On Sunday 29 March my blood glucose reading was 84!  Eileen enjoyed the Book of Mormon discussion in the book of Alma about the Gadianton robbers with Brother Robert Millet on BYU-TV and we enjoyed attending our Ellijay Branch.

Opening hymn was #200 "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" text by Charles Wesley (1707-1788).

Sacrament hymn was #184 "Upon the Cross of Calvary" text by Vilate Raile (1890-1954) and music by Leroy J. Robertson (1896-1971).

The first speaker was President Boland who spoke about us and the recent branch baptismal trip.

The next speaker was Eileen.  She spoke on testimonies.  

We had special Easter music by the choir.

The concluding speaker was myself.  I spoke on rock-solid faith through prayer and scripture study.  Sadly no one that we had invited attended our meeting :(

Closing hymn was #199 "He Is Risen!" text by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) and music by Joachim Neander (1650-1680).

Gospel Doctrine with Claire Bowen was lesson #12, “I Am the Bread of Life” using John 5–6; Mark 6:30–44; Matthew 14:22–33.

The purpose of the lesson is to help class members look to Jesus Christ as “the bread of life,” the source of everlasting life.

1. Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and declares himself the Son of God. 

2. Jesus miraculously feeds more than 5,000 people.

Elder James E. Faust said: 

“Many nameless people with gifts equal only to five loaves and two small fishes magnify their callings and serve without attention or recognition, feeding literally thousands. … These are the hundreds of thousands of leaders and teachers in all of the auxiliaries and priesthood quorums, the home teachers, the Relief Society visiting teachers. These are the many humble bishops in the Church, some without formal training but greatly magnified, always learning, with a humble desire to serve the Lord and the people of their wards. … 

“A major reason this church has grown from its humble beginnings to its current strength is the faithfulness and devotion of millions of humble and devoted people who have only five loaves and two small fishes to offer in the service of the Master. They have largely surrendered their own interests and in so doing have found ‘the peace of God, which passeth all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7)” (in Apr. 1994 General Conference).

President James E. Faust (1920-2007)

3. Jesus walks on the sea, invites Peter to come to him, and calms the winds.

4. Jesus declares that he is “the bread of life.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland observed: “During the Savior’s Galilean ministry, He chided those who had heard of Him feeding the 5,000 with only five barley loaves and two fishes, and now flocked to Him expecting a free lunch. That food, important as it was, was incidental to the real nourishment He was trying to give them” (in Oct. 1997 General Conference).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

President Howard W. Hunter counseled: “We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life” (in Apr. 1994 General Conference).

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995)

Jesus Christ is “the bread of life” and he has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:35, 68). Class members are encouraged to apply his promises from the Sermon on the Bread of Life: “He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. … He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:35, 47).

The hymn in the combined priesthood / Relief Society meeting was #218 "We Give Thee But Thine Own" text by William Walsham Howe (1823-1897) and music by anonymous, arranged by Lowell Mason (1792-1872) and George J. Webb (1803-1887).

The lesson was presented by Sister Marsha Murdock, the stake welfare specialist speaking representing LDS Family Services.

She quoted from "Keeping Covenants Protects Us, Prepares Us, and Empowers Us" by Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary General President about a young girl named Luana.

"Luana was 11 years old when I visited her family in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Because of a traumatic event in her childhood, Luana could not speak. She had not spoken for years. She sat silently as we all conversed. I kept hoping for even a whisper from her. She looked at me intently as if uttering words were not necessary for me to know her heart. After a prayer, we stood up to leave, and Luana handed me a drawing. She had drawn Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. I then recognized her witness loud and clear. Luana had made a covenant at baptism to stand as a witness of God “at all times and in all things, and in all places.” She understood the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as witnessed through her drawing. Had she come to know that, through the strengthening and enabling power of the Atonement, she could be healed and speak again? Since that day three years ago, Luana has progressed in her effort to speak. She is now participating in Young Women with her friends. Faithful to the covenant she made at baptism, she continues to share her witness of the Savior."

Rosemary M. Wixom

She quoted Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Tad R. Callister.  Elder Bednar said in "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality" in the April 2012 Ensign "I suspect that many Church members are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming and cleansing power of the Atonement than they are with the strengthening and enabling power. It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us—that is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us—not only to direct us but also to empower us."

