2023 September 7, Journal Entry

 I didn't create a Journal entry yesterday because I had to be at the temple and ready to go at 5 a.m. 

I like to do my entries early in the day because that's when I usually have most uninterrupted time available. I was able to review some Come Follow Me material but I didn't take any time to write about it. That may be the case on Wednesdays in the future when I start at 0500 in the temple.

I also did not get my 7500 steps in yesterday but I plan on getting it done today, tomorrow and Saturday which will give me five days of 7500+ steps this week. My goal is to do a minimum of four days a week but more is better. I'll play pickleball this morning with my equally elderly neighborhood buddies, then the plan is to walk at least three miles with Cathy. Retirement is wonderful.

As I mentioned, I served in the temple yesterday. I also served in the Bishops Storehouse on Tuesday afternoon. I want to improve on being non-judgemental and on being charitable. 

I was sitting in my parked car at Walmart the other day and a woman and her daughter knocked on my window. She had a hand-painted sign indicating she needed money. I talked to her and gave her some money. She was from Romania and was very grateful. Both she and her daughter thanked me profusely. 

Working in the Bishops Storehouse gives me a continuous reminder of how many people have great needs not just for food but for other material goods and how blessed we are. So one small thing I can do is I've determined that I will try to have some cash on hand that I can share when I'm presented with the opportunity to help others. And to try to see everyone as a child of God and my brother or sister and help them in any way I  can.

We went to see the play, Clue, at the Hale theater in Orem yesterday. It was moderately entertaining.

Then Cathy wanted to get a gift for Erica's birthday present. So after that we decided to stop at In N Out and eat protein style hamburgers. These are hamburgers wrapped in lettuce rather than a bun and are, therefor,a little healthier. They were good. Then we called Beth and asked her if we could bring her a burger and she gratefully accepted our offer. We enjoyed a nice visit with Beth and found that Karen is moving out of her San Francisco apartment and moving in with Beth... At least temporarily. It will be nice for both of them to have each other for companionship and it will be good to see Karen more often. 

Come Follow Me 

1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

As I look at this scripture and ponder it I have come to the conclusion that it could use a comma after the word only. What I mean is that if we have hope in Christ only during mortality... only in this life, we are miserable. We do have hope and strong faith that life is eternal and families can be eternal.

" The Resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it. Should it not transform ours? We will all rise from the grave. …Because of the life and eternal sacrifice of the Savior of the world, we will be reunited with those we have cherished. On that day we will know the love of our Heavenly Father. On that day we will rejoice that the Messiah overcame all that we could live forever.

Because of the sacred ordinances we receive in holy temples, our departure from this brief mortality cannot long separate relationships that have been fastened together with cords made of eternal ties.

It is my solemn testimony that death is not the end of existence. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”  Because of the risen Christ, “death is swallowed up in victory.”  

Because of our beloved Redeemer, we can lift up our voices, even in the midst of our darkest Fridays, and proclaim, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle, October 2006

Book of Mormon reading 

The words which Alma, the High Priest according to the holy order of God, delivered to the people in their cities and villages throughout the land. Beginning with chapter 5.

Alma Chapter 5 To gain salvation, men must repent and keep the commandments, be born again, cleanse their garments through the blood of Christ, be humble and strip themselves of pride and envy, and do the works of righteousness—The Good Shepherd calls His people—Those who do evil works are children of the devil—Alma testifies of the truth of his doctrine and commands men to repent—The names of the righteous will be written in the book of life. About 83 B.C.

16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

Chapter 6 The Church in Zarahemla is cleansed and set in order—Alma goes to Gideon to preach. About 83 B.C.