On Sunday 31 January Eileen enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" followed by "The Generations Project" as we got ready for church at the Ironwood 2nd Ward with the Cubberley's.
"The Generations Project" is a reality television series produced by and shown on BYU Television that helps those who have questions about their family history investigate their own identities by embarking on a journey to uncover the lives and stories of their ancestors. During this journey each participant attempts to retrace their ancestors footsteps often participating in immersion experiences, meeting experts, and even sometimes connecting with family they never knew they had. As each participant on the show sets out on their journey they discover new details about the lives of their ancestors, answer questions about identity, about time and place, and even discover things about themselves. Overall this journey helps participants learn where they have been and make their own conclusions about where they are going. Wikipedia
This blog entry is without pictures which I will add later.
Opening hymn was #128 "When Faith Endures" text by Naomi W. Randall (1908-2001) and music by Stephen M. Jones (b. 1960).
Sacrament hymn was #185 "Reverently and Meekly Now" text by Joseph L. Townsend (1849-1942) and music by Ebenezer Beesley (1840-1906).
The first speaker was a deacon John Erwin. He spoke on agency and accountability. Agency is the power to choose. Lucifer wanted to destroy the agency of man. Jesus Christ chose to be our Savior.
The second speaker was Bob Whaley. Apparently he was asked five months ago to be prepared to fill in when needed, so here he is today. He used the April 2015 general conference talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks on the parable of the sower. Increase our closeness to spiritual truth. "Another potential destroyer of spiritual roots--accelerated by current technology but not unique to it--is the keyhole view of the gospel or the Church." He quoted from President Gordon B. Hinckley. "To be securely rooted in the gospel, we must be moderate and measured in criticism and seek always for the broader view of the majestic work of God." "Those who believe in what has been called the theology of prosperity are suffering from the deceitfulness of riches. The possession of wealth or significant income is not a mark of heavenly favor, and their absence is not evidence of heavenly disfavor." "On one occasion Jesus rebuked His chief Apostle, saying to Peter, 'Thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of me.' Savoring the things of men means putting the cares of this world ahead of the things of God in our actions, our priorities, and our thinking." He concluded by speaking of marriage and the attributes of a successful one. He has been married almost 52 years.
Intermediate hymn was #274 "The Iron Rod" text by Joseph L. Townsend (1849-1942) and music by William Clayson (1840-1887).
The concluding speaker was Steve Watson, first counselor in the bishopric. He used the October 2015 general conference talk by Elder Robert D. Hales on "Meeting the Challenges of Today's World." "One of the purposes of the scriptures is to show us how righteous people respond to temptation and evil. In short, they avoid it!" "Prayerfully select mentors who have your spiritual well-being at heart. Be careful about taking advice from your peers. If you want more than you now have, reach up, not across!" "In the Church, when important decisions must be made, we often hold council meetings. Family councils serve a similar purpose. You may want to conduct what I’ll call a 'personal council'." "Begin exercising your faith in every area of your life. If you don’t, you will suffer what I would call 'faith atrophy.' The very strength needed to exercise your faith will be diminished. So exercise your faith every day, and you will 'wax stronger and stronger … and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ.'" Alma 34:30-32.
Closing hymn was #240 "Know This, That Every Soul is Free" text by Anon., ca. 1805, Boston and music by Roger L. Miller (b. 1937). Included in the first LDS hymnbook.
Gospel Doctrine with Brian Judy was lesson #5 ”Hearken to the Truth, and Give Heed unto It” using 1 Nephi 16–22.
The purpose of the lesson was to inspire class members to follow Nephi’s example of faith and willing obedience.
1. The Lord guides the families of Lehi and Ishmael according to their faith and diligence.
President Spencer W. Kimball said:
“The Lord gave to … every person, a conscience which tells him everytime he starts to go on the wrong path. He is always told if he is listening; but people can, of course, become so used to hearing the messages that they ignore them until finally they do not register anymore.
“You must realize that you have something like the compass, like the Liahona, in your own system. Every child is given it. … If he ignores the Liahona that he has in his own makeup, he eventually may not have it whispering to him. … Our ship will not get on the wrong course … if we listen to the dictates of our own Liahona, which we call the conscience” (in General Conference, Oct. 1976).
2. Nephi demonstrates unwavering faith by fulfilling the Lord’s command to build a ship.
Elder L. Tom Perry said: “This is one of the more interesting stories we have in the scriptures because it tells of an instance in which the Lord provided help but then stepped aside to allow one of His sons to exercise his own initiative. I have sometimes wondered what would have happened if Nephi had asked the Lord for tools instead of a place to find the ore to make the tools. I doubt the Lord would have honored Nephi’s request. You see, the Lord knew that Nephi could make the tools, and it is seldom the Lord will do something for us that we can do for ourselves” (in General Conference, Oct. 1991).
