Book Review: Sacrament Time

Sacrament Time: A Book for LDS Children, by Kathleen H. Barnes and Virginia H. Pearce, Photographs by Don O. Thorpe, Deseret Book, Salk Lake City, Utah, 1973.
This is just a short book on what children can think about to help them be more reverent during the sacrament.  It suggest thinking of things Jesus did,
Jesus prayed to Heavenly Father,
Jesus helped the sad,
Jesus cared for the Sick,
Jesus fed the hungry,
Jesus helped people in trouble,
Jesus obeyed the law,
Jesus loved.
It suggests thinking of ways we can follow these examples of Jesus during the sacrament.
The illustrations are photographs, often of the Holy Land.

Book Review: Joseph Smith and the Priesthood: Why Heavenly father Gives Us His Power and Authority

Joseph Smith and the Priesthood, By jay A. Parry illustrated by Jerry Harston, Liahona Publisher, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1979.
This is an interesting book, geared for children, about the restoration of the priesthood.  It tells the story of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood very succinctly.  It tells a story with regards to the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood which I had never heard before.  It tells that Oliver and Joseph were running away from a mob intent on taking their lives and putting an end to the new religion.  The fled into a wood, which became very dark.  the struggled all night.  As the sun was coming up the next day, Oliver asked Joseph how long would there be persecutions.  At this moment a light appeared and Peter James and John who restored the Melchizedek Priesthood and called Oliver and Joseph as apostles.
As I had never heard this story, and this is a children's book, I wondered if it could be true.  The story is attributed to Brother Addison Everett.  He said it was told to him by Joseph Smith shortly before the martyrdom.  However he did not relate the story until some 38 years later, and then he was in his seventies.  So this is a witnessed account, but the reliability of the witness may be in question.  
This article linked from lds.org spends considerable time discussing the date of the restoration.  It concludes it had to take place between 16 May and 29 May 1829; the day after the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood until Joseph and Oliver left the Susquehanna area due to persecution.

Sheri Visits Baby Ayden

These are pictures from around three weeks.  Sheri says Ayden was weighing seven pounds by the end of her visit.  She started the week at maybe less than six.

 Sh is one cute teeny tiny baby

 But still so beautiful dressed for church

Bible Video: Jesus Explains the Parable of The Wheat and the Tares

Bible Videos: Parables.  I find the meaning of the wheat and tares rather obvious, at some point, at the end of the harvest there will be a separation made.
 

In this second video, Jesus declares and explains the meaning behind the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares.  

LDS 12 steps for addiction recovery: Step 9: Restitution and Reconciliation - John’s Story on Drug Addiction

Through the process of reconciliation we can receive God's mercy.  This individual relates the difficulties he had in putting his life back together.
Step 9 - Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.

LDS Bible Videos: Parable of the Sower

Parable of the sower is very interesting.  It tells the story of the different kinds of soil, which are related to people's hearts as they receive the word.  Some hearts are as the seed falling by the wayside, and due to the hardness of their hearts the perceive it now, and some hearts are like stony soil, where the seed takes root, but because the roots are shallow they do not stand the day of trial.  And then there are seed which fall into weedy and thorny soil, where their friends' and scorn and criticism snuff out the word.  And some seed falls into good soil where it brings an abundant harvest.

LDS 12 Steps for Addiction Recovery: Step 8: Forgiveness - Larry’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Larry describes giving and getting forgiveness as a poison draining from your body, from your heart and mind.
Step 8 - Seeking Forgiveness: Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.

In Performance: Gentri and Lexi Walker Christmas Concert

I was looking for Lexi Walker music on You Tube and come across this Christmas concert I missed on BYUTV.  (This link should work for a time, but I notice BYUTV sometimes takes them down.)  This is really terrific.  It features Gentri, a Mormon oriented trio, and Lexi Walker.  There is also the American HeritageYouth Chorus.  Lexi Walker's voice is crisp and pure as ever, and Gentri sings melody intermingled with great harmony.  They go back and forth flawlessly.  It was presented at Snow College with the chamber orchestra and chorus from Snow College.  They sing mostly old favorites, sometimes with a new twist.  Such as Gentri combining "I Wonder as I Wander" and "What Child Is This."  "The guitar work for "I Saw Three Ships" is truly marvelous as the guitar provided percussion as well as cords.  Lexi Walker sing "Le Divin Enfant" a French Christmas song.  It has plenty of energy and catchy melody.  Lexi Walker looks like a Christmas ornament throughout this concert.  She has many costume changes.  Gentri does "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" which is their signature song for this concert, Gentri equals Gentlemen's trio.  There is a nice interlude of children's songs which Walker sings with the youth choir.  Gentri provides a haunting version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."  The music is peppered with comments and discussion between Walker and Gentri.  "Still, Still, Still" is Walker's turn to sing a haunting, powerful song.  Walker also sings a new song to me, "A Merry Christmas to Me."  The final number is "Joy to the World." It is a combined number, and very moving.

