On Sunday 8 February Eileen enjoyed the Book of Mormon discussion on BYU-TV and we again enjoyed attending our Ellijay Branch.

Opening hymn was #94 "Come Ye Thankful People" by Henry Alford.  He was was an English churchman, theologian, textual critic, scholar, poet, hymnodist, and writer. Wikipedia

Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Sacrament hymn was #179 "Again, Our Dear Redeeming Lord" by Theodore E. Curtis and Alfred M. Durham (both 1872-1957). 

Alfred M. Durham

The first speaker was Brenda Ashworth.  This is the first time she has spoken in 11 years and the branch is three times as large as it was then.  She spoke of home and food storage.  "Why do ye call me Lord, Lord, and obey not my commandments?"  D&C 88:108.  She quoted Presidents Spencer W. Kimball and Gordon B. Hinckley.  They referred to the dream of pharaoh in the Old Testament interpreted by Joseph. D&C 38:30. First Presidency letter of 1988 about food storage.  Rotate your supply to keep it usable and not have waste.  She related a story from her young life about canning (bottling).  Lots of canning done by her grandmother.  Food storage room available in their first home before they were members.  Presentation to a group by a member of the Church.  Got two years supply of food before joining.  Several months later they wanted to attend the Church and were baptized. Creative ways to make space for your food storage.  Pickling cucumbers.  Enough for Christmas gifts for next four years.  Canning guide as her mother had passed away when she was 11. Hard times followed good times.  Learned of need for variety.  Blessings of Heavenly Father during these times.  Principle of tithing.  Grateful for these experiences and bore her testimony.

There was a special musical number by the Chester family "We'll Bring the World His Truth" (The Army of Helaman) by Janice Kapp Perry (born 1938).  She is a well-known Latter-day Saint songwriter whose contributions have resulted in roughly 50 albums and songs in the LDS Church hymnal, Children's Songbook, and 70 Favorite Children's Songs.  Wikipedia.  We met her and enjoyed a fireside she gave while we were on our mission.

Janice Kapp Perry

Charmet and Craig Chester with children Hannah and Harrison

The concluding speaker was David Ashworth.  He spoke on self-reliance. Orson Hyde, an apostle, sent to Israel by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1840. Reached Jerusalem in 1841 and dedicated the land on the Mount of Olives for the return of the Jews.  Nation of Israel founded in 1948. David visited there in 1982. Israel is having to be self-reliant.  The Lord is watching especially the Church, Israel, and the USA.  He spoke of visiting Kirtland.  Newel K. Whitney store.  School of the Prophets.  Emma asked Joseph to inquire of the Lord and he received the Word of Wisdom. He quoted Elder L. Tom Perry.  D&C 89. Blessings and promises when adhering to it.  Members of the Church for 42 years (just as we are).  Bore his testimony of Presidents Monson and Boland.

Closing hymn was #30 "Come, Come, Ye Saints" by William Clayton and sung to an English folk song.  Brother Clayton was an early leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and acted as a clerk and scribe to the Mormon religious leader Joseph Smith. Clayton, born in England, is recognized as an American pioneer journalist, scribe, inventor, lyricist and musician.  Wikipedia

William Clayton (1814-1879) 

Gospel Doctrine with Claire Bowen was lesson #6, “They Straightway Left Their Nets” using Luke 4:14–32; 5; 6:12–16 and Matthew 10.

The purpose of the lesson is to help class members understand that Apostles are called to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ and that we are blessed when we sustain and follow them.

At Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, everyone will recognize him as the Savior. This was not true at his first coming. The Jews had studied prophecies about the Savior’s coming for centuries, but many of those who heard Jesus failed to recognize him as the Savior. Because Jesus did not free the Jews from Roman control, as they expected the Messiah to do, many of them rejected him and his message.

1. Jesus announces that he is the Messiah.

2. Jesus calls his Twelve Apostles.

A disciple is any follower of Jesus Christ.  An Apostle is a disciple who has been called to be a special witness of Christ (D&C 107:23). The word Apostle means “one [who is] sent forth”.  The members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are sent forth to testify to the world that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer of mankind.

3. Jesus ordains and instructs the Twelve Apostles.

What blessings are promised to those who follow the Apostles? (See Matthew 10:40–42; see also D&C 124:45–46.) 

Elder Spencer W. Kimball said: “No one in this Church will ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths; it never has and never will” (in April 1951 General Conference).

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985)

Jesus Christ is the true Messiah and that the Twelve Apostles are special witnesses of him.

