Tuesday, October 7th, 2025: Up @ 3:58, Nephi cried mightily to God in behalf of his people (I know how he feels), elk are bugling and so is James, Pres. Nelson's funeral, temple cleaning night

 

Port Vila Vanuatu

Steeple frame installed; hanging exterior

cladding panels; installing windows;

construction estimated to be completed

in mid to late 2026.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 1:1-14

Come Follow Me

D&C 111

The Lord can "order all things for my good."

D&C

112:1-10

Priesthood Power

D&C 25

'Seekers Wanted'

Chapter 7

Up at 3:58. 

'Nephi cried mightily to God in behalf of his people.' I know how Nephi feels. Every morning during prayer I cry in behalf of all of the members of my family.

For some reason I was tired today and ended up taking two naps. Maybe it was because I knew that at my normal bed time I would be helping to clean the temple. 

The weather is turning a little cooler. The elk are bugling and so is James. 

When it was time for President Nelson's funeral James was outside burning brush and I called him in to watch the funeral with me. 

Speakers at the funeral included: one of his daughters, his son, President Eyring, President Oaks, President Holland and President Camille Johnson. President Johnson's talk was my favorite. It was sweet and tender and I just connected with her. It was funny when Elder Holland said his mother, who loved President Nelson said to him: "Don't worry son, you're my second favorite apostle." It was also interesting to know that President/Dr. Nelson operated on President Eyring's mother 9 times. President Oaks said not only was President Nelson his greatest gospel teacher, he was also his best friend. President Nelson has over 300 descendants.

I fixed broccoli and soup for lunch, did two blog posts, and walked 11,000 steps. 

James and I left around seven this evening to help our ward clean the temple. Here are some of the other people who came: Stefani Hunsaker, Kip Hunsaker, Brandon Crane, Sam & Amy Gordon, Chris & Becky Skousen, Steve & Tina Allen, Rick & Rosie Lauritzen, Collin & Wendy DeWitt, Willy & Janna Grombach, Susan Goodman, Michelle Sandover, and Doug Brown.

Brother Brown told me how much he loved Cindy's birthday cake so I guess it tasted okay. I always worry about that.

We left home at 7 and got home at 10 and were in bed by 10:30.

"The Father and the Son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, thus initiating the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days."

- Elder David A. Bednar, AGC 2025

D&C 112:8

And by Thy word many high ones shall be brought low, and by Thy word many low ones shall be exalted.

Charlie, this is my pet Lambie

Hunting for elk with a bugle

call and a camera.

I like this visual aid to Isaiah 11:1

Benson is so adorable!

James's burning brush project

 

Monday, October 6th, 2025: Up @ 2:58 Something has got to change, I can't feel guilty for not getting up at 2:30, new schedule, James has a meeting in the valley with Ravi Gupta, Cream Danish cake for Cindy Brown, made and delivered, James home @ 6:30 p.m., in bed before 9

 

 232. Queretaro, Mexico

Cladding the exterior; framing the exterior pilasters and mission-style

parapet; construction estimated to be completed in

late 2026 to early 2027.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 16:19-25

Come Follow Me

D&C 111-114

"I Will Order All Things For Your Good"

Introduction

D&C

111:1-11

October General Conference

'Do Your Part With All Your Heart'

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Liahona

'Wrapped in Warmth and Love'

Follow Him

Susan Easton Black

Up at 2:58. Something has got to change, I can't feel guilty for not getting up at 2:30. I made a new schedule, starting at 4 instead of 3.

I need to be in bed buy 8:30 on a normal day. 

James left around 8 for the valley. He is meeting Ravi Gupta, who is a friend of Dr. Memon, about finishing his home. He took a contract with him. I have mixed feelings about him taking this job but he assured me he has prayed about it and feels good. 

I started Cindy Brown's birthday cake just about the same time that James left. I am making Courtney Rich's Cream Danish cake. The cake, frosting and filling have cream cheese in them. Cindy says they love cheesecake. I also made a strawberry compote. I started at 8:00 and then finished around 1:30. I made two layers of cake and then had to cut each one of them in half and put cream cheese filling in between them. 

Cream Danish Cake with strawberry compote

At 1:30 I put the cake in my cake carrier and headed east on the 60 to the turn off to Cindy's. It's about 11 miles from the Vernon turn off.

I had to wait about ten minutes for roadwork. When I got to the turnoff I could see a car parked at the side of the road and I assumed it was Cindy. I was right. She had her cute teenaged granddaughter Reagan with her. She probably brought her to hold the cake. Good idea. I wish I would have had someone to hold it. It got a crack in it and I was afraid it would fall apart before Cindy got it home. I checked and she said it did not. She put it in the fridge and this evening she said she is going to share it with her family. They are going out to eat around 4.

I am exhausted but before resting I go in and clean my dirty kitchen. While I was working this morning I listened to Susan Black on "Follow Him." I finished this afternoon.

Before resting I ate some soup and read from my book, "Look Unto Christ in Every Hour." After resting I did some walking, determined to get my 10,000 steps.

James got home around 6:30. I am so grateful he made it home safely. It is always a relief. 

No only was today Cindy Brown's birthday it was also Vickie's and Scarlett's. I missed going to lunch with my brothers and their wives because I was committed to make Cindy's cake. I texted Vickie and told her I was sorry. I hope she understood.

Scarlett loved her birthday presents, the fox purse and the earrings.

Scarlett wants to be a cowgirl

We were in bed before 9 tonight.

 

Sunday, October 5th, 2025: General Conference, Sunday morning session and Sunday afternoon session

 

231. Torreon, Mexico

Exterior cladding completed;

Construction estimated to be completed

in early 2026.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 15:7-16:18

D&C

110:4-16

195th Semiannual

General Conference

Sunday morning session

Sunday Afternoon Session

Matthew S. Holland

What a wonderful conference!

Saturday, October 4th, 2025: Three sessions of General Conference today, I lost a veneer and Pierce reinstates it between sessions of conference

 

Miraflores Guatemala City, Guatemala

Major construction completed;

Applying finishing touches.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 14:20-15:6

D&C

109:74-110:3

October General Conference

'The Lord Looketh on the Heart'

Elder Ronald Barcellos

A.S.K.

' Trust in the Lord'

Elder Richard G. Scott

Others

'Seekers Wanted' chapter 5

'Liahona' - The Atonement of Jesus Christ, God's Mercy and You'

Elder Jorg Klebingat

Up at 2:30 worked on yesterday's journal, had prayer, Book of Mormon, D&C, eat, Tender Mercies, A.S.K., the Atonement of Jesus Christ, blog, walk, puzzle and then conference at 9.

195th General Conference

Saturday morning session

Saturday afternoon session

Saturday Evening session

Between the afternoon and evening session I was eating a Rise bar that we bought at Costco and the veneer on my front left tooth. I called Pierce and luckily he was available to re-attach it. I went over a little after 4 and my tooth was re-attached before the evening session. Pierce asked if I lost weight and when I told him yes he said I looked cute. When I left he gave me a hug.