11/05/2026, Thursday

Weight: 227.9

BP and Pulse: 111/74, 75

GMI: 6.8  Daily 3 day Average Glucose: 145

Reported Sleep: 6:47

Yesterday's Steps: 10,361

Journal Entry:

I have felt that I might share some insights into parenting that I have developed over the years. An interesting thing that I have noticed in my life is that I frequently feel that I have learned how to become good at somethings only after I am basically done doing them. I'm thinking specifically here of the incredibly difficult responsibility of parenting.

Whereas the guidance and the experiences of others were available, for whatever reason I believe I didn't take the opportunity to learn these things as well as I should.

Parenting is an incredibly important and eternal responsibility.

Perhaps the best example of proper parenting has been set by our Father in Heaven.

Through prayer and study I am completely satisfied that our Father in Heaven loves each of His children more than we can probably fathom.  His love is constant and eternal and there is no better example of proper parenting than His.

 So….

When faced with difficult or complicated situations that fall under the category of parenting ask yourself how He might deal with it.

A few examples include:

Does he always just give us whatever we believe we want or deserve? Even if we pray for them?

Will he always keep us healthy or keep us from being hurt or injured?

When faced with difficulties will he step in and solve them for us?

Will he give us a nice home in a lovely neighborhood?

Or:

Will he give us guidance, goals and the ability to learn how to accomplish these things in our own way so that we can learn from others or from our own mistakes, grow and become stronger?

Life is eternal. We can't begin to imagine that but we can enjoy trying. Our mortal existence will be extremely brief when compared to eternity.

Remember, the Apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians chapter 2:9

“... Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

I devoutly believe that.

When we complete our mortal life will we have learned the things we need to learn? The things we were sent here to accomplish?

When faced with a difficult situation, especially in parenting, ask yourself what your Heavenly Father might do. Think of the long term goals you have for your children. You can do this. Pray often for continued guidance and always strive to have the Spirit of the Lord with you. Then, when possible, wait patiently for that guidance and make the right call.

You can lovingly guide your children without giving them everything they want when they want it. As they continue to grow they will come to realize that your guidance, even though they might not appreciate it in the short run, means you love them and will always love them.

And, possibly most important, think about what kind of parents, or adults, they will become. When they are grown will the way you have treated them make them better people.

Come Follow Me:

Ezekiel 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

"Our Good Shepherd cautions that shepherds in Israel must not slumber, nor scatter or cause the sheep to go Our Good Shepherd cautions that shepherds in Israel must not slumber, nor scatter or cause the sheep to go astray, nor look our own way for our own gain. God’s shepherds are to strengthen, heal, bind up that which is broken, bring again that which was driven away, seek that which was lost. 

…As Christ freely dedicated His will to the will of the Father, so we reverently take upon us His name. We gladly seek to join His work of gathering and ministering to all of God’s children., nor look our own way for our own gain. God’s shepherds are to strengthen, heal, bind up that which is broken, bring again that which was driven away, seek that which was lost."

Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Apostle 

11/04/2026, Wednesday

Weight: 228.8

BP and Pulse: 112/69, 77

GMI: 6.8  Daily 3 day Average Glucose: 144

Reported Sleep: 6:46

Yesterday's Steps: 5,576

Journal Entry: 

Come Follow Me:

Ezekiel 33:15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

"Although the Savior has power to mend what we cannot fix, He commands us to do all we can to make restitution as part of our repentance. Our sins and mistakes displace not only our relationship with God but also our relationships with others. Sometimes our efforts to heal and restore may be as simple as an apology, but other times restitution may require years of humble effort. Yet, for many of our sins and mistakes, we simply are not able to fully heal those we have hurt. The magnificent, peace-giving promise of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel is that the Savior will mend all that we have broken. And He will also mend us if we turn to Him in faith and repent of the harm we have caused. He offers both of these gifts because He loves all of us with perfect love and because He is committed to ensuring a righteous judgment that honors both justice and mercy."

Elder James R. Rasband of The Seventy, April 2020

11/03/2026, Tuesday

Weight: 229.2

BP and Pulse: 113/75, 70

GMI: 6.8  Daily 3 day Average Glucose: 147

Glucose level: 129 @ 0645

Reported Sleep: 6:58

Yesterday's Steps: 7,367

Journal Entry: 

Come Follow Me:

Ezekiel 3:27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.

"...When parents ignore the counsel of the living prophet, they not only lose the promised blessings for themselves but even more tragically teach their children that what a prophet says is insignificant or that prophetic counsel can be picked through in a smorgasbord fashion without concern for the resulting spiritual malnutrition.