The hymn in priesthood was #5 "High on the Mountain Top" text by Joel H. Johnson and music by Ebenezer Beesley (1840-1906).  Brother Johnson was a Latter-day Saint missionary and hymn writer, most famous as the author of "High on the Mountain Top". Johnson was also the founder of Enoch, Utah.  Brother Beesley was a Latter-day Saint hymn writer and composer. The music for twelve of the hymns in the 1985 hymnal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was written by him.  Wikipedia

Joel H. Johnson (1802-1882)

The lesson was the leadership lesson because Brother Echard was absent last Sunday.  It was about "Perfecting the Saints".  Our goal is to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  1 John 3:1-3. D&C 84:19-22. 2 Nephi 25:23. Mosiah 3:19. D&C 93:1-4, 19-22. Read also verses 5-18. D&C 84:33.  Grace is divine help.  The Lord wants us to consecrate our lives to Him. 

Saving Ordinances: baptism/confirmation, Melchizedek priesthood, temple endowment, sealing

At home we worked two hours on the Yorkshire parishes and took a break in the middle to watch Rick Steves in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle

We enjoyed having the Echard's visit us as our home teachers.

I worked on entering much of the source data into PAF for George and Fanny Baily and their family.

On Monday 9 February we went into Ellijay, visiting the dump, the post office where we ran into Rena Ashworth, one of our important Kids Ferst volunteers, and the dry cleaners.  We went for a walk in the park and then continued our shopping at Walmart and Ingles.

Rena Ashworth reading to a child at the food pantry

Later at home I finished reading "The Crime at Black Dudley" by Margery Allingham which I had begun two days ago.  It was her first mystery novel featuring Albert Campion, though he was not the main character.  It was very good and my second real "page-turner" in a row, the first being "Murder on the Links" by Agatha Christie, a Hercule Poirot mystery, which I finished last Saturday.

Margery Allingham (1904-1966)

I scanned the two articles from the Owensboro Messenger dated in 1916 and 1944. The first was the marriage of Virginia Sawyer and B. C. Frith and the second was Virginia's obituary.  I e-mailed them to Judy Lawrie in Grand Turk. 

After supper we attended the empty-nester Family Home Evening at church.  Brother David Echard teaches it and there were eight other there. We discussed the large and small plates that make up the Book of Mormon.

We went by Walmart for some cookie cutters as Eileen is making cookies tomorrow for Kids Ferst as are others.  Hers will be for the Country Corner Kitchen for their support.  Our odometer reached 95559.

Relaxing at home I began and finished reading "The Incredible Theft," A Hercule Poirot Short Story by Agatha Christie.

On Tuesday 10 February we went to Canton to get my permanent crown from Dr. Stevens at 10.  Gas was $2.049 at Walmart.

Eileen made brownies for supper and later we worked together to make her goulash (she did most of the work).  Then I prepared the Caesar salad.  The sister missionaries arrived about 6 pm.  We enjoyed having them here for dinner.

Later we watched the "Genealogy Roadshow" on PBS.  Then "The Great British Baking Show."

I researched the paternal grandparents of my cousin Judy Lawrie, whom we visited on Grand Turk

On Wednesday 11 February we were up and on to Ingles to pick up the sister missionaries and go to the food pantry.  Our odometer reached 95659.  Judy Farmer called on Eileen to offer the prayer to start our day there.  We were busier than last week and over 125 families were helped.  I was so busy collapsing cardboard boxes that late in the morning several of the ladies helped with the plastic bags.

My station at the food pantry

We dropped off the sister missionaries at Ingles and met Harry Spooner there who followed us home.  He is our former branch president and a chiropractor.  Eileen has been complaining about her neck and right shoulder, so Harry said he would check her out.  His adjustments here seemed to help Eileen a great deal but it rapidly got worse again as the day wore on.

Have bench, will travel

I finished "Othello, the Moor of Venice" by William Shakespeare which I started on 23 October.

I worked on my blog for the week of 4 January and enjoyed watching two videos each about 8 1/2 minutes long. One was "This Grand Opportunity" about the start of sending sister missionaries to England and the highlights of the British pageant "Truth Will Prevail."  "This Grand Opportunity" video can be seen at the link:

https://history.lds.org/article/sister-missionaries-video?lang=eng.

We both helped with the Mutual activity at Gilmer High School as new converts and youth worked on finding names to take to the temple.

Eileen had a nice chat with Lynda White and we discussed our summer plans for Arizona, California, and Utah.

On Thursday 12 February we visited Dr. Raisig for our fasting bloodwork and he saw Eileen about the tightness in her back and shoulder muscles.  She got a shot of muscle relaxant.  Paperwork from the Red Cross which we had dropped off in November was found and additional blood drawn to check into why the Red Cross doesn't want her blood.

