On Sunday 13 December Eileen enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" followed by the Book of Mormon discussion about 3 Nephi 4-9 as we got ready for church.

This blog entry is without pictures which I will add later.

The letter from the First Presidency about humanitarian aid due to the refugee crisis was read.

Opening hymn was #211 "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" text by Nahum Tate (1652-1715) and music from a Yorkshire carol, ca. 1800.

Released Ross Penrod from the stake high council.

Sustained Aaron Driscoll from Canton Ward to the stake high council.

Kira Green was confirmed a member of the Church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost from Jay Hanks.

Sacrament hymn was #171 "With Humble Heart" text by Zara Sabin (1892-1980) and music by Thomas L. Durham (b. 1950).

First speaker was a young man Christoph Schulzke who recently returned from his mission to Idaho.  He spoke on preparing for things in life.  His rugby team in Marietta prepared for their games and reaching the championships.  Preparing spiritually and quoted from D&C 84:80, 85.  

Second speaker was Sister Lisa Cordner from the Woodstock Ward.  She spoke of focusing on the commandments.  3 Nephi 14.  Spoke of asking in prayer and either not getting an answer that you like or as soon as you like.  "We want to be long-suffering but don't want it to be long and we don't want to suffer" (Elder Holland on Friday night).  Ether 1.  Mark 6:50.  Isaiah 52:12.  Spoke of the word "rearward."  She bore her testimony.  Ask in faith.  He will bless us.

Intermediate hymn was #209 "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" text by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and music by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847).

Concluding speaker was Brother Clark Cordner from the stake high council.  He spoke of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Understanding the Creation, Fall, and Atonement through the restoration of the Gospel.  Books of Abraham and Moses.  Adam and Eve taught their children about Heavenly Father.  Explained their obedience to Him and why they sacrificed.  Angel explained to them why sacrifice was commanded.  Peace in the temple and extra strength from going there (President Monson in April general conference).  Quoted Moses 1:39.  Eternal life is Father's kind of life.  Jesus is the bread of life.  We are clothed with priesthood power.  We have peace and strength by attending the temple, our miniature Garden of Eden.  Power, peace, and light from the temple.  Exaltation and the power of godliness.

Closing hymn was #204 "Silent Night" text by Joseph Mohr (1792-1848) trans. by John F. Young (1820-1885) and music by Franz Gruber (1787-1863).

Gospel Doctrine with Harry Spooner was lesson #46 “He Will Dwell with Them, and They Shall Be His People” using Revelation 5-6 and 19-22.

The purpose of the lesson was to  encourage class members to face the future with hope because they know that the forces of evil will be overcome and the Savior will reign in triumph.

1. Satan fights against the righteous. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated: 

“That war, so bitter, so intense, has gone on, and it has never ceased. It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him. His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict. They’ve indulged in lying and deceit. They’ve employed money and wealth. They’ve tricked the minds of men. They’ve murdered and destroyed and engaged in every other unholy and impure practice to thwart the work of Christ. … 

“[Opposition] has been felt in the undying efforts of many, both within and without the Church, to destroy faith, to belittle, to demean, to bear false witness, to tempt and allure and induce our people to practices inconsistent with the teachings and standards of this work of God. … 

“The war goes on. It is waged across the world over the issues of agency and compulsion. It is waged by an army of missionaries over the issues of truth and error. It is waged in our own lives, day in and day out, in our homes, in our work, in our school associations; it is waged over questions of love and respect, of loyalty and fidelity, of obedience and integrity. We are all involved in it."

President Hinckley added, “We are winning [the war against Satan], and the future never looked brighter” (in General Conference, Oct. 1986).

2. Satan will be bound, and Christ will reign in triumph during the Millennium.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “The elders of Israel are now issuing the invitations to the marriage supper of the Lord; those who believe and obey the gospel thereby accept the invitation and shall sit in due course … at the marriage feast” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73]).

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?” (“In His Steps,” Ensign, Sept. 1988),

3. After the last judgment, the righteous will dwell with God.

President David O. McKay told of a vision in which he saw a beautiful city, many people dressed in white, and the Savior: 

“The city, I understood, was [the Savior’s]. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness. 

“But who were they? 

“As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words: These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born Again!” (Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss [1976]).

