Wow! I loved it! I know I was listening carefully for what would touch me most. From the start with Elder Hales telling us about provident living to the end with President Monson telling us to go to the temple so we can find peace and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments I was completely inspired and filled with the spirit. I noticed how much the talks emphasized that we could be happy in our adversity. No one promised if you kept the commandments all your problems would be solved, no one said things would turn around soon and all would be well, no, the talks just told us that we needed to be happy, we have to choose to be happy because that's what God wants for us.
Some Quotes I Loved:
Fear Not, be of Good Cheer, The Future is as Bright as your Faith.
Personal Righteousness is a CHOICE!
Nourished with Testimony and Watered with Faith.
You can't be a Lifesaver by looking like all the others on the beach.
After your 'spiritual virtual tour' of your home do you need a few home improvements or an Extreme Home Makeover?
Historical patterns show the cycle of Righteousness followed by Prosperity followed by Material Comforts followed by Greed followed by Pride followed by Wickedness and a Collapse of Morality. All this is found within the pages of Old Testament, New Testament and Book of Mormon. Does it sound familiar?
No matter how difficult the journey our destination is Paradise!
Do your children know that you KNOW?
Your are never lost when you can see the temple.
Protect the formal, proper language of prayer by using Thee, Thou, Thy and Thine to show humility.
Missionaries are underutilized teachers, they spend too much time finding instead of teaching, we need to find so these servants of God can TEACH.
Fear and Faith cannot coexist! Does your faith exceed your doubt and disbelief?
We Get what we Focus On Consistently!!
6 destructive D's: Doubt; Discouragement; Distraction; Lack of Diligence; Disobedience; Disbelief all these lead to our Spiritual Destruction!
There is a difference between church-attending, tithe-paying members who occasionally rush in to the temple to go through a session and those members who faithfully and consistently worship in the temple.
We don't acquire Eternal Life in a Sprint, this is a race of Endurance
For the past week Griffin has been very sick. He hasn't felt well at all and has a lovely allergy cough that if he runs around too much turns in to a hackin cough with throwing up at the end, which leads to him being sent home from school. TMI, I know. So, I knew he was coughing and probably didn't need to share the contents of his last meal with his friends at school so I kept him home M-Tu-We and he finally went to school today. I asked him if he ran around at recess at school and he said, "No, I just walked around slowly." He didn't eat his lunch, only drank his water and juice, came home and crashed. He's been asleep since 5 and when I transfered him from the couch to his bed at 8, he didn't even flinch. I guess he's worn out. Poor guy. So, here is his week in a nutshell: in Helen's Bed laying down (I don't want Lewis to get sick and Helen is in with Mary till he feels better) or On the Couch. He has done nothing but play his DS, watch TV, and play with his Lego's. Sounds kinda fun except for the not eating a thing for 3 days, drinking only Gatoraid, red watery eyes, a runny nose, and coughing, coughing and more coughing. It's been naping, and sitting quietly which is practically impossible for this little man. Good thing his 6th birthday party is next Saturday--11th--and not on his actual birthday--4th or it would be one wiped out Birthday Boy.
The Wildlife World Zoo has a new aquarium and the other day Lewis and I decided to check it out. We had lots of fun. There are 3 buildings housing all of the aquarium fishies and we had fun in all of them. We need to go back when the octopus isn't sleeping and see him swimmin around. We also want to pet the stingrays and starfish but there were 1400 school kids on field trips there on Friday so we decided to wait for a better day instead of fighting for a spot. We also had to see the monkeys and, the real crowd pleaser, kitties aka tigers and lions. We love to visit the zoo and this is the best time of year since it is only in the 70-80's and the animals are all out and about. Soon it will be too dang hot in the afternoon and we will have to go early in the morning! Enjoy the pics!
Sleeping Octopus
Stone Fish can you see his frowny face?
Lew and the "yook, fissssy" that would be "look, fishy" for those of you who don't speak 2 year old.
