On Sunday 2 August we enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" emanating from the iMac in our office and Eileen the Book of Mormon discussion of 2 Nephi 3-4 on BYU-TV.  We enjoyed attending our Ellijay Branch.

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

Opening hymn was #139 "In Fasting We Approach Thee" text by Paul L. Anderson (b. 1946) and music by Clay Christensen (b. 1949).

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

Today was Fast Sunday and many branch members bore their testimonies.

Craig Chester began with his testimony as he was conducting the meeting today.  He spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement and not justifying your wayward behavior.

David Echard spoke of their move to Sugar Hill after living here for eight years.  He bore his testimony of the Restored Gospel, of the Book of Mormon, and of the Holy Priesthood.

A young woman named Abby bore her testimony.

A young woman named Kate, who is visiting, bore her testimony.

Don Bivens bore his testimony of the Savior and the Restored Church.

A young man, who is visiting, bore his testimony.

Elder Rumsey told of his testimony being strengthened by ours.  He spoke of the Savior's love for us, sometimes in spite of the things we do.  He did His Father's will, as we should also.  Sharing our testimony strengthens it.

Another young man bore his testimony.

Charmet Chester spoke on the power of personal progress in Young Women.  Of keeping a journal.

Jay Hanks spoke of the family visiting them and the young people sharing their testimonies.  He is grateful for his Savior Jesus Christ.  Grateful for His atoning sacrifice.  So many opportunities to improve in the Church, tithing, temples.  Loves the Book of Mormon.  Grateful for the stability that the Gospel provides.

Loretta White is grateful for her Savior and for Young Women.

Robin Hanks spoke of the strong faith in the Savior in many whom she meets and works with.  Let our light so shine to them.  Share our testimonies.  Working with special needs children.  The Savior has blessed us with the fullness of the Gospel.  "I want to be a fountain, not a drain."

A couple from Kissimmee, Florida, are visiting friends in the area.  He bore his testimony.  They have a son on a mission in Rochester working with the deaf.  His daughter bore her testimony.  She spoke of the Atonement of the Savior.

Sandy Green spoke of trying to do what is right.  Losing the fear of speaking in front of people, of playing the organ, of singing a solo, etc.  All thanks to the Church.

A visiting sister from Atlanta (I think) bore her testimony.  Being challenged in things you know are true.

Richard Callahan shared his testimony that Jesus Christ is his Savior.

Closing hymn was #31 "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" text by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and music by William Croft (1677-1727). 

We had a good sized congregation today as the overflow was needed.

Gospel Doctrine with Harry Spooner was lesson #29, “The Number of the Disciples Was Multiplied” using Acts 6–9.

The purpose of the lesson was to help class members recognize that the work of the Church is done by many people, all of whom contribute their talents and testimonies to strengthen the Church.

1. Seven men are ordained to supervise the temporal work of the Church.

President Howard W. Hunter said: “It is in understanding and accepting [the] universal fatherhood of God that all human beings can best appreciate God’s concern for them and their relationship to each other. This is a message of life and love that strikes squarely against all stifling traditions based on race, language, economic or political standing, educational rank, or cultural background, for we are all of the same spiritual descent. We have a divine pedigree; every person is a spiritual child of God” (in General Conference, Oct. 1991).

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995)

2. Stephen testifies before the Sanhedrin and is stoned to death. 

3. Philip preaches and performs miracles in Samaria.

President James E. Faust said: “This greatest of all powers, the priesthood power, is not accessed the way power is used in the world. It cannot be bought or sold. … Worldly power often is employed ruthlessly. However, priesthood power is invoked only through those principles of righteousness by which the priesthood is governed” (in General Conference, Apr. 1997).

President James E. Faust (1920-2007)

4. Saul is converted and baptized and begins to preach the gospel.

Elder Robert D. Hales said, “On occasion individuals can have [experiences like Saul’s], but for the most part, conversion happens over a period of time as study, prayer, experience, and faith help us to grow in our testimony and conversion” (in General Conference, Apr. 1997).

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Ezra Taft Benson said that Saul’s question, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” is the most important question we can ask in this life (in General Conference, Oct. 1972).

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994)

We, like Stephen, Philip, and Saul, are living in a time when the Church is growing rapidly. The Lord wants each of us to serve in his kingdom as it grows. Class members need to recognize and appreciate the different qualities, talents, and experiences that each branch member brings to the Lord’s service.

The hymn in priesthood was #142 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" text attributed to William W. Walford (1772-1850) and music by William B. Bradbury (1816-1868).

