091524, Sunday

Vitals: Weight: 222.0, GMI: 6.8, Yesterday's Steps: 1,750

Journal Entry 

We attended the 0630 Endowment Session yesterday as planned. I really am enjoying this new Endowment presentation. I find myself constantly thinking about the Endowment in a manner that I normally did not not previously. I won't discuss it here in detail but previously attending an endowment session seemed more tedious, time consuming and often boring. Now I actually look forward to the sessions because of the way the content is presented. 

I don't think I'm alone in this because temple attendance seems way up to me since the most recent endowment session modifications have been implemented. Our temple has four "Instruction" rooms where the endowment is presented. Each room holds over 90 patrons and because there are four rooms, a new session starts every 30 minutes. I've been either a patron or an Ordinance Worker on two days per week for the last two months and each session I've been involved with has at least 60 patrons and usually more like 80.

After the temple, Cathy went and got Erica and took her shopping. Then they came back here and made bread together using Kamut flour that is basically gluten free. It was delicious. Erica loves spending time with Cathy and Cathy loves Erica. Cathy is one of the best things to happen to Erica who just turned 15.

Later, Beth and Karen came over for a visit and took drop of flowers for Cathy's birthday.

It was a very good day.

Book of Mormon review (review of earlier Come Follow Me lessons): 

The Prophecy of Nephi, the Son of Helaman—God threatens the people of Nephi that he will visit them in his anger, to their utter destruction except they repent of their wickedness. God smiteth the people of Nephi with pestilence; they repent and turn unto him. Samuel, a Lamanite, prophesies unto the Nephites.

Comprising chapters 7 through 16.

Helaman Chapter 11:20-38

Come Follow Me 

Helaman 16:22 And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come.

"Scriptures repeatedly warn that the father of contention opposes the plan of our Heavenly Father. Satan’s method relies on the infectious canker of contention. Satan’s motive: to gain personal acclaim even over God Himself.

The work of the adversary may be likened to loading guns in opposition to the work of God. Salvos containing germs of contention are aimed and fired at strategic targets essential to that holy work. These vital targets include—in addition to the individual—the family, leaders of the Church, and divine doctrine…

Through love of God, the pain caused by the fiery canker of contention will be extinguished from the soul."

       Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 1989