Bailey's Blog

On Sunday 21 June Eileen has lost 1.1 pounds and I have lost 2.8 pounds in the last week. One of the small pleasures in life after having lost 32 pounds was to more easily clip my toenails!

Eileen's blood sugar was 99 the second morning in a row! Mine was 74. Father's Day messages flew back and forth and I enjoyed Geoff's card. We enjoyed attending the Ironwood Crossing 2nd Ward again.

Opening hymn was #280 "Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning" text by Robert B. Baird (1855-1916) and music by Ebenezer Beesley (1840-1906).

A young woman, Willow Montana Zimmerman, who was baptized yesterday was confirmed a member of the Church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sacrament hymn was #183 "In Remembrance of Thy Suffering" text and music by Evan Stephens (1854-1930).

The young men went to Scout camp last week and there were five of them on the stand. They were invited to share their thoughts about camp and testimonies. Brother Price shared his thoughts about camp. Brother Burgett related Scouting and the preparation of the young men for life.

The Primary Choir sang "Daddy's Homecoming" and "Love is Spoken Here." Compared to our little branch Primary the numbers were great! There may have been over 100 kids singing to the fathers. They looked like 40 kids across and three deep!

Tanner, Ashton, and Spencer are visible.

A large Primary!

Brother Buck Leavitt, the scoutmaster, was the concluding speaker. He said how extraordinary the young men are. Most of the eight boys from this ward got 10 merit badges. They really enjoyed horsemanship and canoeing. They accomplished a pretty trying hike and helped one another when needed. He was thankful for his dad who was also at camp. He bore his testimony of the Savior and the Book of Mormon.

Brother Rex Southwick, 2nd counselor in the bishopric, was at Scout camp and told about his experiences there. He spoke of fathers and sons. He spoke of Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

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

The Young Women passed out cute little packages to the fathers in attendance containing several cookies with chocolate chips and M&Ms. I dropped my bag, so when I got to Gospel Doctrine I ate a couple of the cookies that had broken and gave the rest to Sean. The first time since 2 March that I have eaten any such thing. It didn't upset my blood sugar the next morning as it was 85.

Gospel Doctrine was lesson #23, “Love One Another, As I Have Loved You" using Luke 22:1-38; John 13-15. The regular teacher. Jennifer Oliver, was back which was much better than the fellow filling in for her the last two weeks.

Jennifer Oliver

The purpose of the lesson is to inspire class members to follow Jesus’ example by loving and serving others.

1. Jesus institutes the sacrament.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said: “Since that upper room experience on the eve of Gethsemane and Golgotha, children of the promise have been under covenant to remember Christ’s sacrifice in this newer, higher, more holy and personal way. … If remembering is the principal task before us, what might come to our memory when those plain and precious emblems are offered to us?” (in General Conference, Oct. 1995).

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

Some answers to Elder Holland’s question, including some of the following things that Elder Holland suggested we should remember about the Savior are the following:

His love and strength in the Grand Council of Heaven.

That he is the Creator of heaven and earth.

All that he did in his premortal life as Jehovah.

The simple grandeur of his birth.

His teachings.

His miracles and healings.

That “all things which are good cometh of Christ” (Moroni 7:24).

The unkind treatment, rejection, and injustice he endured.

That he descended below all things in order to rise above them.

That he made his sacrifices and endured his sorrows for each of us.

2. After washing their feet, Jesus commands the Apostles to love one another.

What did Jesus tell the Apostles about why he had washed their feet? (He told them that they should follow his example of service.)

During the Last Supper, Jesus repeatedly told his disciples to love one another.

3. Jesus teaches “I am the way, the truth, and the life” and “I am the true vine.”

Jesus taught his disciples to show their love for others through service. What did he tell them to do to show their love for him? (See John 14:15.) How does our obedience demonstrate our love for the Lord?

Jesus Christ loves us and wants us to love and serve one another. Class members are challenged to remember Christ’s Atonement and his love for us during the sacrament each week.

An additional teaching idea was:

Taking upon us the name of Christ, adapted from a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the April 1985 general conference.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

When do we take upon ourselves the name of Christ?

When we are baptized into his Church.

When we renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament.

When we proclaim our belief in him.

When we take upon ourselves the authority to act in his name and exercise that authority.

When we participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple.

What do we promise when we take upon ourselves the name of Christ?

We signify our willingness to do the work of his kingdom and our determination to serve him to the end.

We promise to follow him with real intent, obeying him and repenting of our sins.

