I have met the monthly challenge, and it is always a challenge, for 30+ years with 100%.
Now what?
Next,
Friday, 4/6/18 the Saviour’s birthday.
Good morning Brandon, Lot’s has been happening. In bomc HiediT mentioned Utah being high on the list for plastic surgery as we spoke of vanity from Isaiah chapters in 2 N.
>>>
Utah No. 6 in US for number of plastic surgeons per capita | KSL.com/Mar 15, 2017 - Utah has the sixth-highest number of plastic surgeons per capita and welcomed 200 more from across the globe for an international conference at the end ... U.S., followed by liposuction, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery and face-lifts, according to 2016 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Apparently facial rejuvenation (or a "face-lift," in layman’s terms) is a popular procedure here in Utah, thanks to the dry, and often sunny, climate.
<<<<<<
You know me. I had to check the facts. Is Utah really #1? Nope. And they say that because of the high rate of education in Utah adults are less afraid of science and more accepting. Do you know any who have undergone plastic surgery? @ My sister Julia had a serious -downhill -pavement- ripped -the -chin -bike wreck when she lost control going too fast as a little girl. My parents were so glad they could pull the scar below her chin. Tom Schroath and Dale Courtney couldn’t see out their eyes so they had old-man-eyelid surgery done. My sisters Julia and Camille have both had liposuction and breast augmentation while they were in the hospital for other surgeries. I am proud of my sister Gayelinn for not needing it, but remember how destroyed our self concepts were as children in that hellish, chaotic, tyrannical home. @ If you drive down I-15 in Vegas you see brothels/sex advertized. If you drive down I-15 in SLC you see plastic surgery advertized. @ In Vegas it is immediate gratification. In SLC I guess it is vanity. Which makes sense. Satan works hardest on the righteous. Can you see that I have a whole new world to investigate and analyze and apply to the scriptures? That is what HeidiT was trying to do last night. @ I came home and continued reading Isaiah. I began last week after we did our first lesson. Wendy inspired me. I got out my Old Testament for LDS families and all the quotes at the bottom and explanations are usually thicker than the scriptures at the top. HeidiT made a 3 part chart on the board last night that left me feeling I was gaining a grasp of Isaiah. And then comparing chapter 14 and 13 I suddenly understood why the Savior loved Isaiah. He gives the details! 16 Moreover, the Lord saith: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go [Heidi imitated walking in stiletto heals that left Steve daring her to do it again. . . She did! I was so pleased. I applauded without noise! :) ]Do you like those details? @ Christ’s bride is the Church. The daughters of Zion are the members of the church both male and female. Do you remember the 10 virgins? They were the church as well. Judah and Jerusalem would be destroyed. So will the daughters of Zion, us. But in 14 after they are destroyed. . . those holy will be glorified right here on this earth during the millenium. 14 is short. How many ways can you say perfect, beautiful and happy? Compare that to 13. How many ways can you say vain, lost, idolatrous, and unfaithful? After the ugliness of 13 I found 14 so refreshing and hopeful! I was also deeply saddened by 13 as I kept remembering it was the members of the church. Argh! Those 5 virgins without oil in their lamps. . .
~~~
Monday, 4/9/18
We had our first restructured MP meeting. It did not go well. SS went poorly/ mediocre in my opinion too.
TR was deeply touched by General Conference. He felt an outpouring of the spirit and sobbed through much of it like a baby. He loves the idea of being a minister "at large". The opportunity to bless any members life without restriction of home teaching assignment thrills him. Sorry Tony, that is not any different than before. Just ask the Haney's how many times I have ministered to them without it being a home teaching assignment. But more power to you, if this turns your corner. He bore testimony, taught SS, and bore witness in priesthood.
I wrote Frank this email in the afternoon:
Reporting
vern jensen <phonev6@gmail.com>
3:32 PM (17 hours ago)
to Franklin
Dear Frank,
I see you as one of the few who truly try to fulfill their callings! So please don't take this personal.
