tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34632865024918581532024-03-12T20:34:12.946-07:00The Way I See ItTheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-9557094102881618152013-12-20T19:49:00.000-08:002013-12-20T19:49:10.740-08:00Let us invite God back into Our Lives!This is a great article. Worth reading if you haven't read it yet and worth reading again if you have seen it before! I want to share it with the world.<br />
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Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year, which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.<br />
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My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a nativity scene, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. <br />
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I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? <br />
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I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. <br />
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In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?' <br />
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In light of recent events... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay. <br />
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Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' <br />
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Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. <br />
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Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein<br />
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Go Ben and Billy Graham's daughter! I agree 100%. We need to invite God back into our lives now, more than anytime I can remember in my life. TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-58751183527647623582013-10-06T08:28:00.000-07:002013-10-06T08:28:39.695-07:00Do We Automatically Learn from Suffering? <br />
Neal A Maxwell said:<br />
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<blockquote></blockquote>One of the realities of the kingdom is that we work with each other in the midst of our imperfections. We see those imperfections as well as the traits and talents that God has blessed us with. And during this process of life together in the community of Saints, we watch each other grow. It is not surprising when we see each other grow as a result of the opportunities in the kingdom. And it isn't usually just one muscle that is developed. On the other hand, <i>we see people in the Church for whom adversity is an anesthetic and for whom suffering is a sedative.</i> And in that soil the root of bitterness can spring up. <i>I wish I could say to you that suffering teaches automatically, but it doesn't.</i> To paraphrase Anne Morrow Lindbergh: <i>If suffering inevitably taught us, the human family would be a very wise family indeed. </i>(see Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead [New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973], p. 214). It takes meekness to learn from suffering.<br />
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Some here know that for 25 years I have felt one of the precious verses in all scripture about discipleship was the one given to the Prophet Joseph in Liberty Jail: "All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:7). That premise is that <i>experience is valuable, and the only way to have it is to have it.</i> And whether it involves adversity or whatever, then we are blessed. Notice these lines from Paul: "Knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Romans 5:3–4).<br />
You may ask, "There is no other way?"<br />
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And I answer, "No, there is not. There is no other way." And thus, in this discipleship about which I am speaking, it is so essential that out of these experiences we form character. It is much easier in this life to be a character than to have character. And we see characters before us in the media all the time. To have character is a special and wonderful thing, but to develop it is not a pain-free process. <blockquote></blockquote>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-16332392244746164382013-09-15T08:54:00.000-07:002013-09-15T08:54:22.423-07:00<br />
20 Of the Lord’s Miracles Given through Moses<br />
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1. Moses sees the burning Bush on Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God - The Lord identifies himself as Jehovah – Ex. 6:3<br />
2. Aaron’s rod turns into a Serpent, Turns the river to blood. He sends the plagues of frogs, lice, flies, the cattle of Egyptians destroyed, but not the cattle of the Israelites. He sends boils and blain, hail and fire, locust and three days of thick darkness. <br />
3. The firstborn of Egyptians destroyed, but not the firstborn of the Israelites. After sending all the plagues upon the Egyptians so that Pharaoh will “Let His People Go”, Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt after 430 years. <br />
4. They get in the desert and complain of the heat. The Lord provides a cloud by day for shade.<br />
5. They are afraid of the dark, so the Lord provides a night light for them, a pillar of fire by night. <br />
6. They complain, “I’m thirsty” The Lord heals the waters of Marah. <br />
7. The Lord leads them and they reach the beach of the Red Sea. Moses finds them there beaching and moaning. <br />
8. They see the Egyptians coming after them and curse Moses because the Egyptians will now surely kill them. Moses put up his hands, waves his magic rod and the Red Sea parts.<br />
9. Moses tells them to hurry across to the other side. They complain, “We might get our feet muddy.” Moses tells them to get their asses, (and camels) to the other side.<br />
10. They get to the other side and say, “Way to go Moses, the Egyptian army is still coming through the Red Sea after us. We are going to die! Moses raises his arms again, the waters of the Red Sea come back in their proper place and all the Egyptian armies are drowned.<br />
11. Now they complain about being hungry. The Lord provides them with manna every day but the Sabbath, for 40 years. <br />
12. They complain, “Only manna?” “Can’t you order pizza or McDonalds and have it delivered?” Instead, the Lord sends quail via air mail.<br />
13. “We’re thirsty again; can’t you give us some caffeine free Pepsi?” The Lord gives them something better for them, He tells Moses to take his magic rod and smites a rock and a never ending spring of fresh water gushes forth.<br />
14. Instead of being grateful, they want Moses to perform a miracle to prove he is a Prophet of God?? Are you kidding me?<br />
15. So, God calls Moses to Mt. Sinai. (The Temple) <br />
16. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the 70 see God. (The Law of Witnesses)<br />
17. The Lord gives Moses two tablets of Testimony and Covenants. (I Think of the two priesthood covenants of the temple) The two tablets gave them priesthood power to do everything. That is when the Lord wanted to give them two tablets, the two tablets would be two 64 bit Ipads with a link to Kolob, but they weren’t ready for them, so he smashes them to bits.<br />
18. Then they go to the Golden Coral to worship the Golden Calf and eat and drink too much. <br />
19. Moses speaks to the Lord face to face in the tabernacle, sees his glory, but doesn’t see His face. (I think of the temple again.) <br />
20. Moses receives two new tablets. Stone tablets this time, no more Ipad’s for them! They are still in the stoned.<br />
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I am so grateful for:<br />
Moses and all the old Prophets as well as the living Prophets we have today. <br />
A wonderful, beautiful wife!<br />
A marvelous family that loves the gospel of and loves to serve one another.<br />
A Loving Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.<br />
The Atonement<br />
A great home teaching companion<br />
Loving friends and neighbors and for all my blessings that would take pages and pages to enumerate.<br />
TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-66490349631530846242013-08-28T08:47:00.000-07:002013-08-28T08:47:50.256-07:00Eternal LawEzra Taft Benson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve. <br />
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“One principle of the gospel that all young people of the Church should understand is this: God, our Heavenly Father, governs His children by law. He has instituted <b>laws for our perfection</b>. If we obey His laws, we receive the blessings pertaining to those laws. If we do not obey, we receive the consequences.” (April Conference 1983- “A Principle with a Promise”)TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-36064169631512888272012-08-12T09:51:00.000-07:002012-08-12T10:01:01.869-07:00Justice and Mercy - the Great Plan of RedemptionI was studying the Gospel Doctrine Lesson (Lesson 30) for today and had several lights come on in my mind. DeAnne and I had just been in the Temple on Thursday and heard someone say, “If you punish me for doing the same thing that has been done” by someone else. I will cause all sorts of problems! <br />
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It reminded me how brazen and sly Satan is. He is always telling half truths. He makes that statement as though other people haven’t been punished by God for doing the same thing that he is doing. This is a one of Satan’s lies or if you prefer half truths. <br />
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Of course God recognizes his twisting of the truth right away. I suppose Father has become accustomed to Satan’s temper tantrums. I can imagine Him thinking, “Do you really think I’m going to fall for that?” God doesn’t give him any further chances to insult Godly intelligence. God doesn’t argue with those kinds of people. God simply tells Satan to leave, “Depart”. Satan knows he has been found out and foiled again. <br />
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I know God is a just God. He judges everyone the same way and the law of justice falls on everyone with exactness. His justice is precisely the same for everyone committing the same crime. If He didn’t judge with exactness, He would cease to be God. All of God’s children would lose faith in God if he gave a different punishment for those “doing the same thing”. We could no longer trust God and have unwavering faith in Him, and he would cease to be God. God is bound by eternal laws too.<br />
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Alma 42: 18 - Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of aconscience unto man.<br />
13 Therefore, according to justice, the aplan of bredemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would ccease to be God.<br />
22 - But there is a law given, and a apunishment affixed, and a brepentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the claw, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.<br />
25 What, do ye suppose that amercy can rob bjustice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.<br />
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So here are a couple of things I learned:<br />
1. Heavenly Father loves us so much He created a plan for our happiness and joy. He wants us to return to live with him. But he can’t play favorites with any of his children. Father has to come up with a plan to justly deal out punishment for sin. He came up with His plan to save us all. He can’t do it without help. He ordains his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to come to earth to help save the rest of us. Why can’t my Heavenly Father save me? Doesn’t he love me as much as my Eldest Brother Jesus Christ? Yes, He does! But there is that law of justice and punishment that he can’t break or He would cease to be God.<br />
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2. Jesus comes to earth, part mortal part God. He is a God, an Eternal God, the only one that can suffer an eternal pain, derogation, sorrow, misery and eternal atonement. Christ pays the price! The price for what? The price of all of our sins and sorrows. Because of the great injustice that Christ suffered while he was on this earth, mercy can now be given out from Heavenly Father. Christ and Heavenly Father are united as one in the plan of redemption. We need both of them. They are a team. They are one. Like Elder Holland said in one of his conference talks, “I can’t imagine Heavenly Father taking more joy in anything more than being able to show mercy.<br />
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3. I know the sons of perdition have received the eternal laws of God. They understand them. They have had the Holy Ghost and the spirit bear witness to them. They have used their agency. It has never been taken from them.<br />
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4. I now most of God’s children have received the eternal laws of God. They understand them. Many of them have had the Holy Ghost and the spirit bear witness to them. They have used their agency. It has never been taken from them. But they will not be sons of perdition. Why not? Because they have used their agency and choose to repent. They have asked for forgiveness and begged for mercy.<br />
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5. The only difference between the sons of perdition and the Sons and daughters of God is that they have used their agency differently and accepted Christ as their redeemer, repented and asked for forgiveness.<br />
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One last thing I noticed as I studied Alma 42. Justice and Mercy have gender given to them!<br />
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Alma 42:24 - For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also amercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.<br />
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What does that bring to your mind? Ponder about that for a little bit. I would appreciate anyone’s insight here. Here are a few things that DeAnne and I talked about:<br />
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1. Men are more inclined to demand justice. Women lean more towards mercy.<br />
2. In order to have a perfect plan of redemption, plan of happiness, plan of salvation we need both justice and mercy. We need both “His” and “Her.”<br />
3. In order to have a perfect “Eternal Marriage”, we need a man and a woman.<br />
4. Justice and Mercy are eternally sealed together. We could compare that to marriage. <br />
5. Justice cannot rob Mercy. (A man cannot create a family without his companion, mercy.)<br />
6. Mercy cannot rob Justice. (A woman cannot create a family without he companion, justice.)<br />
7. If we have both Justice and Mercy. Both of them are satisfied and God continues to be God.<br />
8. None but the truly penitent are saved.<br />
9. Are there other things that come to your mind?TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-14572293593247377342012-05-22T20:05:00.000-07:002012-05-22T20:05:35.797-07:00Condo Trip May, 2012Wish you were all here with us!
