched a new British mystery series on Hallmark Plus called "Rosemary & Thyme."

195th Annual General Conference

Saturday Morning Session

Saturday Afternoon Session

Saturday Evening Session

Friday, April 4th, 2025: Winter wonderland, Tom depressed, Felt a little better, but not much, "Live Up To You Privileges", caught up on my blog, Gathering..., James's trip to town, fire, Reels.. Penny the Talking Cat

 

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 1:15-2:8

Come Follow Me

D&C 29:31-35

"All Things Unto Me Are Spiritual"

2 Nephi 9:39

April General Conference

'The Atonement of Jesus Christ Provides the Ultimate Rescue'

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"As we turn to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, He rescues us from the storms of life through His Atonement."

Today was a winter wonderland, at least for awhile. Tom is a little depressed because it is so wet, muddy, and cold outside.

I wonder what he's dreaming about

I studied from my book, "Live Up To Our Privileges" by Wendy Ulrich. I love this quote by the prophet Joseph Smith given at the first Relief Society meeting held in Nauvoo, Illinois:

"It is natural for females to have feelings of charity - you are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms. If you live up to these principles how great and glorious! If you live up to your privileges, angels cannot be restrained from being your associates - females, if they are pure and innocent can come into the presence of God."

I am excited for conference this weekend. I don't have any questions to bring to conference like Charlie but I could use inspiration that conference always brings. 

I caught up on my blog today. We are studying D&C 29 this week in "Come Follow Me." We listened to "Follow Him" on the way to the valley on Wednesday which gave us a background into the lesson. The Gathering of Israel is a major focus of the lesson as is the Plan of Salvation. Also, little children are redeem through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

James went to town to get rebar today. He will be pouring a patio for the Beach's next week. 

I am getting tired of protein shakes. I need some high-protein recipes. I wish I liked tuna a little more than I do.

I love having a fire in the fireplace when it's cold and snowy outside. James likes to build fires before we go to bed. He says it keep the house warm all night long.

Ruby won the mile, again.

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025: Snow on the ground this morning, I am miserable & slept most of the day, I get up & do a few chores, Tom slept most of the day from his night out, James does office work and then makes a trip to town for soup & soda for me, "This Above All"

 

Orlando, Florida

46th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Oct 1994

By: Howard W. Hunter

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 1:1-14

Come Follow Me

"A Witness of God"

April General Conference

Third talk

There was snow on the ground this morning when I looked outside. Later it melted, but then more came down. We are grateful for the moisture. 

I am miserable. I slept most of the day on my recliner chair in the bedroom. After taking some pain pills I got up and did a couple of chores. 

Tom slept most of the day because he was out so late last night. Besides, he doesn't like to be outside when it is cold and wet. He slept on the recliner with me for quite awhile. 

James was busy doing office work most of the day. This evening he made a trip to town just for me. He bought me some hot & sour soup and a DPZ Polar Pop. The soup and soda felt so good on my sore throat.

James and I are both racing through our latest Regency romance book, "This Above All." I was actually a head of him in my reading so he asked if he could walk with my book to catch up.

I studied from my book, "Forgiving What You Can't Forget." The woman who wrote this book, Lysa Terkeurst, is not LDS but she has a lot of spiritual insight and knows the only way to be happy in certain situations is to turn them over to the Lord. She says, Forgiveness is the only step that leads to anything good. The peace from forgiveness is more satisfying than revenge."

This is from a woman who was sexually abused as a child, had her father leave as a child, a drunk driver ran into their home and they had to cancel her 9th birthday party. Her one and only sibling, a younger sister whom she was very close to died, lightning struck her car, she got hit by a golf ball on the golf course, and her husband cheated on her. These are just a few things she has endured, things that have ultimately made her stronger. I admire her so much.

Mason checking out the Wheat Thins

Apache Junction: Two bobcats in a

Saguaro cactus