When I asked the bishop about "reporting" with the new ministering program he responded that we will be reporting with our companion quarterly. I know you were just teasing me, but that has not been happening.
And it hasn't been your fault. You gave me my new assignment and this will be my 3rd month visiting with Nathan and Audrey Bird. They also hear from me every week. You were not responsible for me as my district leader in the past. It hasn't been your fault.
~~~
New topic: I would love you as our new EQ President.
~~~
New topic: The gospel is a gospel of love. Did you see President Almquist love and compliment Cameron Tolman in front of the whole congregation at ward conference?
Did you see Bishop Adams love and compliment Cameron Tolman in front of the whole Melchizedek Priesthood body today?
We grow by being loved.
As you can see by my title: "Good bye Home teaching. This one floors me." I have waited a week to comment. Processing, trying to figure things out. I am now comfortable to take a stand.
Hal Demke thinks we are being rebuked. Cameron Toman still admits he doesn't believe in and can't do numbers with home teaching. Vern has hurt for all the families never home taught.
If we are being rebuked it is the most gentle I have ever felt. I believe home teaching has not been working for the vast a majority of the church. I believe the elders have carried a burden of guilt for decades. So how can the Lord make it simpler, easier, more congruent with our abilities? Answer: ministering.
How valuable is forgiveness, to be purified, forgiven, wiped clean? They say the gift of the HG is the greatest gift we can receive on this earth but not to me. To me Forgiveness is the greatest gift.
Strong wonderful pure faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is another humongous gift in my opinion. It gives hope.
Repentance in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The strength to repent is immeasurable in value in my opinion.
Baptism and entering the kingdom is joining such a wonderful holy social group!
All of these come from the keys of Aaronic priesthood ministers! This touches me.
High Priest group leaders had no keys of presidency. Elder's Quorum presidents do! Hal Demke talks about empty actions, loss of the spirit, vain repetitions. I believe the motivation, the power is lost from priesthood actions when we force visits. Congruence is gone. We can't live the celestial law without enjoying it. Perhaps Cameron wants to keep the heart of the service, unforced, willing, pleasurable in gifting. His rebellion makes sense. He is fighting the lack of the spirit.
In conclusion. I believe monthly visits were too hard for the priesthood. I believe the Lord wants to provide something that can work.
Perhaps we were diligent beyond normalcy when President Kelly Parker and I followed through on monthly PPI's with our companionships. That is what the instructions were and, "I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands. . ."
Lastly, here is the email I wrote my ministering family yesterday:
Exhausted!
vern jensen <phonev6@gmail.com>
4:09 PM (17 hours ago)
to Nathan, Audrey
Dear Audrey I know you are exhausted.
It never seems to end does it!
My oldest daughter has 5 kids and admits to living her life sleep deprived!
I am so hopeful I can help you meet that need at some point.
I want you to know that I am watching for ways to help you.
~~~
Dear Nathan and Audrey,
I did not email you last week. It was Easter and General Conference. And then I got sick and was in bed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
I am now your ministering brother!
The Melchizedek priesthood all met together today. It was so funny. They didn't know what in the world was going on! I love it.
~~~
What touched you? ____________
~~~
For years I have judged how good General Conference is by how long it takes for tears to come to my eyes.
It was wonderful this year. It happened many times.
~~~
I shared with you how I feel peace from listening to the apostles. They are the only men on earth I truly trust. I have trust issues.
~~~
I personally am extremely excited about the restructuring. I think the Lord has done these next verses to me:
10 The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
11 (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) [Deut 1]
Nathan and Audrey, I have been so sad about all the home teaching families that get missed and don't have dependable, consistent, committed, caring, interested, home teachers. I see this restructuring as a chance to refresh and revamp.
~~~
Monday, 4/9/18
We had our first restructured MP meeting. It did not go well. SS went poorly/ mediocre in my opinion too.