Here is some of what we have seen in Yellowstone so far. . .
Day one. . .
Day two. . .
Do you see the two bear cubs in the big tree?
Day three. . .
And, of course in Island Park. . .
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-xfH1OWVDh_JVpYqS_trHgNLlORmniK3diY1G6Hj6xCCniNHeFAyteiYpY8MaFcM9T86uTu4CA7GTpw8XC1pwwFNAPTVavf926nEbOm2VmvKQmHUfGj4cDsmiNEzVBiWJD3hNW2bSyMk/s1600/DSCN4542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-xfH1OWVDh_JVpYqS_trHgNLlORmniK3diY1G6Hj6xCCniNHeFAyteiYpY8MaFcM9T86uTu4CA7GTpw8XC1pwwFNAPTVavf926nEbOm2VmvKQmHUfGj4cDsmiNEzVBiWJD3hNW2bSyMk/s320/DSCN4542.JPG" /></a></div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-68983463700941435652011-04-28T07:12:00.000-07:002011-04-28T07:13:13.290-07:00Healing the Blind ManAs I study, pray and ponder the lesson about “I was blind and now I see”, I was impressed by the following quotes and I have added some of the thoughts that came to me.<br /><br />In John 9:5 it says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (“By this act of giving sight to a blind beggar Jesus in a dramatic and irrefutable manner, proclaimed himself as 1) the Light of the World, and 2) the very Son of God. 3) He also confirmed the disciples’ belief in pre-existence, 4) rejected the belief of some that physical handicaps result from ante-mortal sin, 5) taught that his own work was assigned him by the Father, 6) reaffirmed that he stands in judgment upon the world, and taught that rejection of light and truth bring condemnation.” DNTC, 1:479)<br /> <br />John 9:6 “When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,” (According to their traditions, he was breaking the law of the Sabbath by making the clay, and applying a healing remedy to an impaired person. His purpose seems to be to put the people in a position to choose between him as one sent of God to do the work of the Father, as one who can open blind eyes and to open their blind eyes about Sabbath observance. MM, 3:201)<br /><br />I think Jesus continued to heal and do miracles on the Sabbath in an effort to teach the unbelieving that:<br />1. He is the Promised Messiah.<br />2. He gave Moses the Law to start with and he is about to fulfill the old law and give a new Law regarding the Sabbath..<br />3. He teaches that it is ok to heal on the Sabbath Day and in fact he is about to institute the sacrament, which will heal thousands, no millions, on every Sabbath Day, if they repent and partake of His emblems, the bread and wine or water.<br />4. It is ok to do a little work if necessary in order to bless and save people on the Sabbath.<br /><br />The Pharisees and the scribes were so caught up in the letter of the Law of Moses that they could not see that the Law of Moses was given and designed to point to the future coming of the Mortal Messiah himself. Christ is the one who called and talked to Moses.<br /><br />As we open our eyes and receive revelation through the Light of Christ and listen to the voice of the Good Shepherds, (Stake and ward leaders, home and visiting teachers), we will have life more abundantly.TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-52731384236537244642011-04-19T08:18:00.000-07:002011-04-19T08:21:43.018-07:00The Good SamaritanLast Sunday I studied my Sunday School lesson and here are a few things I learned. <br /><br />1. Christ taught that unless we become as a little child we cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Have you ever met a child that is perfect? I know Hayley says Mikey is so perfect that he farts rainbows, but wait till he starts to crawl, walk and talk. This to me, this reveals one of the simple truths of the gospel. Children are not perfect but they are clean and pure. If we want to be with Heavenly Father in the Kingdom of Heaven we need to be like them. Not perfect, but clean. We become clean by repenting and partaking of the sacrament on Sundays. Like a child, we will be saved because we are clean, (repentant) not because we are perfect. Joseph Smith said we will not be perfect until long after we have left this life.<br /><br />2. The parable of the unmerciful servant teaches us that Christ will for give us of all of our debts, or sins if we repent. The first lord (Christ) forgave his servant a debt of ten thousand talents. Then that same servant turned around and put his servant in prison because he would not pay him the 100 pence that was owned to the unmerciful servant. The average wage at that time was about one pence for a day’s work. At that rate the unmerciful servant would have to work for 150,000 years to repay his lord (Christ) the ten thousand talents. On the other hand, it would take a little over three months for the second servant to repay the 100 pence. How many times am I willing to forgive others who are not perfect? And how many times has the Lord, who is perfect forgiven me and suffered for my sins for me? The Lord, who is perfect, forgives all of us who are not perfect, and willing to repent. He takes those sins and suffers for them so that we won’t have to. He must love us a lot!<br /><br />3. Christ was teaching the 70 and his disciples, who had eyes to see and ears to hear, like babes, about the plan of salvation, when a Lawyer, (a master of the Law of Moses), interrupted him and asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus gave the parable of the Good Samaritan. One level of understanding for this parable is that we need to be good neighbors to everyone we meet and share the gospel with them. Another level is that “A certain Man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho” symbolizes Adam, Eve and all of us, as we leave the presence of God and came down to earth where we are assaulted and wounded by sin and saved by Jesus the Christ, the Good Samaritan. As I studied and pondered, I think another level of the parable is because Christ was in the middle of teaching his disciples about the sacred ordinances when he was interrupted that he continued teaching the sacred ordinances as he gave the parable. Christ in the verses just before this parable says, “I saw Satan fall from Heaven like lightening”, and I think there are other things in the parable that can help us get a better understanding of the sacred temple ordinances.<br /><br />That is the way I see it.TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-45761498179926539532011-04-01T13:49:00.000-07:002011-04-01T14:11:37.877-07:00Home SWEET HomeLast Monday night DeAnne and I went to the Macaroni Grill restaurant again. That is the first time we have been back there since James took us there to celebrate our closing the loan on our new home and it reminded us of how well James took care of us while we were looking for our new home. We recommend James to everybody that mentions moving! Let me know if you want his phone number! <br /><br /><br />This time we went to the Macaroni Grill with a group of ten other people from our new ward. The group calls themselves the “Empty Nesters Group”. We meet together with them for dinner or Family Home Evening once a month. These people are special people to us. We are so grateful the new ward has accepted us and befriended us the way they have. <br /><br /><br />We love our new home and we still feel like we got a fantastic deal on the price of the home. We love the low interest rate and we are now enjoying the tax credit we received. <br /><br /><br />We love having the laundry upstairs for DeAnne. We love having a garage for the first time in our lives. We don’t have to remove snow and ice from our cars every morning in the winter time. We love that the garage is oversized so we can get both cars into it without running into anything. And there is still room in there for work tools and yard tools. We love the garage door openers! <br /><br /><br />We love how quite our home is. It is even quite during wind and rain storms, and no squeaky floors! We love the deck across the back of the home where we can sit and relax and enjoy the scenery. We love our view of the mountains we see on both sides of the valley. We love hearing the meadowlarks again, watching the hawks, deer, fox, coyotes and other wildlife. <br /><br /><br />We love the sink, bathroom and light fixtures. And, oh yes; we love the size of the master bedroom and master bath! <br /><br /><br />We love having an air conditioner for the first time in our lives. For the first time in our lives we also have timers on the outside lights, programmable controls for the furnace and air conditioner and on the sprinkling system for the yard. We love it! <br /><br /><br />We love having room to have all our family in our home at the same time. They can all visit with us; eat with us and even stay overnight with us. That is SO great! <br /><br /><br />We love the small yard we have to take care of and we love that was already landscaped so beautifully. <br /><br /><br />We love the people in our neighborhood and we especially love the people in our new ward. They were there to help us move in, which we appreciated so much, and they have been so friendly towards us ever since. DeAnne and I were made the gospel doctrine teachers for the ward about a month after we moved in. Last month they called DeAnne into the Relief Society Presidency. <br /><br /><br />So, with all that said, we want everyone to know we love our new home very much and we are so grateful to be there. thank you to all of you who helped us in our move! We closed our loan on April 8, almost one year ago.TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-52254066081341368482011-02-04T09:51:00.000-08:002011-02-04T10:55:49.844-08:00Report CardsReport cards are a way of judging our progress. If we were to be judged today by the Lord what kind of grade would you have earned? Give yourself an honest grade for each year of your life.