Bailey's Blog

On Sunday 23 March I finished reading "Lectures on Faith" by the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. which I had begun on 19 January.

The document "Lectures on Faith" is a set of seven lectures on the doctrine and theology of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published as the doctrine portion of the 1835 edition of the canonical Doctrine and Covenants. It was presented by Joseph Smith Jr. to a group of elders in a course known as the "School of the Prophets" in the early winter of 1834-35 in Kirtland, Ohio. Wikipedia

David was up and out early bringing home bagels, cream cheese, lox, chicken pate, and herring in cream sauce for breakfast. Very good!

We attended the Plantation Ward. The stake high councilor, Steve Frahm, spoke of the website www.fltcc2014.com and requested the members to submit pictures of temples. It will be associated with the cultural celebration on 3 May preceding the Ft. Lauderdale Temple dedication the next day.

Plantation Ward building

Side entrance to the Plantation Ward building

The speakers were Sister Kymbra Christensen and Brother Justin Christensen. Sister Christensen, who is expecting, spoke on the Atonement. Satan wants us to think that we are not worthy of addressing our Father in prayer. Luke 7:37-39, 47-50. Christ was friends with many sinners. John 8:1-11. She spoke on the repentance process. She mentioned challenges she has had in her life where she was bitter towards Heavenly Father. She spoke of counsel from President Boyd K. Packer. D&C 19:16-19. The last step of the repentance process is "Go and sin no more." She told of a high school friend who joined the Church as a sophomore (the only member of his family) and fell away by his senior year, what he went through after falling away, and his path back to full fellowship, then meeting a wonderful gal and being married in the temple.

Brother Christensen also spoke on the Atonement, what it is, how it works, and why we need it. Atone is to make amends and right the wrongs. Sin is to do something that God does not want us to do. Mosiah 3:19. Our natural inclination to fall short of God's expectations. We are not perfect and are always sliding downhill. He is in medical school and uses medical analogies. Our immune system (conscience) doesn't keep us from sinning. We are the patient and Jesus Christ is the Great Doctor. We must go to Him when we are sick (wayward). He spoke of justice and mercy. The Atonement reconciles the two. Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, follow His commandments, and repent of your sins. He spoke of Alma and the sons of Mosiah. Mosiah 27:28-29. He quoted from President Joseph F. Smith about the Atonement.

Our closing hymn was very appropriate "I Stand All Amazed" #193. It was written by Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932). I discovered later that it was added to the Deseret Sunday School hymns in 1909 just ten years after being published in a gospel hymn collection. I was surprised however that most articles that I found about Gabriel, including an extensive one on Wikipedia, make no mention of the hymn! Very strange!

We opted to go to the family history class during Sunday School. I viewed some videos related to my branch family history consultant calling and Eileen did some work on the Research Wiki, having me make a note about the South Wales Coalfield Collection.

At the start of the high priests group several brethren asked how Sue was doing. In the group was Sue's home teacher, Steve Frahm, who was the HP group leader and is now on the stake high council. He said that he would be happy to pick Sue up from work in the afternoons (after we leave) and bring her home. Later I texted this to Sue with his phone number.

We discussed the talk by Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the October 2013 general conference entitled "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony."

Elder Robert D. Hales

In the magazine "British Heritage" I enjoyed the article "The Other Scotland." Quite interesting.

We enjoyed Eileen's chicken 'n' dumplings for supper which was very good!

Chicken 'n' dumplingd

On Monday 24 March I wished Eileen a happy birthday! Before we got up she had received texts wishing her a happy birthday from David and her brother Russ. We were on FaceTime during the day with Colleen and our grandsons Spencer, Ashton, and Tanner,

Spencer, Tanner, Ashton, and Colleen with Eileen and Ben

then with Heather, Tom, and one-year-old grandson Liam,

Tom, Liam, and Heather

and later in the day with William and Erin. William and Erin announced that Erin is expecting in November! A nice birthday present for Eileen.

Eileen, Erin, and William

Our son Geoff called later in the evening.

Our friends Ralph and Holly Hughes called to wish Eileen a happy birthday

Holly and Ralph Hughes with Eileen

and late in the evening so did Joan Blemly, whom Eileen had taught with as math resource teachers in Maryland, and her husband Craig. I gave Eileen her birthday card and her gift from North Georgia Diamonds in Ellijay.

Eileen's ear rings for her birthday

We took Sue to work where she put in about 3 1/2 hours. There were several helium "happy birthday" balloons here at Sue's for Eileen's birthday. We picked Sue up and a sugar-free birthday cake from Publix that Sue had ordered.

I handed out two invitations to the Ft. Lauderdale Temple open house at Walgreen's in the morning and gave one to Sue's mail carrier when she brought the mail to the door this afternoon.

In trying to keep in touch with friends and former and current missionaries, I sent out 42 e-mails yesterday and today. More tomorrow!