At home she began making cookies for Kids Ferst for Valentine's Day and then applied a hot pad to her shoulder.  

I researched some of my first cousins as I looked at the hints on my Ancestry.com app.

Our odometer reached 95759. We went back into town to the North Georgia Eye Clinic for Eileen's appointment.

Eileen and Patricia Smith

Eileen and Patricia Smith

Leaving there we drove to the Gilmer County Public Library not far away and attended the monthly meeting of the Gilmer County Genealogical Society.  The current president Karen Titus spoke on her visit to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the preparations one should make before genealogical travels.  She also has visited the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The gathering of the Gilmer County Genealogical Society

Karen Titus addresses the group

Eileen made bunches of cookies for Kids Ferst to take to Tony at the Country Corner Kitchen tomorrow.  Her shoulder was feeling much better.

Tin of cookies

On Friday 13 February we began packing and loading the car.  We went to Walmart, getting gas for $2.049, for thank-you cards and delivered the Valentine sugar cookies with a thank-you card to the Country Corner Kitchen from Kids Ferst.  We drove to Blue Ridge and visited Taste of Amish and home taught Darlene Burgess.

Taste of Amish

Darlene Burgess' home

Back in Ellijay we dropped off garbage and recyclables at our dump, bought sales items at Food Lion and Piggly Wiggly, then to Walmart again for the rest of our shopping list.

When we got home Eileen wrapped up lots of her Valentine sugar cookies for the four closest neighbors and we delivered them in the car as the neighbors are not right next door here in the woods.

I finished reading the 31 August issue of the LDS Church News.  I enjoyed reading about the Provo City Center Temple and the Meridian Idaho Temple.

Jim Hansen; Andy Kirby, project manager; President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency; and Sister Sylvia and Elder Jay Newitt tour the construction site of the Provo City Center Temple on August 21.

Elder David A. Bedar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy, and other local leaders participate in the groundbreaking of the Meridian Idaho Temple August 23.  Photos by Marianne Holman Prescott and Church Public Affairs.

There was a good article about the church growth in the Philippines.  "On April 28, 1961, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gathered with a small group of local servicemen, American residents, and one Filipino Latter-day Saint at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines to offer a prayer for the country.  Latter-day Saints in the Philippines today—some 53 years after that prayer—are living proof that the small group of Church members at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial witnessed something unforgettable.

There are 701,223 Church members, 902 Latter-day Saint chapels (733 of which are owned by the Church, 169 of which are rented), 21 missions, and two temples (one in Manila, the other in Cebu) in the Philippines. A third temple has been announced and will be constructed in Urdaneta.

“ 'The gospel has truly rolled forth in these islands of the Philippines, and it is gaining strength every day,' said Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk of the Seventy and Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency."

Elder Augusto A. Lim stands in front of Manila Philippines Temple. Photo by Sarah Jane Weaver.

"Elder Ballard gives counsel" was very good.

"Apostle visits Brazil" about Elder Holland was likewise.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Seventy share a laugh with other Church leaders during a visit to Brazil August 14-24.

Talks given at BYU Campus Education Week such as "Personal revelation: How to feel the Spirit" and "Asking effective questions" were informative and very interesting.

Lastly "The 'real' Book of Mormon" was delightful!  Missionaries handed out 2,400 copies of the real Book of Mormon outside the musical comedy 'The Book of Mormon'.

A team of Mormon missionaries gathered in Birmingham, Ala., outside the BJCC to hand out copies of the Book of Mormon after the musical comedy, 'The Book of Mormon.' (Courtesy LDS Church) ( )

As we ate supper we watched "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" with Guy Fieri.

In the evening I finished "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo which I began on 21 November 2013.  I have also read "Toilers of the Sea" and am still working on "Les Miserables."

Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

In our nighttime reading we finished the January issue of the Ensign.

We enjoyed the First Presidency message "Follow the Prophets" by President Thomas S. Monson, the article "What Will You Choose?" by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and "How Can I Know That the Lord Has Forgiven Me?" by President Harold B. Lee.  Of course, there were numerous other articles that were excellent that would fill my blog talking about them!

President Thomas S. Monson

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

President Harold B. Lee

On Saturday 14 February we gave each other our Valentine's Day cards. We finished packing and headed for the temple at 9:10 am. Our odometer reached 95859.

We had a very nice time doing sealings in the temple and there were lots of brothers and sisters to help.

We then went to d'Lites Emporium but they were closed due to a family emergency.  So we went to a nearby Moe's Southwest Grill for lunch.  Yum!