The New Testament ends with a message of great hope. Prophets like John the Revelator have seen the things that are to come and have told us of the blessings we will receive if we remain righteous and endure to the end. The righteous will triumph at the end of the world. Class members should take courage and hope from this knowledge as they stand against wickedness and seek to overcome the obstacles of this life. 

The hymn in priesthood was #215 "Ring Out, Wild Bells" text by Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) and music by Crawford Gates (b. 1921).

The priesthood lesson was Teachings of the Presidents of the Church - President Ezra Taft Benson lesson #23 “Strengthen Thy Stakes” which was"taught" by Curtis Bond.

“The stakes and districts of Zion are symbolic of the holy places spoken of by the Lord where His Saints are to gather in the last days as a refuge from the storm.”

Eileen said that Nell Huston taught the lesson in Relief Society and did an excellent job as usual.

We had to stop at Walmart for some gas and we got five gallons at $1.849.

At home I posted the following to Facebook:

“True happiness comes only by making others happy — the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service. It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means — good will toward all men.” President David O. McKay (1873-1970)

I checked all the family file cards that the Farr's have to see what they've done and how many they still have.

After supper Eileen did the 25 L’s, 24 M's, 24 N's, 10 O’s, and 21 of 22 P’s as the page for Podymore is not developed yet in Somerset.

In the evening Eileen watched a program on ABC about the making of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." She then watched the Book of Mormon discussion about 3 Nephi 10-11 on her laptop.

Ben did 21 M’s, 14 N’s, 9 O’s, and 10 of 11 P's in Wiltshire.  Pewsham has no infobox.

Brother Marvin Knight had asked me after sacrament meeting today to be part of the Christmas program next Sunday.  He called this evening and asked Eileen, too.  He gave us the scriptures he would like us to read.

When we hit the hay I finished the talk from the Saturday evening priesthood session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf entitled "Be Not Afraid, Only Believe."

On Monday 14 December I began and finished reading "The Call of Wings A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

We enjoyed lunch with Ralph and Holly at Fatz in Jasper.

Back in Ellijay we shopped at Walmart and Ingles.

Later we drove to Blue Ridge to help Darlene Burgess prepare for her move on Saturday.  We moved a lot of stuff in both cars to her new place F1 on Ouida St.  There is lots more to do and we plan on going there more this week.

We went to Ingles and got two items to put our points over 200.  We got 15 cents per gallon, so we paid $1.629!  That was due to the 310 November points.  We also got lots of boxes for Darlene tomorrow.

After supper I indexed 10 records from U. S., Maryland - World War II Draft Registrations, 1940-1945.

Eileen enjoyed watching "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" on the Travel Channel in China.

I finished reading "Rough Beasts of Empire" (the third Star Trek Typhon Pact novel) by David R. George III which I started three days ago.

When we hit the hay I finished the talk from the Saturday evening priesthood session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by President Henry B. Eyring entitled "You Are Not Alone in the Work."

On Tuesday 15 December the grader came by to grade our road.  When I went outside to put the Christmas card in the mailbox for our mail carrier, I saw two guys from the county in a pickup and learned from them that they had only been told about grading the road.  I showed them where the ditch needed to be dug out, which they didn't know about!  So they had the grader take care of that with his blade.  Much better now!

I chatted with the mail carrier Edith Deboard and learned that Donna is her assistant now.  We gave Edith $20 in a Christmas card.

The fellow from Arrow Exterminators came by about 12:15 to begin sealing the roof to keep out the flying squirrels.  I even heard them last night in the attic.  After the sealing is done, traps will be set in the attic for 2-3 weeks to catch any that are trapped inside.

Later in the afternoon we went to Ingles and got more boxes.  Then we drove to Blue Ridge to help Darlene Burgess again.  Teri Grace and her husband were there helping, too.

Back home for a late supper I grilled burgers on the back porch.

After supper I finished the 27 September issue of the Church News.  I enjoyed reading about Elder Richard G. Scott who passed away on 22 September at age 86.  The articles were "Scientist forsook career" and "Family tragedy."  Other articles were "Sons of Mexico," the dedication of the Priesthood Restoration Site by President Russell M. Nelson on 19 September, "General conference can be 'a delight'", "Joseph Smith Miracle Scholarship," "'The Power Is in Them'", and "'Home again'" by Sister Neill F. Marriott of the Young Women general presidency.  Two new stakes were created in Africa, one from a district in Liberia, and one in Costa Rica.