On Saturday we went to Dunn's Arena where the Activity Day Girls (girls ages 8-11) learned how to care for a horse and learned to lead it and ride it. It was a fun activity and all the girls had a great time. We had about 10-12 girls in our group so we took turns learning the different skills but all they really wanted was to ride. When we got over to the riding arena they were all so patient with waiting to lead the horse and then ride, the man who was helping us even commented that he hadn't heard one girl whine or fuss about who's turn it was, very impressive! We had 3 horses to ride and 2 to lead. And when they were riding, there was always an adult to lead the horse they were riding. The only one I remember is the black one, Prince. At first the leaders were teaching the girls to lead the horses but after a while, Mary decided to take over Prince and she taught the rest of the girls how to do it. It was so cute, and she did a fantastic job!
One highlight was when a couple of girls were riding double and ms. horsey decided she wasn't having any of that and reared up. Both girls held on for a while but the girl on back started to slide off just as her mom got over there to help and they were able to slide down into a nice soft pile of poop. (We can laugh because no one got hurt.) Brave girl that she was, she got up on the next available horse and rode like a pro!
It was a really fun activity and we now want to make sure Pap brings his horses up to the Cabin this summer so we can ride when we are there! We already called him to get him used to the idea! :>
The best was when the horses would poop or pee. The girls were in hysterics laughing so much. When Megan was having her turn riding her horse had to pee pee. She was dying with laughter as were the rest of us! Luckily I captured it on film. Sweet.
Sadly, there are no pictures for Spring Break. I can't believe it either! My parents took Griffin, Helen and Mary up to Flagstaff Fri-Mon and had lots of fun while Brad, Lewis and I stayed home and cleaned the yard and went to the temple and started our talks for the next Sunday. Tuesday we played here in the valley with Julie, Caley, Reese and Nathan--Bowling on St. Patrick's Day (not a single picture!) and Wednesday the girls had a birthday party and then Auntie Lynette took us girls out to dinner and Build-A-Bear for their birthday (so we are 5 months late on that, we still got it done!) Thursday-Saturday I took the kids back to Flagstaff because Sheri, Willow, Cedric and Anika came down from Idaho. Sheri and I did nothing but sit on the couch at her parents house and let the kids play outside, again, not a single photo to document this fabulous time. We couldn't have been any dirtier or happier! Saturday I trekked on home so I could finish my talk for Sunday. Church starts at 8 remember! I spoke on Following the Prophet and Brad spoke on Revelation. I think we did rather well. A few people told us we did a great job so they were either just being nice or we got our topics covered! I hope it's the latter!
Wait, I have found a picture! Lewis wearing Pap's glasses in Flagstaff--ONE picture from the entire 9 days of Spring Break!
Grew up in Flag where we were just friends, all thru HS, just friends, we went to BYU, just friends, he went on his mission to St. Louis Missouri, I wrote to him (a lot!) and we were still just friends, he came home, I went on mission to Johannesburg, South Africa, he wrote 1 letter and we were barely still friends, I came home, still friends, both back at BYU, just friends watching a BYU football game, decided to date, 9 days later he proposed in Celestial Room of Provo temple. His sister, Jill, likes to tell people her brother went to BYU, dated a girl for 9 days and got engaged.She conveniently forgets the 20 years we knew each other before that.Here we are, almost 16 years, 4 kids, 2 apartments, 2 houses and 5 layoffs later. :>
President Ezra Taft Benson taught of a grand key.He gave us this key to help us pass crucial tests which lie ahead for all of us as we live in this ever changing world where so much darkness and chaos is surrounding us.This key, will crown us with God’s glory and bring us out victorious in spite of Satan and his fury all around us.
The key?Follow the Prophet.This simple yet all encompassing commandment is so vital to our salvation.We have been blessed in this church, with the knowledge that God has not abandon us in these last days, he has provided us with apostles and prophets today just as he has done in ancient times.We need not wonder what Moses, or Abraham might have taught if they were alive today, we know exactly what they would say because President Monson is the Lord’s mouthpiece today.We can read the scriptures and learn the teachings of the Lord but we have living scriptures today.We are unique in this world because of our knowledge of prophets in our times.
Joseph Smith once told Brigham Young, ‘I want you to go to the podium and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God.’ Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and said: ‘There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now, when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet, I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.’
A living Prophet is that important.
President Benson taught us that the living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works and the living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet:
“God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the Ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore the most important prophet so far as you and I are concerned is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us. Therefore the most important reading we can do is any of the words of the prophet contained each month in our Church Magazines. Our instructions about what we should do for each six months are found in the General Conference addresses.Beware of those who would set up the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.”
