On Sunday 16 August Eileen enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" and the Book of Mormon discussion on the book of 2 Nephi 17 on BYU-TV and we enjoyed attending our Ellijay Branch.
This blog entry is without pictures which I will add later.
Opening hymn was #232 "Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words" text by Joseph L. Townsend (1849-1842) and music by Ebenezer Beesley (1840-1906).
Sustained Charmet Chester as first counselor and Julie Cribb as second counselor in the Relief Society presidency.
Sacrament hymn was #178 "O Lord of Hosts" text by Andrew Dalrymple (b. 1817) and music by George Careless (1839-1932).
The first speaker was Cheryl Dawson. She spoke of our differences and that we should not judge one another. She cited several scriptures. She shared a story from President Joseph Fielding Smith about his horse Junie. "We need to appreciate and love people for themselves." According to Elder Neal A. Maxwell we are harsh judges of ourselves. She shared an article "I Never Met a Mess I Didn’t Like" by Sandra J. Naylor from the October 1990 Ensign. We aren't perfect and that's okay. She quoted from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf about expectations about ourselves that we cannot meet. Stop punishing ourselves! God notices our little successes even if we and those around us do not. Are we closer to Heavenly Father than we were last year? President Thomas S. Monson said that Heavenly Father loves each one of us. His love is always there for us. We cannot feel His love if we are judging those around us harshly.
Intermediate hymn #235 "Should You Feel Inclined to Censure" text by Anonymous ca. 1863 and music by Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876).
The concluding speaker was Cassie Kelly. Appreciation for a family in Utah getting to church on time with lots of kids now that she has two of her own. She introduced herself and her family. She used to live here before marrying Bo in Utah. We attended her reception while on our mission. She is so glad to be back in the Ellijay Branch which is so much larger now. She shared her testimony and her understanding of growing "line upon line, precept upon precept." Her love for Heavenly Father and the Restored Gospel. She has a knowledge that the Gospel is true. She is distracted now when taking the sacrament due to her two kids, not as she used to. She was asked to speak about taking the sacrament worthily. She spoke of why it took her so long to get baptized. She should prepare for partaking of the sacrament just as she prepared for baptism. She reviewed questions that would be asked prior to baptism. We should think of these things each week. D&C 20:37. Think in weeks to come how we are preparing for partaking of the sacrament. Grateful for the opportunity to speak today.
President Boland thanked the two great speakers and the two sisters sustained to the Relief Society callings today. The sisters really make this branch go! We are no longer a "geriatric branch." Spoke of car troubles and keeping the Sabbath day holy, that is, charging our batteries at church and all day. Isaiah 58:13-14. He bore his testimony of the Sabbath day and shared his testimony of the Church, the Savior, and living prophets. Keeping the Sabbath day holy is a sign between you and the Lord.
Closing hymn was #220 "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" text by Susan Evans McCloud (b. 1945) and music by K. Newell Dayley (b. 1939).
Gospel Doctrine with Darlene Burgess was lesson #31, "And So Were the Churches Established in the Faith” using Acts 15:36–18:22, 1 Thessalonians, and 2 Thessalonians.
The purpose of the lesson is to help class members learn from Paul’s teachings about how to share the gospel and how to live as saints.
Eileen gave the invocation.
As an Attention Activity, tell the following story:
While living with the Heywood family in Salt Lake City during the late 1800s, John Morgan dreamed one night that he was traveling down a road in Georgia. He recognized the road because he had used it often as a soldier in the United States Civil War. He came to a fork in the road and saw Brigham Young standing there. Although the right fork led to the next town, President Young told him to take the left fork.
Mr. Morgan, who was not a member of the Church at the time, told Sister Heywood about his dream and asked what she thought of it. She told him she believed he would join the Church and serve a mission in the southern states, and that one day he would find himself on the road he had seen in his dream. When that happened, he should remember Brigham Young’s counsel and take the left fork.