…Our seemingly small deviations, quiet neglect, or whispered criticisms in response to prophetic counsel may result in our only walking dangerously near the edge of the covenant path; but when magnified by the adversary in the lives of the rising generation, such actions may influence them to leave that path altogether. Such a result is a generational price that is too high."

Elder Allen D. Haynie of The Seventy, April 2023

11/02/2026, Monday

Weight: 227.

BP and Pulse: 114/76, 70

GMI: 6.8  Daily 3 day Average Glucose: 146

Glucose level: 133 @ 0330

Reported Sleep: 5:33

Yesterday's Steps: 4,387

Journal Entry: 

Come Follow Me:

Ezekiel 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 

"Sometimes those who raise a warning voice are dismissed as judgmental. Paradoxically, however, those who claim truth is relative and moral standards are a matter of personal preference are often the same ones who most harshly criticize people who don’t accept the current norm of “correct thinking.” 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Apostle 

11/01/2026, Sunday. Standard Time

Weight: 229.0

BP and Pulse: 115/79, 66

GMI: 6.8  Daily 3 day Average Glucose: 148

Glucose level: 144 @ 0445

Reported Sleep: 4:21

Yesterday's Steps: 4,235

Journal Entry: 

Today we  "fall back" as daylight savings time ends and we return to standard time. I don't see why this change is needed and truly wish it would stop. It's certainly not a big deal for me. It simply means changing the few clocks in my life that are not controlled by the internet. But it seems so unnecessary. But, of course, by this time tomorrow I'll be over it.

Today after church, I have choir practice then a manager's meeting at the Bishops Storehouse so unusually busy for an 80 year old's Sunday.

Come Follow Me:

Lamentations 3:57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

"If we actively trust in the Lord and His ways, if we are engaged in His work, we will not fear the trends of the world or be troubled by them. I plead with you to set aside worldly influences and pressures and seek spirituality in your daily life. Love what the Lord loves—which includes His commandments, His holy houses, our sacred covenants with Him, the sacrament each Sabbath day, our communication through prayer—and you will not be troubled."

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Apostle 

10/31/2026, Saturday - Haloween

Weight: 229.7

BP and Pulse: 109/74, 77

GMI: 6.8  Daily 3 day Average Glucose: 150

Glucose level: 113 @ 0630

Reported Sleep: 7:21

Yesterday's Steps: 6,541

Journal Entry: 

I have been afflicted with Type II Diabetes now for nearly thirty years and there doesn't seem to be any real cure. I've tried a few things but no luck. I have felt a little discouraged because of several related difficulties such as having my dietary intake restricted and, I believe, urinary tract difficulties. I won't go into details here but suffice it to say that reviewing the BYU Devotional message by Jeffrey S. Bednar (son of Apostle David A. Bednar) has caused me to decide to accept and live with whatever difficulties that have become a part of my life. I consider myself to be blessed and joyous. I have in no way given up hoping for a cure but am now willing to cheerfully live with and endure my afflictions.

Come Follow Me:

Lamentations 3: 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

"Seeking after Him and calling upon Him will begin the process and provide space to build and strengthen our eternal relationships. It broadens our spiritual view and helps us focus on changing what we can control rather than on fears outside our control. Studying the life and ministry of our Savior, Jesus Christ, will enable us to view these other concerns with an eternal perspective."

Elder Taniolo B. Wakolo of The Seventy, April 2021

Also: A great BYU Devotional message:

21 JUL 2026

To Those Enduring Trials with No End

Jeffrey S. Bednar

10/30/2026, Friday

Weight: 229.0

BP and Pulse: 110/72, 74

GMI: 6.8  Daily 3 day Average Glucose: 148

Glucose level: 137 @ 0600

Reported Sleep: 6:23

Yesterday's Steps: 4,198

Journal Entry: 

Come Follow Me:

Lamentations 3:22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

"On earth we experience joy and sorrow as we are tested and proven. Our victory comes through faith in Jesus Christ as we triumph over our sins, difficulties, temptations, unfairness, and the challenges of this mortal life.

As we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, we see beyond our struggles to the blessings and promises of eternity. Like a light whose brilliance grows, hope brightens the darkened world, and we see our glorious future.

…There is no pain, no sickness, no injustice, no suffering, nothing that can darken our hope as we believe and hold tightly to our covenants with God in the house of the Lord. It is a house of light, a house of hope."

Elder Neil L. Andersen, Apostle