Moe's Southwest Grill on Johnson Ferry Rd

Eileen checking the menu on the wall

We checked in at the Comfort Inn in Kennesaw.  I changed into my suit, we went to the stake center, and I went to priesthood leadership session of stake conference at 4 pm.  Our odometer reached 95959.

Comfort Inn

Marietta East Stake Center

President Stallings conducted the meeting.  The opening hymn was #27 "Praise to the Man" by William W. Phelps sung to a Scottish folk song.  According to Wikipedia, he was an early leader of the Latter-day Saint movement. He was a printer, editor, song-writer, scribe to Joseph Smith, Jr., and assistant president of the church in Missouri.

William W. Phelps (1792-1872)

President Stallings spoke on being blessed through the ministering of the members through ward councils, a subject received from President Boyd K. Packer.  He referred to STP, that is, the same ten people.  There are those that have more to offer than they have been offering.  We don't want the leaders wearing themselves out.  We need to follow our leaders in sync with what we are each doing.  D&C 18.  Joy in the soul that repenteth.  Alma excited to see the sons of Mosiah after years in the field.  We need to be told that we amount to something.  We need to be given a chance to serve.  They are needed and valued.  Start the process with prayer.  Become consecrated followers of Christ.

President Boyd K. Packer

Panel of four brethren who represent members of the ward council and PEC.  Bishop, YM president, EQ president, HPGL.  Get to know individuals for whom you have responsibilities.  Scenarios discussed were a part-member family  and less-active family.  Part member includes a sister who has remarried a non-member who is not interested in the church, 16-year-old son becoming less active, and 11-year-old daughter who is very active.  Couple is in late 30's.  Working with husband perhaps in Scouts.  Home teaching to include 16-year-old.  His interests.  Get to know family members.  Good home teacher for family.  Dinner with missionaries.  Recognize husband as head of family.  Meet the needs of the family.  YW president and Beehive teacher work with 11-year-old.  Invite family to social activities, service projects, preparedness fairs, etc. 

Less-active older couple who have been offended.  Experiencing health issues.  Bishop became a friend as he is of grandson-type age.  They were cared about.  Service by young men.  Home teachers who can relate to them.  Visiting teachers who love her.  Bishopric visit.

There were many comments from the brethren attending the meeting.

President Stallings quoted from the allegory in Jacob 5.  Verses 41, 70, and 75, among others.  

Intermediate hymn was #319 "Ye Elders of Israel" by Cyrus H. Wheelock.  He was an early missionary and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as first president of the Northern States Mission. Wikipedia

Cyrus H. Wheelock (1813-1894)

A brother from the Cherokee Branch (Spanish) spoke about a church leader meeting with a less-active couple and the progress over the following years.  Didn't pass judgement unrighteously.  Sounds like he was telling a story about himself!  

President Nicholls told a story and gave us an assignment.  Married brother has been inactive for many years.  He and family attended a social and no one said hello.  He asked us to make a new friend in our ward (branch).  If someone is offended, get over it!  Told a story of his parents and inactive neighbors whose husband was offended decades ago.  Bore his testimony.

Closing hymn was #152 "God Be with You Till We Meet Again" text by Jeremiah E. Rankin and music by William G. Tomer (1833-1896).  Rankin was an abolitionist, champion of the temperance movement, minister of Washington D.C.'s First Congregational Church, and correspondent with Frederick Douglass. In 1890 he was appointed sixth president of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Howard University's Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel was built during Jeremiah Rankin's tenure as president (1890-1903) and named after his brother. Rankin is best known as author of the hymns "God Be with You 'Til we Meet Again" and "Tell It to Jesus."  Wikipedia

Jeremiah E. Rankin (1828-1904)

Eileen had enjoyed the session as she relaxed in the church foyer with her iPhone and iPad.  She joined me in the chapel as soon as the meeting was over.

The evening session started at 7 pm for the adults of the stake.  President Marcom conducted the session.

The opening hymn was #78 "God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand" text by Daniel C. Roberts (1841-1907) and music by George W. Warren (1828-1902).  "God of Our Fathers" is a 19th-century American Christian hymn, written in 1876 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

The hymn was written by Daniel C. Roberts,^[2] a priest in the Protestant Episcopal Church serving, at the time, as rector of St. Thomas & Grace Episcopal churches in Brandon, Vermont. Roberts had served in the American Civil War in the 84th Ohio Infantry.  Wikipedia

A musical number was presented by the Shallowford Ward choir.  I believe it was "Guide Us O Thou Great Jehovah."  

