On Sunday 28 December we watched "Music and the Spoken Word" on BYU-TV.  Eileen enjoyed the Book of Mormon panel discussion that followed.

Opening hymn was #205, "Once in Royal David's City" by Cecil Frances Alexander, a hymn writer and poet, born in County Waterford, Ireland.

Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)

We had the confirmation of Brother Paul D. "Chuck" Young who was baptized last Sunday.

We had a baby, Asher James Stanley, blessed by his father Michael Stanley.

Sacrament hymn was #197, "O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown" by Karen Lynn Davidson, a Latter-day Saint hymnwriter, author and literary critic.

The first speaker was our new sister missionary, Sister Nettleton.  She has been on her mission about 15 months.  "Are you closer to Christ than a year ago?" is her subject.  This year was the hardest of her life and she has had to rely on the Savior.  She has come closer to Christ.  She struggled with a companion who near the end of her mission was rebelling somewhat.  She prayed to be charitable.  We can strengthen our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through prayer.  Her brother is getting ready to go on his mission.  He asked her for advice and he could tell how much she had changed on her mission.  She challenged us to grow closer to the Savior.

Sister Nettleton

Special musical number by the Primary children.  They sang "Picture a Christmas" and "Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus."  Cindy Bivens accompanied them on the piano.

The concluding speaker was Tony Stanley.  He has asked many to speak this year and President Boland thought it was Tony's turn.  How do we put our focus where it needs to be?  If we have five goals for the new year, we've probably already broken four and the last may have a week to go (Elder Holland).  What is Heavenly Father's goal?  Moses 3:19.  What is Jesus' goal?  President Monson's goal?  President Nicholl's goal?  President Boland's goal?  Moses 3:19 too.  Brother Stanley's goal? To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of those whom he loves.  What do we need to worry about?  If it's about health, we need to worry about heart disease.  If it's about our spirituality, the challenge is to not be deceived and distracted by the world.    We need to ask in our prayers to be able to do something that day to become more like our Savior.  At night repent of mistakes we've made and ask help to do better.  The Savior's Atonement will take up the slack if we have done the very best that we can.  But if we goof off because He will take up the slack, that won't work!  Spoke about paying attention to keeping the Sabbath day holy.  What we do care about is important.  When we stand before the Savior, hopefully we'll know who we cared about and what we taught them.  Concentrate on what's important, that has lasting and eternal consequences.  

Tony and Dorrie Stanley

Closing hymn was #213, "The First Noel," a traditional English carol, ca. 17th century. 

Brother Stanley asked that Eileen and I speak in church on 29 March.  The branch president is setting up the sacrament speakers three months at a time.

Gospel Doctrine with Darlene Burgess was lesson #48, “The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord” using Zechariah 10-14; Malachi.

The purpose of the lesson is to encourage class members to (1) prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, (2) pay an honest tithe and generous offerings, and (3) experience the blessings that come because of the sealing power of the priesthood.

President Ezra Taft Benson said, “[The Savior’s] coming will be both glorious and terrible, depending on the spiritual condition of those who remain” (“Prepare Yourself for the Great Day of the Lord,” New Era, May 1982).

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994)

1. Zechariah and Malachi prophesy of many events of the last days.

We discussed prophecies that have been fulfilled in preparation for the Second Coming, prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled before the Savior comes, and prophecies that will be fulfilled when the Savior comes.

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “As we live the commandments of God, we can look forward with joyful anticipation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and know that through our efforts we are worthy, with our loved ones, to dwell in His presence for all eternity. Surely nothing is too hard to gain this great goal. We cannot let down for a moment. We must prove, every day of our lives, that we are willing to do the will of the Lord--to spread the restored gospel, to bear testimony to the world, to share the gospel with others” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 341).

2. Malachi teaches about the blessings that come to those who pay tithes and offerings.

The First Presidency has stated: “The simplest statement we know of is the statement of the Lord himself, namely, that the members of the Church should pay ‘one-tenth of all their interest annually,’ which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this” (First Presidency letter, 19 Mar. 1970; see also D&C 119:1–4).