<br /><br />Don’t judge yourself too harshly. You are generally your own worst judge.<br /><br />For example let me take my life. I am almost 62 years old. I would give myself the following report card.<br /><br />A – 3 years (My mission plus a little)<br />B – 20 years (The way I served and taught my family years)<br />C – 35 years (Just average)<br />D – 3 years (rebelling as a kid and teenager)<br />F – 1 years (Doing things I knew were wrong)<br /><br />Now I will put some math to it.<br />A + 100<br />B = 80<br />C = 60<br />D = 30<br />F = 10 (for living)<br /><br />My total score would be:<br />A – 100 X 3 = 300<br />B - 80 X 20 = 2,840<br />C – 60 X 35 = 2,100<br />D – 30 X 3 = 90<br />F – 10 X 1 = 10<br />Total score = 5,340/62 = 86.13 (That’s much better than I thought!)<br /><br />That would give me just above a B for my life so far.<br /><br />Wait there is more.<br /><br />There are three degrees in the Celestial Kingdom. If you have been baptized and have a Celestial marriage, (note I didn’t say a temple marriage), that will get you into the Celestial Kingdom.<br />A = Celestial (Living with God and having an eternal family)<br />B = Celestial (Room for improvement)<br />C = Celestial (Able to serve and live with other Celestials)<br />D = Terrestrial<br />F = Telestial<br />No Glory = the sons of perdition<br /><br />So I give myself a B, and that is with the help of the atonement. I would be in the Celestial Kingdon, but not able to have a posterity. But I want to be with my wife and family!<br /><br />Here is the part we almost always forget. LIFE IS ETERNAL! How many years did we live in the preexistence with Heavenly Father? Well let’s take the worst case scenario. We were there in the in the preexistence with Adam and Eve. They came to earth 6011 years ago right? I came to earth 5,949 years after Adam. So for at least 5,949 years I was living with Adam, Heavenly Father and Christ = 5,949 years worth of A’s ! Because no unclean thing can abide His presence.<br /><br />How does that change my over all grade?<br />A – 100X(5,949+3) = 595,200<br />B - 80 X 20 = 2,840<br />C – 60 X 35 = 2,100<br />D – 30 X 3 = 90<br />F – 10 X 1 = 10<br />Total score = 600,240/6,011 = 99.86% WOW!<br /><br />No wonder the Lord called his plan, “The plan of Happiness!” We get to keep our families and be part of Heavenly Fathers eternal family! Once we return to his presence, he can continue to teach us and we will get more education and more “A’s.”<br /><br />Now figure up what your grade is.<br /><br />I think women get at least a thousand extra bonus points for every child they have and at least Ten thousand extra bonus points for putting up with their husbands!TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-84203981942856677392011-01-19T07:53:00.000-08:002011-01-19T07:58:46.967-08:00Remembering Mom - 2011January 19, 2011 – Today is my mother’s birthday. I have been thinking about her a lot over the past few days. I marvel at how hard she worked in and out of the home. She was always cooking something for Dad or for us kids. She loved to make bread, cinnamon rolls, donuts, cookies and no bake cookies. She would make huge batches every time she made goodies. I loved hot home-made bread with butter and honey. My favorite goodie was cinnamon rolls with raisins.<br /><br />She made blankets for everybody. Every one of her kids and grandkids have a blanket of one kind or another that she made for them. She helped dad in the garden and did all the bottling in the fall. She always bottled peaches, raspberries, apricots, and pears. She made all kinds of jam from her garden as well as grape juice from their grape vines. She would make huckleberry and raspberry jam and that was my favorite. She also made huckleberry topping for ice cream, one of my favorite things in this world! The huckleberry topping at Artic Circle doesn’t even come close.<br /><br />Mom would always stop what she was doing when DeAnne and I brought our family over to visit. She would make dad turn off the TV so we could talk, even if he was in the middle of a ballgame.<br /><br />Mom taught us a lot about the gospel by her example. She served in the Primary and the Relief Society and loved every minute of it. She was very nervous about her mission to the Utah State Prison, but when she was released she had a love for the people she met there.<br /><br />One of the best things I remember about mom is that she was always with me whenever I had important events in my life. She was with me when I went to the doctor for my pre-school exam. She was at my baptism, and at all the church meetings. She helped me prepare talks for church. She was with me when I was set apart as missionary by Bruce R. McConkie. She was at school when I was inducted into the National Honor Society and she was there at the meeting when I was attending the Utah State Sterling Scholar Ceremony. Dad did not attend most of those things, I’m not sure why, but I could always count on Mom!<br /><br />Mom and dad always opened their house for our friends and us to have parties and get-togethers. Mom would make treats and bring them to us and our friends while we were playing Rook and other games. We had a large, good group of friends in the Granger 13th Ward and Mom and Dad always made them feel welcome. Sometime there would be over 20 of us and sometimes, as we got older, we would stay up until midnight or latter. I don’t remember Mom complaining about us even one time.<br /><br />Mom loved the great outdoors and did all the cooking for us when we went camping. She loved going back to Idaho to visit with her brothers and sisters. She loved to camp and picnic with them and to pick wild huckleberries with them in the forest. She also enjoyed going to our condo in the winter time at Island Park Village. She did a little snowmobiling with dad and sleigh riding with our kids. She enjoyed being with our kids inside the condo as well. I have some great memories with her. She was a great mother!<br /><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-39714049323254675762010-12-02T14:47:00.000-08:002010-12-02T17:57:14.340-08:00#6 The Grandin Press<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFp3MoiY6sTvSnfv4Y2VIcUHR0P047muwt50H26C_6qcawueBUS0eSgUSJfmkItN4sY0rmJYAhw85JAfqlVZ5N15c0mgcSCNFmBxlHawMOnVDxTMDW0UR1C8Sl7JVXxcv3Kzce3UUFVt5/s1600/DSCN2375.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546268088011307602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFp3MoiY6sTvSnfv4Y2VIcUHR0P047muwt50H26C_6qcawueBUS0eSgUSJfmkItN4sY0rmJYAhw85JAfqlVZ5N15c0mgcSCNFmBxlHawMOnVDxTMDW0UR1C8Sl7JVXxcv3Kzce3UUFVt5/s320/DSCN2375.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>After the Hill Cumorah, we went back to the town of Palmyra. We saw the corner with the four different churches on each corner. That corner is just a block and a half from the Grandin Press where the Book of Mormon was printed.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>On March 26, 1998, the anniversary of the first <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q2UPx-J6c53mtQ6y_2dtBedUnz3pKYuacjHuACMwjX89U-KBp6sh3bkHZ-pq-jfba0uLKQlsNEvpGcYvfcwdg12kdUEiGZH_-FKftjeHfa34WgTFQYxJvJkdNBN572ISJk9QK1TLBUQs/s1600/DSCN2370.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546267132567754290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q2UPx-J6c53mtQ6y_2dtBedUnz3pKYuacjHuACMwjX89U-KBp6sh3bkHZ-pq-jfba0uLKQlsNEvpGcYvfcwdg12kdUEiGZH_-FKftjeHfa34WgTFQYxJvJkdNBN572ISJk9QK1TLBUQs/s320/DSCN2370.JPG" /></a>printing of the Book of Mormon in 1830, the restored part of the building was dedicated. The building is now a Historic Site. We saw the building, the printing presses and observed the printing sequence in the room where the printing of the Book of Mormon actually took place. We saw the room where the contract to print the Book of Mormon was signed by Egbert B. Grandin, Joseph Smith Jr., Joseph Smith, Sr. and Martin Harris.<br /><br />We were also able to walk through the bindery and into the store where the Book of Mormon was first sold. They had us fold a page so that we could see how much work it was to get the Book of Mormon ready for binding. Of course there is much more, but it w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyPkilIKUUbkR3wH_GPY2Rf5QarQGFv1zOgwdxlvg3ryCdZuVjEDE2tI9auznZOEe6My9freuGPf3SGOl-HgbTb1jeEGt6JgFyb3xBVINU8fRTvO1m8INY6Ztw2o1wfmMBRi593spOwDk/s1600/DSCN2346.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546266962707960498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyPkilIKUUbkR3wH_GPY2Rf5QarQGFv1zOgwdxlvg3ryCdZuVjEDE2tI9auznZOEe6My9freuGPf3SGOl-HgbTb1jeEGt6JgFyb3xBVINU8fRTvO1m8INY6Ztw2o1wfmMBRi593spOwDk/s320/DSCN2346.JPG" /></a>as really interesting to me.<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyPkilIKUUbkR3wH_GPY2Rf5QarQGFv1zOgwdxlvg3ryCdZuVjEDE2tI9auznZOEe6My9freuGPf3SGOl-HgbTb1jeEGt6JgFyb3xBVINU8fRTvO1m8INY6Ztw2o1wfmMBRi593spOwDk/s1600/DSCN2346.JPG"></a> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyPkilIKUUbkR3wH_GPY2Rf5QarQGFv1zOgwdxlvg3ryCdZuVjEDE2tI9auznZOEe6My9freuGPf3SGOl-HgbTb1jeEGt6JgFyb3xBVINU8fRTvO1m8INY6Ztw2o1wfmMBRi593spOwDk/s1600/DSCN2346.JPG"></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyPkilIKUUbkR3wH_GPY2Rf5QarQGFv1zOgwdxlvg3ryCdZuVjEDE2tI9auznZOEe6My9freuGPf3SGOl-HgbTb1jeEGt6JgFyb3xBVINU8fRTvO1m8INY6Ztw2o1wfmMBRi593spOwDk/s1600/DSCN2346.JPG"></a> </div><div><br />We then went to a book store next door and purchased a copy of the original Book of Mormon, a copy of the original Bo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffepzJ57UwA8Sjn_aTlqPj8bnINzq9v4Uuh5X2UEbRIL_MEykp6KQPXJaDGPfr4PoqraslDrRsPZ6WDe4c_K9Xv_SNksEDimUtG_OcKRvGrUZwateWhLMfgt9igJvLcZue8iUiScF6tvr/s1600/DSCN2355.