032326, Monday

Vitals: 

Weight: 228.6

BP and Pulse: 121/75, 70

Reported Sleep: 6:07

Yesterday's Steps: 5,576

Journal Entry

My first official assignment as a Lindon Temple Worker was last evening. I attended a meeting at the temple that was conducted by President Scot Westover. It turned out to be a nice recap of what it means to be a temple worker followed by letting us just wander around the temple to see what it's like. I enjoyed the whole evening a lot and look forward to working there once the temple becomes completely operational.

Come Follow Me 

Exodus 1: 15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

"Today, let me add that we need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world. We need women who are devoted to shepherding God’s children along the covenant path toward exaltation; women who know how to receive personal revelation, who understand the power and peace of the temple endowment; women who know how to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families; women who teach fearlessly."

President Russell M. Nelson, Apostle 

032226, Sunday

Vitals: 

Weight: 227.7

BP and Pulse:

Reported Sleep: 6:03

Yesterday's Steps: 5,187

Journal Entry

Today's quote below by Elder Marvin J. Ashton is one of the greatest definitions of explanations of charity. Think about it.

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 50: 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

"Charity is, perhaps, in many ways a misunderstood word. We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more.

Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again."

Elder Marvin J.Ashton, Apostle 

032126, Saturday

Vitals: 

Weight: 228.8

BP and Pulse:

Reported Sleep: 6:52

Yesterday's Steps: 4,395

Journal Entry

We enjoyed a beautiful, warm, sunny outdoor lunch with Kevin and Becky at Guru's in downtown Provo yesterday. We are really enjoying their visit and are looking forward to taking them all - including Jake and Meredith - out to dinner this evening. 

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 49: 22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

"But was there only one tribe of Israel? What of Joseph, the birthright son, who saved all of Israel’s family from famine? What of Joseph, whose sons Israel blessed and said, “Let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac”? What of Joseph, whom Israel blessed and promised that he would be “a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall”? Where is the record of Joseph?

We testify to the world that we have the record of Joseph—even the Book of Mormon. Like Judah, Joseph had a people—the Nephites and Lamanites. Like Judah, Joseph had a land—the Americas. Like Judah, Joseph had prophets, and his descendants also had a visitation from Jesus Christ, even the resurrected Lord.

“Know ye not,” the Lord says in the Book of Mormon, “that there are more nations than one? …

“Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another?

“… And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another.”

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ."

President Ezra Taft Benson 

032026, Friday

Vitals: 

Weight: 228.6

BP and Pulse:

Reported Sleep: 5:39

Yesterday's Steps: 6,170

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 47: 12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

"It’s not enough to say we believe and that we love Him; we must be found possessed with His kind of love for others at that last day. It is not necessary for us to lay down our life for others as He did, but like the Savior, we should bless the lives of others by giving of what our life is made up of—our time, our talents, our means, and ourselves."

Elder Robert J. Whetton of The Seventy 

031926, Thursday

Vitals: 

Weight: 228.6

BP and Pulse: 124/70, 69

Reported Sleep: 7:05

Yesterday's Steps: 2,742

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 45: 24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

"After Joseph, youngest son of Jacob, had been reunited with his brothers, he asked them to return home to Canaan to bring his father, Jacob, to him in Egypt. As the brothers were preparing to depart, Joseph said to them simply, “See that ye fall not out by the way.” 

Might our Heavenly Father have given us much the same counsel as we departed his presence to begin our earthly sojourn?

May our yearning for home be the motivation we need to so live that we can return to our heavenly home with God our Father on a forever basis."

Elder Marvin J. Ashton, Apostle 

031826, Wednesday

Vitals: 

Weight: 228.8

BP and Pulse: 132/71, 71

Reported Sleep: 6:17

Yesterday's Steps: 4,242

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 45: 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

"While in college, our oldest son was hired into a very desirable part-time student job that had the potential to lead to a wonderful, permanent job after graduation...At the end of his senior year, almost as if orchestrated by heaven (at least to our son’s way of thinking), the permanent position did open up, and he was the leading candidate, with every indication and expectation that, indeed, he would get the job.

Well, he was not hired. None of us could understand it…He was devastated and crushed, and the entire episode left all of us scratching our heads. Why had God abandoned him in his righteous desire?

It wasn’t until several years later that the answer became very clear. Had he received the dream job after graduation, he would have missed a critical, life-changing opportunity that has now proved to be for his eternal benefit and blessing. God knew the end from the beginning (as He always does), and in this case the answer to many righteous prayers was no, in favor of a far superior outcome."

Elder Brooke P. Hales of The Seventy

031726, Tuesday

Vitals: 

Weight: 228.8

BP and Pulse: 135/82, 80

Reported Sleep: 3:24

Yesterday's Steps: 4,709

Journal Entry

Come Follow Me 

Genesis 45: 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

"With our trust and faith in God, trials and afflictions can be consecrated for our good. Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt, later saved his family and people. The Prophet Joseph Smith’s incarceration in Liberty Jail taught him “these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” Lived with faith, trials and sacrifices we would never choose can bless us and others in ways never imagined."

Elder Gerrit W. Gong, Apostle