Bailey's Blog

On Sunday 7 June we were up early and spent time with Colleen and the boys. I lost what weight I gained driving across country and was 199.5 this morning. We enjoyed attending the Ironwood Crossing 2nd Ward.

Opening hymn was #89 "The Lord Is My Light" text by James Nicholson (1828-1876) and music by John R. Sweney (1837-1899).

Sacrament hymn was #185 "Reverently and Meekly Now" text by Joseph L. Townsend (1849-1942) and music by Ebenezer Beesley (1840-1906).

Today was Fast Sunday and many members bore their testimonies, starting with Bishop BJ Riggs. The closing adult testimony was about being able to pay tithing by my son-in-law Sean Cubberley.

Closing hymn was #304 "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" text and music by Clara W. McMaster (1904-1997).

Gospel Doctrine was lesson #21, “What Is the Sign of Thy Coming?" using Joseph Smith - Matthew (Matthew 24).

The purpose of the lesson is to help class members recognize the signs that will precede the Savior’s Second Coming and to encourage members to prepare themselves for this great event.

A prediction specifies something that may happen, while a prophecy specifies something that will happen. A prediction about the weather may turn out to be wrong, but the prophecies about the Second Coming will all be fulfilled.

The Lord has revealed information to help us prepare for his Second Coming. In spite of the tribulations of the last days, we can look forward with joy to this great event.

1. Jesus foretells the impending destruction of Jerusalem.

Although many Jews did not believe their great city and temple could be destroyed, the Lord’s prophecies were fulfilled in A.D. 70. Believing that the Messiah would come and help them in battle, the Jews revolted against the Romans in A.D. 66. Four years later the Romans had destroyed the entire city. Those who listened to the Savior and fled into the mountains were spared. Those who did not heed this counsel were scattered and destroyed.

2. Jesus describes the signs that will precede his Second Coming.

Elder M. Russell Ballard gave the following counsel of hope and encouragement:

“Although the prophecies tell us that these things are to take place, more and more people are expressing great alarm at what appears to be an acceleration of worldwide calamity. … Admittedly we have ample reason to be deeply concerned because we see no immediate answers to the seemingly unsolvable problems confronting the human family. But regardless of this dark picture, which will ultimately get worse, we must never allow ourselves to give up hope! …

“… The Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful not to overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations; but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope!

“But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. … Armed with the shield of faith, we can overcome many of our daily challenges and overpower our greatest weaknesses and fears, knowing that if we do our best to keep the commandments of God, come what may, we will be all right” (in General Conference, Oct. 1992).

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

President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Holy men and holy women stand in holy places, and these holy places include our temples, our chapels, our homes, and the stakes of Zion, which are, as the Lord declares, ‘for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth’ (D&C 115:6)” (“Prepare Yourselves for the Great Day of the Lord,” Brigham Young University 1981 Fireside and Devotional Speeches).

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994)

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).

There were 13 high priests meeting in the bishop's office. The lesson consisted of discussing what the priesthood means to us. I thought about being able to participate in priesthood ordinances and callings. Some of the brethren shared about priesthood blessings. Another spoke of the brotherhood amongst priesthood holders.

Eileen enjoyed her Relief Society lesson about obeying the promptings from the Holy Ghost.

I liked very much a section of Elder John A. Widtsoe's "Evidences and Reconciliations" that I read today. It was entitled "Are We Progressing?" It refers to D&C 4. Elder Widtsoe states, "The primary principles of progress there given, which 'qualify a person for the work' are: 1. Faith; 2. Hope; 3. Charity; and 4. Love." Later he says, "These basic principles are in turn broken down into secondary propositions derived from the primary ones: 1. Virtue; 2. Knowledge; 3. Temperance; 4. Patience; 5. Brotherly Kindness; 6. Godliness; 7. Humility; 8. Diligence."

Elder John A. Widtsoe (1872-1952) of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

After supper I began and finished reading "The Listerdale Mystery A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie (1890-1976)

I finished reading the 21 December issue of the Church News. I especially enjoyed “Elder Cook visits Europe,”

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on the right

“Making spirits bright at the Los Angeles Temple Visitors’ Center,”

Los Angeles Temple

“A magical evening" about the Muppets and Santino Fontana with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for the Christmas concert,

“Happy Holidays, everyone! Sharing joy with homemade applesauce,” “Going to the Lord for answers is never risky,” and “What can I give Him?"