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546266735334147506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffepzJ57UwA8Sjn_aTlqPj8bnINzq9v4Uuh5X2UEbRIL_MEykp6KQPXJaDGPfr4PoqraslDrRsPZ6WDe4c_K9Xv_SNksEDimUtG_OcKRvGrUZwateWhLMfgt9igJvLcZue8iUiScF6tvr/s320/DSCN2355.JPG" /></a>ok of Commandments and several other items. Then we went across the street and had a quick dinner.</div></div></div></div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-78607965252889337982010-11-18T12:02:00.000-08:002010-11-19T10:35:53.685-08:00#5 The Hill Cumorah<div><div><div><div>Next we drove down the road a few miles to the Hill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cumorah</span>. We stopped first at the visitor center and then drove up the Hill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cumorah</span>, where they have the pageant. They have a monument there on top of the hill explaining that the Angle Moroni hid the plates somewhere in that hill and then<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI77qO6007ISAqMjPiutGAO-4zDpGxLmFhzmbWY_y2IqcuaLs49J_rfTvFThVLw6B3JmtcnbOJ4TTb6GTTRuHh77M_dh1iAgwrzf13PEEJsKc4XfZRGBpUllXgbyp1IjcUgN5HviFphov/s1600/DSCN2296.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541125768485343874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI77qO6007ISAqMjPiutGAO-4zDpGxLmFhzmbWY_y2IqcuaLs49J_rfTvFThVLw6B3JmtcnbOJ4TTb6GTTRuHh77M_dh1iAgwrzf13PEEJsKc4XfZRGBpUllXgbyp1IjcUgN5HviFphov/s320/DSCN2296.JPG" border="0" /></a> delivered them to Joseph Smith four year after he first showed them to Joseph.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCKUmGU54KeWxuvsUz5LHYJyU8SuEaz89oIKfGRl3eUDGZmhllW7ar66m-Y2EWAA6-CJEG4UnKQi9v0h8LiCs-K5oaz3wcLYHGCRuIxNd18T6oUhxr4_42UfM9WCWYWPThwFuUFlLTp4p/s1600/DSCN2293.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541125370934453986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCKUmGU54KeWxuvsUz5LHYJyU8SuEaz89oIKfGRl3eUDGZmhllW7ar66m-Y2EWAA6-CJEG4UnKQi9v0h8LiCs-K5oaz3wcLYHGCRuIxNd18T6oUhxr4_42UfM9WCWYWPThwFuUFlLTp4p/s320/DSCN2293.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />With four years to prepare for the event, I doubt the date on which Joseph Smith received the plates was a coincident. Joseph received the gold plates from Moroni on 22 September 1827, one of the high holy days of the ancient Israelite Calendar. Keep in mind that the Jews start their days at sundown. That day, 22 September 1827 was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Rosh</span> ha-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Shanah</span>, or the Feast of Trumpets, a day when God remembered His covenants the Israelites to “bring them back from exile.” I think that is why Moroni is depicted on top of the temples with his trumpet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3exR-r0Gqc7oXwdIlW3Uea2q45MSzHMmKue-_rSZpPBt5T5epE74pkTHir_AI5e5ENV91sTz5yMBkaJEIWXT7oH5rlRjJ6oPl5azOSQngjPukRmzf9KImv93EE9ZLs5GWHmebkccU28b/s1600/DSCN2297.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541125201825040098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3exR-r0Gqc7oXwdIlW3Uea2q45MSzHMmKue-_rSZpPBt5T5epE74pkTHir_AI5e5ENV91sTz5yMBkaJEIWXT7oH5rlRjJ6oPl5azOSQngjPukRmzf9KImv93EE9ZLs5GWHmebkccU28b/s320/DSCN2297.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There is a pillar of stone on top of the Hill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cumorah</span> with the Angle Moroni standing on top, (With his trumpet). There was a special feeling there as well. I connected with Moroni for a few short minutes while there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeaX2XO0gYxwQ3A8Bxx8WW71FzW7dgNdHxKBDbxNdclcpDry0RpdJ4WoTghiyB3OJisEcRrIh1tolwxTYdmAmyE1KpC-wkwsNYbOR5Zs03AV2ZX-aDDvVy7G2VKYeXBJL2SBE1gDpcziZ/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541125601076318386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeaX2XO0gYxwQ3A8Bxx8WW71FzW7dgNdHxKBDbxNdclcpDry0RpdJ4WoTghiyB3OJisEcRrIh1tolwxTYdmAmyE1KpC-wkwsNYbOR5Zs03AV2ZX-aDDvVy7G2VKYeXBJL2SBE1gDpcziZ/s320/DSCN2302.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeaX2XO0gYxwQ3A8Bxx8WW71FzW7dgNdHxKBDbxNdclcpDry0RpdJ4WoTghiyB3OJisEcRrIh1tolwxTYdmAmyE1KpC-wkwsNYbOR5Zs03AV2ZX-aDDvVy7G2VKYeXBJL2SBE1gDpcziZ/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeaX2XO0gYxwQ3A8Bxx8WW71FzW7dgNdHxKBDbxNdclcpDry0RpdJ4WoTghiyB3OJisEcRrIh1tolwxTYdmAmyE1KpC-wkwsNYbOR5Zs03AV2ZX-aDDvVy7G2VKYeXBJL2SBE1gDpcziZ/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeaX2XO0gYxwQ3A8Bxx8WW71FzW7dgNdHxKBDbxNdclcpDry0RpdJ4WoTghiyB3OJisEcRrIh1tolwxTYdmAmyE1KpC-wkwsNYbOR5Zs03AV2ZX-aDDvVy7G2VKYeXBJL2SBE1gDpcziZ/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeaX2XO0gYxwQ3A8Bxx8WW71FzW7dgNdHxKBDbxNdclcpDry0RpdJ4WoTghiyB3OJisEcRrIh1tolwxTYdmAmyE1KpC-wkwsNYbOR5Zs03AV2ZX-aDDvVy7G2VKYeXBJL2SBE1gDpcziZ/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeaX2XO0gYxwQ3A8Bxx8WW71FzW7dgNdHxKBDbxNdclcpDry0RpdJ4WoTghiyB3OJisEcRrIh1tolwxTYdmAmyE1KpC-wkwsNYbOR5Zs03AV2ZX-aDDvVy7G2VKYeXBJL2SBE1gDpcziZ/s1600/DSCN2302.JPG"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo44Wf4LseD5WuZh9QVhMpYIh0L-mTK_qVgF_ck_JkJ73xZ6oXhZvJBu2Oxt9jPrPWq55KCeMEDZvErKElMp7ep_24_63MW9r8kK0pQDytfRjGCer_t9fAAE93Xw6A3Wyhdma2O5RnSfeC/s1600/DSCN2310.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Moroni has long been one of my hero’s for all that he did to take care of the plates. Moroni finish his father’s (Mormon) book, wrote his own book and then abridged the record of Ether and the brother of Jared. Moroni also tells us he wrote an <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo44Wf4LseD5WuZh9QVhMpYIh0L-mTK_qVgF_ck_JkJ73xZ6oXhZvJBu2Oxt9jPrPWq55KCeMEDZvErKElMp7ep_24_63MW9r8kK0pQDytfRjGCer_t9fAAE93Xw6A3Wyhdma2O5RnSfeC/s1600/DSCN2310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541125053620313922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo44Wf4LseD5WuZh9QVhMpYIh0L-mTK_qVgF_ck_JkJ73xZ6oXhZvJBu2Oxt9jPrPWq55KCeMEDZvErKElMp7ep_24_63MW9r8kK0pQDytfRjGCer_t9fAAE93Xw6A3Wyhdma2O5RnSfeC/s320/DSCN2310.JPG" border="0" /></a>interpretation of all that the Brother of Jared saw in his vision of the earth “from the beginning to the end thereof”. Moroni actually wrote about twice as many gold plates as his father Mormon had written. We have most of what Mormon wrote in the Book of Mormon, but most of what Moroni wrote is in the sealed portion of the plates that Joseph was told not to touch or translate.</div></div></div></div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-35168192373250700552010-11-17T10:46:00.000-08:002010-11-17T17:00:50.906-08:00#4 The Palmyra Temple<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqB4ioHZmPHf3jHOTcUTE0aSYC0l2kSlGQLCLxE7NPpmaqwvymaV3OUDqKxNskHOKbcd_caF1AMC0DQkZIeuhyYARrAY6KsbIrMO3tsAN6oZpvClHXp1WaYqKKBvZu15N6wOa5FwUVBoV/s1600/DSCN2266.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540683548496041474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqB4ioHZmPHf3jHOTcUTE0aSYC0l2kSlGQLCLxE7NPpmaqwvymaV3OUDqKxNskHOKbcd_caF1AMC0DQkZIeuhyYARrAY6KsbIrMO3tsAN6oZpvClHXp1WaYqKKBvZu15N6wOa5FwUVBoV/s320/DSCN2266.JPG" /></a> The Palmyra Temple sits on a high ridge at the east end of the original 100 acres of the Joseph Smith, Sr. farm in Manchester Township, New York. The temple was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley on the 21st of April, 1999. Ground was broken that May and the temple was dedicated by President Hinckley on the 6th of April, 2000, the 170th anniversary of the organization of the church. It became the 77th temple in operation around the world and has approximately 10,700 square feet of floor space.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2hbIgrMQheGYOYs3NxbJWzQLhJeHsHZJt5W_zftTegGDZn6zj-dp9jqaZKMq1GcuL4F4oHietPUW3T_3h_1Aw_UqqQ-RUOnu0HVKVwqsUozRRsQ0wRmveLR9QimvzQDKI1KX8H9nj_SZ/s1600/DSCN2199.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540683762088093842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2hbIgrMQheGYOYs3NxbJWzQLhJeHsHZJt5W_zftTegGDZn6zj-dp9jqaZKMq1GcuL4F4oHietPUW3T_3h_1Aw_UqqQ-RUOnu0HVKVwqsUozRRsQ0wRmveLR9QimvzQDKI1KX8H9nj_SZ/s320/DSCN2199.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2hbIgrMQheGYOYs3NxbJWzQLhJeHsHZJt5W_zftTegGDZn6zj-dp9jqaZKMq1GcuL4F4oHietPUW3T_3h_1Aw_UqqQ-RUOnu0HVKVwqsUozRRsQ0wRmveLR9QimvzQDKI1KX8H9nj_SZ/s1600/DSCN2199.JPG"></a><br /><br />The new Palmyra Temple can be seen from the sacred grove. It is on a hillside just east of the sacred grove. We spent two or three hours in the Sacred Grove and then walked back through the Smith farm and Smith homes. We then drove over to the Palmyra Temple. DeAnne stayed in the van this time so <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaBx66yCzN8u_611MVe0zZXQHYftdGbTqogmpJTusNmygk00e8SnSyF_rke9_RZS4aVf2fXAg4KfxYg4L0uOfbQY9_ak-Fh6o8ucAOTHneb4FHaJbx9_3TA1NOi3GxDN5w1kv8HOaAQ4U/s1600/DSCN2274.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540680783670318082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaBx66yCzN8u_611MVe0zZXQHYftdGbTqogmpJTusNmygk00e8SnSyF_rke9_RZS4aVf2fXAg4KfxYg4L0uOfbQY9_ak-Fh6o8ucAOTHneb4FHaJbx9_3TA1NOi3GxDN5w1kv8HOaAQ4U/s320/DSCN2274.JPG" /></a>she could rest her knee.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF7-aGtfYLzjaA0eiCN4a7A52I9qZ1Gm7l7qA3nQyaNpuX8wHStvVoEBouvbis4MMc81iUkRJJPsSDRu6uGYEPuwqG0uTnbbgbEeFvJYLontkokajjaOKHnVjgZ10VTiVaI1GBl7sM3b3/s1600/DSCN2271.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540682200155015106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF7-aGtfYLzjaA0eiCN4a7A52I9qZ1Gm7l7qA3nQyaNpuX8wHStvVoEBouvbis4MMc81iUkRJJPsSDRu6uGYEPuwqG0uTnbbgbEeFvJYLontkokajjaOKHnVjgZ10VTiVaI1GBl7sM3b3/s320/DSCN2271.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div> </div><div>I </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>got out and took pictures of the temple and walked around it. Notice the glass on the windows and doors. You can see the glass was made with images of the trees that in the Sacred Grove.