Elder Boyd K. Packer taught: “The Holy Ghost communicates with the spirit through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings, through impressions and promptings. It is not always easy to describe inspiration. The scriptures teach us that we may ‘feel’ the words of spiritual communication more than hear them, and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes (see 1 Nephi 17:45)” (in General Conference, Oct. 1989).
3. Laman and Lemuel bind Nephi, who shows courage and gratitude despite this trial. After they free him, he guides the ship to the promised land.
The last words written by Nephi in the Book of Mormon are a fitting description of his true character: “The Lord commanded me, and I must obey” (2 Nephi 33:15). Elder Heber J. Grant stated:
“No obstacles are insurmountable when God commands and we obey” (in General Conference, Oct. 1899).
The last hour was a combined priesthood/Relief Society meeting as it was the 5th Sunday.
The topic was self-reliance and food storage that one of the sisters (Sister Godfrey) presented. Skills and resources. Elder Vaughan J. Featherstone in April 1976 on food storage.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1976/04/food-storage?lang=eng
http://www.familyehealth.com/food-storage-water-storage-by-vaughn-j-featherstone/
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1976/04/the-church-and-the-family-in-welfare-services?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1982/10/the-celestial-nature-of-self-reliance?lang=eng
I commented during the class about the fact that canned goods in our food storage are perfectly good after the date on the can.
We had a late supper of salad and cheese. Sean is not feeling well and was in bed, having left church early. Later in the evening Spencer read his sacrament meeting talk to us that he gave last Sunday.
I worked some more on the photos for my 12 July blog. Eileen and I researched the welfare services meeting from the April 1975 general conference as President Marion G. Romney was quoted by Elder Vaughan J. Featherstone and others but to no avail.
I republished the 12 July blog and began working on 19 July. I forgot to bring my external hard drive that has my iPhoto on it but I can still do a lot of pictures that I can get off the Internet.
On Monday 1 February we found the shoemaker for Eileen at Best Shoe Repair & Alterations in Gilbert. We filled up our gas at Fry's in Gilbert for $1.659. Then we dropped off the table runner that Eileen had made at William and Erin's. Eileen and Erin texted each other about it.
From there we went to Walmart at S. Signal Butte Rd., primarily because we knew that they had the Russell Stover sugar-free chocolate-covered peanuts for Eileen. We were back at Colleen's a little before 1 pm.
I finished the 19 July blog and republished it. Since I don’t have my external hard drive that has my iPhoto on it, I used a lot of pictures from the Internet.
After supper Colleen and the boys had Family Home Evening. At the end we each bore our testimony.
I finished reading the 29 November issue of the Church News. I enjoyed a great deal in this issue. I always start an issue with the back page, reading at this time a Family History Moment entitled "Miracles happen" and the Church News Viewpoint entitled "Temple blessings." Turning to the front page, I read "Women leaders visit Asia"; 'This magnificent nation' and 'This historic day in Canada,' both about the Montreal Quebec Temple Rededication; "Elder Ballard visits with refugees"; "Pioneering members of Washington DC Stake honored"; 'A light on Capitol Hill'; "Diverse Norman Rockwell exhibition opens at BYU Museum of Art"; and 'Is it I?' by Brother Tad R. Callister, Sunday School general president.
I did the 12 E’s, 4 F’s, 3 G’s, 16 H’s, 2 I’s, and 6 K's in Derbyshire. Now Eileen and I have both finished A-K in our two counties.
I watched the nine minute video on YouTube of "Star Trek New Voyages Phase 2: Going Boldly" produced by the Star Trek fans in upstate New York. This is apparently Vignette 3. Then I watched the five minute video "Center Seat" which is Vignette 1 and the nine minute video "No Win Scenario" which is Vignette 2.
Star Trek New Voyages and its founder, James Cawley – from its origins and illustrious pedigree of Star Trek alumni, to the future of the production and its studios in Ticonderoga, NY, was written up in the New York Times.
On Tuesday 2 February I took our car to Earnhardt Toyota for an oil change. They checked many things on the car as part of the service and washed the car besides. Then I picked up some things at Walmart on the way home.
Eileen did 23 L's, 16 M's, 13 N's, 12 O's, 12 P's, 3 Q's, and 10 R's in Gloucestershire.
I worked on the Trembath family in FamilyTree and my PAF database.
Later I did the 7 L's and 17 M's in Derbyshire.