I posted the following on Facebook from Sister Carol F. McConkie’s article “What can I give Him?":

"To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor. It is total commitment of our very being—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—to a love of the Lord.

"The breadth, depth, and height of this love of God extend into every facet of one’s life. Our desires, be they spiritual or temporal, should be rooted in a love of the Lord. Our thoughts and affections should be centered on the Lord.” President Ezra Taft Benson

Sister Carol F. McConkie

And the following from Sister Linda S. Reeves’ article “Going to the Lord for answers is never risky”:

"Going to the Lord for our answers is never risky. As one wise mission president advised regarding the truth of the [Prophet Joseph Smith's] First Vision, 'If you want to know the truth, ask God. He knows; He was there!' “

Sister Linda S. Reeves

I indexed 10 Colorado World War II Draft Registration Cards.

I began and finished reading "The Face of Helen A Harley Quin Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Monday 8 June my blood sugar was in the low 70s for the second day in a row!

After breakfast I finished reading the next section, Section V, of Elder John A. Widtsoe's "Evidences and Reconciliations" which was "Science and Religious Questions."

Colleen, Ashton, and Eileen went to Ashton's reading lesson while Tanner and I played a game of "The Enchanted Forest." Tanner won, 3 treasures to 2.

I finished reading "Ten Years Later" by Alexandre Dumas Pere which I began on 18 January.

Alexandre Dumas Pere (1802-1870)

We all sang "happy birthday" to Geoff. Then Eileen and I visited William, Erin, and Weston in their new home. We had a very nice visit with our delightful youngest grandson!

Weston and Eileen

Weston

Weston sitting in his mommy's lap

Eileen and Weston

On Tuesday 9 June we celebrated the 53rd anniversary of the day we got engaged! I gave Eileen an anniversary card. I popped the question at the Lido Gardens Chinese restaurant in Perth Amboy which restaurant is no longer there.

I began and finished reading "The Four Suspects A Miss Marple Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

I researched hints on Ancestry.com for the Tilford family, who are related to my cousin Norris Darrell, and the Mott family, ancestor of my father's second wife Barbara Mott. Several Tilford's need their temple work done but the Mott's have been done.

After supper Colleen and her family dispersed to different locations for scout meetings and dates with Dad, Ashton to the police station, Spencer to church, and Tanner with Dad. Eileen and I enjoyed the peace and quiet at home.

Cub Scouts in front of the Gilbert Police SWAT vehicle.
Ashton is in the back row wearing his Cub Scout scarf.

I began and finished "Harlequin's Lane A Harley Quin Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Wednesday 10 June my weight dropped to 196.4, so I have lost 7.1 pounds here at Colleen's in 5 days and about 28 pounds since our current diet began on 2 March!

I finished reading "The Riddle of the Frozen Flame" by Mary E. and Thomas W. Hanshew which I began on 4 June. Hamilton Cleek does it again!

Early in the afternoon we visited the Apache Junction Public Library. I took lots of pictures outdoors of the flora. It was very noisy with some presentation for the kids about dinosaurs. Eileen, Spencer, and Colleen went to a quiet room in the children's area and I retreated to a very cushy, quiet room in another area.

Mexican Grass Tree

Golden Barrel Cactus

Ocotillo

Santa Rita Prickly Pear

Smooth Agave

Rattlesnake statue

Colleen, Spencer, and Eileen

The very cushy, quiet room

Then we visited Garner Orthodontics for Ashton and Sonics for some food for the boys.

Inside the orthodontist's office

Afterwards we visited Walmart, Deseret Book, and Costco.

I finished reading Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk, "The Sabbath Is a Delight" to Eileen from the Sunday afternoon session of general conference. It was the concluding talk of conference. We will begin the June Ensign tomorrow. On our own Eileen will read the talks by the sisters and I'll read some of talks by other general authorities.

Elder Russell M. Nelson

On Thursday 11 June I finished reading "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. An awesome book! I began reading it on 11 April 2014.

Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949)

We called Peggy Espersen to see how she is doing after her knee surgery which was performed on 26 May.

We could not find the Holy Ghost Stoplight bookmarks that Eileen had made for her baptismal talk. They must have been left in Georgia. So she found it online again and she saved it to my flash drive. We took it to Staples to have it printed (Colleen's printer only prints black and white), laminated, and cut, only to find out the the computer at Staples couldn't even "see" a Pages document on the flash drive! So we returned home and saved the file as a PDF file, e-mailing it to Staples and they contacted us when it was already.

We returned to Staples to pick up the bookmarks, then shopped a bit at Walmart, and went to the Queen Creek Olive Mill for some olive tapenade for Saturday.

Eileen inside Queen Creek Olive Mill

At home I organized our photos on Eileen's laptop in iPhoto as I had done on my laptop.

Colleen and the boys returned from their homeschool outing in northwest Phoenix about reptiles. Colleen had gotten her beekeeper outfit in the mail that looks like a spacesuit! She also got a wooden picture frame for Eileen to put her painting in for Lynda White.

Colleen in her beekeeper outfit

I drove to the post office and mailed Geoff's vehicle warranty to him which was sent to him at my address. Then I swung by Fry's to use Colleen's rain check for two rotisserie chickens. Our odometer displayed the next palindrome 105501.

The box of a dozen mangoes came from our son-in-law David in Florida. We had some for supper as well as tossed salad and rotisserie chicken.

I finished reading "Ride Proud, Rebel!" by Andre Norton that I began on 18 May. I had always thought Andre Norton was strictly a writer of science fiction but this book and the sequel "Rebel Spurs" were Civil War stories. And very good ones!

Andre Alice Norton (1912-2005)

It was interesting that in a chapter about slang in "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo (he does digress to an unbelievable degree!) he mentioned the use by clergy of the terms "gospel side" and "epistle side." Years ago when we were reading the Mitford books by Jan Karon she used those terms (her hero was Father Tim, an Episcopalian priest). That was before the ready use of googling a term on the Internet. Now we can readily research such terms.

The gospel side (in a church) is the north side of the altar, at which the Gospel is read. The epistle side is right side of the altar, at which the Epistle is read. It is assumed that the Gospel refers to the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament and the Epistle refers to the letters of Paul and others in the New Testament.

On Friday 12 June I read "Choose to Believe," Elder L. Whitney Clayton's talk from the Saturday morning session of general conference.

Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy

Eileen and I went shopping at Fry's for a big order with much of it for tomorrow after the baptism. I found a great number of Walden Farms items, even more than at Harris Teeter in Raleigh.

Later Eileen rode with Colleen to pick up an embroidered towel for Ashton.

I began and finished "The Fourth Man A Short Story" and "The Pearl of Price A Parker Pyne Short Story," both by Agatha Christie.

Eileen made a delicious steak salad for supper from a recipe she brought from Georgia. After supper I worked on the Littlefield family in my PAF database and in Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. I also worked on my 29 March blog entry.

As often happens, having made the new bookmarks at Staples for her baptismal talk tomorrow, Eileen found the ones she thought that she had brought from Georgia in her laptop bag!

I read "The Music of the Gospel," Elder Wilford W. Andersen's talk from the Saturday afternoon session of general conference.

Elder Wilford W. Andersen of the Seventy

On Saturday 13 June I read "Latter-day Saints Keep on Trying," Elder Dale G. Renlund's talk from the Saturday afternoon session of general conference. I especially liked the following: "If we don't try, we're just latter-day sinners; if we don't persevere, we're latter-day quitters; and if we don't allow others to try, we're just latter-day hypocrites. As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same, we are true Latter-day Saints."

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy

Eileen has now lost about 16 pounds and I've lost about 29 pounds. Her blood sugar was down to 102. So this low-carb diet continues to be very good. If I keep losing at this rate, I'll have to stop my diet at some point.

While reading "Les Miserables" this morning, I came across the following which could describe many Republicans: "A reason which fasts from science and wisdom grows thin.”

At 1 pm we headed for the Queen Creek North stake center for Ashton's and Todd Goit's (pronounced go-it) baptisms.