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF7-aGtfYLzjaA0eiCN4a7A52I9qZ1Gm7l7qA3nQyaNpuX8wHStvVoEBouvbis4MMc81iUkRJJPsSDRu6uGYEPuwqG0uTnbbgbEeFvJYLontkokajjaOKHnVjgZ10VTiVaI1GBl7sM3b3/s1600/DSCN2271.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQjj4xzqWHSLIZ7jT85_pR3OH9hOiiJLXjG75hi3dYFjBZNiIKFqfm-0tnFrNeGVxjpECcRutCZHlEKARrhzlkcm0hmAu1UTm3FjRsL9_Nk0imsxL5QWewcbmc-k_fkixZI00lrh-xDa6/s1600/DSCN2279.JPG"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQjj4xzqWHSLIZ7jT85_pR3OH9hOiiJLXjG75hi3dYFjBZNiIKFqfm-0tnFrNeGVxjpECcRutCZHlEKARrhzlkcm0hmAu1UTm3FjRsL9_Nk0imsxL5QWewcbmc-k_fkixZI00lrh-xDa6/s1600/DSCN2279.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540679130420293858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQjj4xzqWHSLIZ7jT85_pR3OH9hOiiJLXjG75hi3dYFjBZNiIKFqfm-0tnFrNeGVxjpECcRutCZHlEKARrhzlkcm0hmAu1UTm3FjRsL9_Nk0imsxL5QWewcbmc-k_fkixZI00lrh-xDa6/s320/DSCN2279.JPG" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQjj4xzqWHSLIZ7jT85_pR3OH9hOiiJLXjG75hi3dYFjBZNiIKFqfm-0tnFrNeGVxjpECcRutCZHlEKARrhzlkcm0hmAu1UTm3FjRsL9_Nk0imsxL5QWewcbmc-k_fkixZI00lrh-xDa6/s1600/DSCN2279.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>It was a peaceful feeling to stand in the temple courtyard and look out to the west and see the sacred grove.<br /><br />The Church has a new stake center just a few blocks north of the Temple.</div></div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-68674355192698999722010-11-16T18:27:00.000-08:002010-11-16T19:13:37.254-08:00#3 The Sacred Grove<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhPYI9j5cvOfeQPRNRMVr6fSn2hbDnxmD3BGp9MZi6J3C4UBrsVvZsxaEzTavPt3uGAzdq8IDGbg8bA0B5ilViLT7a4pnHWWmwl49o-Q64rphdc2M1v5dNYTQ7VKrd_WhD_zuG9qTziNI/s1600/DSCN2229.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540340305299912146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhPYI9j5cvOfeQPRNRMVr6fSn2hbDnxmD3BGp9MZi6J3C4UBrsVvZsxaEzTavPt3uGAzdq8IDGbg8bA0B5ilViLT7a4pnHWWmwl49o-Q64rphdc2M1v5dNYTQ7VKrd_WhD_zuG9qTziNI/s320/DSCN2229.JPG" /></a><br />The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">guides</span> from the visitor center pointed out the trail to the Sacred Grove and then left us so we could walk the trail at our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">own</span> pace. As we walked down the trail toward the Sacred Grove, the fall leaves were so beautiful. They were falling on the ground all the way <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">down</span> the path which followed the log fence. The fence separated the barn and farm from the apple orchard. The fall colors were so brilliant in the sacred grove itself. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne</span> and I felt a quite <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">peaceful</span> feeling all around us as we walked through the grove together. We took a loop trail and soaked in the peaceful spiritual feeling by walking slowly and stopping to sit at some the benches to rest and to ponder.<br /><br /><div><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540341704748254434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK_1O4FxUzdjku2erIBVkL85gEJotZRyPiLrHp-hXJIgHDhaMNDirzclvyNvdRLbRMHcvNmvcczcFLu8HfpdPF38nlY_dtW7MTWtwKqVR6lfHLuSAYgSf7WbeLOTKXkCd6UZ-eeBLVf-O/s320/DSCN2247.JPG" />We tried to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">picture</span> what had happened there in the grove when <strong>God the Father and his son Jesus Christ appeared</strong> to answer Joseph's first vocal prayer. What an experience for Joseph and for us! </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7OuKY8M7f9-wuX48FhV29FCpMMxQuvX8mVDfaUBEeak_wkN-5is5XRKl8BgjV0HKRSUsRMa6oKtis5vFcpwdko-IUyogaBHdtJDtFzvRKPv8w5pTp2NPNUPlh1W9fwYzAdlPepqTtyQk/s1600/DSCN2244.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540341126257095858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7OuKY8M7f9-wuX48FhV29FCpMMxQuvX8mVDfaUBEeak_wkN-5is5XRKl8BgjV0HKRSUsRMa6oKtis5vFcpwdko-IUyogaBHdtJDtFzvRKPv8w5pTp2NPNUPlh1W9fwYzAdlPepqTtyQk/s320/DSCN2244.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7OuKY8M7f9-wuX48FhV29FCpMMxQuvX8mVDfaUBEeak_wkN-5is5XRKl8BgjV0HKRSUsRMa6oKtis5vFcpwdko-IUyogaBHdtJDtFzvRKPv8w5pTp2NPNUPlh1W9fwYzAdlPepqTtyQk/s1600/DSCN2244.JPG"></a> </div><div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbbwh02CgwSFu6csCd8WX8hJMQqC-WfsIv7IEEdBZVcDSt_5uHRtzRvCe_Zn-GRrK2jCjnTQmbOyUJym3J6gw_fvpFbBhnKF63VzhgjYnmsuv2Vq0l0gomwf5JYem62MrnK4J4JXSzD4r/s1600/DSCN2239.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540340640051716306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbbwh02CgwSFu6csCd8WX8hJMQqC-WfsIv7IEEdBZVcDSt_5uHRtzRvCe_Zn-GRrK2jCjnTQmbOyUJym3J6gw_fvpFbBhnKF63VzhgjYnmsuv2Vq0l0gomwf5JYem62MrnK4J4JXSzD4r/s320/DSCN2239.JPG" /></a>We were asked not to remove anything from the grove because it was such ground. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne's</span> knee was really sore, but she was a real trooper and we were grateful for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">experience</span> we had in the Sacred Grove together. I was glad we had an excuse to stop and let her rest so we could spend more time in the grove. It is truly sacred ground!<br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /> </div><br /><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnYyfPbroDT77wzH1fGfyXVev3UaMVpuVpauBUmEckTSq6XNfLc8wbGE6d4uu3iwq8AmIvrb0IHGmnQjJ0dHv8dvRi3hmiwGX7Mq0z12xuAJ68EnZNnNq2dZoj6wwwpGl_S9UQOUDMvL-/s1600/DSCN2261.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540342127895841362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnYyfPbroDT77wzH1fGfyXVev3UaMVpuVpauBUmEckTSq6XNfLc8wbGE6d4uu3iwq8AmIvrb0IHGmnQjJ0dHv8dvRi3hmiwGX7Mq0z12xuAJ68EnZNnNq2dZoj6wwwpGl_S9UQOUDMvL-/s320/DSCN2261.JPG" /></a><br /> Also, we must remember, that somewhere on the Smith farm, "In a grove of trees where the Smith's often went in secret prayer", is where the Angle Moroni showed the gold <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">plate's</span> to the eight witnesses of the Book of Mormon and let them handle the plates. </div><br /><div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>Aren't the trees beautiful? We will never forget our time in the Sacred Gove or the feelings we had there. </div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-85464196504358644722010-11-15T07:36:00.000-08:002010-11-16T18:11:18.056-08:00#2 The Smith Frame Home<div><div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30CwEmSQxSR85CsRrVCccxLvTezHTtZ4SFNwL31VxaaLlYjdUWH6RFpF9yKY9yxQycDfDUGO7SjokCwlWdN0bRS6y-KsVbLmFQkwzg-bXywXvczz09tCTQbXFN6Y9pqIjkaQPVn6qLgid/s1600/DSCN2219.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540328270719679314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30CwEmSQxSR85CsRrVCccxLvTezHTtZ4SFNwL31VxaaLlYjdUWH6RFpF9yKY9yxQycDfDUGO7SjokCwlWdN0bRS6y-KsVbLmFQkwzg-bXywXvczz09tCTQbXFN6Y9pqIjkaQPVn6qLgid/s320/DSCN2219.JPG" /></a></div><div>Next we went to the Smith Frame Home, which is just down the road a bit and across the street. This is the home that Alvin started building for his parents. Alvin became ill and while on his death bed asked the family to finish building the home for his parents. This the family did. Joseph really loved Alvin. Alvin was a special person. Joseph was told to take Alvin with him to receive the gold plates. But because of the death of Alvin, Joseph was told to take his wife Emma to receive the gold plates.<br /><br />While living in this home, Joseph had the gold plates and was busy translating them. Joseph hid them for a while under the brick stones in the hearth. There was a small room upstairs where the two young sisters shared the same bed. One night the plates were hidden from a mob by placing the plates in bed, in between the girls. The Smith family lived in the home for only three of fours years. Because of financial difficulties, they had to move back into the old log home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYtsAqgsgRd1vsVEpj3KyZzaYt2MXkMXF0XK6S47az6KM0YrTCVDaJga63LeKtyRa5ZWxlEizTohPZpu2P0mAkSSJA_3DuPSw5_rV6l3HiPxkSH2tHjYXK0QpNKACmWKrXSmPknOMLuhj/s1600/DSCN2227.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540329969572509362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYtsAqgsgRd1vsVEpj3KyZzaYt2MXkMXF0XK6S47az6KM0YrTCVDaJga63LeKtyRa5ZWxlEizTohPZpu2P0mAkSSJA_3DuPSw5_rV6l3HiPxkSH2tHjYXK0QpNKACmWKrXSmPknOMLuhj/s320/DSCN2227.JPG" /></a><br />Right across the street from the Smith frame home there is a nice barn where they put their animals and farm equipment. Joseph hid the plates up in the rafters of the barn one night and the mob couldn’t find them.<br /><br />The main street to Palmyra used to be the street where the Smiths farm is. The log home was on one side of the busy street and the new Frame home was on the other side of the street. We learned from Newell, that when the Church purchased the Smith Farm Homes and the Sacred Grove, they asked the City of Palmyra if they would move the road to the east so that the old existing road could be used as a walking path by the visitors that would come to see the farm and the Sacred Grove. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1Di7s4uvQd550P7DR0LoWrvZGZ3g_MkzwkmQtVND6stQbtXRmQjIjztuIf4yjVB4Lw7FUW-HRkYkbvsFwUqVZDRRdX2ZhEKF-kUKulNSwW-yVp6YEGqgYU_FeZcaqA13U93MVUW_6Z1G/s1600/DSCN2315.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 11px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 8px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540331782008055426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1Di7s4uvQd550P7DR0LoWrvZGZ3g_MkzwkmQtVND6stQbtXRmQjIjztuIf4yjVB4Lw7FUW-HRkYkbvsFwUqVZDRRdX2ZhEKF-kUKulNSwW-yVp6YEGqgYU_FeZcaqA13U93MVUW_6Z1G/s320/DSCN2315.