Eileen and Sue enjoyed stone crab claws, then all three of us had oxtail stew with yummy beans and rice. When David got home we all enjoyed the sugar-free birthday cake.

I posted numerous temple pictures to the website www.fltcc2014.com. Two were from our dear friends Ed and Nora Moulder who are on their LDS mission in Borneo.

Nora and Ed Moulder (in the middle of the back row)
and some of the saints from Borneo at
the Manila Philippines Temple

The Manila Philippines Temple

On Tuesday 25 March I sent out 27 more e-mails to friends and former and current missionaries.

The three of us went to the SAS shoe store and exchanged the two pairs of sandals that we had gotten on Saturday for two different ones. The first ones we had gotten rubbed Eileen's toes on both feet, the toe that is next to her big toe. I gave an invitation to the Ft. Lauderdale Temple open house to the woman who helped us.

The newer shoes from SAS

On the way home we decided to have lunch at The Kingshead Pub for some English grub. We go there every time we come to Sue's. I gave an invitation to the Ft. Lauderdale Temple open house to our server.

Eileen and Sue at the Kingshead Pub

Pub Menu Cover

I finished reading "An Orkney Maid" by Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr which I began on 20 January.

Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (1831-1919)

In the evening I worked a lot on my future blog entry about our U.K. vacation last August. It began on 31 July and I'm up through 5 August on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Two weeks to go!

Lynda White called to wish Eileen a happy birthday and chat a while.

Eileen and Lynda in Williamsburg

I finished reading "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain (1835-1910) which I began on 21 November.

On Wednesday 26 March we took our car to Lipton Toyota in Fort Lauderdale for service as it was due an oil change. It was quite a large facility compared to the two we have dealt with in Georgia. I gave invitations to the Ft. Lauderdale Temple open house to the assistant service manager and the valet who brought us our car. The service only took 50 minutes.

I have worked on my future blog entry about our U.K. vacation reaching the port of Cork, Ireland, and Blarney Castle.

I finished reading the LDS Church News dated January 19th. There was an excellent article about a talk given by Elder Tad R. Callister on 12 January at the first Church Educational System devotional of the year about the spiritual blueprint of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Elder Tad R. Callister

I enjoyed the article about the Fort Lauderdale Temple.

The centerfold had pictures and text about the project that was part of a three-day conference attended by almost 4,000 young single adults from five stakes in Arizona. They assembled more than 21,000 "back to school" backpacks for Native American children on 11 January.

Nell Huston from our Ellijay Branch called to wish Eileen a happy birthday and chat a bit. I'll be helping her with her family history when we return home to stay for a while (maybe in May).

On Thursday 27 March David shipped our M-175 transmitter back to Comtek in Salt Lake City as it had stopped working last Saturday. My PR-75 receiver worked fine as I could still hear everything from the pulpit in church on Sunday.

We took Sue to her noon appointment with her oncologist Dr. Belette in Ft. Lauderdale. David joined us. Dr. Belette showed up a little after one. Sue was feeling weak and she used the wheelchair to go to the appointment. He felt that Sue might have to go on disability which was very upsetting to her. He discussed some options that can be pursued.

I finished reading "Daniel Webster" by Henry Cabot Lodge which I began on 21 November.

Henry Cabot Lodge (1850-1924)

Daniel Webster (1782-1852)

As I was reading Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar," I came across Mark Antony's saying, “Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war;” I remembered that being in one of the Star Trek movies. A little research and the movie was "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" and the quote was delivered by the Klingon General Chang who was played by the actor Christopher Plummer.

We (the three of us) enjoyed lunch at Tijuana Flats in Ft. Lauderdale. We consumed burritos and tacos. They were pretty good!

Inside Tijuana Flats

Tijuana Flats

In the magazine "British Heritage" I read the article "Ordered Mutiny" about the mutiny of the Royal Navy at Spithead, England, in 1797. Very interesting.

I have worked on my future blog entry about our U.K. vacation reaching Glasgow, Scotland.

I finished reading "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

On Friday 28 March we went to the Sawgrass Mills Mall, shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond and Bath and Body Works. Just down the street from Sue's we had to wait while an iguana crossed the road. Much different than the squirrels at home!

Sawgrass Mills Mall

Bed Bath and Beyond

Bath and Body Works

We enjoyed lunch at sushigami in the mall, sharing several different kinds of sushi. The Lord knows how much I enjoy being with my wife virtually 24/7!

sushigami in the mall

I have reached Northern Ireland on my future blog entry about our U.K. vacation.

On Saturday 29 March David was up and out early bringing home bagels for breakfast.

Eileen and I visited the local Dress Barn in Davie, FL.

I have completed Orkney on my future blog entry about our U.K. vacation.

We went to the Fort Lauderdale Temple open house at 5:30 pm and it was beautiful and wonderful! With us were Sue and David, Eileen's brother Russ and his wife Gail, and their daughter Kristen and granddaughter Brooke.