On Wednesday 3 February I called Toyota Customer Service to look into getting assistance with the cost of the oil control valve replacement in our Avalon. William had provided us the Technical Service Bulletin about the problem but the warranty only covered it up to 60,000 miles or
I added the "Guide to" paragraph to Pentrich and did the 6 N's, 4 O's, 6 P's, 1 Q, and 8 R's in Derbyshire.
I called about the Carnival cruise certificate that we got last fall to see about Megan using it. Last fall I was told that she could and when she called after I mailed it to her, she was told she couldn't! David mailed it back to me. I texted him the results of my phone call for her to try again.
Eileen and I visited the Queen Creek Olive Mill and then Winco in Gilbert followed by Costco right across the street and two different Fry's on the way back to Colleen's.
After supper I worked on the Trembath family in FamilyTree and my PAF database.
On Thursday 4 February Eileen worked on the Poor Law Unions in Gloucestershire and I finished working on the Trembath family in FamilyTree and my PAF database.
Our stake clerk called Eileen with a question about our mission paperwork. That means it hasn't gone in to Church HQ yet!!
I paid our tithing online at lds.org for the first time.
Eileen did 39 S's, 20 T's, 6 U's, 34 W's, and 2 Y's, finishing Gloucestershire. I added the "Guide to" paragraph to Sandiacre and did 32 S's, 11 T's, 14 W's, and 2 Y's, finishing Derbyshire.
I finished reading "Strengthened by the Storm The Coming of the Mormons to Harkers Island, North Carolina 1897-1909" by Joel G. Hancock, M. A., which I begun on 15 January.
We picked up Eileen's black shoes at the shoemaker in Gilbert and then visited William and Erin's. We enjoyed dinner with William, Erin, and Weston at Ruby Tuesday. On the way back to Colleen's our odometer reached 127000.
Prior to bedtime I finished reading the 6 December issue of the Church News. I enjoyed the First Presidency Christmas message (the link is http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865642946/First-Presidency-Christmas-message.html?pg=all), 'Give thanks in all things' with Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "'We can find peace' Elder Holland visits the Middle East," 'Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ' with Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "The Church in India and Pakistan" with Elder Ronald A. Rasband (he organized the second stake in India in Bangalore), "50 years of Lights on Temple Square", "Mesa temple lights a tradition," "More than 71,000 visit Tijuana Mexico Temple open house," "An unexpected opportunity" a Christmas memory by Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the Seventy, and "Christmas folders" a Christmas memory by Brother Devin Durrant of the Sunday School general presidency.
On Friday 5 February we enjoyed lunch with Colleen at Texas Roadhouse in Gilbert. Sean had the boys for the day including the latest Kung Fu Panda movie in the evening.
Then Eileen and Colleen visited Michael's arts and crafts store nearby. They shopped at Costco, and I joined them at Walmart (we were delighted to find several Walden Farm salad dressings there) and the Fry's near Colleen's. Then we enjoyed some dessert at the Dailey Yogurt-N-More store by Fry's. Eileen and I both liked the no-sugar-added cheesecake and yellow cake batter flavors (I put a dab of chocolate on top of mine and a cherry on top of both of ours).
On Saturday 6 February we went with Colleen and the boys to Spencer's gymnastics class and to the Deseret Bookstore near the Gilbert Temple. Colleen bought a set of scriptures for Tanner's baptism and we bought him a carrying case for them.
Eileen and I watched the Family Discovery Day sessions on lds.org beginning with “RootsTech Family Discovery Day Opening Session” by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Ruth L. Renlund, and daughter, Ashley Renlund, from 1-1:45 p.m.
Elder Renlund shared a story about his grandmother’s course through life, illustrating the power of combining family history with the blessings of LDS temple attendance.
“It is not just randomly mixing two things together, but the one helps direct the other,” he said
Elder Renlund was joined on stage during the opening session of the 2016 RootsTech Family Discovery Day by his wife, Ruth Lybbert Renlund, and their daughter, Ashley R. Renlund. Together the family looked through a photo album and invited the thousands in attendance to join them on a family history journey.
Elder Renlund said that in 1912 missionaries from Sweden went to Larsmo, a small island off the coast of Sweden, and taught his grandparents, Lena Sofia and Leander. His grandparents were baptized the next day, becoming members of the first branch of the church in Finland. “At the time, there were only 756 missionaries in the whole world,” Elder Renlund said.
In 1917, Leander died of tuberculosis, when Sofia was pregnant with their 10th child. "It was a difficult struggle for her, an impoverished peasant woman, to keep what remained of her family intact," Elder Renlund said.
He described meeting her in 1963 on the island of Larsmo: “I had just turned 11 and she was 87. She was stooped from a lifetime of hard labor. She was so bowed over that when she stood from her chair, her height did not change. The skin of her face and hands was weather-beaten, as tough and textured as worn leather. She stood as best she could and pointed to a photo of Leander on the wall and said to me, in Swedish, ‘Det här är min gubbe’ — this is my hubby.”