Bronnie Meets Megan the Rabbit

Bronnie is one.  All of our grandkids are enchanted by Megan.  It is sort of a scary but can't get enough of kind of relationship when they meet her.  Megan is very very soft, even softer than the cat.  However she too gets a little scared around people.  Camberly had a similar experience.

Sheri corrected my presumptions about Bronnie and Megan.  She says Bronnie was not scared, but really liked snuggling her.  In fact he snuggled for some time and was really happy about the whole thing.

LDS 12 Steps for Addiction Recovery: Step 7: Humility - Holly’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Finding Humility can be hard, but a necessary part of recovery.  In this story, Holly begins her climb to recovery after a suicide attempt.
Step 7 - Humility: Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.

LDS 12-steps for Addiction Recovery: Step 6: Change of Heart - Aram’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

This portrays a man who turns to drugs to deal with the grief of the death of his parents, and the murder of his younger sister.  He goes through the steps; but feels something is still missing.  He then comes back to step 6:
Step 6 - Change of Heart: Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
It is difficult to turn your weaknesses over to God.  
He finishes with what he says is an African proverb, "If there is no demon within, the demon outside can do us no harm."

Grandbaby Number Nine

Ayden Nicole Elizabeth Moore was born December 29.  She is the daughter of my oldest daughter, Natalia.  She is a beautiful granddaughter.  She is our third granddaughter.  In our family our sons have  boys and our daughters have girls.  Weird!  I have not seen her yet, but Sheri is flying up this week to spend a week.  We are so excited for this addition to our family.

coming home from the hospital

In the nursery

newborn

newborn

As I have not yet seen Ayden , these pictures are from Facebook.

LDS 12 Steps for Addiction Recovery: Step 5: Confession - Jessica’s Story about Food Addiction Recovery

Jessica tells her story of addiction to food.  She also talks about how confessing her misdeeds to her bishop was like losing 50 pounds and enabled her to move on with her life.

Step 5 - Confession: Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.

LDS 12 Steps for Addictions: Step 4: Truth - Austin’s Story about Addiction Recovery

Step 4 - Truth: Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
One thing to remember about step four is that being truthful in your inventory includes taking an honest look at your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

A New Day for the Book of Mormon

The BYUTV documentary has me very excited to read the Book of Mormon, in a different light.  It
contains interviews with many different scholars, and many different aspects of the Book of Mormon. these aspects includes as literature, as theology, and as proof of its authenticity.    It includes the testimony of scholars, apostles, authors, theologians and many more.  It talks about when many people came to know that the book is a true book of revealed scripture from God, which adds its testimony of Jesus Christ to the testimony by the Bible.  It is a companion to the Bible, not a replacement.  I would encourage all to view this presentation, as I think it will strengthen testimony of those who already believe, and encourage all to investigate this book with real intent one more time.  I know it is a true book.  I am looking forward to a year of intense study.

Pictures from Sara's Funeral

Sara's funeral was very moving.  It is good to come together and review someone's life, and that is what we were able to do.  There were many positive things said about my sister.  Weldon took the primary roll in talking about Sara for the siblings, but we all shared.  Joey took the responsibility for the siblings, and  Breanna, Kayla and Kassidi for the grandchildren.  It made for a very effective service.  I sang, as did Dillon and Garret.  

Charlene and Max

Clyde, Krista, Geneve, Breanna, Kassidi

Joey, Linsay, Garret, Kathy

Joshua, Chelsea, Sheri

Clyde's sister-in-law, his brother Paul, Mark, Dianna, Joshua

Adam and Shelly

Dillon, Sue, Weldon

Dustin, Jason, friend, Addison

Max, Charlene, Connie, Charlie

Clyde

Geneve, Breanna, Kassidi, Joey, Kayla

granddaughters Kassidi, Kayla, Breanna

Grandsons and Clyde

not in order, Tyler, Garret, Brice, Devin, Zachary, Brayden,Tanner, Dilon,  

Weldon

Charlie, Dianna, Connie, Weldon, Billy

Sheri and Lila Sue