As we follow the teachings from the prophet, we should be mindful that he speaks for the Lord. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
How true! How often have you or I listened to a talk in General Conference on a subject and then discounted it as meant for someone else?Have you ever agreed completely with a particular talk, felt sprit tell you it was correct but brushed it off saying to yourself; I’ll start doing that when things are better or after I graduate or I get a different job or my kids are bigger or some other excuse.
President N. Eldon Tanner relates this story:
“The Prophet spoke out clearly on Friday morning, telling us what our responsibilities are..
“A man said to me after that, ‘You know, there are people who believe in following the Prophet in everything they think is right, but when it is something they think isn’t right, and it doesn’t appeal to them, then that’s different.
“I thought how true, and how serious when we begin to choose which of the covenants, which of the commandments we will keep and follow, we are taking the law of the Lord into our own hands and become our own prophets, and believe me, we will be led astray, because we are false prophets to ourselves when we do not follow the Prophet of God. No, we should never discriminate between these commandments, as to those we should and should not keep.”
What commandments from the Prophet do we fail to keep because they aren’t what we want to hear or think is right?
How long have we been counseled to get out of debt, spend wisely, live within our means and agreed completely with the idea but then gone out and bought things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like?(Dave Ramsey)How can the Lord bless us in time of need when we haven’t bothered to follow his Prophet?
Some things the prophet tells us to do are easier to follow than others.I remember when Pres. Hinckley told us men don’t get to wear earrings and women get 1 set only.Well, I had a double pierced ear already so was I grandfathered in?Did that rule not apply to me because I did it before the rule was made?I never asked I simply took out that second earring and have never looked back.Easy, yes, if only they were all that easy!
The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual and the prophet may advise on civic matters.As we well know, from recent and ongoing events, the Prophet’s council will not necessarily be popular with the world.As we come closer to the Lord’s second coming you can expect that as the people of the world become more wicked, the prophet will be less popular with them and if we follow him we will be unpopular as well!We might as well get used to it.I’d rather be more popular with the Lord than the world anyway!
President Uchtdorf stated:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”(2 Timothy 1:7)
These words from one of the ancient Apostles of our Savior rang with great importance for me in postwar times, even as they do today. Yet how many of us permit our fears to take control of our lives in this time of international tension, economic and political uncertainties, and personal challenges? We have a living prophet on the face of the earth again, even President Thomas S. Monson. He knows our challenges and fears. He has inspired answers. There is no need to fear. We can have peace in our hearts and peace in our homes.”
This statement is from a man who’s family “ had lost all material belongings twice within only seven years yet found a place of defense from despair: the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church, led by a true and living prophet.”
He goes on to say… It is our responsibility not only to listen but also to act upon His word that we may claim the blessings of the ordinances and covenants of the restored gospel. He said, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10).
M. Russell Ballard said: “It is no small thing, my brothers and sisters, to have a prophet of God in our midst. Great and wonderful are the blessings that come into our lives as we listen to the word of the Lord given to us through him. When we hear the counsel of the Lord expressed through the words of the President of the Church, our response should be positive and prompt. History has shown that there is safety, peace, prosperity, and happiness in responding to prophetic counsel as did Nephi of old: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded" (1 Nephi 3:7)
Is the world we face different from that of any other day and age?Absolutely, it is different for me from my parent’s generation as it will be from me to my children’s generation, technology has transformed our lives, yet I do not fear or despair for what we all will face.The Lord has not abandon us during this critical time in history, we have a living prophet to guide us and he will not lead us astray if we listen, and act upon his words in a positive and prompt way.
It is not just enough to listen, we must follow through, The Lord can’t guide your footsteps if you don’t move your feet!
I know that as we follow the direction our Prophet and the inspired leaders of this church we will be able to forge ahead with happiness in our hearts.I know Heavenly Father will never lead us astray, he’s our father and he loves us deeply and eternally.He wants us all to return to him and has given us every tool possible to accomplish that.As we follow the prophet we will be blessed beyond our wildest expectations and we will have no need to despair no matter what may come, this life is just a test and when we let everything but our faith and our families fall away we still have everything.I know that Jesus Christ himself leads this church through his Prophet, Thomas S. Monson of this I have no doubt.In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
A few weeks ago we went to the funeral of a family friend. I grew up with his children in Flagstaff, (they had 8 children and I was the same age as #4) and now they all live here in the valley. He knew his time was short as he has been battling cancer for quite a few years and had decided to finally stop the treatments and let nature take it's course.