What does Jesus Christ promise us when we take upon us his name? (We become his sons and daughters, bearing his name. Those who are called by his name at the last day will be exalted.)

The hymn in priesthood was #301 "I Am a Child of God" text by Naomi W. Randall (1908-2001) and music by Mildred T. Pettit (1895-1977).

The priesthood lesson was #12 from "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson" entitled "Seek the Spirit in All You Do."

“We must remain open and sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost in all aspects of our lives.”

I read the following from the life of President Benson:

“After praying, interviewing, studying, and praying again, Elder Benson asked if I knew who the new president would be. I said I had not received that inspiration yet. He looked at me for a long time and replied he hadn’t either. However, we were inspired to ask three worthy priesthood holders to speak in the Saturday evening session of conference. Moments after the third speaker began, the Spirit prompted me that he should be the new stake president. I looked over at President Benson and saw tears streaming down his face. Revelation had been given to both of us--but only by continuing to seek our Heavenly Father’s will as we moved forward in faith.”

1. We should strive for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost all the days of our lives.

"Several years after Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young. Hear his message: 'Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it.'"

President Brigham Young (1801-1877)

Prophet Joseph Smith (1805-1844)

2. If we are humble and sensitive, the Lord will prompt us through our feelings.

3. We obtain the Spirit through sincere prayer and fasting.

"If you want to get the spirit of your office and calling … try fasting for a period. I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to give you the real spirit of your office and calling and permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know."

4. Daily scripture study, including meditation on passages of scripture, invites the Spirit.

"The following statement by President Spencer W. Kimball illustrates how we may develop more spirituality in our lives: 'I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel.'"

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985)

5. The Holy Ghost will abide with us as we honor, respect, and obey God’s laws.

"I do not believe that a member of the Church can have an active, vibrant testimony of the gospel without keeping the commandments. A testimony is to have current inspiration to know the work is true, not something we receive only once. The Holy Ghost abides with those who honor, respect, and obey God’s laws. And it is that Spirit which gives inspiration to the individual. Humbly I testify to the reality of this promise."

Back at home the family celebrated Father's Day with cards, gifts, and a drama videoed with Sean and the three boys. I got multiple greeting cards and gifts from Eileen, Colleen and family, and Heather and family. Colleen gave me a $30 gift card from Deseret Book, Heather gave me two nice shirts, and Eileen gave me a very nice new black temple bag.

Tanner, Spencer, Ben, and Ashton with my Father's Day card

One of my shirts for Father's Day

Then Sean and I sat down to a yummy Father's Day meal consisting of Spam that I had gotten and spareribs that Sean had asked for. Later my stomach protested a bit as it wasn't used to such fare. But I sure like Spam!

Heather called for Father's Day and we had a nice chat. Her husband Tom had a good Father's Day, too. His parents came down from New York to visit.

Eileen worked a lot with Colleen with on the Cubberley and Gelula family history.

I made my usual tossed salad for supper, although just for Eileen and Colleen this time.

I worked on a number of hints from Ancestry.com, but none yielded much information today.

I watched four Bible videos on lds.org about the Savior Jesus Christ. They were "Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes,"
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-032-sermon-on-the-mount-the-beatitudes?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&lang=eng
"Sermon on the Mount: The Higher Law,"
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-033-sermon-on-the-mount-the-higher-law?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&lang=eng
"Sermon on the Mount: The Lord's Prayer,"
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-034-sermon-on-the-mount-the-lords-prayer?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&lang=eng
and "Sermon on the Mount: Treasures in Heaven."
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-035-sermon-on-the-mount-treasures-in-heaven?category=bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ&lang=eng

I watched the short video "Preparation of Joseph F. Smith: True Blue, Through and Through." The link is:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-05-0603-preparation-of-joseph-f-smith-true-blue-through-and-through?lang=eng.

I emailed old friends Bruce Nuckols, Barbara Baker, Chris and Hilary Boyce, Duane and Ilene Waggoner, and Brenda Metallo. We knew Bruce and his first wife Nancy in Germany when we were all new LDS converts and then in North Carolina. We worked with Barbara closely on our mission on the British floor of the FHL. We were inquiring of Duane and Ilene about Duane's sister Dale Williams, who is blind due to diabetes, and of Chris and Hilary about Hilary's parents Ralph and Laurie Rudolph. We knew all of them back in Maryland. Brenda and her husband John are finishing their LDS CES mission in Fargo, North Dakota.

