112925, Saturday

Daily Vitals: 232.5, GMI: 6.9, Steps (previous day): 5,987, BP: 124/68, Pulse: 65, Reported Sleep: 4:58

Journal Entry

Erica came over and helped Cathy decorate our home for Christmas. She is really very talented, pleasant and hard working. I'll try to get some photos in here maybe tomorrow. I spent some time helping them and also I put up some garlands on the front porch. We need lights out there too but it's going to be cold this afternoon. Hopefully I can get it done.

I'm speaking at Frederick's baptismal service this morning. He requested me and I'm honored to speak on the topic of the Holy Ghost.

Come Follow Me 

D&C 136:31 My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.

"God uses another form of chastening or correction to guide us to a future we do not or cannot now envision but which He knows is the better way for us. President Hugh B. Brown...told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet (1.8 m) high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say:

“How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth…And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me…How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”

President Brown replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Apostle 

112825, Friday

 

Daily Vitals: 231.2, GMI: 6.8, Steps (previous day): 1,775, BP: 123/71, Pulse: 86,  Reported Sleep: 4:44

Journal Entry

We had a pretty busy day yesterday. We spent some time in the morning wrapping little wieners with bacon then coming them in the oven. They are sooo tasty it was hard to not gobble them up before we took them over to Jake's for Thanksgiving. I noticed that after we got there they got all eaten before we sat down before Thanksgiving dinner. Anyway,we had a nice dinner and get together at Jake's and Meredith's home. 

Today we will have Erica over so she and Cathy can decorate here for Christmas.

Come Follow Me 

D&C 136:23 Cease to contend one with another; cease to speak evil one of another.

"As disciples of the Prince of Peace, we have been instructed to live with “hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.”  Our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, recently stated, “Contention violates everything the Savior stood for and taught.” Our prophet also implored that we do all we can to end personal conflicts that are currently raging in our hearts and in our lives."

Elder Ulisses Soares, Apostle 

112725, Thanksgiving Day

 

Daily Vitals: 230.6, GMI: 6.8, Steps (previous day): 2,278, BP: 113/66, Pulse: 74, Reported Sleep: 6:08

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

D&C 136:28 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

29 If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful.

"Sacred music has a unique capacity to communicate our feelings of love for the Lord. This kind of communication is a wonderful aid to our worship. Many have difficulty expressing worshipful feelings in words, but all can join in communicating such feelings through the inspired words of our hymns."

President Dallin H Oaks 

112625, Wednesday

 

Daily Vitals: 230.8, GMI: 6.8, Steps (previous day): 3,940, BP: 121/66, Pulse: 77, Reported Sleep: 6:20

Journal Entry

We both served at the Bishops Storehouse yesterday afternoon. It was the busiest day by far that I have ever seen but that is great in many ways. I think we had over 200 orders filled. The computer at the public desk went down about an hour before closing so we had to use the terminal in Elder Wilson's office. If that's not fixed somehow, today, the day before Thanksgiving, will be difficult. We aren't scheduled for today.

Come Follow Me 

D&C 136:4 And this shall be our covenant—that we will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord.

"Just as sunlight daily bathes the earth to renew and sustain life, you can daily brighten the light within you when you choose to follow Him—Jesus Christ.

A drop of sunshine is added every time you seek God in prayer; study the scriptures to “hear Him”; act on guidance and revelation from our living prophets; and obey and keep the commandments to “walk in all the ordinances of the Lord.” 

You will invite spiritual sunlight into your soul and peace into your life each time you repent. As you partake of the sacrament every week to take the Savior’s name upon you, to always remember Him and keep His commandments, His light will shine within you."

Elder Timothy J. Dyches of The Seventy 

112525, Tuesday

Daily Vitals: 231.4, GMI: 6.8, Steps (previous day): 5,548, BP: 120/75 Pulse: 84, Reported Sleep: 4:18

Journal Entry

We gave our seven foot tall Christmas tree to Jake. It is a great tree but just too big to fit in our home. He was very grateful.

Come Follow Me 

D&C 135:4 When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me—he was murdered in cold blood.”—The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:

5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful⁠; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean⁠. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I … bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.

6 Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; 

"One day each of us will give an account to the Lord. This awareness was evident in a serious conversation I had years ago with a dear friend facing the end of his mortal life. I asked him if he was ready to die. I’ll never forget his answer. With courage and conviction, he said, “My life is ready for inspection.”

When the Prophet Joseph Smith faced death, he said, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men.”

Now is the time to prepare for your own ultimate interview."

Elder Russell M. Nelson, Apostle 

112425, Monday

 

Daily Vitals: 229.9, GMI: 6.8, Steps (previous day): 2,386, BP: 122/71, Pulse: 73, Reported Sleep: 6:22

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

D&C 135:3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

"To questions about Joseph’s character, we might share the words of thousands who knew him personally and who gave their lives for the work he helped establish. John Taylor, who was shot four times by the mob that killed Joseph, would later declare: “I testify before God, angels, and men, that [Joseph] was a good, honorable, [and] virtuous man— … [and] that his private and public character was unimpeachable—and that he lived and died as a man of God."

Elder Neil L Andersen, Apostle 

The Impact of the Doctrinal Restoration

How the World Was Different after Joseph Smith

Andrew C. Skinner

“Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it” (D&C 135:3). What a statement! Though stunning to some, and even shocking to others, it is not exaggeration. The Prophet Joseph Smith single-handedly changed the theological landscape of the world. It was he who, after a long period of apostasy, reintroduced the world to a true knowledge of God the Father. It was he who made known to the world the full and far-reaching saving potential of Christ’s atoning power. It was he who taught the doctrine and put back into operation the powers that enable all who so desire to reenter the Father’s presence.

RSC.BYU.EDU

112325, Sunday

 Daily Vitals: 229.0, GMI: 6.9, Steps (previous day): 10,179, BP: 125/72, Pulse 70, Reported sleep: 5:31

Journal Entry 

Erica suggested that we give them our large Christmas tree and we think that would make a nice gift to their family. The tree is about seven feet tall and is a little too big for our home. And they would really like to have it. So...

Come Follow Me 

D&C 134:1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.

2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

"[W]e must become involved in civic affairs to see that we are properly represented.

The Lord said that “he holds men accountable for their acts in relation” to governments “both in making laws and administering them” We must follow this counsel from the Lord: “Honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.”

Note the qualities that the Lord demands of those who are to represent us. They must be good, wise, and honest.

[W]e must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, our teaching, and our advice."

President Ezra Taft Benson