Because of his long illness, the family had a chance to do a great deal of family history before he passed away and they have some great letters he wrote to them giving them fatherly advice and instruction. President Garner worked for Church Education Services his whole life so he was quite the teacher and quite the Gospel scholar. This quote on his funeral program says it all... His funeral was really great. He truly embodied the scripture 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
I was so lucky to be able to know him and his family and am so glad I attended his funeral. Brad and I have been quoting some of the lines and I'm putting them here so I will have them in my journal to remind myself of this faithful man and some of the new things I learned about him from his funeral...
When his daughter decided to push her boundaries and told her father she didn't want to go to church which she explained was her right because of free agency his reply was "of course you have free agency, you chose to come down to this family and this family chooses to go to church" problem solved!
His son at 16 years old was 6'3" 145 lbs of "pure muscle" but he didn't mess with his 5'11" father when he was reprimanded.
dad liked guns
His hunting trips with his sons which his sons referred to as "camping with guns" since they never shot anything
Dave said: And like Lehi of old we have our own personal scriptures from our father in the letters he wrote and mailed out to us during the last years of his life
"It's more important to raise children than grass" when his daughter worried that his grass was worn out in spots from all their playing in his perfectly manicured yard.
Kathy said her parents never missed one of her sporting events, and "even though some people mistook my dad for my grandpa at my games I didn't care, he never missed a game and lots of others never had their parents come."
Richard said, The best compliment I have ever received is you are just like your dad
Suzann will be walking with me!!! When another boy thought he'd walk Suzann to class Kent set the record straight in no uncertain terms!
Dad had a seat at the top of a tree when he was a boy that he fell from and as he reached the bottom, the last branch bent with him and softly landed him on his feet
Dad was a serial handshaker, he never left a room without shaking hands with everyone in the room
If my husband was anymore active in the church I'd never see him! Once someone thought Kent was a bit less active and called him to repentance, Suzann set them straight with her answer! (He was the Bishop of a singles ward so this person didn't see him at church in the family ward Suzann and the children attended.)
I love you, I love you, I love you, best last words ever!
This month Griffin and Helen both got awards at the end of the month assembly's.
Griffin's assembly was first. He got the Character Counts award and the character trait of the month was Caring. He was thrilled! He couldn't believe it! We were happy to see him rewarded for his best character trait, caring, he is working hard to be kind to others and we hope this motivates him to keep up the good work.
Helen's assembly was at the end of the day and she got the Student of the Month award. Her teacher told her she was getting SotM but she was still totally excited! We are so proud of her for all her good efforts in class. We know she works hard, listens well, is a good friend, and really likes school. She has put in a great effort and we are happy to see her recognized for her efforts.
Mary was just happy to be in the choir and sing at the assembly, she came up to me later and said "I kinda wish I would have gotten an award but it's ok, I'm just happy for Helen and Griffin, maybe I'll get an award another month." What a great attitude!
Happy Birthday to Brad Happy Birthday to Brad Happy Birthday dear Bradley Happy Birthday to Brad
Brad is now the big 40
his birthday breakfast was a delicious apple fritter which he picked out himself so it had lots of nooks and crannies which is what makes an apple fritter superior to all other doughnuts. So far he has been on the phone with family wishing him a happy birthday all morning. We will see what the rest of the day brings!
Lewis has been in swimming lessons now for 6 months and he is doing fantastic! He can float on his back with his legs straight (finally!) and can almost flip himself from front to back to float without assistance. The goal of these classes are to get him to flip over to his back, float and breath, and flip back over to swim, REPEAT, until he reaches the side and can either pull himself out or go along the edge hand over hand to the nearest steps. These are the lifesaving kind of swimming lessons so if your child falls into the pool or lake or whatever he won't sink like a stone! We are so glad we are doing this because Lewis absolutely has no fear of the water and loves to jump in and swim whenever he sees a pool. As you can see by these pictures he really hates to have his face underwater. Isn't he just the cutest? He is totally waving at his teacher while she takes his picture underwater. I bet he is saying 'cheeeeese' for the picture. What a sweetheart!
