Missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I came across and old book of my mother's, published in 1940.  At that time there were 31 missions of the church (group of about 299 missionaries directed by a mission president and his wife.)

Today their are 405 missions, and over 80,000 missionaries.  There are now over 15,000,000 Mormons through out the world.  Missionaries represent Jesus Christ, and testify of Jesus to all who will listen to their mission.  They bear testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored with prophets and apostles.  I bear my personal witness this is true, and invite those who would like to know more about the Mormon Church to invite the missionaries to teach them.  My son is serving in Iowa, and the thing he most enjoys is the bear witness of Jesus Christ.  You can request a missionary visit at this link:
http://mormon.org/missionaries

LDS video: Christ the Creator: Neal A. Maxwell

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-012-christ-the-creator?lang=eng

I like what Neal A Maxwell says about getting above the secular smog so we can see things as they truly are.   I think sometimes we let ourselves get caught up in daily secular live and lose our vision.  May we revere Jesus Christ as the creator of the world.

Life in Manteca 85: Manteca Mural Project

http://mantecamurals.org/murals.html
There has been more art added to our community in the past few months.  This first is a very long mural of a softball game.  The perspectives are very interesting.  This is by the gazebo at the library park.  It shows the young women playing and the young men waiting for their turn.

There is also a veteran's memorial being put up at Yosemite and Main.  The first is done with other murals planned.

Caleb's Christmas Present to Us

Caleb sent home a dual painting of the Nauvoo Temple, old and new.  It was painted by Rick Noble.  We have had it framed, and I have hung it on the wall.  Hopefully it helps us remember him.

Life in Manteca 84: Staying Home: Pickles restaurant review

This week I have stayed home from work to take time to write in the history of my great-great grandfather that I have been working on for three years.  It seems I wasn't getting enough done in my regular daily routine.  I didn't get it all done, but I did finish the chapter on polygamy.  He had three wives, but only two at a time as his second wife passed away before he married his third.  Of course I haven't just worked on the history.
I went to a couple movies, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit http://mmboebillywardle.blogspot.com/2014/01/movie-review-jack-ryan-shadow-recruit.html and Frozen. http://mmboebillywardle.blogspot.com/2014/01/movie-review-frozen.html Pretty fun.  I have watched a couple movies on the TV as well.
Jesse came for a visit.  It is always a readjustment with Tony and Jesse when he comes.  Jesse has a very bad sleep pattern, staying up late.  He has a long afternoon nap, and then doesn't want to go to bed.  He loves his trains, and Miranda built a nice track for him in the living room which went under the coffee table and had four or five different loops the train could go around.  Jesse went to church one day, so I spent priesthood meeting following him around.  By the time Jesse was ready he and Tony doing great, and it was hard for both to say goodbye.  Jesse didn't get happy the entire ride home.  He made Sheri promise to have him back.  We love Jesse.
Jesse was here for the Monday Holiday and I took Tony and he and the neighbors to the park.

Sheri and I hit a restaurant "Pickles" I had never been to before.  The good thing is they had my favorite sandwich, ham and swiss on rye.  It was marble rye bread, and strait rye would have been better.  The sandwich was too big to eat in one sitting.  Sheri's too who had toasted club sandwich.  She had hers toasted so she had to wait a long while for her sandwich.  This is a good sandwich place, but a little pricey.  We each paid over $10.  Subway is more economical, but doesn't have regular sandwich bread (no rye).
I think my week has been profitable.  I would have liked to finish a couple more chapters.  I still have to finish Isaac's mission chapter.  I also have to do the Echo Canyon Affair as Isaac called it.  I also need to write about Isaac's elder years, because he moved his family to Idaho.  However I can now see the end. 
Went to Costco with Sheri.  Went to Frugal Frames to pick up work I left a couple weeks ago--framing the picture Caleb sent us for Christmas.  It wasn't done, but is ready now for pickup. 