After referring to the blessings the Lord gives to tithe payers, President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

“Now, do not get me wrong. I am not here to say that if you pay an honest tithing you will realize your dream of a fine house, a Rolls Royce, and a condominium in Hawaii. The Lord will open the windows of heaven according to our need, and not according to our greed. If we are paying tithing to get rich, we are doing it for the wrong reason. The basic purpose for tithing is to provide the Church with the means needed to carry on His work” (in General Conference, Apr. 1982).

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008)

3. Malachi prophesies of Elijah’s return to the earth to restore the keys of the sealing power.

Malachi prophesied that the prophet Elijah would come to the earth before the Lord’s Second Coming (Malachi 4:6). How was this prophecy fulfilled? (See D&C 110:13–16. Elijah appeared in the Kirtland Temple and restored to Joseph Smith the keys of the sealing power.) What does it mean to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”? (It means to be sealed to all our ancestors--our “fathers”--and to all our posterity--our “children”--forever. Because of the sealing power of the priesthood and the temple ordinances for the living and the dead, families can be bound together for eternity.)

When will the Second Coming occur?

The Lord has made clear that while he will surely come again, no person knows the exact time (D&C 39:20–21; 49:7).

Elder Richard L. Evans said: “Some of the brethren … approached [President Wilford Woodruff] and … inquired of him as to when he felt the end would be--when would be the coming of the Master? These, I think, are not his exact words, but they convey the spirit of his reported reply: ‘I would live as if it were to be tomorrow--but I am still planting cherry trees!’ I think we may well take this as a page for our own book and live as if the end might be tomorrow--and still plant cherry trees! In worrying about things that are beyond our reach, we should not overlook our opportunities with our own families and friends; in worrying about possible eventualities we should not neglect the things that need to be done here and now, and that are within our reach” (in General Conference, Apr. 1950).

Elder Richard L. Evans (1906-1971)

I missed the start of priesthood as Richard Callahan asked me to set up access to ancestry.com on the clerk's computer (as he does not have the Internet at home).  I put an icon on the computer for familysearch.org and showed him how to access its partner sites, i.e., Ancestry, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage.

The lesson was "Teachings for Our Time” and we discussed the general conference talk “Loving Others and Living with Differences” by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  I read the following: "Like the Savior, His followers are sometimes confronted by sinful behavior, and today when they hold out for right and wrong as they understand it, they are sometimes called “bigots” or “fanatics.” Many worldly values and practices pose such challenges to Latter-day Saints. Prominent among these today is the strong tide that is legalizing same-sex marriage in many states and provinces in the United States and Canada and many other countries in the world. We also live among some who don’t believe in marriage at all. Some don’t believe in having children. Some oppose any restrictions on pornography or dangerous drugs. Another example—familiar to most believers—is the challenge of living with a nonbelieving spouse or family member or associating with nonbelieving fellow workers.

"In dedicated spaces, like temples, houses of worship, and our own homes, we should teach the truth and the commandments plainly and thoroughly as we understand them from the plan of salvation revealed in the restored gospel. Our right to do so is protected by constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and religion, as well as by the privacy that is honored even in countries without formal constitutional guarantees."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Eileen and Ben spent an hour in our role as Church Service missionaries on the FamilySearch Wiki on the Essex parishes as we finished them.  Her efforts continued as she chatted with Colleen.  Shortly thereafter my sister Libby called and we chatted for 50 minutes.

I finished the 27 July issue of the Church News.  I did not renew my subscription as I am months behind.  I will keep reading the ones I have on hand and check the Church News website for any of the latest news that is important.

I enjoyed reading about the Perpetual Education Fund benefitting hundreds in Ghana, the collaboration of the Mormon Pioneer Travel Database with FamilySearch for people looking for information about their Mormon Pioneer ancestry, and the welfare crop farms in Utah.

John Koranteng is the area self-reliance manager in the Africa West Area. 

Magna Utah Welfare Crops Farm near the Magna Bishops' Storehouse

On Monday 29 December we enjoyed lunch with Ralph and Holly Hughes at Charlie's Italian Restaurant in Ellijay.

