Choices

Another quote

"The choices we make determine our destiny."
--Thomas S Monson, "Choose You This Day", Ensign, November 2004 pg. 67

A quote I'd like to enlarge on, but not tonight.

New Franklin Idaho Stake presidency

The stake presidency for the Franklin Idaho Stake was released today. They have served almost 10 years. It doesn't seem possible. I don't even remember who the stake president was before. President Reid Carlson has been the stake president. He has retired, but has been principal of the elementary school & then they called him back from retirement to be the principal of the high school. His 1st counselor was Ed Moser & 2nd counselor was Doug Porter, my cousin.

Last night the Whitney 2nd  Ward Choir was asked to sing in the Saturday evening session by request of President Carlson. He walked up on the stand, saw us sitting there & gave us 2 thumbs up :)

We sang "How Great Thou Art" & another number I can't think of right now. Beautiful hymns. Connie Merrill, the choir director, does such a good job of picking out songs to sing. It helps, too, that Dr. David Beckstead gave the choir a "budget." With money, Connie can now buy folders & sheet music. Don & Dr. Beckstead are our tenors, Don-Mike sings baritone. I'm supposed to be singing alto, but ... I'm just up there lip-syncing, LOL.

The new stake presidency is Lane Peterson, president; Chad Womack, 1st counselor; Robert Child, 2nd counselor. Robert is a neighbor & in our ward. He sang in the choir with us last night. He was so calm, yet he had to have known he had just been called to be a counselor in the new stake presidency.

Even more quotes

On my Facebook page I have the following quote:

"I am just glad that God is still in control no matter who is in the White House."

Not sure where I got it now, but see what Elder Neal A. Maxwell has to say:

"In a world filled with much laboring and striving in parliaments, congresses, agencies, and corporate offices, God's extraordinary work is most often done by ordinary people in the seeming obscurity of a home and family."

--Neal A. Maxwell (That My Family Should Partake [1974], 122
- available in The Collected Works of Neal A. Maxwell).

I saved this to see if I could find where I had posted about "politics" before, but I can't see where I have. I am tired of everyone making comments about President Barack Obama (by the way, Don-Mike & Don informed me I have been mispronouncing Pres. Obama's first name). I know I have made comments about the 12th Article of Faith - somewhere.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

In my talk in Sacrament meeting, I said that not only were we supposed to obey the Ten Commandments, but as members of the Church, we need to also obey the Articles of Faith. The President Reid Carlson, stake president, was there. He didn't get up & correct me, nor did he or the bishop chide me for teaching false doctrine after the meeting.

Then, another quote on obedience. I like this.

"As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms out, and walk with him."

--Marvin J. Ashton, "In His Strength," Ensign, July 1973, 24

I remember meeting Elder Ashton when he came to a stake conference, must have been 40 years ago. It was Preston 1st Ward's turn to hold junior Sunday School during stake conference. As a Sunday School teacher, I was in Sunday School that morning. Elder Ashton made a point to come to the children's meeting & talk to them. He spoke to each of the adults & shook our hands. In fact, I'm sure he shook each child's hand. The general session of stake conference started without him.

Scripture reading

The scriptures & thoughts I find in my reading never ceases to amaze me.

"Our Heavenly Father never gives up on us... But we must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the very foundation of our past beliefs and way of life... Our Father in Heaven will never take away our agency. We must seek after or desire to know our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ."

--Elder Ronald T. Halverson, "I Stand at the Door, and Knock," Ensign, November 2004, 32

I am reading in 1 Samuel in the Old Testament this month. I have come quite a ways in my Old Testament reading. The above quote reminds me of how the Lord continues to work with the Israelites, regardless of how many, many times they fall away.

It is not the Lord that moves away, it is us.

"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior."

--Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 2004, 79

My scripture reading has certainly helped me. I don't know my behavior has dramatically changed. I need to

"Remember that faith and obedience are still the answers, even when things go wrong, perhaps especially when things go wrong."

--Elder David E Sorensen, "Faith Is the Answer", May 2005 Ensign pg. 72

Recipe analogy

Saturday evening there was a terrible accident on John Palmer's Corner on HWY 91. An elderly man pulled out in front of a car on the highway. The speed limit is 65 mph. right there on the highway. Meryl Bloxham, 84, turned left off of 2400 East into the path of Sally Whitaker, 52, traveling north on HWY 91. Whitaker was driving a 2002 Toyota Camry & Bloxham was driving a 1970 Olds 88. All three occupants of the cars, Bloxham & his wife, Leora, 83, & Whitaker were transported by ambulance to Franklin County Medical Center.

Leora was in the passenger seat of their car. According to Elaine Dunkley, her visiting teacher, Bloxhams had just had supper at the Arctic Circle & were heading home. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary recently.

Nancy Dent, Elaine & I were talking Monday in the copy room at The Citizen. Someone made the comment, "What would we do without the gospel?" Elaine told us that she once told a non-member friend the gospel is like a recipe. Everyone has the same recipe, but we take it into our kitchen & everyone makes additions & subtractions. The dish never turns out exactly the same. I love the analogy.

Part of the chorus from McArthur Park has been running through my mind.

Someone left the cake out in the rain
and I don't think that I can take it
'cause it took so long to bake it
and I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

I know McArthur Park is a lover's lament & is written using symbolism, but ... the recipe analogy struck me. I had never thought of the gospel in that light. Thank-you Elaine

Devil's spawn

According to the Urban Dictionary the devil's spawn is

Someone who is pure evil; does evil things without reason.

I don't like the second definition, the child of someone who is viewed as evil. I actually called a man the spawn of the devil today. But I didn't mean either of his parents. I actually meant the son of Lucifer.

On Facebook I posted the following:

There really are some heartless bastards out there & I, unfortunately, ran into one today.

I actually ran into 2 or 3. I cried until I made myself sick, but not before I screamed & yelled so loud, my sons heard me & came to see if I was all right. I made it home before I lost it. I still have a headache & even making this post makes me want to start crying again & throw up.

Long story short. I'm not Don Quixote & I need to stop tilting at windmills. I'm not going to save the world or anyone in it. I may hasten someone out of it, if I'm not careful.

But, I cannot understand how someone can treat their mother so poorly. No names right now. I am just sick. I called the police last night & I called them again this afternoon. So, what does this do??? It's like I told the police last night & this afternoon, at least we have started a paper trail.

Then tonight, Don showed me Sammy has a swollen lower lip. It's midnight & what am I supposed to do?? These are cats!!! You don't collar cats & put them on a chain.

More quotes

More quotes from my Old Testament reading from ReadTheScrptures.com

"You can share your testimony in many ways, by the words you speak, by the example you set, by the manner in which you live your life."

--President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2005, 115

Cutest Blog on the Block

Guess I didn't look very hard. Just click on their logo & it takes you to their new website. I still think you have to change your template on Blogger though.

Blog designers

Ever since I started my blog I had decorated it with The Cutest Blog on the Block, but Blogger has a new feature called "Template Designer." You can read about it here at Delightful Dots. I've noticed some of my favorite blogs now have blank pages & a square box that says "This image or video has been moved or deleted" Photobucket. I tried to snag the graphic, but I can't. They all have The Cutest Blog on the Block backgrounds.
 
I found Delightful Dots & switched from my cool summer background. But I also changed my Blogger template to Picture Window. I didn't even go looking for The Cutest Blog on the Block, because I didn't want to take the time when Delightful Dots had some cute backgrounds too.