President Marcom spoke on things that we may be oblivious of.  First, the stake conference is an assignment from President Boyd K. Packer.  So the stake presidency did not decide to have conference on Valentine's Day.  Second was on the emphasis on councils in the Church. The assigned topic for this conference from the First Presidency was on councils.  President Marcom quoted from the Church Handbook about councils.  Even a presidency is a council.  Role of the president in the council.  "Don't talk, listen."  Guard against divulging confidences.  Members of the council.  "Speak up." Come to council meetings spiritually prepared.  D&C 88:122.  Come to ward council first as a member of the ward council, second as a representative of your organization.  Assignments will come your way. You are on the Lord's errand. 

Brother John Ensign spoke on spiritual administration and then temporal ministration.  First spiritual building block is to gather.  Matthew 18:20.  Second is we consecrate.  Third is we know our neighbors, our flock.  Moroni 6:4-5. Fourth is we counsel.  D&C 37:38.  We are building individual spiritual temples to prepare them to go to the temporal temple.  D&C 88:119.  That is why we have councils.  

Sister Amber Isaksen talked about looking at the congregation and thinking about growing up in the stake.  Talked about Family Home Evening when the National College Football Championship was on.  Which jersey do we want to wear? Elder Holland.  D&C 1:35. D&C 115. Gather for defense and a refuge.  Alma 48.  Powers of hell.  Taught by their mothers.  Show up and be united.  Serve others.  We are covenant keepers.  We go to the temple.  We are teachers and leaders. We know more about the redeeming power of the Atonement than we do about the enabling power of the Atonement.  We know which side we are on and what our game plan is.  We are united warriors.

Sister Alecia Van Wyk said this is the first time she had spoken in church since she spoke at her seminary graduation.  25 year absence from church.  Moved to the Gainesville Ward.  Good visiting teacher.  11-year-old son Spencer wanted to go to church.  Was baptized.  Moved to Canton.  Loving members in both wards.  Mosiah 18:21.  Quoted Elder D. Todd Christofferson.  Dual beings of flesh and spirit. Moroni 7:16.  Bore her testimony.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Intermediate hymn #3 "Now Let Us Rejoice" with text by William W. Phelps (1792-1872) and music by Henry Tucker, ca. 1863.  This hymn was included in the first LDS hymnbook in 1835.

William W. Phelps (1792-1872) 

President John E. Bennion, Atlanta Georgia North Mission president, spoke.  Difference between working in the business world and in the kingdom of God.  Members, missionaries, and investigators all grow in the Gospel.

President John E. and Sondra S. Bennion

Brother Matt Rose spoke on the work of salvation.  D&C 18:10.  To bring a soul to Christ we must be on our way there.  Strive to be the Savior's faithful disciple.  Mosiah 3:19.  Acts 2:36.  Testimony and then conversion.  How do we maintain our conversion?  He quoted several scriptures.  John 6. Bread of life.  Conversion of the people by Ammon. Give away all my sins. 

President Nicholls spoke about the names and titles of Jesus.  Each title describes a mission of His.  Book of Hebrews.  The high priest of good things to come.  Know that God loves you. Be faithful.  Keep your covenants.  Don't ever, ever give up! "My covenants are real, my Gospel is true." 

Closing hymn #98 "I Need Thee Every Hour" with text by Annie S. Hawks and music by Robert Lowry. Annie Hawks wrote:

"One day as a young wife and mo­ther of 37 years of age, I was bu­sy with my reg­u­lar house­hold tasks. Sud­den­ly, I be­came so filled with the sense of near­ness to the Mast­er that, won­der­ing how one could live with­out Him, ei­ther in joy or pain, these words, “I Need Thee Ev­e­ry Hour,” were ush­ered in­to my mind, the thought at once tak­ing full pos­sess­ion of me."

After writ­ing the lyr­ics, Hawks gave them to her pas­tor, Ro­bert Low­ry, who add­ed the tune and re­frain. The hymn was first pub­lished at the Na­tion­al Bap­tist Sun­day School Con­ven­tion in Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio, in No­vem­ber 1872. Some years lat­er, af­ter the death of her hus­band, Hawks wrote:

"I did not un­der­stand at first why this hymn had touched the great throb­bing heart of hu­man­i­ty. It was not un­til long af­ter, when the sha­dow fell over my way, the sha­dow of a great loss, that I un­der­stood some­thing of the com­fort­ing pow­er in the words which I had been per­mit­ted to give out to others in my hour of sweet se­ren­i­ty and peace."  From cyberhymnal.org

Annie S. Hawks (1835-1918) 

Robert Lowry (1826-1899)

We left the stake center and got gas at Kroger for $1.909, which I thought we wouldn't see anymore.  It is not typical of most gas stations in northern Georgia.

We returned to the Comfort Inn with plans to wake up at 6 am.