051824, Saturday, Journal Entry

 Vitals: Weight 230.8

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 22

Journal Entry:

051724, Friday, Journal Entry

 Vitals: Weight 229.2

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 21

Journal Entry:

Hopefully our car will come out of the body shop today. Cathy has been reluctant for me to drive since the accident. Truthfully I also had the same problem a few days later - driving up on the curb by pushing the accelerator rather than the brake - so there's not much I can say. But it's OK for now. She feels my problem is being too tired and she might have something there. I got a little more sleep last night but I still get a lot of pain after a few hours. Makes it hard to sleep. It's like to get at least 6 hours in every night but last night it was about 5 and a half and that was an improvement over the last couple of weeks.

Mostly it's nice having her drive but I'm going to have to be able to drive some - like to the temple - when the time comes.

My MRI didn't show much. It's possible that my problems could be related to my previous spinal surgery. I'm going to get another MRI this time of of my spine to rule that  out  - or in.

Come Follow Me 

Mosiah 15: 7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

"Do not ever doubt the goodness of God, even if you do not know “why.” The overarching question asked by the bereaved and the burdened is simply this: Why? Why did our daughter die, when we prayed so hard that she would live and when she received priesthood blessings? Why are we struggling with this misfortune, when others relate miraculous healing experiences for their loved ones? These are natural questions, understandable questions. But they are also questions that usually go begging in mortality. The Lord has said simply, “My ways [are] higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”. As the Son’s will was “swallowed up in the will of the Father” so must ours be."

Elder Lance B. Wickman Of the Seventy, October 2002

Mosiah 15:1-4 1 And now Abinadi said unto them: 

I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.

 2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son— 3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son— 4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth

051624, Thursday, Journal Entry

 Vitals: Weight 227.9

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 20

Journal Entry:

I had my MRI yesterday and I am going to see Dr. Gordon this afternoon. Cathy looked at the MRI report in my medical app and thought it indicated basic buritis but wasn't sure. I'll find out more today in my meeting with the doctor.

I'm still in quite a bit of pain at night and got very little sleep last night... Maybe a little over 4 hours. I'm hoping to play pickleball this morning but we'll see. I took a couple of Advil and hope that works.

Come Follow Me 

Mosiah 14: 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

"The Savior, as a member of the Godhead, knows each of us personally. Isaiah and the prophet Abinadi said that when Christ would “make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed”. Abinadi explains that “his seed” are the righteous, those who follow the prophets. In the garden and on the cross, Jesus saw each of us and not only bore our sins, but also experienced our deepest feelings so that he would know how to comfort and strengthen us."

Bishop Merrill J. Bateman, Presiding Bishop, April 1995

051524, Wednesday, Journal Entry

 Vitals: Weight 229.2

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 19

Journal Entry:

The "old" Provo Temple was a very distinctive looking building. If you looked at a picture you knew right away which temple you were looking at. But old age was setting,repairs were getting expensive and updates were getting harder to accomplish so it had to go.

Yesterday we drove by and saw that demolition was well underway. The only recognizable portion of the building is the still existing base of the tower.

Then I had the thought that the new Rock Canyon Provo Temple which will be built on roughly the same ground could become a focal point for a Utah County Temple Square. Mind you I haven't read or heard anything about such a development but keep in mind that the Church owns a lot of land where the new temple will be built and it's right across from the Provo Missionary Training Center which is arguably the main MTC for the church world-wide.

Just saying... A nice visitor center could benefit the churches ongoing mission of gathering Israel.

I am still suffering from extensive pain from my left hip area. It keeps me from getting the sleep I should be getting. An MRI is scheduled for me later today and I'm hoping it will provide answers as to what's going on with me.

It looks like our car which I damaged in a dumb collision last week will be ready by Friday and we can lose the rental.

Come Follow Me 

Mosiah 14:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

"Elder Richard G. Scott explained that “we were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched.” That stretching comes in as many forms as there are individuals experiencing it… I don’t completely understand your challenges. But through my personal tests and trials—the ones that have brought me to my knees—I have become well acquainted with the One who does understand, He who was “acquainted with grief, who experienced all and understands all."

"We each belong to and are needed in the family of God."

Carole M. Stephens First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, April 2015

Mosiah 13: 24 “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man‐servant, nor his maid‐servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.”

As I was reading this I received the impression that this is one of the main problems in today's society. Not only do many "covet" what others have but they are taught to do so in school and by the media, etc.

We see the good things that others have and without appreciating how they were obtained or earned we are taught that these things should be ours without earning them. That is what coveting is and why it's evil.

