012025, Tuesday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.9, GMI: 6.8,  Steps (previous day): 7'362, BP: 116/69, Pulse: 60, Reported Sleep: 6:41

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Moses 4: 2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

"The first quality of the Savior is humility. Jesus Christ was very humble from the premortal life. At the Council in Heaven, He recognized and allowed the will of God to prevail in the plan of salvation for mankind. He said, “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever”. 

We know that Jesus Christ taught humility and humbled Himself to glorify His Father.

Let us live in humility because it brings peace. Humility precedes glory, and it brings God’s favor upon us: “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”. Humility brings gentle answers. It is the source of a righteous character."

Elder Alfred Kyungu of The Seventy

011926, Monday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 230.3, GMI: 6.8,  Steps (previous day): 2,155, BP: 114/69, Pulse: 71, Reported Sleep: 6:32

Journal Entry

I went to choir practice yesterday for the first time this year. I'm a decent singer at the ward choir level but by no means more than that. It's actually a bit of a sacrifice for me to be involved in the ward choir but in small way I believe I add to the overall quality of the choir. And the choir is a nice addition to the ward Sacrament meetings on those occasions when we sing. It's basically pretty easy for me to be involved in the choir. It's a good thing and I need to do good things. So I'm going to continue to try to support the choir in my own small way.

Come Follow Me 

Moses 4:1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

"In the Grand Council in Heaven, when the great plan of salvation for God’s children was presented, Jesus responded, “Here am I, send me,”  and “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”  And thus He became our Savior. In contrast, Satan, who had been highly regarded as “a son of the morning,”  countered that he would come and “redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost.”  Satan had two conditions: the first was the denial of agency, and the second, that he would have the honor. In other words, something had to be in it for him. And thus he became the father of lies and selfishness.

Taking up one’s cross and following the Savior means overcoming selfishness; it is a commitment to serve others. Selfishness is one of the baser human traits, which must be subdued and overcome. We torture our souls when we focus on getting rather than giving."

President James E. Faust, Apostle 

011826, Sunday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 233.4, GMI: 6.9, Steps (previous day): 4,318, BP: 122/45, Pulse: 71, Reported Sleep: 6:46

Journal Entry

We went to the Payson temple yesterday and I did an Endowment session for:

Franklin Perry Patterson,  1906-1989, G6K3-XZW

I am going to try to put the names of men I do work for in my journal. Franklin Patterson is a distant cousin whose name I got on Family Tree. 

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made⁠; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day⁠, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made⁠.

"How do we hallow the Sabbath day?...I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.

...What sign will you give to the Lord to show your love for Him?"

Elder Russell M. Nelson, Apostle 

011725, Saturday

Daily Vitals: Wt. 233.6

GMI: 6.9, Steps (previous day): 3,344

BP: 116/65, Pulse: 80, Reported Sleep: 5:05

Journal Entry

The ScripturePlus app that I have been studying along with the We Believe app is going through some seemingly very positive updates. Very helpful.

Come Follow Me 

Abraham 4: 18 And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed.

"...[D]o not feel oppressed by obedience. Obedience is a wonderful and a great privilege. In Abraham 4:18 it states, “And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed.” What if the elements had not obeyed? They would have been damned or held back. So it is with us. Obedience to God is truly the only way to really be free and exercise our agency. Satan teaches the opposite and, with each wrong choice, binds us with chains. I promise you, obedience is a wonderful privilege."

Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone of The Seventy 

011625, Friday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 232.8

GMI: 7.0,   Steps (previous day): 8,094

BP: 106/65, Pulse: 75,  Reported Sleep: 7:15

Journal Entry

We took Tacos in to Diane and Bill Harvey yesterday. She is still recovering from her fall that left her with some pretty severe injuries. We enjoyed a nice visit with them because we also took tacos for us. 

Today, I vacuumed the whole house thoroughly and I might do some mopping/dusting as well. Or I'll do it tomorrow. Won't take long.

We heard today that Kevin is finally completely untangled from the house that he and Kim shared for years so that's a relief. I won't try to get into the details but they certainly qualify as the "weeds" of the situation. Kim had tried everything... legal and otherwise... to get more money for herself from the situation but that's finally over and behind him and he and Becky are relieved that that's overwith (we all hope).

Come Follow Me 

Moses 3: 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually⁠, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground⁠; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;

"All of us who are born on this earth first lived with our Heavenly Father as His spirit children...

When He created you spiritually, He loved you as His spirit sons and daughters and embedded within each of you a divine nature and eternal destiny.

During your premortal life, you “developed [your] identity and increased [your] spiritual capabilities.” You were blessed with the gift of agency, the ability to make choices for yourself..."

Elder Steven R. Bangerter of The Seventy

011526, Thursday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 233.9

GMI: 7.0,   Steps (previous day): 2,499

BP: 118/70, Pulse: 78, Reported Sleep: 7:11

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 1: 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful⁠, and multiply⁠, and replenish the earth⁠, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

"In the United States we are suffering from a deterioration in marriage and childbearing. For nearly a hundred years the proportion of households headed by married couples has declined, and so has the birthrate. The marriages and birthrates of our Church members are much more positive, but they have also declined significantly. It is vital that Latter-day Saints do not lose their understanding of the purpose of marriage and the value of children. That is the future for which we strive…

The national declines in marriage and childbearing are understandable for historic reasons, but Latter-day Saint values and practices should improve—not follow—those trends."

President Dallin H. Oaks, Apostle 

011426, Wednesday

 

Daily Vitals: Wt. 231.7

GMI: 7.0,   Steps (previous day): 3,493

BP: 120/73, Pulse: 76, Reported Sleep: 5:41

Journal Entry

One week from today I am going to get my right foot operated on. That's the big toe that has caused me pain and discomfort for the last 20 years or more and is the one that caused me to be hospitalized a few months ago with a very serious infection. Dr. Phillips believes he can surgically adjust the bone in my toe so that it will stop causing potential infections. I've listened to him as has Cathy and we are convinced he is right so we're moving forward. Hopefully the surgery won't be very serious and will not disrupt my life anymore than the situation already has. A week from today... Stay tuned.

Come Follow Me 

Abraham 5: 14 And the Gods said: Let us make an help meet for the man, for it is not good that the man should be alone, therefore we will form an help meet for him.

18 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.

"Satan understands the power of men and women united in righteousness...Lucifer is determined to devour marriages and families because their demise threatens the salvation of all involved and the vitality of the Lord’s kingdom itself. Thus, Satan seeks to confuse us about our stewardships and distinctive natures as men and women. He bombards us with bizarre messages about gender, marriage, family, and all male-female relationships. He would have us believe men and women are so alike that our unique gifts are not necessary, or so different we can never hope to understand each other. Neither is true.

...Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other. Thus, no marriage or family, no ward or stake is likely to reach its full potential until husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, men and women work together in unity of purpose, respecting and relying upon each other’s strengths."

Sister Sheri L. Dew, Second Counselor, Relief Society General Presidency