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_13QpRQY9cEF2oA5OCDKgDxGaIU3LTL4Kp2JFCg8H0eThpjeekluUsgXVWtIq28lXHrlK4v_wG9hiHmHnDvX4HoCRPEfipv9UVUrCj46Ng8Mgxg9ht9JWbLLIc6W_W03ccjQ2Wif-PURD/s1600/DSCN2314.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540333725051076562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_13QpRQY9cEF2oA5OCDKgDxGaIU3LTL4Kp2JFCg8H0eThpjeekluUsgXVWtIq28lXHrlK4v_wG9hiHmHnDvX4HoCRPEfipv9UVUrCj46Ng8Mgxg9ht9JWbLLIc6W_W03ccjQ2Wif-PURD/s320/DSCN2314.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>An agreement was finally made with the city that they would move the road if the Church would give them their Stake Center. The City wanted it so they could use it as a City Hall. The Church agreed and we have pictures of the old Stake Center – New Palmyra City Hall. It is just to the northeast of the Smith farm. If you look a map of the Palmyra area you can see how the new bends out away from the Smith farm for short ways and then back again to bypass the Smith Farms.</div></div></div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-67890627517785022852010-11-12T09:17:00.000-08:002010-11-17T19:19:09.881-08:00#1 Our Trip to Palmyra, New York<div><div><div><div>I have decided to start typing up the experiences that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne</span> and I had on our trip to Palmyra and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kirtland</span>. These posts could take a while to get <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">everyting</span> written. I will divide them into smaller pieces and post them as I get them ready. We had such a great trip we just have to share what we felt, what we saw and what we learned. Most of our children have already been there before us. We would like to sit down with them and compare notes and their feelings of their trips. Anyway I am starting with this post.<br /><br />October 15, 2010 – <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh360scbiZpkgiEiQx5ZqhSRucZaF1EMndC8nwBdpvam-Nhv-U8qgCxU8MsYvODA4j2oPY2KVhbLRtqNZ58mxctd8VNRGavl9orKotoUkIyqUzw68lMDjJeGFTHSgDVUNfrEOJaEEg2pVzQ/s1600/DSCN2183.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540722985829406450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh360scbiZpkgiEiQx5ZqhSRucZaF1EMndC8nwBdpvam-Nhv-U8qgCxU8MsYvODA4j2oPY2KVhbLRtqNZ58mxctd8VNRGavl9orKotoUkIyqUzw68lMDjJeGFTHSgDVUNfrEOJaEEg2pVzQ/s320/DSCN2183.JPG" /></a>Friday – <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne</span> and I got up early and drove to Jared’s house. He was good enough to take us to the Salt Lake airport, drop us off and take our car back to his house while we were gone.<br /><br />We met <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne</span>’s cousin Kimball <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Harward</span> and his wife, Maxine at the airport. We flew on a Sky West commuter plane from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">SLC</span> to Denver. From there we flew on a United 767 to Chicago and then got on a United Flight to Rochester, New York. That was the biggest airplane I have ever been on and it was packed. In Rochester we met <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Newell</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Harward</span>, his wife Gloria, Thomas <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Axtel</span> and his wife Joni. They took us to our hotel in Rochester where we stayed for two nights.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7z-vB6I4EQGVhGm_TF20mBBI_V7_mqrPCKOnRJJzYMw-0BVWE51KORVEDh1rhrD8eM61tEZwxekUzVbZxRbW4cG01E8sgCc2Y4FmG3Z-uEn7vSlsRO11B86_OP324VyVWyMJQfgbGYMC/s1600/DSCN2179.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540722844821688850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7z-vB6I4EQGVhGm_TF20mBBI_V7_mqrPCKOnRJJzYMw-0BVWE51KORVEDh1rhrD8eM61tEZwxekUzVbZxRbW4cG01E8sgCc2Y4FmG3Z-uEn7vSlsRO11B86_OP324VyVWyMJQfgbGYMC/s320/DSCN2179.JPG" /></a><br />October 16, 2010 – Saturday – We went to breakfast in Palmyra. When we went to get back into the van, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne</span> re-extended her knee. Not a good way to start our trip! We went to the visitor center on the Smith Family Farm.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hyrum</span> purchased the ground just north of his father’s farm. The Smith’s log home was actually built on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hyrum</span>’s land. Although <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hyrum</span>’s land bordered his father’s land, it was in a different county and the county <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">doesn</span>’t require two set of steps to the upper level (for exits) for public buildings like they do in the ot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwM3gQtnn2VREeDX7WcjDRvAqMvx7fnnA1JmkiVLCTWUIJT46cAnl6loJvWBCkjiEV-tptvGkBoZfPg0c9F1W2fQbaYQ5If675_pUJy7a8TWgNOwYJWUrBqmKSzyUEsenDERU1qCGzypX/s1600/DSCN2192.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540722686298557938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwM3gQtnn2VREeDX7WcjDRvAqMvx7fnnA1JmkiVLCTWUIJT46cAnl6loJvWBCkjiEV-tptvGkBoZfPg0c9F1W2fQbaYQ5If675_pUJy7a8TWgNOwYJWUrBqmKSzyUEsenDERU1qCGzypX/s320/DSCN2192.JPG" /></a>her homes in county where Joseph Smith Sr.’s farm was. So we were able to go to the second floor of the Smith’s log home but not the upper floor of the Smiths Frame home which is in the other county.<br /><br />We went into the Smith Family log Cabin, which has been reconstructed on the original foundation. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The upper floor is where Moroni visited Joseph Smith in his bedroom area. There were other Smith children sleeping in the same room, but only Joseph was privileged to see and hear the message of Moroni. For <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne</span> and me, it was a special feeling to be the room where the Angle Moroni appeared three times. We could feel the spirit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc9XgTeJ_QY0sJ5ezMENBuwmFDufRc3pvajCvQuPrqZL8GwcyxC-cwYaAIbcXBEoivnfAgq79WewD9HaJwq-dmKiH9urfw8zIMbTRTJSM5oC5mdKe9l1iXG-1RA8zgmh8K0ATcD2f3dwu/s1600/DSCN2195.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540722487547789986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmc9XgTeJ_QY0sJ5ezMENBuwmFDufRc3pvajCvQuPrqZL8GwcyxC-cwYaAIbcXBEoivnfAgq79WewD9HaJwq-dmKiH9urfw8zIMbTRTJSM5oC5mdKe9l1iXG-1RA8zgmh8K0ATcD2f3dwu/s320/DSCN2195.JPG" /></a> there. It was there that the latter day gospel restoration really began.</div></div></div></div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-56409565563379109692010-11-11T10:42:00.000-08:002010-11-11T10:51:17.921-08:00Blessing Baby MichaelJust a quick post to say how neat it was to have all of the family attend the blessing of Michael. It was great to see everyone together again and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">enjoying</span> each <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">others</span> company. It was also nice to talk with and get to know Jones family a little better. Family is great!<br /><br />We hope to see all of you at Tori and Garth's home this weekend for another good time!TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-45572805389028065952010-09-23T14:30:00.000-07:002010-09-23T14:33:07.063-07:00Eating Purple Huckleberries - A Taste to Die for.The scriptures tell us that Michael, Adam, Eve and all of us lived a pre-mortal existence. The name Michael really caught my attention because Michael is the name Garrett and Hayley have chosen for their new baby, who will soon be born. <br /><br />Anyway, the scriptures tell us that Adam and Eve were the first people on this earth. When the time was right, God placed them on earth in a Garden of Eden, which He had prepared for them. God made sure it was warm and clean. The beauty of the Garden surpassed anything we can imagine. It was full of friendly animals that didn’t fight with or eat other animals. The garden was supplied with all kinds of flowers, shrubs, fruits, vegetables and trees. The cupboards and freezers were full of food.<br /><br />My thought was this: If Adam and Eve got to come to this earth and their first home was a Garden of Eden, would Garrett and Hayley’s little Michael also get to come to this earth and have his first home be a Garden of Eden? What about the rest of us? Could we consider ourselves as Adam or as Eve and be blessed as they were, to have a Garden of Eden waiting for us when we first got to this earth? That got my brain gears clicking.<br /><br />I decided my answer was yes. Garrett and Hayley have prepared a garden or room just for Michael. DeAnne and I did the same thing for our children. Father’s and mother’s everywhere prepare a special place for their newborns to come. A place where they will be very comfortable and have all that they need to be safe and be able to enjoy this world. <br /><br />Like Adam and Eve, when the time is right, we are placed by our parents into our very own Garden of Eden. It is full of friendly stuffed animals that don’t fight with other animals. Their Garden is also stocked well, with clothes, diapers, formula, and food. The garden may have all kinds of flowers, shrubs, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and all kinds of trees. <br /><br />Just like Adam and Eve, we discover all the things we are enjoying have been given to us by our parents as gifts. We don’t have to pay for anything. We have ice cream every night with our Father and Mother. Our parents give us some rules. For example, they tell us we can enjoy ice cream for eternity, or as long as we eat it while they are with us and we stay in their garden. We, like Adam and Eve are told, “You can partake of all things in the garden, the house, the cupboard, and the freezer, and the ice cream, but of the fruit of the Huckleberry Bush, you shall not eat! Nevertheless, you may choose for yourself, but if you partake of it, you will turn purple and surely die.” <br /><br />That gets our attention real fast! What do they mean, we will surely die? That sounds pretty serious. What do huckleberries do to us? What do they taste like anyway? Why did Father put huckleberry bushes in our garden and show us where He planted them if He didn’t want us to eat some of them? How do our parents know that huckleberries have a taste to die for? Have they tasted huckleberries before?