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Callister suggests we need to realize the following blessings are results of the Atonement:

Resurrection

Repentance/Cleansing 

Peace of Mind

Motivation 

Exaltation 

Freedom

Grace

Elder Ted Callister of the Seventy
(now Sunday School General President)

Sister Murdock explained the many clinical services of LDS Family Services.  The Addiction Recovery Program coming in July and August in English and Spanish will be led by Brother and Sister Sowards.  There will be a Family Support Group (sisters only).

Sister Marsha Murdock

After church we had a very enjoyable potluck meal.  We enjoyed sitting with Terry and Judy Dorsey and David and Caroline Echard.  Brother Green joined us and we chatted for a while about diabetes (he has type 1) and his upcoming talk in May about fasting (he is a fairly new convert and this will be his first talk).  Our big salad and desserts were a hit!

Eileen, Judy and Terry Dorsey, Caroline and David Echard

Eileen took pictures of Elder and Sister Rumsey for the local newspapers.  We spoke to Teri Grace, the Young's, Bro. Green, Ron Fisher, and the Bowen's about getting together for family history.  Bro. Green will be speaking the end of May and I showed him how to find lots of information about fasting in the Church.

I got three Book of Mormons to mail tomorrow and told Richard Callahan that the library needed more.

At home we had more of the salad and finished the turkey roast from last night.  I napped and woke at 5:29, just in time to turn on "Music & the Spoken Word" on BYU-TV.

Eileen and I began working on our latest Church Service Mission assignment researching England Immigration & Travel, England Newspaper & Publications, England Pictures, and England Schools, Directories & Church Histories collections in Ancestry. We spent one hour each.

I finished reading chapter 14 on temperance and the Sabbath in Joseph F. Smith's "Gospel Doctrine."

Eileen and I enjoyed some baked apples with cinnamon and raisins.

I emailed numerous people to whom I wanted to reply, sent several Jacquie Lawson birthday greetings, and prepared three Book of Mormons to mail tomorrow.

On Monday 30 March we went to Bryant Physical Therapy.  Then we enjoyed lunch with Ralph and Holly Hughes at Longhorn Steakhouse in Ellijay.  The food was delicious!

Eileen, Holly, and Ralph Hughes

Eileen, Ralph, and Holly Hughes

We drove south to Canton to look for an outfit for Weston for Easter.  No luck at Cracker Barrel but we got Easter cards for all the grandchildren at Hallmark.  Then on to Target and Kohl's for an outfit but no luck :(

On the way home I got some gas at Walmart for $2.089.  Then at R&A Orchards we got more apples, dilly beans, and some potatoes for dinner with the sister missionaries tomorrow.  Our odometer reached 99000!

I finished reading the Hercule Poirot novel "Lord Edgware Dies" by Agatha Christie which I began two days ago.

After supper we watched "America's Test Kitchen" and "Cook's Country" followed by last night's "Who Do You Think You Are?".  Then an episode of "Georgia Outdoors" with Sharon Collins about black bears and an episode of "How It's Made" about gemstones.  We watched "the BBQ Show" with the cast from "Georgia Traveler."

"America's Test Kitchen" and "Cook's Country"  Cast

Sharon Collins

I sent a photo of Elder and Sister Rumsey to the Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin newspapers.

Sister and Elder Rumsey

On Tuesday 31 March we ran into town to mail Easter cards to our grandchildren and other mail, including the three Book of Mormons to Blue Ridge, Jasper, and Acworth.

We are having the sister missionaries over for supper, so we stopped at Ingles for some items.

Then I got a text from the sister missionaries that they had exchanges today and Sister Nettleton went to Canton with the car keys, so could we come pick them up for supper?  I asked, "Sure, so is it okay for me to come get you as Sister Bailey will be working on supper?" Eileen asked me call Elder and Sister Rumsey and bribe them with supper if they would pick up the sisters.  As I was talking to Elder and Sister Rumsey on the phone, I got the following text from the sisters, "Never mind we worked something out so that we can get the keys from her. :)"  Well, they were with the Rumsey's going to retrieve the car keys!! So we still invited the Rumsey's for supper, so there will be six of us and Sister Rumsey said they would bring a salad.