TR was deeply touched by General Conference. He felt an outpouring of the spirit and sobbed through much of it like a baby. He loves the idea of being a minister "at large". The opportunity to bless any members life without restriction of home teaching assignment thrills him. Sorry Tony, that is not any different than before. Just ask the Haney's how many times I have ministered to them without it being a home teaching assignment. But more power to you, if this turns your corner. He bore testimony, taught SS, and bore witness in priesthood.
I wrote Frank this email in the afternoon:
Reporting
vern jensen <phonev6@gmail.com>
3:32 PM (17 hours ago)
to Franklin
Dear Frank,
I see you as one of the few who truly try to fulfill their callings! So please don't take this personal.
When I asked the bishop about "reporting" with the new ministering program he responded that we will be reporting with our companion quarterly. I know you were just teasing me, but that has not been happening.
And it hasn't been your fault. You gave me my new assignment and this will be my 3rd month visiting with Nathan and Audrey Bird. They also hear from me every week. You were not responsible for me as my district leader in the past. It hasn't been your fault.
~~~
New topic: I would love you as our new EQ President.
~~~
New topic: The gospel is a gospel of love. Did you see President Almquist love and compliment Cameron Tolman in front of the whole congregation at ward conference?
Did you see Bishop Adams love and compliment Cameron Tolman in front of the whole Melchizedek Priesthood body today?
We grow by being loved.
As you can see by my title: "Good bye Home teaching. This one floors me." I have waited a week to comment. Processing, trying to figure things out. I am now comfortable to take a stand.
Hal Demke thinks we are being rebuked. Cameron Toman still admits he doesn't believe in and can't do numbers with home teaching. Vern has hurt for all the families never home taught.
If we are being rebuked it is the most gentle I have ever felt. I believe home teaching has not been working for the vast a majority of the church. I believe the elders have carried a burden of guilt for decades. So how can the Lord make it simpler, easier, more congruent with our abilities? Answer: ministering.
How valuable is forgiveness, to be purified, forgiven, wiped clean? They say the gift of the HG is the greatest gift we can receive on this earth but not to me. To me Forgiveness is the greatest gift.
Strong wonderful pure faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is another humongous gift in my opinion. It gives hope.
Repentance in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The strength to repent is immeasurable in value in my opinion.
Baptism and entering the kingdom is joining such a wonderful holy social group!
All of these come from the keys of Aaronic priesthood ministers! This touches me.
High Priest group leaders had no keys of presidency. Elder's Quorum presidents do! Hal Demke talks about empty actions, loss of the spirit, vain repetitions. I believe the motivation, the power is lost from priesthood actions when we force visits. Congruence is gone. We can't live the celestial law without enjoying it. Perhaps Cameron wants to keep the heart of the service, unforced, willing, pleasurable in gifting. His rebellion makes sense. He is fighting the lack of the spirit.
In conclusion. I believe monthly visits were too hard for the priesthood. I believe the Lord wants to provide something that can work.
Perhaps we were diligent beyond normalcy when President Kelly Parker and I followed through on monthly PPI's with our companionships. That is what the instructions were and, "I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands. . ."
Lastly, here is the email I wrote my ministering family yesterday:
Exhausted!
vern jensen <phonev6@gmail.com>
4:09 PM (17 hours ago)
to Nathan, Audrey
Dear Audrey I know you are exhausted.
It never seems to end does it!
My oldest daughter has 5 kids and admits to living her life sleep deprived!
I am so hopeful I can help you meet that need at some point.
I want you to know that I am watching for ways to help you.
~~~
Dear Nathan and Audrey,
I did not email you last week. It was Easter and General Conference. And then I got sick and was in bed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
I am now your ministering brother!
The Melchizedek priesthood all met together today. It was so funny. They didn't know what in the world was going on! I love it.
~~~
What touched you? ____________
~~~
For years I have judged how good General Conference is by how long it takes for tears to come to my eyes.
It was wonderful this year. It happened many times.