Eileen enjoyed the movie "Dear Santa."  It is a 2011 American romantic drama film starring Amy Acker, David Haydn-Jones, and Emma Duke. The film is about a young woman struggling to get serious about her life who finds a letter to Santa from a seven-year-old girl asking for a new wife for her widowed father and decides to bring happiness to their lives. 

I brought up three large Christmas plastic boxes and Eileen put lots of Christmas items out by the TV, on the counter between the kitchen and living room, and on the credenza in the dining room.

I began working on our Christmas cards by printing about 20 copies of our Christmas letter.

We packed up the packing materials and little individual boxes back into the large plastic boxes and I took three of the four back down into the basement.  I brought up lots more Christmas stuff for Eileen to look at tomorrow.

On Wednesday 16 December we volunteered at the food pantry and more than 150 families were helped.

We stopped into R&A Orchards afterwards to get the Times-Courier.

Kelly Johnson returned our call and we made a home teaching appointment for tomorrow evening.

We left home and dropped off recyclables and garbage at the dump.  Then we visited Dr. Raisig to check into our bloodwork from last week.  Eileen's blood pressure was up at 140/82 (she is upset with William-Sonoma) and mine was 140/78.  Both are higher than they have been recently.  Our bloodwork results were good!

After supper we picked up two prescriptions for Eileen at Rite-Aid and covered the Family History Center at church from 6:10-8:10 pm.  Eileen did 2 Q's, 10 R’s and 15 of the S’s in Somerset.  Ben did 6 R’s and 40 of 41 S's.  Swindon New Town in Wiltshire has no infobox.

I had brought up lots more Christmas stuff from the basement and Eileen has been arranging them all over.

She enjoyed watching the movie "Becoming Santa."

I finished reading "Star Trek Voyager The Escape" by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch which I began yesterday.  It is an oldie written 20 years ago!

On Thursday 17 December we headed south for our dental appointments in Free Home (near Cumming).  On the way we stopped in Jasper at Connect Hearing to have a bit of maintenance done on my hearing aids.

On the way home we stopped at Walmart and Ingles.  We mailed a Christmas ornament to William and Erin at the post office.  Then we drove to Darlene's to help her some more in preparation for her move on Saturday.

After supper we visited Kelly Johnson as her home/visiting teachers and it was the first time we visited her at night.  On the way home Eileen called Peggy Espersen and checked into how she is doing.

At home I brought up four more large plastic boxes and Eileen began decorating the Christmas tree.  We watched the last portion of the 1994 remake of "Miracle on 34th Street."

When we hit the hay I finished the talk from the Saturday evening priesthood session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by President Thomas S. Monson entitled "Keep the Commandments."

On Friday 18 December I dropped Eileen off bright and early at Barbara's for her hair appointment and I went to Tractor Supply for more corn cobs for the squirrels.  Then I went to the barber shop for my haircut.  I think everyone there has gotten a Book of Mormon from me.

At home Eileen continued decorating the Christmas tree and I did about 20-some Christmas cards which the mail person picked up.  We delivered the candy sleighs with Christmas card to our neighbors DJ, Roy and Debbie, and Judy, and headed for Blue Ridge to go to lunch with Ralph and Holly.

We enjoyed Dan's Grill Cuban Cuisine in Blairsville.  Then we visited with Ralph and Holly at their home for a while.  We shopped at Ingles and filled up for $1.659.

At home we enjoyed turning on the fireplace for the first time with temperatures outside in the 30's.

I spoke to Sabrina Bayless and made a home teaching appointment for Monday.

We watched "Frosty the Snowman" with Jimmy Durante.

I finished reading "The Prairie" by James Fenimore Cooper which I began on 31 July.

On Saturday 19 December I was up early and drove to Blue Ridge to assist with Darlene's move.  There were many there to help.

Then I drove Eileen to the Quilt Shop in Jasper as she had some questions about the quilt she is working on.

Back in Ellijay we stopped at Ingles and then bought tickets for the Star Wars movie "The Force Awakens" 7 pm showing.  We enjoyed the movie although I could not hear much of the dialogue and the music was too loud for Eileen (she plugged her ears much of the time).