Charlie's Italian Restaurant

Holly, Eileen, and Ralph in Charlie's

Christmas decorations in Charlie's

Christmas tree in Charlie's

Christmas decorations outside Charlie's

Then it was on to the bank; the post office where I mailed the two Book of Mormons to the ladies in Bossier City, LA, and Meridian, MS; the Times-Courier to get the four editions for December that we had missed while away; and our dump with lots of recyclables and some trash.

We drove to Ralph and Holly's in Mineral Bluff.  Three miles from home our odometer hit 93039.  We shopped at Taste of Amish on the way.  We were going to see some wonderful Christmas lights up the GA 60 Spur but the family had already put them away.  We enjoyed Ralph and Holly's company and then headed home.

Ralph and Holly's  Christmas tree

Our Christmas gift to Ralph and Holly from Hallmark

Inside Ralph and Holly's

Himalayan salt crystal

We filled up at Ingles in Blue Ridge and I scanned my Ingles card which lowered the price 10 cents to $1.809!

We had called the Echard's and they came over to visit us at 8 pm as our home/visiting teachers.

I published my week of 7 December blog entry.

I have been reading on my iPhone "Literary Tours in The Highlands and Islands of Scotland" by Daniel Turner Holmes (1863-1955) from North Ayrshire, Scotland, and a member of Parliament from 1911-1918. The following is a wonderful excerpt about Christianity:

“It is most gratifying to think that Christianity has been the great purifying force in Europe. The introduction of Christianity into the world must be reckoned as the most revolutionary event of history. Nothing was ever more needed. To one who knows the morality of the most brilliant society of the Greeks and Romans, there is no need to extol the pure and lofty moral tone of Jesus of Nazareth. But those who have not read the masterpieces of ancient art, with their mingled beauty and foulness, may be assured that literature owes more to Christianity than has ever yet been told. With Christianity a great healthy breeze swept over the world. Men became ashamed of wallowing in the mire. An ideal was raised up before them for their worship and imitation. The old Adam and his deeds needed stern repression after the wild iniquities of the effete society of imperial Rome. The spirit needed to curb the flesh, literature needed to be cleansed. We, living to-day and nursed on the accumulated tradition of so many anterior Christian centuries, are sometimes disposed to minimise the debt we owe, in pure and simple morality, to the teachings of the New Testament. I find it impossible to imagine what the world would be without these teachings. They renewed the world, they made it do penance for its sins, they made advance practicable. An entirely retrograde movement is impossible when once man is indoctrinated with a grand ideal."

On Tuesday 30 December we went into Ellijay for Eileen's appointment at Barbara's Hair Designers.  

Eileen and Barbara

Later we drive to Jasper for my follow-up appointment with my gastroenterologist Dr. Lopez.  Our odometer reached 93139.

Eileen at Dr. Lopez' office

Returning to Ellijay we visited Sabrina Bayless as her home/visiting teachers.

Outside Sabrina's

Outside Sabrina's

Outside Sabrina's with my shadow

Outside Sabrina's with my shadow

Eileen and Sabrina

Spices

Spices

Quilt

Little Christmas tree

Sabrina and ornaments made of borax and water

Ornaments back in the box

Eileen made delicious red bean, cabbage, and andouille sausage with her new pressure cooker for supper.

We watched "The Great British Baking Show" that I had recorded on PBS.

Bakers

Hosts and judges

On Wednesday 31 December we went to Blue Ridge for our appointments with our periodontist Dr. Codelli.  Ben had an x-ray and quick look at his implant by Dr. Codelli.  Eileen got her new bite guard. Yay!

Mountain Periodontics

Eileen waiting for the doctor

We filled up at Ingles for the regular price of $1.909.  

Ingles in Blue Ridge

We called Joan Blemly for her 62nd birthday and sang to her.  She is still teaching in Annapolis and is one of Eileen's buddies from her math resource teaching days.

Joan and Eileen

We visited Darlene Burgess as her home/visiting teachers.  We took her to Joe's BBQ just down the street for lunch.  It was excellent!

Back in Ellijay I dropped off Eileen for a gel French manicure and a red nail pedicure.  On to Walmart for a return and then to UPS to mail one of her stained glass creations to Lynda White in California.  The gal at UPS said "yes" to my two Book of Mormon questions!

