Zzzzzz

It's been a busy day for both Willyne and I. I did all the usual things and tonight that will do--This blog is about keep dad alive- so I'm headed to sleep! Thanks!

Carmel, Mia, and Ty (I hope I spelled your names right)

First things first tonight.  Becca headed back to Idaho this afternoon.  She is spending a little time with Benjamin in Orem on her way north, so I imagine they are together now -- hello and hope you are having a nice evening!

We had a nice dinner and conversation tonight in our home.  Willyne, Danielle, and I hosted the sister missionaries, a friend we have met through Fred and Sue Thomas named Carmel, who lives in Springdale, and her two children Mia and Ty who are visiting from their home in White Plains, NY (they say it is about a half-hour north of the city, which I guess is true if you are talking about the time it would take to get to the city limits at the north end of the Bronx.   Perhaps Sarah would like to weigh in on this, since she served in both White Plains and the Bronx on her mission there :)  ...)

They are enjoying their time here, especially the hiking in Zions Park.  If we're really lucky, they'll stop by again on another trip out here.  It was just a fun conversation getting acquainted.  Thanks for coming, and thanks to Willyne for all the yummy food (especially the peach cobbler!)

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It is nine days until this becomes an invitation-only blog on Wednesday, September 8. Please see the August 25 entry and comments for more information.

Meeting and Greeting

It was an exciting fifth Sunday today.  No early morning meetings (the once a quarter treat).  I slept without an alarm, and even after a nap yesterday, I clearly needed every bit of it.  I hurried and got to church in the opening song.  Not recommended.  I am sorry.  Really.

Elder Jamie Price is leaving on his mission this week, headed to the Mexico Mexico City West Mission.  Maybe they should call it the Mexico D.F. West Mission just to avoid duplicating the name Mexico.  (D.F. is kind of like our D.C., it is the Distrito Federal for the national capital -- not located in any state). 

Jamie spoke in Sacrament Meeting today along with Jed Stout.  They were both very good.  The spirit was strong.  Willyne told Jed later that an experience he related in his talk discussed the very issues that some investigators in the congregation were dealing with in their lives.  He did not know that, and had not been planning to include it in his talk, but felt impressed to do so.  I notice this happening too often for me to believe it is mere coincidence.

Later in the day Willyne and I held our Meet and Greet, with lots of help from Becca and Danielle.  We lost count somewhere around 70 people.  Maybe it is the teriyaki meatballs.  Maybe it is the yummy desserts.  Maybe it is Claudia Pierce's homemade bread.  Maybe it is just the chance to really informally talk to lots of new people.  I'd say it's all of that and more, thanks, Willyne for being the inspiration behind a really great thing.  I'm glad to be able to help make it happen.  :)

We all know my phone takes OK pictures at best - this shows several conversations going in just one of four rooms people gathered in

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It is ten days until this becomes an invitation-only blog on Wednesday, September 8. Please see the August 25 entry and comments for more information.

A Pleasant Conference in the Mountains

Here are a couple pictures of the ward Relief Society retreat that was held at the McKell's cabin in Pine Valley last night an ths morning.

Very peaceful and pleasant.  I know everyone who went was blessed with each other's company, the chance to have some personal time in a nice setting, the food, the conversation, and more.  Thanks for inviting me!

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It is eleven days until this becomes an invitation-only blog on Wednesday, September 8. Please see the August 25 entry and comments for more information.

Heading to the Mountain and Thoughts on Jacob 2

Usually, but not always, I write entries here at the end of the day.  Today will be an exception as I am headed up the mountain to Pine Valley (I'm excited for a cool breeze and the smell of mountain trees) to help cook breakfast for and generally be a support with Bishop Hogan and a few other men to the sisters in our ward who are headed there for an overnight sisterhood retreat.  We men will stay nearby in a camper, available if needed, but otherwise out of the way.  I always enjoy opportunities to help in settings like this as the sisters have a unique closeness to the spirit of the Lord that blesses me to witness.  It touches my own spirit.  Thank you for the opportunity!