Many years later, after John Morgan had been baptized and called as a missionary to the southern states, he came to the fork in the road that he had seen in his dream. He remembered the counsel to take the left fork, so he did. An hour later, he found himself at the edge of Heywood Valley—a beautiful place with the same name as the family with whom he had been staying when he had the dream years earlier.
As he traveled throughout the valley preaching, he found that the people were well prepared to hear the gospel. After hearing him teach, several families mentioned that a stranger had come through the valley ten days before, asking permission to mark their Bibles. The stranger had told them that another messenger would come and explain the marked passages to them. John Morgan had explained these marked passages as he taught the gospel. During the following weeks, Elder Morgan taught and baptized all but three of the twenty-three families in the valley. (Bryant S. Hinckley, The Faith of Our Pioneer Fathers [1956]).
1. Paul, Silas, and Timothy preach throughout Macedonia and Greece.
2. Paul preaches on Mars’ Hill to the Athenian philosophers.
3. Paul writes letters of counsel to the Saints in Thessalonica.
Paul taught truths about the qualities that successful missionaries and compassionate Latter-day Saints should possess. Class members should seek to develop these qualities so they can help prepare themselves and others for the Lord’s Second Coming.
An Additional Teaching Idea was
"Teaching the gospel with the right attitude". Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:2–3 that the gospel should be taught with boldness and without deceit or trickery. Elder James E. Talmage added that we should boldly teach the truth without criticizing or attacking other people’s beliefs. When he was a student, Elder Talmage was once approached by a man offering to sell him an excellent oil lamp. Elder Talmage already had a lamp he felt was satisfactory, but he allowed the lamp seller to come up to his room to demonstrate.
“We entered my room, and I put a match to my well-trimmed lamp. My visitor was high in his praise. It was the best lamp of its kind, he said, and he had never seen a lamp in better trim. He turned the wick up and down, and pronounced the judgment perfect.
“‘Now,’ he said, ‘with your permission I’ll light my lamp,’ taking it from his satchel. … Its light made bright the remotest corner of my room. Its brilliant blaze made the flame in my lamp weak and pale. Until that moment of convincing demonstration I had never known the dim obscurity in which I had lived and labored, studied and struggled.”
Elder Talmage bought the new lamp, and he later suggested what we can learn from the lamp seller as we teach the gospel: “The man who would sell a lamp did not disparage mine. He placed his greater light alongside my feebler flame, and I hasted to obtain it.
“The missionary servants of the Church of Jesus Christ today are sent forth, not to assail nor ridicule the beliefs of men, but to set before the world a superior light, by which the smoky dimness of the flickering flames of man-made creeds shall be apparent. The work of the Church is constructive, not destructive” (in Albert L. Zobell Jr., Story Gems [1953]; see also The Parables of James E. Talmage, comp. Albert L. Zobell Jr. [1973]).
I gave the benediction.
The hymn in priesthood was #319 "Ye Elders of Israel" text by Cyrus H. Wheelock (1813-1894) and music by Thomas H. Bayly (1797-1839).
The priesthood lesson was #14 from "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson" entitled "Marriage and Family--Ordained of God." It was taught by Curtis Bond.
“The family is one of God’s greatest fortresses against the evils of our day. Help keep your family strong and close and worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings.”
We left church at 1:15 and headed north, filling up at Ingles in Blue Ridge for $2.089 with our 10 cent discount.
Our odometer reached the next palindrome of 113311 in the area of Asheville. We reached the Sleep Inn in Statesville about 6 pm. It is quite nice and less expensive than the Comfort Inns locally. We used our points for the accommodations.
I began studying "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" by Clayton M. Christensen. I had been reading it but it is so excellent that I feel the need to study it.
I finished reading chapter 20 of President Joseph F. Smith's "Gospel Doctrine" entitled "Missionaries".
