2024 January 22, Monday, Journal Entry

We took care of Alexander and Fredrick yesterday morning while their parents and Erica were at the dedication of the Cherry Hill (Orem) Temple by Apostle D. Todd Christofferson. Originally the plan was to take them to church with us at noon but we all forgot about child seats for our car and our chapel is a fair distance from us so we decided to stay home. 

When the parents and Erica got here, I went to church (Resource Center Duties) and Cathy stayed home and fixed a nice meal for everyone. 

It was a very nice day spent mostly with family.

Daryl Ball is our new Gospel Doctrine teacher replacing Matt Croad who has moved. Daryl seems like a great choice and I'm looking forward to more of his lessons.

Come Follow Me 

1 Nephi 11: 21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.

"We can picture the love of God as light emanating from the tree of life, shedding itself abroad over all the earth into the hearts of the children of men. God’s light and love permeate all His creations.

Sometimes we mistakenly think that we can feel God’s love only after we have followed the iron rod and partaken of the fruit. God’s love, however, not only is received by those who come to the tree but is the very power that motivates us to seek that tree."

Sister Susan H. Porter, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidenc, October 2021

"Once we make a covenant with God, we leave neutral ground forever. God will not abandon His relationship with those who have forged such a bond with Him. In fact, all those who have made a covenant with God have access to a special kind of love and mercy. In the Hebrew language, that covenantal love is called hesed (חֶסֶד).

Hesed has no adequate English equivalent. Translators of the King James Version of the Bible must have struggled with how to render hesed in English. They often chose “lovingkindness.” This captures much but not all the meaning of hesed. Other translations were also rendered, such as “mercy” and “goodness.” Hesed is a unique term describing a covenant relationship in which both parties are bound to be loyal and faithful to each other.

A celestial marriage is such a covenant relationship. A husband and wife make a covenant with God and with each other to be loyal and faithful to each other.

Hesed is a special kind of love and mercy that God feels for and extends to those who have made a covenant with Him. And we reciprocate with hesed for Him."