051424, Tuesday, Journal Entry

 Vitals: Weight 229.0

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 18

Journal Entry 

My visit with the doctor yesterday was very productive. I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow and that should verify what is causing my pain. In the meantime he prescribed some medication that will help reduce my pain and sleep better.

I did, in fact, sleep better last night and my pain level is more bearable. Encouraging.

Bishops Storehouse today. Looking forward to that.

Come Follow Me 

Mosiah 13:4 But I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad.

"Unfortunately, messengers of divinely mandated commandments are often no more popular today than they were anciently… Hate is an ugly word, yet there are those today who would say with the corrupt Ahab, “I hate [the prophet Micaiah]; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always [prophesied] evil.”…Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds. 

Talk about man creating God in his own image!"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 2014

051324, Monday, Journal Entry

 Vitals: Weight 232.5

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 17

9. "...If ye will not believe surely ye shall not be established."

Journal Entry

I was mostly pain free for most of the day and we had an enjoyable time with Jake and his family. We got the back patio looking pretty good and the kids really enjoyed hanging out back there.

My hip and leg started hurting again toward the evening. I took some more Advil and Tylenol but couldn't sleep much because of the pain.

I'm going to see Dr Gordon this morning and hopefully he will have suggestions for healing. My hip and leg has been sore for days now and I hope we can find out why.

Come Follow Me 

The prophet Abinadi explained the role of the feelings that come from God to our hearts. He taught that we cannot understand the scriptures completely unless we apply our heart to understanding. 

This truth was well stated in a children’s book, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In the story, the little prince became friends with a fox. Upon parting, the fox shared a secret with the little prince. He said, “Here is my secret … : It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Elder Walter F. González Of the Presidency of the Seventy, October 2012

Mosiah 12:27 Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?

"...perhaps the scriptures are suggesting to us that reason and “the arm of flesh” (D&C 1:19) are not sufficient to produce true understanding. Thus, understanding, as the word is used in the scriptures, does not refer solely or even primarily to intellectual or cognitive comprehension. Rather, understanding occurs when what we know in our minds is confirmed as true in our hearts by the witness of the Holy Ghost.

The spiritual gift of revelation most typically operates as thoughts and feelings put into our minds and hearts by the Holy Ghost (see D&C 8:2–3, 100:5–8). And as testimony and conviction move from our heads to our hearts, we no longer just have information or knowledge—but we begin to understand and seek after the mighty change of heart. Understanding, then, is the result of revelation; it is a spiritual gift, it is a prerequisite to conversion, and it entices us to more consistently live in accordance with the principles we are learning.

This revealed insight about the relationship between the heart and understanding has greatly influenced my approach to gospel learning and study, has affected positively the way Sister Bednar and I teach our children and grandchildren, and has impacted my priesthood service."

BYU Devotional: A Reservoir of Living Water

DAVID A. BEDNAR

of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

February 4, 2007

051224, Sunday,Journal Entry

Vitals: Weight 231.7

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 16

Journal Entry

I’ll admit that it’s not always easy to hear what a prophet has to say. While serving in the Relief Society General Presidency, I attended a General Authority Training session held prior to general conference. During that meeting, the Apostle conducting the training did something unusual. Whenever someone used the words woman or man, he corrected them and told them to use the words mother or fatherinstead.

At first, I didn’t think much about it, but as the meeting wore on and he repeatedly emphasized that women were mothers and men were fathers, I became painfully aware that I was the only non-parent in the room. By the end of the morning, I felt condemned.

When the training ended, I bolted out of the room so no one would see my tears. At first, I was just hurt; but then I began to seethe: “How could an Apostle disenfranchise an entire segment of members?”

I stewed about this for months—until I began to work on my upcoming talk for the General Relief Society Meeting. I pleaded for inspiration, but I got nothing! I had no ideas. Finally, I received a clear impression: that I should speak about motherhood. “You’ve got to be kidding,” I thought. But the impression was clear. So, I began to search the scriptures and teachings of prophets. I went to the temple again and again and pleaded for understanding. And guess what I learned? That the Apostle who had offended me was right. His approach was insensitive. But he had taught an eternal truth—that every woman has a divine endowment as a mother. That truth led me to prepare an address entitled “Are We Not all Mothers?” which is still quoted every Mother’s Day because it is filled with truth—truth I had to humble myself to learn.

Learn from my experience. Don’t make life harder by being stupid. Don’t be deceived by activists who believe their passion for a cause gives them permission to censure prophets. Don’t turn your back on those who have all priesthood keys and who can help you see around corners.

Prophets Can See Around Corners 

By Sheri Dew, 

November 02, 2022