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My morning reading took me to Jacob 2.  In modern terms this was a powerful General Conference talk on multiple themes.  There are some great quotes from apostles and prophets in the LDS Institute Manual talking about Jacob 2 that really hit home for me today:

"President David O. McKay (1873–1970) counseled us to be cautious regarding that which we seek. Though we may obtain almost anything we work for, it may come at a high price:

'What seek ye first? What do you cherish as the dominant, the uppermost thought in your mind?  What this is will largely determine your destiny. . . .  You may win in this world almost anything for which you strive. If you work for wealth, you can get it, but before you make it an end in itself, take a look at those men who have sacrificed all to the accomplishment of this purpose, at those who have desired wealth for the sake of wealth itself. Gold does not corrupt man; it is in the motive of acquiring that gold that corruption occurs' (Treasures of Life [1962], 174–75)."

President David O. McKay and Sister Emma Ray McKay had a very sweet love.

"Many Nephite husbands had broken the hearts of their wives and lost the confidence of their children.  Families can be destroyed when the law of chastity is broken. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how more than just those who participate in the sin are affected by the consequences:

'Unchastity and infidelity bring serious consequences such as the rippling, even haunting effects of illegitimacy and fatherlessness, along with disease and the shredding of families. So many marriages hang by a thread or have already snapped. . . .

'Therefore, the keeping of the seventh commandment is such a vital shield! (see Exodus 20:14). By our lowering or losing that shield, the much-needed blessings of heaven are lost. No person or nation can prosper for long without those blessings” (in Conference Report,

Oct. 2001, 96; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 78).'"

 

I have personally heard the loud message throughout my life of music, media, and peer pressure saying "if it feels good do it" (especially because it doesn't affect anyone but the 'consenting adults' involved, so why not?). 

 

I like how Elder Maxwell's simple testimony expresses how it does affect many others besides the participants.  (As Elder Richard G. Scott said in October 1994 General Conference, "Even though participants do not realize that is happening now, they will later.")

 

If you have read this far, I sincerely thank you and ask you to consider carefully Elder Maxwell's concluding sentence, "No person or nation can prosper long without those blessings".  Then please decide for yourself if this doesn't identify the core cause of many of the serious challenges we face as a nation. 

 

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It is twelve days until this becomes an invitation-only blog on Wednesday, September 8. Please see the August 25 entry and comments for more information.

What the Holy Ghost Can Do For Us (If We Want Him To)

I am literally using this blog post to take notes on my reading this morning.  As you may have noticed, I like studying from the Institute manual along with the scriptures, it helps me see things in the verses I wouldn't see otherwise.  And there are often great quotes from the apostles and prophets about the verses that I really enjoy!

The Book of Mormon actually has two manuals, I'll call them "old" and "new".  I have a printed version of the "old" manual, showing a 1989 publishing date and a 1996 reprinting date.  A few years later the manual was updated, mostly to include additional quotes it seems to me.  That manual is available online (click on the underlined "online" to have it appear on your screen). 

I use both manuals.  If I am studying on the computer, I use the "new" manual.  If I am away from the computer and studying in books, I use the "old" manual.

A couple days ago, I noticed the last "Point to Ponder" in the "old" manual lesson for 2 Nephi 31-33 says the following:

"Nephi knew that having the Holy Ghost was an important key in striving for eternal life.  Read 2 Nephi 31-33, and list at least six things the Holy Ghost can do for us."

That intrigued me enough that I entered a task in my BlackBerry day planner (that keeps reminding me until I do it or cancel it) to remind me to try to see if I could find at least six things ...

31:13-14 and 32:2 Holy Ghost will bless us to be able to "speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel."

31:17 Holy Ghost helps us be able to receive cleansing from our sins ...  "For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost."

31:18 "and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son"

32:5 "if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."

32:8 "For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray"

33:1 "for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men"

When you read these chapters, did you find other things that the Holy Ghost can do for us ... if we let him?  I would love to learn more about what the Holy Ghost has shared with you by the Spirit about these things.

Thank you for studying with me today.

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It is thirteen days until this becomes an invitation-only blog on Wednesday, September 8.  Please see the August 25 entry and comments for more information.

Blog By Invitation

I've decided to change this blog to be by invitation.  If you would like an invitation, please become a follower of this blog in the next two weeks.  On Wednesday, September 8, the change will be made.

I have a Facebook page for my business, which I have started adding posts to regularly and a couple weeks ago I launched a second Facebook page, this one to promote Congressional term limits, something I think is important to keep a rotation of people serving rather than having people serving for life, or very close to it.

I'm wanting to separate the audience for those efforts from this blog, hence the move to make it by invitation. 

I hope to see you after this change!