011026, Saturday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 232.8

GMI: 6.9,   Steps (previous day): 7,916

BP: 122/76, Pulse: 74, Reported Sleep: 6:42

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Abraham 3: 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.

"A further truth is clearly set forth in that scripture that many were chosen, as was Abraham, before they were born, as the Lord told Moses and also Jeremiah. This was made still more meaningful by the Latter-day prophet, Joseph Smith, who declared, “I believe that every person who is called to do an important work in the kingdom of God, was called to that work and foreordained to that work before the world was.”…

But now there is a warning: Despite that calling which is spoken of in the scriptures as “foreordination,” we have another inspired declaration: “Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. …”  

This suggests that even though we have our free agency here, there are many who were foreordained before the world was, to a greater state than they have prepared themselves for here. Even though they might have been among the noble and great, from among whom the Father declared he would make his chosen leaders, they may fail of that calling here in mortality. Then the Lord poses this question: “… and why are they not chosen?”  

Two answers were given—First, “Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world. …” And second, they “… aspire to the honors of men."

President Harold  B. Lee, Apostle

010925, Friday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.9

GMI: 6.9,   Steps (previous day): 4,241

BP: 111/68, Pulse: 76, Reported Sleep: 4:20

Journal Entry

I got out car serviced yesterday. 140,000 mile service. I also got the registration completed for the next year and had breakfast with Jake. So... What? Pretty good day.

Went to the temple this morning and completed Initiatory Ordinances for five men. We are going to an Endowment Session tomorrow at the Payson Temple.

Come Follow Me 

Abraham 3: 18 Howbeit that he made the greater star; as, also, if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are gnolaum, or eternal.

"Remarkable as your body is, its prime purpose is even of greater importance—to serve as tenement for your spirit. Abraham taught that “these … spirits … existed before, they shall have no end … for they are … eternal.” 

Your spirit acquired a body at birth and became a soul to live in mortality through periods of trial and testing. Part of each test is to determine if your body can become mastered by the spirit that dwells within it.

Although your spirit had a veil of forgetfulness placed over it at the time of your birth into mortality, it retained its power to remember all that happens—precisely recording each event of life. Indeed, scriptures warn “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Prophets refer to our “bright recollection” and “perfect remembrance” at that day of decision."

Elder Russell M. Nelson, Apostle 

010826, Thursday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.0

GMI: 6.9,   Steps (previous day): 9,5610

BP: 109/63, Pulse: 78,  Reported Sleep: 

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

"God’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The experiences of mortality are part of the journey that allows us to grow and progress toward that immortality and eternal life. We were not sent here to fail but to succeed in God’s plan for us."

Elder Brook P. Hales of the Seventy

010726, Wednesday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 229.9

GMI: 6.9,   Steps (previous day): 5,044

BP: 115/67Pulse: 76, Reported Sleep: 6:17

Journal Entry

One of the many things I've enjoyed recently is Kevin's relationship with his new stepson, Phoenix. In some ways it reminds me of my dad and how he used to, among many other things, take me fishing but more importantly just spend time with me. I don't want to get into any of the negativity that comes with broken marriage but Phoenix has a new stepdad who clearly cares for him and that's only good. And good for Kevin as well.

Cathy and I both served in the Bishops Storehouse yesterday and enjoyed being together with our friends there.

Come Follow Me 

Moses 1: 33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.

"A few weeks ago, on a cold, dark winter’s night, my wife, Barbara, and I looked in awe up at the sky. The millions of stars seemed exceptionally bright and beautiful. I then turned to the Pearl of Great Price and read again with wonder what the Lord God said to Moses: “And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.”  

In our day the Hubble deep-space telescope has confirmed the magnitude of what Moses saw. Hubble scientists say the Milky Way galaxy, of which our earth and sun are just a tiny part, is estimated to be only one of over 200 billion similar galaxies. For me it is difficult to comprehend, impossible to fathom, so large and so vast are God’s creations."