~~~
I shared with you how I feel peace from listening to the apostles. They are the only men on earth I truly trust. I have trust issues.
~~~
I personally am extremely excited about the restructuring. I think the Lord has done these next verses to me:
10 The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
11 (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) [Deut 1]
Nathan and Audrey, I have been so sad about all the home teaching families that get missed and don't have dependable, consistent, committed, caring, interested, home teachers. I see this restructuring as a chance to refresh and revamp.
~~~
I was sustained as T & FH consultant: indexing today. That is in addition to music director. I stood in priesthood and announced that I am available until noon, 6 days a week at the Family Seach Center for everyone wanting to learn to index. I also announced that I can be available at any other time if they want to meet me and use all the computers we have available there.
The rest of this is fluff! If you are busy just click closed/off!
Fluff:
Mary Ann Walker is our stake indexing coordinator having replaced Ronda Taylor. She told me last month that we will not have a goal of a million for the stake this year. She said we are changing to ward goals and that if I had a suggestion take it to my quorum leader.
I wrote EQpresident Cameron Tolman and HPGleader Charlie Meinkey and suggested we have our ward goal be 1 million REVIEWED and 100K indexed.
Neither of them got back to me.
After Mark Jensen extended this call to me I wrote both of them again and asked if they had anything to do with my call.
Cameron said, Nope, not me. Looks like it came straight from the Lord.
Charlie said, I do. (I wrote him and thanked him because I am so excited for it.)
So can you imagine Charlie talking to the bishop and saying: "Hey, Vern want's a goal of 1,100,000. Let's make him in charge. snicker, snicker, snicker. . . "
Our stake never made its million goal last year! 780K was all the further we got! This is what our stake and ward look like today! What do you notice? _____
God bless you, dear sweet righteous young home teaching family! I love you!
~~~
WED. 4/11/18 I am still analyzing and trying to figure out this new priesthood restructuring: combining HP & Elders into one quorum. I just listened to RAR and HBE again. 1-this should help strengthen and unify. The opposite is weaken and divisive. di·vi·sive
Those words will never be used by our leaders to describe what was happening. But I think it has been there.
I was sustained as T & FH consultant: indexing today. That is in addition to music director. I stood in priesthood and announced that I am available until noon, 6 days a week at the Family Seach Center for everyone wanting to learn to index. I also announced that I can be available at any other time if they want to meet me and use all the computers we have available there.
The rest of this is fluff! If you are busy just click closed/off!
Fluff:
Mary Ann Walker is our stake indexing coordinator having replaced Ronda Taylor. She told me last month that we will not have a goal of a million for the stake this year. She said we are changing to ward goals and that if I had a suggestion take it to my quorum leader.
I wrote EQpresident Cameron Tolman and HPGleader Charlie Meinkey and suggested we have our ward goal be 1 million REVIEWED and 100K indexed.
Neither of them got back to me.
After Mark Jensen extended this call to me I wrote both of them again and asked if they had anything to do with my call.
Cameron said, Nope, not me. Looks like it came straight from the Lord.
Charlie said, I do. (I wrote him and thanked him because I am so excited for it.)
So can you imagine Charlie talking to the bishop and saying: "Hey, Vern want's a goal of 1,100,000. Let's make him in charge. snicker, snicker, snicker. . . "
Our stake never made its million goal last year! 780K was all the further we got! This is what our stake and ward look like today! What do you notice? _____
God bless you, dear sweet righteous young home teaching family! I love you!
~~~
WED. 4/11/18 I am still analyzing and trying to figure out this new priesthood restructuring: combining HP & Elders into one quorum. I just listened to RAR and HBE again. 1-this should help strengthen and unify. The opposite is weaken and divisive. di·vi·sive
dəˈvīsiv/
adjective
- tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people."the highly divisive issue of abortion"
synonyms: alienating, estranging, isolating, schismatic "a divisive scheme to set his rivals against each other"
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