The priesthood lesson consisted of the First Presidency Message entitled "Stand as a Light" in the August 2015 by President Thomas S. Monson.

He stated, "We must develop the faith necessary to survive spiritually and to project a light for others. We must nurture our testimony until it becomes an anchor to our lives.  Among the most effective ways to gain and keep the faith we need today is to read and study the scriptures and to pray frequently and consistently."

President Thomas S. Monson

Eileen told me that Debbie Gerbers taught a very good lesson in Relief Society using Elder L. Tom Perry's talk "Why Marriage and Family Matter—Everywhere in the World" from April general conference.

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1922-2015)

At home I finished reading the next section of Elder John A. Widtsoe's "Evidences and Reconciliations" which was "Priesthood."

I did the parishes in County Monaghan as part of our CSM work. I worked on the Irish parishes in County Mayo, too.

During supper Elder and Sister Rumsey came by with a family history question.  We were able to help them.  Eileen showed them her new sewing room and we gave them lots of boxes from our garage for Tonya Jackson to use in her move this week.

I called Don Bivens and provided him with more information about his family history question he had at church today.

I finished reading the 24 May issue of the Church News.  I especially enjoyed "Cordoba temple already uplifting spirits, changing lives," 

Cordoba Argentina Temple

"Apostle returns 'home' to where he served as a missionary," 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson and his wife Kathy arrive at the Cordoba Argentina Temple.

"'Stepping stones' of preparation," and "Come, let us go up" (Isaiah 2:3).  I posted the following paragraph from the last article on my "wall" on Facebook.  "Our sacred, weekly pledge to bear the name of Christ, to remember Him and keep His commandments is a promise that influences who we are and everything we do. The daily choices we make about the clothing we wear, the words we speak, the thoughts we think, the images we view, the music we hear, and the media we permit to enter our minds and hearts; and our behavior in public and in private reflect how well we honor our covenant. When we are true to the covenants we have made at baptism and in the sacrament [communion], we are preparing to receive the blessings of the temple. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, “When we make and keep covenants, we are coming out of the world and into the kingdom of God.” "

Eileen worked on the Irish parishes in County Meath.  Meanwhile I finished reading chapter 19 of President Joseph F. Smith's "Gospel Doctrine" entitled "Education and Industrial Pursuits."

We watched a little bit of the Nationals - Mets game.  Then at 9 pm we watched the new episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" with J. K. Rowling who, of course, we've heard of (though Elder Rumsey had not).

On Monday 3 August we went to Bryant Physical Therapy for our hour workout.  Then on to Walmart primarily for the sugar-free chocolates we were out of.  We had to drop off our recyclables at the dump on the way home as the bins hadn't been emptied when we drove into town earlier.

I worked about an hour-and-a-half on the Irish parishes of Mayo and Meath.  Part of that was fixing a lot of entries where I had put in "Parishes_In_" instead of "Parishes_in_".

I got the library input from Heather Parker and was able to submit the Kids Ferst newsletter for Gilmer County, though a few days late.

We went to church in the evening for our FHE.  Jan Pardee said that Harry Spooner would be teaching it as David Echard has moved.

Eileen finished the Irish parishes in County Meath and I emailed all of our results to Sandra Pond.

We watched some of the Giants  - Braves game.  While Eileen was in the office on the computer, I hollered to her as a two-run homer for the Braves in the bottom of the ninth inning tied the score.  Later while I was on the computer she told me that she had on the show following the game and it appeared that the Braves won.  I checked and another Brave had hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the twelfth inning to win the game!  The team had overcome being down, 6-0, and won, 9-8.

On Tuesday 4 August we slept late and went into town in the afternoon, stopping at the post office, dry cleaners (I had a nice chat with the proprietor Marsha Burnett about our diabetes and losing weight on our diet.  She and her husband Gary are overweight and she has type 2 diabetes.) and Ingles.  We bumped into Bob Hughes and his wife Julia at Ingles.  They were interested in the Church years ago and he volunteered at the food pantry when we first moved here.

I researched Lynn Edwards' family ordinance request firm that David Echard had given me on Sunday.

I checked on Family Tree for Elizabeth Howe LK38-N2B, Joseph Howe LJ5N-PDD, and Mary Howe LJ5N-PX3.

I tried to contact Sister Edwards by phone and then emailed her what I had found.

While working on the iMac computer in the office I began and finished "The Coming of Mr. Quin A Harley Quin Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

We watched the Braves - Giants game and the Braves went ahead, 3-2, then the bullpen blew it as the Giants won, 8-3.

