April 1st-7th


We were excited to have family visit us at Winter Quarters this week. We had our Daughter and her 5 children with us from Sunday-Friday morning. It was interesting to see how they have grown and how they have developed spiritually. We did the usual things of going to the Zoo and walk the pedestrian bridge, but they best part was participating in the Temple with our grandchildren doing baptisms for our ancestors.  Paulynn going to the Temple with her Mother, granddaughters doing more baptisms and Grandpa spending time with the younger children watching movies and just being together. It was
fun but it is hard to see them go.

We really enjoyed Conference this week. All the talks and singing was wonderful. A couple of thoughts that stood out to us were:

Blessings
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf–Blessing

As an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bless you with the confidence to be a living testimonial of gospel values, with the courage to always be recognized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, with the humility to assist in His work as an expression of your love for Heavenly Father and His children. My dear friends, you will rejoice in knowing that you are a significant part in the long-foretold gathering of Israel, preparing Christ’s coming in “power and great glory; with all the holy angels.”
President Henry B. Eyring–Promise
You will find some of your greatest joys in your efforts to make your home a place of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a place that is permeated with love. The Restoration of thegospel started with a humble question pondered in a humble home, and it can continue in each of our homes as we continue to establish and practice gospel principles there. This has been my hope and my deepest desire since I was a little boy. You have all had glimpses of such homes. Many of you have, with the Lord’s help, created them.
Some have tried with full heart for that blessing, yet it has not been granted. My promise to you is one that a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once made to me. I had said to him that, because of choices some in our extended family had made, I doubted that we could be together in the world to come. He said, as well as I can remember, “You are worrying about the wrong problem. You just live worthy of the celestial kingdom, and the family arrangements will be more wonderful than you can imagine.”
Elder Dale G. Renlund—Promise and Blessings
Six months ago, a home-centered, Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and fortify individuals and families was introduced. President Russell M. Nelson promised that the changes can help us survive spiritually, increase our gospel joy, and deepen our conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but it is up to us to claim these blessings. We are each responsible to open and study “Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families,” along with the scriptures and other “Come, Follow Me” material. We need to discuss them with our family and friends and organize our Sabbath day to light a metaphorical fire.
Elder David A. Bednar—Promise
I suspect that some of you may be wondering if your gospel learning actually can become home centered and Church supported. Perhaps you are the only member of the Church in your home, or have an unsupportive spouse, or are a single parent, or live alone as a single or divorced Latter-day Saint, and you may have questions about how these principles apply to you. You may be a husband and a wife looking at each other and questioning, “Can we do this?”
Yes, you can do this! I promise that enabling blessings will flow into and be evident in your life. Doors will open. The light will shine. Your capacity will be increased to persevere diligently and patiently.

President Russell M. Nelson—Blessing
I leave my love and blessing with you, assuring you that revelation continues in this the Lord’s Church. t will continue until “the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”  I so bless you and bear my testimony that God lives! Jesus is the Christ! This is His Church. We are His people.
Conference was great and we loved every minute, hope you did too.
We love you all

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