Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Posted at 6 a.m. and leaving St. George to drive north at 7 a.m.! Last night we had the wonderful blessing of being present when our grandson Jake was set apart to be a missionary in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission, not very far from where his brother Ben is on a mission in Taiwan.  They will both be out 11 months at the same time.  Today we will go to the Jordan River Temple and the Salt Lake Temple with him and his mother Anita, and then put him in the MTC tomorrow. This is our granddaughter Skye's profile on Mormon.org.  You can find it by going to: www.mormon.org/me/FDSG/Skye Hi I'm Skye I am a Japanese anime and manga lover, I love to draw, write books, living life to the fullest, and serving the Lord I'm a Mormon. About Me I like to read and write stories. I love to draw anime and manga and learn about Japan and it's unique culture. I play the piano and violin and love music. I am the oldest of 7 kids and love them all deeply. I am currently s...

I love this article I read yesterday!  And as soon as I post it, I'll be doing "Italian Indexing"!  Our stake was given the challenge to learn to do Italian Indexing a couple of years ago.  We were then Stake Indexing Coordinators, and I put together several pages with instructions on how to learn to do it.  I don't speak Italian, but I have learned just enough to do indexing (such as names of months, numbers up to 31 for months, etc. )and love to do indexing, helping to get names ready when the Rome Temple is completed.   An internet site with an Italian phone book is especially helpful to check surnames.  Please e mail me if you want the instruction pages sent to you.  Anyone can do it! New post on  Brian Mickelson.... Why “I’ll Do Family History When I’m Retired” Doesn’t Cut It Anymore… by  BJM For years I've heard people say "No, I haven't really done any family history. I always figured ...

   AREN'T WE GRATEFUL FOR THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD? !  Today we are going to spend the day with the newest Melchizedek Priesthood holder in our family -- our grandson whose farewell today precedes his going into the MTC Wednesday to go to Indonesia, Jakarta.  (See the previous blog telling about him.)   Having a Priesthood blessing is often the main thing that helps us get through the challenges, health problems, etc. that we all have.  I am so grateful for the blessings I have had, and I'm sure I will need, and appreciate receiving them in the future.  Who knows what each of us will face in life?  But with Priesthood blessings, we can face and learn from them. This was from Meridian Magazine today, and is an interesting example --- Finding a Melchizedek Priesthood Holder in the Galilee By  Scot Facer Proctor  Aug 09, 2014 We are currently in Israel for our last photographic shoot for the 100 th  Anniversary ...

Today, I decided to write a few personal things, about my life, and lives of close family members.   I truly respect and admire all you converts who have had the faith and courage to accept the Gospel and be the pioneer in your own family.  I happen to come from early LDS pioneers, and 19 of either my or my husband's ancestors personally knew the Prophet Joseph Smith.  They gave up family wealth, and much more to follow the truth.   I am eternally grateful to each of them, and your posterity (new converts) will be to you.  Yes, there are some other descendants of the same ancestors who don't value the heritage they were born with, and that makes me very sad.  I continue to pray that my own posterity will value the testimonies which have come down from their grand fathers and mothers.  The top picture is of my paternal grandmother whom I was named after, and the one below is of my great grandfather who was in the Zion's Camp group.   ...

This "election day fight" was on August 6th, 1838.  Brother John Butler mentioned was my 2nd great grandfather.  The story below was written in the History of the Church.  At the end, I'll include some of his own writing about the event.  ( See January 10, 2014, Blog # 66 for more about his life. ) August 6, 1838 - The citizens of Far West met in the afternoon at the schoolhouse for the purpose of organizing a weekly newspaper with Sidney Rigdon as editor. It was also voted that a petition be circulated to locate the county seat at Far West. The Prophet Joseph spoke and encouraged their efforts and also encouraged the farmers to come into the city to live while continuing to work their farms outside the city "according to the order of God."  Meanwhile, to the north of Far West, in Daviess County, fifty to one hundred Missourians refuse to let approximately thirty Latter-day Saints vote in the state and county elections at Gallatin, Missouri. There was a fi...

This is an excellent article that first was published in LDS Living in 2011.  It gives sound counsel about when a missionary comes home early, and how to be a help and support to them. When a Missionary Returns Early AARON OLSEN - 7 HOURS AGO A missionary’s return is meant to be a joyous occasion. But it doesn't always happen that way. It is the mark of a job well done, of two years of sacrifice devoted to God and others. Homecoming for a returned missionary should be a time for family gathering, congratulations, and reflection. For me, it was quite different—depression and bipolar disorder sent me home before my 10th month was up.  That doesn’t stop others from treating me like I am somehow less than I should be. For thousands of missionaries who come home early—whether due to rule infractions, health issues, or emotional struggles—much of the trauma lies in the treatment given by well-intentioned friends and neighbors. Conclusion and Consequence After r...

Just some thoughts about keeping ourselves unspotted from the world!  Happy Sunday to all! Latter Day Light DAILY DEVOTION _________________________ Sabbath Day Nauvoo, Illinois August 3, 2014 SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Doctrine & Covenants 59:9-10   "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; for verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High ."   QUOTE OF THE DAY:   John Taylor    "We meet together, as intelligent beings, desirous of understanding something of our common origin, our present existence, and our future destiny. We meet to find out something in relation to our Heavenly Father, in relation to his providential dealings with the human family, in relation to his policy and designs pertaining to us, and in relation to the object of ...