Brenda and John Metallo on the Itasca Bike Trail

I posted the following from President Joseph F. Smith’s book “Gospel Doctrine” on Facebook:

"One of the most important duties devolving upon the Latter-day Saints is the proper training and rearing of their children in the faith of the gospel. The gospel is the greatest thing in all the world. There is nothing to compare with it. The possessions of this earth are of no consequence when compared with the blessings of the gospel. Naked we came into the world, and naked we will go out of the world, so far as earthly things are concerned; for we must leave them behind; but the eternal possessions which are ours through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ do not perish—the ties that God has created between me and those whom he has given to me, and the divine authority which I enjoy through the holy Priesthood, these are mine throughout all eternity. No power but sin, the transgression of the laws of God, can take them from me. All these things are mine, even after I leave this probation." President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918)

President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918)

I began working on my 12 April blog entry. The first day included many pictures from our visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cade's Cove.

I finished chapter 16 of "Gospel Doctrine" President Joseph F. Smith entitled "Marriage, the Home and the Family."

I began and finished "A Fruitful Sunday A Short Story" and "The Edge A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie (1890-1976)

I read "We'll Ascend Together," Sister Linda K. Burton's talk from the Saturday morning session of general conference.

Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society General President

On Monday 22 June Eileen's blood sugar was 94, the lowest it has been since we began our diet on 2 March!

Midday Eileen, Colleen, and I went shopping at Walmart and Fry's. Our cashier said "yes" to my two Book of Mormon questions!

We came home and I finished working on Judy Lawrie's dad's ancestors, the Newman's and Tucker's. It was fun researching in England again!

Eileen made her dad's delicious tomato sauce. William, Erin, and Weston arrived and we enjoyed dinner together. The yummy sauce went well on the Italian sausages and we enjoyed burgers and a very nice fruit salad that Colleen made.

I gave William my laptop for him to install the solid state drive that I had ordered and sent to him.

I began and finished "The Girl in the Train A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Tuesday 23 June Eileen's blood sugar was the lowest again since our diet began. It was 91!

I went to the post office to mail a check to our bank by registered mail. Then I drove through the car wash right next door. After that I found Pineda's Barber Shop on East Ocotillo. Then I went to the Red Cross Bloodmobile in a bank parking lot to give blood. My blood pressure was 120/74. And finally I visited Safeway and Albertsons. Neither one had fruit-2-O or caffeine-free diet Mountain Dew but I got four diet Mountain Dew at 99 cents each at Safeway.

I was reading "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" by Henry Fielding, which I began on 20 April 2014, when I saw the phrase "It was almost eight of the clock before all matters could be got ready for his departure." I had never thought about what such a term as "eight o'clock" actually meant. Now I know!

We visited William and took him out for dinner at The Keg Steakhouse in Gilbert. It was very nice! During the day he had told me #1 that the solid state drive was defective and #2 that my laptop was messing up when he tried to bring it up as a Mac, even though Windows worked fine :(

We returned to William's and had fun with Weston! William used my Visa card to order a new solid state drive from Frys.com. He would return the defective one to the manufacturer and get a replacement which he could sell for me.

Eileen and Weston

I got an email from the Choice Privileges Visa Card Fraud Detection Unit inquiring about the charge at the Keg restaurant. I let them know that it was a legitimate charge.

Late in the evening I finished reading "The Murder at the Vicarage" by Agatha Christie which I had begun on 13 June. It is my first Miss Marple novel.

I finished reading "Fatherhood-Our Eternal Destiny," Brother Larry M. Gibson's talk from the priesthood session of general conference to Eileen as that is the lesson this coming Sunday here in Colleen's ward, even though we won't be here. I am trying to find out from the White's what their lessons will be on Sunday.

Larry M. Gibson

On Wednesday 24 June we were up early and met the Farr's in the Mesa Temple parking lot as they were walking from their home nearby. Bud's daughter Jackie met us in the chapel and the five of us went on the 10 am endowment session. There were 10 brethren and 12 sisters. Afterwards the four of us enjoyed lunch in the cafeteria. We gave Bud 10 more family file cards. Outside the temple we asked a sister approaching the temple to take a picture of the four of us with our Times-Courier. We said goodbye to the Farr's until we return in February.

Bud, Jan, Eileen, and Ben

William had me look up my order of the solid state drive on Eileen's laptop. It was on 8 May and I sent him the information.

Back at home I made a note of the 62 family file cards that I will leave with Colleen for her ward youth to do baptisms and confirmations on 11 July.

I got a voice mail from Frys.com and, after conferring with William, I cancelled the order as the manufacturer of the defective solid state drive was very responsive about replacing it.