<br /><br />As we grow older we hear kids at school and advertisements on TV saying, “You should try huckleberries! They are delicious to the taste and very desirable. Yes, they are very expensive, but you’re worth it.” <br /><br />One day we take a stroll down past the huckleberry patch and we catch our brother, Lucifer, picking some of the forbidden fruit. He eats them right in front of us and smacks his lips with pleasure. Caught in the act of disobeying Father and Mother, he offers us some huckleberries. We tell Lucifer we’re not going to eat any, because if we do, we will choke, turn purple and die. Lucifer says, “You’re not going to die!” He sounds pretty sure of himself and he doesn’t look like he is dieing. He tells us, “Look, if you don’t eat some huckleberries with me, when Father and Mother come home they will notice some of huckleberries are missing and I will tell them you ate the huckleberries.”<br /><br />Now faced with two choices, who do we choose to please? A big brother who is holding the forbidden fruit right in front of our nose, or our Father who is not home at the time? We decide to have our first taste of the forbidden purple fruit. They taste so, so good! It is different than anything we have tasted before. They are almost immediately habit forming. We want more of that purple fruit so we continue picking huckleberries. They would taste great on ice cream. As we eat, we also realize we didn’t die! <br /><br />Then we hear the voice of our Father. He’s coming home to our Garden of Eden! Lucifer says, “Quick, hide. Father will see your purple tongues and lips. We hide. Father calls out to us two or three times before we decide we better come out and speak to him. He asks, in a loving voice, “Where were you?” We tell him we hid ourselves because we have purple tongues and lips. He looks at our face and asks, “Who told you you have purple tongues and lips? Have you partaken of the forbidden purple fruit, that I told you not to eat? And of course we admit what we have done and tell our Father, “The Devil made me do it.”<br /><br />Father explains the rules to us again. He looks at our hands and they have turned purple too. He explains that the fruit is good, but because we ate it when he asked us not to, we have broken an eternal law that was irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of the world. We have broken the law of our Forefathers and we will need to leave their presence. What we have done has made us unclean, and he has no choice. He is going to have to boot us out of our Garden of Eden. We can no longer live with him because he cannot look upon purple with the least degree of allowance and we are covered with purple everywhere. Will the purple infection spread to other part of our body and kill us?<br /><br />We will suffer a spiritual death when we leave the presence of God. Then we realize we won’t be able to have any more ice cream either! Suddenly we realize without ice cream we will surely die! Satan, the kids at school and the TV lied to us! <br /><br />A loving Father and Mother then give us some good news. All is not lost, but we are going to have to pay a price for our actions in ways we never understood before. But we can still talk to Father and Mother; we just won’t be able to see them and hug them. They will need to place a veil between us and them.<br /><br />Father will send us messengers that will tell us how to return to His presence. We just need take a bath, (get baptized) and clean up our act, (sacrament). If we talk to Heavenly Father every day, read the books he gives to us every day, (scriptures), and listen to His messengers, (apostles, prophets and the Holy Ghost), we will find our way back into His presence. <br /><br />We are given more good news. We are told our older Brother, Jesus, loves us so much he has agreed to pay the price of the purple fruit that we ate! How can he do that? We are saddened to hear the price Jesus must pay, but we are so grateful for his willingness to do that for us. He must love us as much as Father and Mother! We must learn more about Jesus and develop the same love for Him that he has shown to us.<br /><br />Eating the huckleberries has actually given us a knowledge of something that tastes wonderful. Father tells us, if we are willing to search for and listen to his messengers, they will show us how to find and eat huckleberries that they don’t leave us with dirty purple hands, lips and tongues. He will show us secrete hidden patches of huckleberries and give us other sweet experiences that will give us knowledge, feed our souls and purify our hearts.<br /><br />After we have taken our bath and done our washings, Mother will show us her secrete huckleberry recipes and show us how to make huckleberry pie, and huckleberry cheesecake.<br /><br />Father promises us he will show us how to bottle huckleberries and seal them up so that we can latter put them on ice cream, and the two together will become an everlasting treat for us and our families. If we keep our hands, lips and tongues clean, our hearts will become pure and clean also. Then we will be worthy to again enter Father’s presence. There are no loopholes or shortcuts. We cannot partake of the new sealed fruit until Father permits us.<br /><br />Father also lets us know that he has set a security system around the temple of sealed ice cream, the treat of eternal life. He tells us if we go near this fruit, before he recommends us, alarms will go off and angels with flaming swords will stop us from returning to the temple of ice cream. We need to repent, serve others, and be WILLING to keep all of Fathers commandments. Then He will recommend us to the angels and they will let us pass by their flaming swords. After all of that, we can partake of the new and everlasting treat, and return to Father’s presence. We will be able to open the bottle of sealed huckleberries with our Father and Mother, put them on top of their eternal treat of ice cream and enjoy the blessings of the sealed fruit. We will also be shown the secret of partaking of this sealed fruit with our children and grandchildren. <br /><br />See what Michael brought to my attention? I love my family! I hope we have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to understand. (Isaiah 6:10)TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-22535841536731599682010-05-26T13:31:00.000-07:002010-05-26T13:58:10.179-07:00Memories of MomMom loved a good joke!<br /><br />I was thinking of Mom last night before I fell to sleep and I had another one of those dreams where things seemed so real. In my dream, I had a near-death experience that I’m sure will change me forever. I went horseback riding one day and everything was going fine until the horse started running and bucking out of control. I tried with all my might to hang on, but was thrown off. Just when I thought things could not possibly get any worse, I realized my foot had become caught in the stirrup. When this happened, I fell head first to the ground. My head continued to bounce over the bumps harder and harder, as the horse would not stop or even slow down. Just as I was giving up hope and felt I would surely die ... a thoughtful K-Mart manager came out and pulled the plug.<br /><br />Seriously, I have had several thoughts and reflections about my mother since she passed away on the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th of May 2010</span>. I spoke about some of my memories of her at the funeral. Of course there are several others, but I have had a hard time deciding which ones I want to share with the world. <br /><br />Mom was a very special person. She was a sweet daughter of God. I have a hard time talking about Mom because it brings back some tender memories and feelings. If I don't keep this a bit on the light side, I won't be able to see through the tears.<br /><br />Mom was the one that taught me the gospel. She taught me how to pray. She taught me self worth, right and wrong and was always building me and my weak ego. She is the one that worked and saved up her money to take us on the only extended vacation that I can remember. We went by car, up through northern Idaho, Salmon, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Coeur</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">d'Alene</span>, the Grand Coulee Dam, Flat Head Lake, Glacier and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Waterton</span> Parks, the Canadian border, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Cardston</span>, Alberta Temple. On the way home we visited with Dad’s sister Ruby and her family. Great memories!<br /><br />Mom always expected me to go on a mission. She and I painted several homes and four-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">plexus</span>, together to get enough money for my mission. We worked very hard together and had some great talks and experiences. I knew she loved me and I loved her.<br /><br />Mom had a great sense of humor. She always loved a good clean joke and I loved to hear her little chuckle and her fabulous smile when she laughed. I think she would have enjoyed this one about the life after death.