Caleb Visits Nauvoo

On of the special experiences of Caleb's mission has been being able to go through the Nauvoo Temple with Elder Davis.  Elder Davis was a trial missionary in his district, who was cleared for regular missionary service and received his call to Saint George, Utah.  Caleb's district got o to accompany him to the temple.

Life in Manteca: 83: Drought

While the East is suffering through too much cold and snow, here on the west coast we have a different problem.  This could actually be called life in California.  We have a high pressure which has planted itself over the ocean to our West.  It is acting like a mountain range, diverting rains to the North or South of us, but missing us pretty much all together.  The hills are normally green by this time of year, but we have missed our rainy season, which usually starts in November and lasts through March.  Something needs to change.
 http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/r14/USA/2014/0121/California-drought-Scientists-puzzled-by-persistence-of-blocking-ridge-video
On February 2 our church has asked us to fast and pray that this weather pattern might be tempered.  I invite everyone to join us:
FAST and PRAY for Rain
It is time for this drought to be tempered
We must put this in God's hand
Please join us in a day of fasting and prayer
February 2, 2014
I have seen this work before.

Also check out the group on Facebook:
Pray for Rain, California

Old Testament: The Creation of the Earth

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-011-the-creation?category=old-testament/introduction-deuteronomy&&lang=eng
This movie presents Elder Russel M. Nelson talking about the creation of the world, which was of godly origin.  I wonder if any of us have a special spot, a beautiful spot, which testifies to yourself that the world is created by God.  I have such a spot.  There is a mountain behind Willard, which when in Utah I drive by often.  It is on the route from Logan to Salt Lake.  There is a strip of quartzite in this mountain, and there is often a waterfall, especially in the spring.  To me it has always been an awe inspiring site, and an evidence that there is a God in heaven who created the earth.  There are other places which attest to the same, The Teton mountains, or the Sawtooth mountains, or the ocean.  God is a master creator, and puts these beautiful scenes into the earth to remind us of His presence. 
You can have this same type of experience when you observe animals, who were also created by God.  Their particular habits, and formation and wonder.  Also man itself is an evidence of God.  We are his masterpiece, created in his image.  Things this complex do not happen happenstance.  There is a creator who is God.

Ace Train 45: Earthquakes Stadium and Train Safety

The exterior of the San Francisco 49er Stadium is pretty much done, and doesn't change any these days.  However the Earthquake Stadium is now also showing good progress.  The steal beams for another side are going up.
Unfortunately this post has a more serious theme.  Friday, in going to work the light-rail announced that the train could not go past Fruitdale Station (this is my stop anyway.)  There was a bicyclist-train accident at Bascom Station.  The individual on the bike was not killed, but seriously injured and had to be life-flighted.
And then yesterday, I hear the first Ace-train struck a pedestrian.   I did not go to work yesterday, but if I had I would have been late getting home.
http://livermore.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/pedestrian-killed-after-being-struck-by-train
Trains can be so dangerous.  In Argentina, where there are many trains, a common goodbye was, "Don't get hit by a train."  I think this reminded people to be careful.  I offer this little song, to remind us of the same theme.

Choo, choo the big train is headed down the track
Stop, Look and Listen
May we all be safe.

Grandpa Scoresby's New Year's Eve Visit

Grandpa seems to come every year for Year Years.  This year was no exception.  He comes here after spending Christmas in San Diego, and a day with Aunt Gaye in Camarillo.  He arrived Sunday before New Years and was here when I got home from church.  Sheri got home later in the evening from Utah. 
I wasn't smart enough to pull out the camera.  Charity took some pictures of Grandpa with Camberly Rose.

Caleb's Mission: Christmas Piano Concert

Before Christmas Caleb and his companion helped with ushering for a piano concert that was organized by a local member.  I am not sure who was playing.  This is what he said about it at the time, letter received December 18:

On Saturday we drove up to Elkader to usher and attend a Christmas show put on by Kelly Lord who is a convert of about 13 years. She is so cool. She flies in two piano freaks (they are soooooo good), one who served his mission here and one who served his mission in Oakland. The show seriously blew my mind.