On Monday 17 August we skipped breakfast at the hotel as their menu is limited, no hot items. We left about 8:15 am. We stopped at Cracker Barrel at 9 am for some breakfast, the 30th Cracker Barrel we've been to. We arrived at Heather's about 11:45 after getting gas at Costco for $2.179! Very low for N. C.
I mailed the check to the NFCU for our long-term care insurance payment.
I called DBW for Geoff. It took 19 minutes to get through. I texted Geoff that he needs to send me part VI covering warranty exclusions. It looks like I will pay for the repairs and then we can dispute the decision of DBW to their corporate office with copies of what repairs were performed.
I went to the shoemaker again to get two more new holes in my two older belts and also in my new belt that I got from William and Erin. Rather than get two new holes in the latter, I left the belt there for him to shorten the belt by two inches where it attaches to the buckle.
I finished reading "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" by Henry Fielding which I had begun on 4/20/2014. This was the last of five books about young men, the previous ones being "The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle" by Tobias Smollett, "The History of Pendennis" by William Makepeace Thackeray, "The Ordeal of Richard Feverel" by George Meredith, and "Paul Clifford" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton.
Heather and Tom put Liam to bed and went to a movie as we stayed home with Liam. He had sure enjoyed all of the dump trucks, cars, and fire trucks we brought with us from Georgia. Also the little Winnie the Pooh folding chair which is just his size. He is talking quite a bit now which began, Heather said, just after our visit in May. And, of course, one of the words he comes out with now is "why?".
I did our nighttime reading to Eileen early in the living room. As part of that I finished the talk from the April general conference priesthood session "On Being Genuine" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. That will be the priesthood/Relief Society lesson at home next Sunday.
I have begun working on my blog entries even though I don't have my laptop back from William yet. I worked on the 26 April entry.
On Tuesday 18 August we took Liam to his preschool Bright Horizons. He goes three days a week for six hours each day. Then we went by Whole Foods (also known as Whole Paycheck!).
I finished the text of my 26 April blog and just need to insert photos.
Geoff sent me part VI covering warranty exclusions. I will pay for the repairs and then we will definitely dispute the decision of DBW to their corporate office with copies of what repairs were performed and photos of his oil leak which was definitely not minor!
I began and finished "The Case of the Discontented Soldier A Parker Pyne Short Story" by Agatha Christie.
I spent some time on Heather's laptop paying bills, deleting emails, and sending emails.
After Eileen and Heather returned home from shopping and had picked up Liam, I went to Kroger looking for Walden Farms salad dressings. They directed me to a larger Kroger which I'll check out tomorrow. I picked up a prescription for Heather at Walgreens and went to Walmart to replenish all the Russell Stover sugar-free chocolates we were out of.
After supper when Liam was in bed, Tom and I gabbed about sports, that is, baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, and Nascar. They would like to come to Georgia for a visit and go to the Atlanta aquarium.
On Wednesday 19 August we took Liam to see Dr. Fennel at Sunrise Pediatric Associates as his cold and runny nose have persisted.
Then it was on to the Bra Patch for Eileen to look into getting some new bras. She got two and ordered a third.
After getting home I ran out to Harris-Teeter for some groceries for Heather and ourselves.
I read on lds.org about the scripture mastery app, downloaded it, and started moving my favorite scriptures into it, beginning with the Old Testament. The only negative is that it doesn't put them in the right order that they are in the Old Testament.
I ran out to the largest Kroger in town for Walden Farms products. They had lots of them but in a bizarre location, the aisle with sugar, spices, vinegar, etc. They had peanut spread, various mayos, marshmallow, caramel dip, pasta sauces, BBQ sauces, strawberry spread, pancake syrup, and numerous salad dressings. But still no Russian or Sweet Onion dressings. I got cole slaw dressing and original BBQ sauce.
Then I went to a Super Target. I was assured by their "guest" services person that according to target.com they did not carry Walden Farms products at all.