<br /><br />Two men died and went to heaven. God greeted them, and said "I'm sorry, gentlemen, but your mansions aren't ready yet. Until they are, I can send you back to Earth as whatever you want to be."<br />"Great!" said the first guy, "I want to be an eagle soaring above beautiful scenery!"<br />"No problem," replied God, and POOF! The guy was gone.<br />"And what do you want to be," God asked the other guy.<br />"I'd like to be one cool stud!" was the reply.<br />"Easy," replied God, and the other guy was gone.<br />After a few months, their mansions were finished, and God sent an angel to fetch them back. "You'll find them easily," he says, "One of them is soaring above the Grand Canyon, and the other one is on a snow tire somewhere in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Rexburg</span>!"<br /><br />I love you Mom and we will all miss you, but we are so blessed to know you on this earth and we know you are still alive, having new experiences every day and happy to be with your family that has gone before you.<br /><br />Save a place for us!TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-84627013247252689632010-04-09T09:09:00.000-07:002010-04-10T06:36:38.373-07:00We are Home Owners AgainWell, I didn't think we would ever own a home again, but yesterday we closed on the loan. Now we are in debt, to a bank, like most of the people in the world. (sigh.) We have enjoyed most of our time here in the condo, and have had some good neighbors and good experiences in our ward.<br /><br />We want to thank Garrett and Hayley for putting up with us for the past year and a half. It was the place we were suppose to be so we could help my Mom and Dad with their yard and finances. But Mom and Dad have moved on and our neighbors, here in the condo have changed. We are excited to be out from under the smokers, drinkers and party goers in our condo.<br /><br />We have taken advantage of a great opportunity, with real estate prices being down and the tax credit that is being offered. When we combined that with a 4.75 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">interest</span> rate, we knew we would never have a better time to buy.<br /><br />We will packing on April 16<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span></span> and moving on the 17<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span></span>. Garth is being good to us by bringing his toy hauler down to us to help us move. He said he is going to park it at our condo on Thursday, April 15<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span></span>, so we can start hauling things out to it.<br /><br />We really need as much help as we can get. The older we get, the slower we move and the shorter our endurance. So please come and help us move! We really can't do it without loads of help. Every single helper will help tons. (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Literally</span>)<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">DeAnne</span> and I want to thank our family for all of your love, prayers and support. We can't tell you of all the small miracles that have happened along the way to getting this new home. We feel it is where the Lord is guiding us to live for the few years we have left.<br /><br />James is amazing! If you even think about moving or know anyone who is, James will give you and your friends, all he has and it will be the best experience you have ever had in buying or selling real estate. He has done both for us! We have nothing but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">praise</span> for James. I'm sure you and your friends will have the same great experience with James as we have had. Thank James!TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-71021338580310826792010-03-10T10:33:00.000-08:002010-03-18T10:16:00.816-07:00We are under contract with a new house!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY7awxkwPYMJ5F8kCozXeFTgHCmEdpycmMjXPqw7AAqnRMcg9nxPv7JzZTDxRl3jeY_gENiaLk4n6VBUYy6F46ydSPDU9ECAzVaeClcFyM9glVDGziPiQyxyj4os-huVlk6vxHZkOesic/s1600-h/DSCN0734.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450023734128441602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY7awxkwPYMJ5F8kCozXeFTgHCmEdpycmMjXPqw7AAqnRMcg9nxPv7JzZTDxRl3jeY_gENiaLk4n6VBUYy6F46ydSPDU9ECAzVaeClcFyM9glVDGziPiQyxyj4os-huVlk6vxHZkOesic/s320/DSCN0734.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Let me start out with a message to Garrett and Hayley. I have tried to call you guys, but no one answers your cell phone. All your cell phone will do is put me to your voice mail. I have left messages in an attempt to let you know before we announce this to the rest of the kids. We want to give you as much notice as we possibly can about the time frame when we expect to be moving, so you can make other arrangements for what you want to do with your condo at Oak Meadows. Maybe you will read this if you are not getting those phone messages. We hope you are enjoying your time in Chicago! Hopefully this post will not dampen your time there.<br /><br />We got word last night that we are under contract for a new home. We are excited about it! We expect to have the closing in about 30 days from now. We have some painting to do and we want to replace some carpet before we move into the new house. We can’t do anything to the house until after the closing, so we hope to have all the repairs done to the new house and all the cleaning done at the Condo, and moved out by the end of April.<br /><br />We will need lots of help to get everything moved, so we hope you won’t all start planning ways of being out of town! That is just a joke; we know you will all help us, just as you have always done in the past. We really appreciate all of you!<br /><br />We are having an inspection done on the house this coming Friday.<br /><br />If any of you are in town and want to see the house on Saturday, let us know. I’m not sure where we are holding FHE this Sunday. If FHE is here in town you could see the house on Sunday. If FHE is at Tiff and Mike’s, Saturday may work better.<br /><br /><br />We love all you all!</div>TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-68568137337019202132010-02-17T13:59:00.000-08:002010-02-17T14:01:54.197-08:00The wind has been taken from our sailsWe didn't get the house we were so wanting. Bummer!! We are getting too old for this kind of drama! But we won't give up. Thanks for all of your support!TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-60434282633365505392010-02-16T12:30:00.000-08:002010-02-16T12:32:21.686-08:00We are looking for a new home!Tension is building as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DeAnne</span> and I are turning in an offer on a home in W. J. tonight. We really fell in love with this house. <br /><br />Can we ask that you join with us and pray that our offer will be the one they accept? We will have their answer by tomorrow, Wednesday the 17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> at 2 pm.TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3463286502491858153.post-57132050663905487802010-01-27T14:49:00.000-08:002010-01-27T14:54:29.306-08:00What should I Invest In?It has been a long time since I posted anything. Things have been very busy at work and by the time I get home, I just want to relax for awhile and go to bed. Every new customer we have wants to get their time clocks up and running for the new year.<br /><br />I have been trying to figure out how to invest the money form Mom’s house to make it last longer. I thought it would be fun to get some feedback from anyone that is reading this blog. You tell me which one you would use. Just for fun let’ say I have $100,000 to invest. So here are my choices. <br /><br /><br />1. Put it in a bank Savings account and draw 1% interest. This would give us pretty much a guaranteed amount of about 1 grand per year.<br /><br />2. Put it into a money market account at 2% and get 2 grand a year. No risk.<br /><br />3, Put it into a CD at 2.5% and get $2,500 per year, but there will be a penalty for early withdrawal, if we need the money.<br /><br />4. Put it into Bonds. There is risk here and you could loose the principle, but there is also a chance at earning two or three times as much as you can in a CD.<br /><br />5. Stocks: Tremendous upside and also a risk of loosing some of the principle. You would also need to have help in selecting the stocks. (Newsletters cost from $150 per year to $1,500 per year, and who knows how good they are.) (See next option for return on investment estimates.)<br /><br />6. Mutual Funds: Let the fund manager select the stocks and move them around for me. Tremendous upside but also a risk of loosing some of the principle. (Then I would just need a newsletter to tell me which sector of mutual funds to invest in. $150 to $450 per year.) I saw a list that shows the last 20 years with of the average stock gain/loss for each month of the year. Using this list as a guide, the average gain per year would be $12,931 per year.<br /><br />7. I went to a meeting with Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Krohn</span>, who is the founder of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">REIC</span> (Real Estate Investment Club). Real Estate is not liquid, but he says he can show you how to have a monthly income from Real Estate, without being a landlord. Has anyone heard about him or his company? I would be interested in anything you have heard, good or bad.<br /><br />We are paying about $52,000 per year for the Care Center.<br /><br />So, there are the choices. What would you invest in?TheFirstWardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12261895287742886139noreply@blogger.com2