The Rumseys, Eileen, and Sisters Paulsen and Burge

I am working on depositing my time-share weeks for 2015 with Interval International and deposited our one bedroom which is week 44.  I called Oak Plantation about our two bedroom week which is a floating week.

I finished reading "Clouds of Witness A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery" by Dorothy L. Sayers.

Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957)

We had a delightful meal with the Rumsey's and young Sisters Burge and Paulsen, the latter on exchange with Sister Nettleton from Canton.  Eileen's two large salmon fillets were delicious and there is enough left for us for tomorrow.  She made four twice-baked potatoes for the missionaries and lemon bars for dessert.  After we ate the sister missionaries showed us the Church's Easter video "Because He Lives" on Eileen's laptop.  As Elder Russell M. Nelson wrote specifically about the Easter initiative in the March issue of the Ensign, “As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in these, the latter days, we have also been charged with testifying of the realities of the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection. This Easter season gives each of us a personal opportunity to discover His sacrifice, embrace His teachings, and share His joy.”  The link for the video is: www.mormon.org/easter.

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

Eileen enjoyed watching "19 Kids and Counting" about the second daughter's wedding as I napped.

The Duggar Clan

On Wednesday 1 April we were up very early (as we used to say in the military O dark 30) as we drove to Blue Ridge to get Darlene and take her to her follow-up appointment at VA in Decatur.

We filled up at Ingles with our discount for $1.919!  We picked up Darlene at 7 am and got to the VA Medical Center a few minutes after 9.  

We left about 11 am and stopped at Ingles in Ellijay for both of us to do some shopping.  We took Darlene home and then refilled our gas tank at Walmart in Blue Ridge for $1.989.  We stopped at the new Taste of Amish location for hot pepper and yellow cheese curds.

We got the Times-Courier at R&A Orchards and chatted with Judy Pearce outside her home as we were driving by.

Judy Pearce's home

At home we had an AnyMeeting session with Jane Colmenares as she shared with Eileen about using the FamilyTreeMaker software from Ancestry.com.

We gobbled down our supper and headed to church to help anyone who might come to the Family History Center this evening for help with their family history.  I spoke with Lynn Edwards when she arrived and emailed her about getting together.  Gailand Green and his daughter Kira came and I worked with him.  Roger Widmann came and Eileen worked with him.  Chuck Young came but his laptop would not work, so I said that I'd call him. Our odometer reached the palindrome of 99299.

Ellijay meetinghouse

I finished reading "Police at the Funeral" by Margery Allingham. It was an Albert Campion mystery which I began on 20 March.

Margery Allingham (1904-1966)

I finished reading the 19 October issue of the LDS Church News.  I especially enjoyed "Religious freedom: a central message of the Church," "Phoenix Arizona Temple," "'We are in a real crisis'" about local LDS members assisting in Church relief efforts in Beirut, Lebanon, "'Become the message'" with Elder L. Tom Perry urging us to become good gospel examples, "'Meet the Mormons' is launched at 300 theaters," and "Learning and teaching in the home and in Church" by Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President. 

Phoenix Arizona Temple

Sisters in the Beirut, Lebanon, Branch prepare food packages.

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 

On Thursday 2 April I thought that since we are doing so well on our diet to reduce our blood sugar and our weights are dropping, too, that I would try on an old pair of jeans that are size 42 waist.  They fit!  I have been wearing size 44. I have lost over 12 pounds and Eileen, for whom it is harder, has lost 9 pounds.

We drive to the Apple Store at Northpoint Mall in Alpharetta for our appointment at the Genius Bar to look into problems Eileen is having with her laptop.

Apple Store at Northpoint Mall 

The problem seems to be resolved!  We headed north, stopping at the North Georgia Premium Outlets to look some more for something for Weston.  We first visited Oshkosh B'Gosh and Carter's, getting outfits at both places.  Then Eileen looked in the Dress Barn store but nothing there.

North Georgia Premium Outlets 

Back at home for supper and I took Eileen to the Gilmer Arts facility for her third art class.  I went to Walmart for some items and then to church where I could quietly work on Brothers Widmann's and Dorsey's family history.  I also replied via e-mail to two family history questions from Betty Riancho.

Eileen in her art class

Later at home I worked on deleting some of contents of our Apple Time Capsule which backs up our two laptops and Eileen's iMac in the office.