Elder M. Russell Ballard, Apostle 

010626, Tuesday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.2

GMI: 6.9,   Steps (previous day): 7,022

BP: 109/69, Pulse: 84, Reported Sleep: 7:47

Journal Entry

Yesterday was another good Monday. We went for a drive up to Heber. It was a blizzard on the way up and then the sun came out and was a beautiful drive home.

We got a couple of treats for Diane and Bill Harvey, our next door neighbors. She had a terrible fall a couple of weeks ago and suffered some disabling injuries that we hope she will recover week from. She is pretty much bedridden for now and Bill takes good care of her. They are about our age and we are blessed to have them as neighbors. We've gibe through things like that where Cathy has taken good care of me and I of her. We are blessed to have each other. One of the advantages of living here in Utah is having neighbors who are also in the church. 

Come Follow Me 

Moses 1: 12 And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.

13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

"[A]fter Moses was left alone, he felt weak because he was no longer in the presence of God. That is when Satan came to tempt him. Can you see a pattern here? The first thing he said was, “Moses, son of man, worship me.” 

In this context, Satan’s request to worship him may have been only a distraction. A significant temptation for Moses in that moment of weakness was to become confused and believe that he was only a “son of man,” rather than a child of God.

“And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten.” Fortunately, Moses was not confused and did not allow himself to become distracted. He had learned the lesson of who he really was.

Elder Reubén V. Alliaud of The Seventy

010526, Monday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 232.5

GMI: 6.9,   Steps (previous day): 1,758

BP: 117/67 Pulse: 84, Reported Sleep: 6:34

Journal Entry

We enjoyed a pretty restful day.Sacrament meeting at 0900 is going to be just fine.

Come Follow Me 

Moses 1: 10 And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.

"Since knees often bend long before minds, holding back this “part” deprives God’s work of some of mankind’s very best intellects. Far better to be meek like Moses, who learned things he “never had supposed”. Yet, sadly, brothers and sisters, in the subtle interplay of agency and identity, there is so much hesitation. The surrender of the mind is actually a victory, because it then introduces us to God’s stretching and “higher” ways!"

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Apostle 

010426, Sunday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.7

GMI: 6.9,   Steps (previous day): 6,288

BP: 134/80, Pulse: 65, Reported Sleep: 6:17

Journal Entry

This has been a great holiday season this year. 

Kevin and Becky came to visit at Christmas and we very much enjoyed having them here. Kevin is a terrific son, husband, father and stepfather and I am just as proud as I can be to be His father. I don't have the ability to write the details but they are plentiful and he is doing great things, especially with his new step children.

Jake has been awesome as well. He is very willing to come over to our home whenever we need his help with anything. He and Meredith and their four children dropped in on my birthday and wished me a happy birthday. We had a very nice visit. He has technical skills that he uses to help us with our phones, ipads, TV and any other devices that I have trouble keeping up with. I'm really glad we moved here and have his presence to help us as we age.

Adam has started communicating with me in a very loving way. He sent me a very nice email on my birthday that I actually copied into this journal. I am planning on being more involved with him than previously and I truly believe that the future goddess well.

And Cathy... Words can't describe what she means to me and has meant to me over the years. Later this year we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. She has demonstrated over and over her love for me. She is the epitome of a great homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother and step grandmother. Our whole family is blessed to have her.

Come Follow Me 

"Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized. I know that is true, and it brings me joy to remember Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

President Henry B. Eyring 

Today's come Follow me lesson urged us to record what God has done for us each day. I have recorded many things that have been great in my life in this journal but have failed to point out how all of the good things represent God's blessings to me on a constant basis. I shall try to make sure I do that in the future but let me here say that I do recognize God's presence in my life and the constant guidance I receive from Him and His angels.

2 Nephi 29: 11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.

"The Lord not only manifests Himself to all nations; He also commands that they write His words...

We conclude from this that the Lord will eventually cause the inspired teachings He has given to His children in various nations to be brought forth for the benefit of all people...

Truly, the gospel is for all men everywhere—every nation, every people. All are invited."

President Dallin H. Oaks, Apostle