Thoughts and stories, by Pal

As I think about what to write about our wonderful 184th conference, I actually am still in such a reverent and thoughtful mood, that I can't express it.  I have such a strong testimony of our Prophet Thomas S. Monson, and his teachings, and all the teachings of the apostles and prophets, and the messages of all the General Authorities in Conference. I ran across a really good link where we can read about the talks given in the last 2 days:   ---- (You'll have to copy and paste to access them) http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/765651215/184th-Annual-General-Conference-talk-summaries-photos.html Also today, I enjoyed the messages in the Latter Day Devotion.  I have always loved the messages in the "King Follett Discourse" , and today marks an anniversary of when the Prophet Joseph Smith gave that wonderful talk.  My testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith is also that of my ancestors who knew him:  That JOSEPH SMITH WAS AND IS A PROPHET OF GOD ...

I love the excitement and inspiration of these two days!  Blessings to you all!  I pray you all will have your questions and needs answered with new inspiration and strengthened faith and help hasten this important work in the whole world! Latter Day Light DAILY DEVOTION __________________________ Work of the Temples Nauvoo, Illinois March 21, 2014 SCRIPTURES OF THE DAY: Malachi 4:5-6 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." QUOTE OF THE DAY:   Spencer W. Kimball "We wonder about our progenitors-grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, etc. What do they think of you and me? We are their offspring. We have the responsibility to do their temple work, and the beautiful temples of ...

This morning I read a blog I follow called "The Small Seed", and it has great ideas for preparing for our General Conference, which is in just 2 days!  Saturday and Sunday, April 5th and 6th.  This morning I went to a session in the St. George Temple to help prepare myself to be teachable and in tune. I may condense this some, but her ideas are great if you'd like to use any of them.  I have added highlights of my own -- Pal It can be found at  http://www.thesmallseed.com/   General Conference: Take 2     (Her title)      (I feel like this means we should take time out of our busy schedules to refill our "spiritual cups".  I plan to watch all of it, including -- as a woman -- the Priesthood Conference here at home while my husband goes with our son and grandsons. -- Pal's comment!)                  What a blessing to look forward to in the next few days ! ! ! Posted...

It has been 5 days since I have written in this blog, and a lot has happened!  I entered the last blog at 9:07 a.m., on March 27, 2014.  At that time our granddaughter Skye Nicholson was in the MTC, to prepare for her mission to Irvine, California.  Her family, (Parents and 5 sisters--all but her brother Caleb) were visiting at our home from Friday night until yesterday, Monday morning.  That is why I didn't write!     Skye had been on a "trial" mission of 12 weeks, from December 18, 2013, to March 11, 2014, and in the South Salt Lake Mission home we were there when she read her call to go to the California Irvine mission.  Because of her 12 weeks, when she entered the MTC just a week later on March 19th, she was a Senior companion, and a Sister Trainer leader there.  She is thrilled, and just this morning (April Fool's Day) she flew to Irvine.  Her first picture there is: We're not sure the names of these missionaries -- but O...

I ran across this article this morning from a blog called:  LDS S.M.I.L E.  You  can also follow it at:    http://www.ldssmile.com   (Copy and paste)             It stands for LDS Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal. I have copied it as it was in their blog.  In my title, I mentioned I have had a Personal Gethsemane, not once, but two times, both quite different.  They are extremely personal, and I will not go into them here.  Only some family members know, and not even some of whom are my dearest friends.  Some deep problems are very personal, and some are known by many people, and perhaps are mentioned in the media!  They are as diverse as our lives are! But I do know the only thing that allowed me to keep my faith, courage, and personal self control to go on with normal life was our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the comfort I felt from prayer, and yes -- Personal Priesthood blessings. ...

I guess from time to time I should tell some about our own lives, Pal and Wayne Eckman.   Actually my full name is Paralee Miles (maiden name) Eckman, and Wayne's is Wayne D Eckman.  I was born Oct. 6, 1934, in St. George, Utah and Wayne was born Sept. 18th, 1930, in Murray, Utah, just south of Salt Lake City, in the same valley.  I have noticed some of our readers live in foreign countries, and that is fascinating to me!  How small our wonderful world is!   And I truly feel love and friendship for each one of you, whether we have met or not.  That seems to be something that comes with membership in the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!     This photo was on our wedding day, Sept. 24, 1955.  Since then we now have nine children, 29 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. I grew up in St. George, when it was only about 5,000 people, and the Temple was on the south end of town.  Now it is in the center of town, wi...