Thinking that his grandmother had spoken incorrectly, Elder Renlund wondered why his grandmother used the present tense when speaking about her husband, who had died 46 years earlier. Later in life, with a gospel perspective, it made sense. “I believe there are so many messages the Lord has given to us about working with our family history, and throughout my life I have been able to learn and connect to the example of my family.”
Ashley Renlund spoke about her Aunt Anita, "an explosives expert, a fabulous teacher and our family's real rocket scientist," and then explained how the history of explosives reminded her of how Latter-day Saints can combine gospel elements together to make them stronger. She said nitroglycerin was a powerful explosive but extremely unstable. However, when combined with kieselguhr, a stabilizer, it became dynamite, a tool that literally changed the world. “Dynamite wasn’t the discovery of a new material, but it involved putting two known materials together to make them safer, more effective and more useful.”
Analyzing what his daughter had explained, and then relating it to the gospel, Elder Renlund said, “Think about the strength and comfort Lena Sofia must have gained from knowing about the sealing power! But the power is given direction as we research and learn from our ancestors.”
His daughter confirmed by saying, “Without family history, the sealing authority can’t get where it needs to be to be used. And the true value of family history is only realized because of the sealing authority. The real power is in the combination.”
That was followed by “Family History Discussion” by Sheri L. Dew, CEO of Desert Book, and Sister Wendy W. Nelson, wife of President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, at 2-2:45 p.m.
“Dearest” friends — Sister Nelson and Sister Dew — offered themselves as exhibit A and exhibit B in regards to family history work during their session.
Sister Nelson, as exhibit A, is an avid, enthusiastic family history researcher who has found and submitted more than 10,000 family names. Sister Dew, as exhibit B, confessed, “When it comes to family history research, I’ve been a slacker.”
After relating the process by which she gained a love for family history work, Sister Nelson shared lessons she has learned from engaging in family history, including, “Family history research is fun!”
She promised listeners, “Family history work will bring miracles to your life and to the lives of those you love.”
Sister Dew, before thousands of witnesses in attendance at the discussion, accepted the challenge extended by Elder Dale G. Renlund earlier in the day to find as many names for the temple as ordinances performed in the temple.
“There may be some of you who are slackers, too,” she said. “And not because you’re not deeply committed to the Lord, but just because you haven’t figured out how to make it fit, like I haven’t. So my question today is, Will you join me? Will you accept Elder Renlund’s challenge to find as many names as ordinances you perform?”
"RootsTech Family Discovery Day Family Session” by Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary general president, and Brother Stephen W. Owen, Young Men general president, at 3:15-3:45 p.m.
Brother Owen declared that relationships are important in God’s plan.
“There’s no age requirement to be touched by the Spirit of Elijah,” he said. “Any individual who shows even the smallest interest in family history work can open the door to blessings.”
Every person, regardless of their current family circumstances, can begin working on "the things that last," he said.
"Each can find comfort in the relationships we've developed and in the knowledge that those relationships are forever and transcend death. … I recognize that not everyone has had the opportunity to nurture and develop family relationships, but don't be discouraged," he said. "Stronger relationships can begin with you, right now, where you are. Through all kinds of family history and temple work, you can increase in love and help your family heal going in both directions, toward your ancestors and toward your posterity."
Sister Wixom said it is important to learn the stories and draw strength from the lives of one's ancestors.
“How do we make our ancestors real?" she asked. "We tell their stories. Too much courage, faith and real-life challenges have gone into their lives for us to let their examples dissolve like faded ink on paper.”
“RootsTech Family Discovery Day Youth and Family Session” by football players Taysom Hill and Britain Covey at 4:15-4:45 p.m.
Two prominent players from Utah’s rival college teams shared the stage during this session. Taysom Hill, who played quarterback for Brigham Young University, and Britain Covey, wide receiver at the University of Utah, shared memories and personal experiences regarding their faith and membership in the Church. Rob Boshard, known as “Rockin’ Rob” on local radio station Oldies 94.1, acted as emcee to the special session of the family history conference that was geared toward youth and families.
Both Hill and Covey answered questions regarding opportunities to share their faith with teammates. They also highlighted Covey’s recent call to serve a mission in the Chile Rancagua Mission and Hill’s marriage to his wife, Emily, in the Salt Lake Temple.
I finished reading "Elephants Can Remember" by Agatha Christie that I began yesterday. Excellent Poirot as usual.
I spent a lot of time researching the Mott family on ancestry.com. My dad's second wife was Barbara Mott. I had decided that I would again start researching families I had researched years ago as so much more is available online now.