On Thursday 20 August Eileen was up earlier than I and she played with Liam. This takes place every morning. She checks her UP bracelet and her blood sugar before leaving our bedroom as do I when I get up. Our blood sugars are doing well and I expect our A1Cs to drop some more when we have our blood work done later this month. Before I leave our bedroom I read my news emails from the New York Times and Deseret News.
Heather took Liam to his preschool Bright Horizons and then later went to the dentist.
I sent 17 emails in reply to ones I had received after our visit to Utah. I also sent two more emails to friends with the former mission president's letter about our mission attached for a total of 31 couples and single sisters to whom I've sent it.
I went to Costco and just got a jar of unsalted mixed nuts, much to the surprise of the cashier!
Then to Walmart for sea scallops, a shrimp cocktail tray, and apples.
After supper Heather wanted to learn how to play Mexican Train, having heard us talk about it. So the three of us played as Tom would rather not. She won several hands before we quit to go to bed and I got socked with 152 points in one hand, the highest we've ever seen in one hand!
On Friday 21 August we took Liam to his preschool Bright Horizons. Upon our return home Heather and Eileen napped.
I went to Walmart for some supper items. Later Heather and Eileen went to pick up Liam.
Geoff's truck was finished at Tate Dodge in Glen Burnie and I made arrangements with Brian there to pay for it. We will fight with DBW for them to cover the repairs under the warranty.
I went over a list of 200 books that Colleen brought to my attention on Facebook. I have read or am reading 51 of them. Probably 20 others are downloaded on iBooks for me to read in the future.
I finished reading the 7 June issue of the Church News. I enjoyed reading several pages about Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who passed away on 30
May. I enjoyed reading of Elder Quentin L. Cook's visit to Australia and New Zealand, "'The Miracles of Christ' online exhibit," Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in New England; the new member of the Young Men general presidency, Douglas D. Holmes; the Arizona State Mother of the Year, Bette Doxey, who couldn't have children and was able with her husband Ronald to adopt a family of five children aged three to eight who had lost their parents; 'Covenants connect us to heaven', and "'Christ-sent' service" in Houston.
Eileen made delicious marinated flank steak in lettuce cups Korean-style for supper. It was excellent! Then I ran out to Whole Foods and Kroger for a few things, especially lavender essential oil for Liam's cold.
We finished playing Mexican Train and Heather continued to trounce us as she won four more hands for a total of eight out of 12. Eileen and I were pretty close tonight but thanks to yesterday she was way ahead of me though way behind Heather.
On Saturday 22 August Eileen was up and she played with Liam. Later I helped Heather in the backyard by pounding heavy-duty black plastic stakes into the ground by the two gates at opposite sides of the yard. These were to secure the black plastic strips that kept the pathway's pebbles from straying under the gates. The ground was so hard where one stake was to go that we had to soak the ground first.
I went to Harris-Teeter for some groceries in the afternoon and picked up a half pound of grilled vegetables in the Deli section for Eileen as she was hungry.
Liam woke up from his nap and I got him from his crib. He's getting heavy, 32 pounds!
He was still not feeling well, so Dr. Fennel said to bring Liam in. We got the following text from Heather: "Dr Fennell said ear actually looks better. No fever. Could just be tired or feeling poorly in general. No antibiotic needed. Suggested higher dose of Benadryl and change of allergy medicine."
We went to Joann Fabrics as Eileen had a 60% off coupon and she wanted a floor lamp for our front bedroom to better illuminate the area of her new sewing machine. We found a nice one for $180 that only cost us $72.
Then we went to Toys "R" Us to get some Thomas the Tank Engine friends for Liam. We got Caitlin, a fast streamlined engine designed for speed, and Bluff's Cove Lighthouse which has lights and fog horn!
I finished the text of my blog entries for 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, and 5/24 and I just need to insert photos. I will publish 4/26 through whatever I get done without the photos and add the photos later.
After hitting the hay I began and finished "The Cabman's Story" by Arthur Conan Doyle.