Amaryllis and stained glass creation

I read "The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan a Hercule Poirot Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

In the evening Eileen made our traditional sausage and cheese balls and pigs in a blanket.  We also had cheese dip and three-layer dip with several types of crackers as well as cocktail franks with barbecue sauce.  We also enjoyed the bruschetta and cranberry chutney preserved by Sabrina Bayless's husband Gerald.

sausage and cheese balls

pigs in a blanket

three-layer dip

cocktail franks with barbecue sauce

bruschetta

cranberry chutney

We watched previously recorded "Secrets of Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "Secrets of Westminster."  Then we watched some of Michael Feinstein and his guests in the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York followed by entertainment from the White House with an introduction by President Obama.  

MI 6 Headquarters

Westminster Abbey

Eileen enjoyed a call from her buddy Lynda White and thanked her for the gift of two pillowcases that she had made especially for our king-sized pillows. 

On Thursday 1 January we received a nice phone call from Dee Andrade who served with us on our mission.  She is currently at her home in Melbourne, Florida, so we may visit her after our second cruise.

Dee Andrade in Cocoa Beach

I checked my blood sugar and it had shot up to 205 due to all the late New Year's goodies.  No more barbecue sauce with its high fructose corn syrup!

I took down the lights out front and swept all the leaves off the front porch once again.  Sometimes I sweep and sometimes I use the blower.  Now we are packing for our departure tomorrow morning.

We enjoyed watching the Rose Parade on HGTV commercial-free, although we could do without the silly tweets at the bottom of the screen.

Eileen continued to enjoy HGTV and pack her suitcases.  We had New Year's Eve leftovers and the red bean, cabbage, and andouille sausage stew.  I went into Ellijay and saw "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies."  I had the red bean, cabbage, and andouille sausage stew  when I got home.

I enjoyed the movie but didn't understand most of the dialogue even with my hearing aids.  They probably need to be adjusted.  The voices were loud enough but not understandable.

When I got home Eileen was enjoying "Hart to Hart" which we watched regularly years ago.  It starred Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers.

Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers, and Lionel Stander

On Friday 2 January we were up early and finished packing.  We left home about 10:40, stopped at the dump with trash and recyclables, and went by the bank and post office.  I mailed the Book of Mormon to the gal at UPS and birthday cards to Tanner and Sean.

Our odometer reached 93339 as we headed south of Jasper.

Traffic was heavy on I-75 south of Atlanta after we lost the HOV lane.  We got off near McDonough onto GA 155 for a pit stop and just continued south through Barnesville to Forsythe and back onto I-75.

Barnesville

Monroe County Courthouse in Forsythe

We got gas for $1.999 at Kroger on I-475 in Macon.  We reached Russ's place in Brooker, FL, about 7:50 pm.

On Saturday 3 January we were up early, packed what little we had brought in the house, and headed for Sunrise a little after 9.

Our odometer reached 93739 south of Gainesville on I-75.

We paid $2.299 (ouch) for gas at exit 329 right before entering Florida's Turnpike.  Almost next door we stopped at KFC for chicken, sides (black-eyed peas and cole slaw), and rolls to go.

At the Pilot at exit 152 we paid $2.189 and our odometer reached  93939.  This exit is right where Florida's Turnpike and I-95 nearly touch by Fort Pierce.

Two indicator lights came on on the dashboard.  One was the check engine light and the other was the slip indicator light.  Eileen texted William and he said when we got to David's to open and close the gas cap as we disconnected the battery for about a minute. 

Check engine light

We arrived at David's about 3:30.  He showed us around as he had done a lot of work since Sue passed away,  We did as William instructed and the two indicator lights stayed off.

At 6 the three of us drove to Matt and Kristen's where we enjoyed supper ordered from a Cuban restaurant, Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine.  I had the Vaca Frita (Fried Beef), a flavorful flank steak cooked on the grill, topped with sautéed onions.  Eileen had Bistec de Palomilla, their traditional style steak, thin, juicy and very tasty.  Served with chopped onions and parsley.  Megan picked it up and the Bosse's were there, of course, and Russ and Gail.

Matt and Kristen's in Davie, FL

We were back home about 9:45.