On Friday 3 April we had a quiet morning.  I went out to get the mail and picked dandelions in the front yard.  We went to Bryant Physical Therapy and I began and finished "The Affair at the Victory Ball A Hercule Poirot Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

We went to church to clean there. Roger Widmann and Ron Fisher came to help.

We met with Charles and Claire Bowen at their home in Bent Tree in Jasper to work with them on their family history.  We were there from 4:15 to 7:15.  Our odometer reached 99499.

After our late supper we watched a 90-minute fundraiser entitled "Father Brown Saving Souls Solving Crimes."  Of course we fast-forwarded the fundraising.

I began and finished "The Adventure of the Clapham Cook A Hercule Poirot Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Saturday 4 April we went into Ellijay and mailed the box of clothes we had gotten for Weston.  It should arrive on Monday.  Then we shopped at Walmart and Ingles, returning home in time to hook up our laptop to the TV to watch the first session of general conference.  For some reason our old Windows laptop which works fine does not connect to the TV via the cable in the RGB mode, but my Mac laptop does!

This morning I posted the following on my "wall" on Facebook:

"Small businesses that do not want to deal with same-sex marriages based on their religious beliefs such as Memories Pizza in Indiana should not be the target of intolerance, hatred, and abuse by those who demand acceptance of their lifestyle! Call for a boycott if you would like and let the free market decide who to support.  We don't need terrorist jerks threatening to burn down the business!"

It has drawn several negative comments, except from my daughter Colleen.  There are several people who "liked" it.

The first speaker in this conference session was President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke on fasting which is very timely for Brother Gailand Green who is speaking on the law of the fast next month.

President Henry B. Eyring

The next speaker was President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  Sadly he was difficult to understand.

President Boyd K. Packer

The next speaker was Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President, who spoke about husbands, fathers, etc.  

Sister Linda K. Burton

Following the rest hymn we heard from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke on the parable of the sower.  He spoke to those of us who have committed to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

The next speaker was Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy who spoke about the spiritual light that beckons us.

Elder L. Whitney Clayton

The concluding speaker was Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about marriage and the sanctity of the family.

Elder L. Tom Perry

Between sessions Eileen wrapped the pork roast and I made the salad for supper.

The second session began with the sustaining and releasing of Church leaders, the auditing report, and the statistical report.  The number of missionaries is over 85,000 and the number of converts reached nearly 300,000.

The first speaker was Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about fear and apprehension and how they can be dispelled by the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the only source of enduring peace.

Elder David A. Bednar

The next speaker was Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about marriage, a divine institution from God.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Following the rest hymn we heard from Elder Wilford W. Andersen of the Seventy who spoke about the precious music of the gospel in our hearts.

Elder Wilford W. Andersen

The next speaker was Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy who spoke that saints are sinners who keep on trying.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

The next speaker was Elder Michael T. Ringwood of the Seventy who spoke about Alma's counsel to his sons Helaman, Corianton, and Shiblon.

Elder Michael T. Ringwood

The concluding speaker was Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about following the Savior of the world.

Elder Quentin L. Cook

I went outside and filled all three bird feeders, put up the beeminator on the front porch, and plucked the dandelions in the front yard.  Unfortunately I haven't gotten to the back yard :(  One of the beeminators in the backyard has come down so I need to put it back up.

I published the 15 February edition of my blog!

In the evening we enjoyed the priesthood session of general conference.  The first speaker was Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who spoke about the missionaries and their devotion to Jesus Christ.  

Elder M. Russell Ballard

The next speaker was Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy who spoke about the efforts of Satan and his minions to corrupt us and get us to violate the covenants we have made.

Elder Ulisses Soares

The next speaker was Larry M. Gibbons, just released first counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, who spoke about having a vision of our eternal destiny.

Larry M. Gibbons

Following the rest hymn we heard from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, who spoke about being hypocrites and keeping up the appearance of righteousness while being worldly. He told us of "Potemkin villages." 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The next speaker was President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, who spoke about speaking and acting in the name of God. The connection of prayer and priesthood power. 

President Henry B. Eyring

The concluding speaker was President Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who spoke about priesthood experiences he had as a young man and an adult. Honoring our priesthood.

President Thomas S. Monson