I got an email from Deseret Book advertising Tad R. Callister's book "The Blueprint of Christ's Church" on sale for $9.99 as an e-book. I used my $30 gift card from Colleen for Father's Day to purchase it online.

Tad R. Callister

I read "Returning to Faith," Sister Rosemary M. Wixom's talk from the Sunday morning session of general conference.

Rosemary M. Wixom

I began and finished "The Actress A Short Story" and "Jane in Search of a Job A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Thursday 25 June I loaded nearly all of our clothing on the bar above the back seat of our car. I finished reading the May Ensign with the articles about the new Church leaders who were sustained during general conference.

We all drove to the Gilbert Temple where Colleen took pictures of Eileen and myself and the boys, too, with the Times-Courier. Then they went to Costco while I filled up at the nearby Fry's for $2.539. I got more fruit-2-O for me and some items for our trip. I met them at Costco and then we all headed home, but I stopped at Walmart for more wooden hangars.

Tanner, Ashton, Eileen, Ben, and Spencer

For supper I made a big salad and we enjoyed more Italian sausage and chicken breasts with Eileen's dad's tomato sauce. I also picked up three large pizzas at Papa John's as William, Erin, and Weston came for supper.

I began and finished "In a Glass Darkly A Short Story" and "In the Cool of the Evening A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

I finished reading "The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle" by Tobias Smollett which I began on 21 November 2013! It is the last of 37 books, some long and some short, that I began that day! It is the fourth of five books that I told Eileen I was reading about young men, the others being "The History of Pendennis" by William Makepeace Thackeray (which I had also begun on 21 November 2013), "The Ordeal of Richard Feverel" by George Meredith, "Paul Clifford" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, and "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" by Henry Fielding. I am still working on Tom Jones.

Tobias Smollett (1721-1771)

I read the Church News synopsis of "Why Marriage, Why Family" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference to Eileen. I had read it to her on 29 April and a review was needed as it is the "Teachings For Our Time" lesson in the White's ward's priesthood and Relief Society this coming Sunday.

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

On Friday 26 June we finished packing up the car and left Colleen's about 10:15 am. I filled up at exit 19 on I-10 in Quartzsite, AZ, for $2.799 as gas will be a lot higher in California.

The Supreme Court made us very happy yesterday by upholding Obamacare. Today they helped our country continue down the road towards being another Sodom and Gomorrah. How sad :(

We reached the Redlands Temple about 3:45. Since we were early we went to the nearby Cuca's Mexican Food & Cantina for an early supper. Our salads were very good but we had to hurry our meal which Eileen did not enjoy doing. Then back to the temple for the 5 pm endowment session.

Redlands California Temple

Cuca's Mexican Food & Cantina

The temple is a very beautiful small one and the spire is quite unique! The endowment session had closed captioning in a smaller size film on the wall next to the normal size film, then on the wall above the veil in the terrestrial room. There were 18 sisters and 21 brethren in the session.

Ben and Eileen with the Times-Courier

Redlands California Temple

We reached the Comfort Inn in Monterey Park, an hour west of the temple, about 8:30 pm. The room was okay but had some deficiencies which was sad for the price one pays in the L. A. area.

On Saturday 27 June we left the hotel at 7:45 am.

We enjoyed the endowment session in the Los Angeles Temple, a very large beautiful old temple. Being a temple built in 1956, the temple had us move through the creation room, the garden room, the telestial room, the terrestrial room, and the celestial room during the session. The latter is so large that it has three big chandeliers! There were 36 brethren and 55 sisters!

The Los Angeles California Temple

Ben and Eileen with the Times-Courier

After getting on I-5 we filled up for $3.579. Later in a town called Buttonwillow we filled up again for "only" $3.299. We got off later for a pit stop out in the middle of nowhere and they were charging $4.129!! Thank goodness we didn't need gas!

Much further up I-5 my check engine light and the VSC/TRAC/TRC indicator came on. This happened last January in Florida. At that time we disconnected the battery terminal for a few minutes and that reset the lights. William recommended we take it to an Auto Zone and do that again, also have them hook up the OBDII scanner which should read whatever code is making them come on. When we reached Gilroy on California 152, we went to an Auto Zone. We were told that in California an Auto Zone cannot check the codes due to a lawsuit by local auto mechanics claiming that it was taking away their business! The guy did disconnect the battery and reconnect it. The lights went off!!

We arrived at Allen and Lynda White's about 6:15 pm. We brought in the suitcases and some of our clothes. We saw our next palindrome of 106601.