I had the opportunity to teach the lesson in High Priest Quorum today. we discussed the recent talk given in the October 2011 General Conference entitled “Choose Eternal Life“. A brief yet powerful reminder that every choice (even no choice) we make in life has consequences. The analogy with the grandchild is especially great. We must not subsist on spiritual “ice cream and play” if we intend to return to His presence. Our Father though he loves us dearly will not change His plan to accommodate our detours. When we meet His terms and conditions the blessings really flow!

David and I traveled from Ventura to SLC for the LDS General Conference this past weekend. We had a blast attending all of the sessions of conference and hearing the words of the living prophets.

We had tickets in hand for the Saturday AM session and the priesthood session. For the others we had to bum tickets off of others. There’s a certain way to go about this although we saw several approaches being employed. Some people just hold up the number of fingers corresponding to the number of tickets needed. Some hold up many variations of handmade signs. Some like us come prepared with ready made signs. Meanwhile many others get in the standby line vying to get in that way. We were able to get tickers for all of the other sessions by our method of holding up our uncle Sam sign. It was great.

Today was fantastic! We traveled from Saint Marys to Sandy Springs, Georgia (Atlanta) to attend the open house of the Atlanta temple. It has been under refurbishment for the past 2 years and the transformation is incredible. The temple has been open for public tours for several weeks in advance of the re–dedication on May 1st I believe. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) temples are sacred & special edifices where ordinances are performed that unite families together forever. According to one of the ushers the attendance each day has been much greater (abt 2X) than anticipated. Just under 5K are visiting each day. It will be interesting to get the final tally on attendees.

There was a brief 11 minute DVD presentation prior to the walking tour. It reminded viewers that the Atlanta temple was the 1st temple in the SouthEastern US & in the 1st 20 temples overall. There is now a temple in each of the 4 adjoining states (Columbia, SC, Nashville, Tn, Birmingham, Al, Orlando, Fl)

The interior has been beautifully redone with all furnishings, painting, & carpeting having been replaced. The grounds have been redone with living quarters behind the temple, & a Stake Center (meetinghouse) being on the rear of the property.

I saw a number of paintings I hadn’t seen before & the Christ (returning in the clouds of glory) in the chapel was the largest I’ve ever seen (probably 10′ tall). The inside of the temple was exquisite in every detail. It truly is the House of the Lord. ,

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View the Conference here!

http://bit.ly/hf3Zz0

Enjoy!

We had a discussion in priesthood meeting on the “Word of Wisdom” aka the health code the Latter-Day Saints live by that prohibits coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and harmful drugs. It also espouses a number of things like adequate rest, sparing meat consumption, the use of whole grains, & adequate rest. The Lord promises those who submit themselves to the requirements of this law the following:

18And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, ^ashall receive ^bhealth in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19And shall ^afind ^bwisdom and great ^ctreasures of ^dknowledge, even hidden treasures;

D&C 89:18-19

What are those “hidden treasures” promised by the Lord?

Compulsion was a key factor in the plan lucifer presented in the council of heaven. He figured the 100% return rate of salvation could supersede the seemingly obvious flaw (lack of choice).

Today in priesthood meeting the instructor did a little “experiment” wherein he required everyone to sit together, be quiet, and place their hands over their hearts while several scriptures were read aloud without telling us why we were doing these things. It was interesting. The guy he called on to read the first scripture didn’t have any scriptures and leaned over to ask for some for which he was scolded. After it was over the teacher asked what everyone thought. The answers ranged from “like a child” to “confused” to “irritated”. The discussion then turned to the Oct 10 General Conference talk by President Monson entitled “The 3 R’s of Choice”. The 3 R’s are Right, Responsibility, & Results. (The full text of the talk is available on LDS.org).

In life each of us is endowed with the gift of agency. What we become is totally up to us. What we become is the result of the choices we have made. Our destination is the one we have chosen. Sent via BB

Long May She Wave

So many have done so much over the years for all of the rest of us that it seems apropos that I take a minute to pause & say thanks on behalf of a grateful nation for the military sacrifices *(up to & including loss of life) that our men & women in uniform have (& continue) made.

Today marks the 69^th anniversary of that early Sunday morning in 1941 when an audacious & cowardly surprise attack by the Japanese on the Naval Facility at Pearl Harbor left over 2400 personnel dead and over 1200 injured. The plan of the Japanese to thwart military involvement by the US failed. World War II ensued. America bandaged its wounds & came out swinging.

Then & now the thoughts & prayers of the American people are with our military!

This story published in the Washington Post this last week disturbed me when I read it and has concerned me ever since. The layers of tragedy in the incident surrounding the senseless injury & aftermath for the Diviney family are many. What bothered me most about the account was the loss of faith of the dad & the vindictive and vengeful attitude he continues to harbor.

I sincerely hope the entire family can reach some peaceful resolution for while those who were responsible for the son’s injury are in jail those victimized seem to be in a jail of their own making.

Both situations are tragic but the latter seems more so.

We enjoyed a fireside with President David L. Beck the General Young Mens President of the Church down in Jacksonville this past Saturday night. My two youngest children (1 of each gender) & I enjoyed the presentations very much. Sister Beck talked about young men in the context of age (Jesus at 12, Joseph Smith @ 14, and Thomas S. Monson @ 16). President Beck got a bunch of YM on the stage with him and proceeded to review the new Duty to God program. This newly revised program is as robust as ever and is very focused in its intent which can be summarized as having each young man learn his duty, exercise the priesthood righteously, and come unto Christ. Good stuff! Several new converts (YM) were asked to share their conversion stories which was nice.

Elder Anderson (AA70) also spoke about the 200 striplings.

We are heading down to the Orlando temple to participate in baptisms for the dead. There is a large group of youth in tow for this great opportunity. Vicarious baptism is a bulwark of the Gospel of the Lord and His Father which ensures all who will may be safely gathered in. Malachi’s prophetic warning (4:3-4) that the whole earth would be smitten with a curse lest hearts of children & fathers are turned to one another is hereby averted. Rejoicing spirits anxiously await embodied spirits performing saving (and ultimately exalting) ordinances in His house. Praise be to the Father & the son for their “most excellent way”! Sent via BB