After Eileen went to sleep I began and finished "The Voice in the Dark A Harley Quin Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Wednesday 5 August we volunteered at the food pantry.  Being the first Wednesday we had about 130 families receive assistance.  Elder Rumsey and I were very busy with bags and I was busy collapsing cardboard boxes.

Then we drove into Ellijay to home teach Randall and Bonnie Helton.  We had a nice visit.

We went to Lowe's and got some flowers to put in our flower boxes on our front porch.  Those that had been there when we left home on 1 June did not survive.  Later at home Eileen planted them after I found the trowel downstairs outside the back door.

After supper we drove to church to staff the branch Family History Center from 6-8:10 pm.   We met with Roger Widmann who arrived moments after we did.  We got a lot accomplished with him and enjoyed some discussion about other Church matters.

I finished the process of downloading the Apple operating system OS X Yosemite and restarting our iMac desktop computer.  I can now access the My Passport external disk drive with all of my pictures although I now have to get used to the new format.

At home we had the Braves - Giants game on and the Giants won, 6-1.

After Eileen went to sleep I began and finished "The Mystery of the Blue Jar A Short Story" by Agatha Christie.

On Thursday 6 August I was able to locate the 13 pictures of us on our vacation holding the Times-Courier and put them in a folder on the iMac's desktop.  I sent the first in front of the Lubbock Temple to April Teague at the newspaper.

We drove to Mineral Bluff to visit with Ralph and Holly and go to lunch with them.  We went to the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in nearby Aska. We visited them at their home afterwards.

Then we went to home teach Darlene Burgess in Blue Ridge where she is babysitting two of her son Eric's boys.  From there we shopped at Ingles and filled up at Walmart for $2.219.

After supper we brought in the table from the garage for Eileen to use for her artistic endeavors in the former front bedroom.

I finally published my 19 April blog entry.

We finished slicing up the remaining mangoes we received from David. They are slimy but delicious.

We had the Braves - Marlins game on and the Braves won, 9-8.

On Friday 7 August we went to Walmart, then to Bryant Physical Therapy, and back to Walmart for a few things we had forgotten.

We got home about 12:30 and Jan Pardee arrived at 1 pm.  We chatted about the FHE we had on Monday and then I helped Jan with her family history for about three hours.

We got the sad news that Eileen's Aunt Esther passed away about 2:30 pm today in New Jersey.  She was 91 last month.

I prepared the iMac in the office to do indexing in familysearch.org and indexed some christenings in Surrey, England.

I emailed the branch members inviting them to help with the Worldwide Indexing Event.

We had the Dodgers - Pirates game on and the Pirates won, 5-4, in 10 innings.

On Saturday 8 August we were up and headed to the temple where we did five sealings of couples and numerous sons and daughters to their parents.  On the way in Woodstock our odometer reached the next palindrome of 111111.

After leaving the temple we drove north on GA 400 to Jo-Ann Fabrics in Alpharetta.  Then we headed north on 400 and turned west across country, discovering when we reached Pickens and Gilmer counties an area called the Georgian Highlands with absolutely spectacular views!!

We got to church about 3:20 for baptismal service at 4 pm for Brother Claude Miller.

Opening hymn #111 "Rock of Ages" text by Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778) and music by Thomas Hastings (1784-1872).

The talk on baptism was given by Brother Van Rownd.  He spoke of Brother Miller's desire to be with his deceased wife Pat for eternity.  Mark 1:4-8. Matthew 3:16-17.  2 Nephi 31.  The Lamb of God fulfilled all righteousness.  1. Repentance.  Every day process.  2. Forgiveness of those who have offended us.  Forgive ourselves.  3. Live the commandments of the Gospel.  The only ordinances we do in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are baptism and sealing in the temple!

Brother Miller was baptized by Brother Van Rownd.  I was one of the witnesses.

The talk on the Holy Ghost given by Brother Terry Dorsey.  Third member of the Godhead.  Doesn't have a body of flesh but of spirit.  Convincing witness that the Gospel is true.

Brother Craig Chester welcomed Brother Miller to the Ellijay Branch and to the Church.  Parable of the workers in the vineyard.  Little children from D&C. Riches of eternity. 

Closing hymn #86 "How Great Thou Art" which is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish traditional melody and a poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg (1859–1940) in Sweden in 1885.  See my 12 July blog entry for more information.

Afterwards we stopped at Ingles for some salad makings.

In the evening we began packing for the trip north for Aunt Esther's funeral on Tuesday.