I got my duplicate driver's license

  Monday · 1:31 PM Vern

Monday, J, I would love to hear about your health and your eyes. v

Wednesday · 6:59 PM Janice Divine

My eyes are doing well. Had a follow up visit Fri, still testing at 20/20 in both eyes. Right pupil is slow to constrict, which I pointed out to him. He complimented me on my "good catch" I'm noticing it, explained why it was happening, said it wouldn't affect my vision and that it's probably a permanent thing & there's no exercises or anything that will help it.

My health is another matter... lol I got smacked on Sunday with what I thought was my annual sinus infection. Over the weekend, two of the five of us who sit in the scheduling hub had tested positive for Covid. By Monday, a third joined that group. Since I was stuffy & coughing all day Mon & yesterday, our office manager sent the last two of us to the Hurricane Family Pharmacy cuz they do the rapid test & she needed to see if we were infected too. Turns out I also tested Covid positive, so I am now in quarantine till next week. No fever, chills, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste, just cough & sinus pressure which gives me a mild headache. Poor Desiree tested negative, so for the rest of this week, she gets to do the work of all 5 of us.

1/21/21 Thursday 3:11 PM Janice

There's a new place in StG called The Corner Clinic - they do a rapid test too but they charge ¿140 for it. Worth it to get it done in Hurricane & save the office the extra ¿80 for our tests. Insurance doesn't cover rapid tests... but at least the office paid for them!

There's a new place in StG called The Corner Clinic - they do a rapid test too but they charge ¿140 for it. Worth it to get it done in Hurricane & save the office the extra ¿80 for our tests. Insurance doesn't cover rapid tests... but at least the office paid for them!

J-What do you think about this thought? I'd never contemplated that before…

V-It is something I believe and agree with. When Jacob gets the small plates it is 545 bc. There would not have been very many Nephites yet! Remember the Lamanites are apart. I watched a Youtube of some wall paintings in Brazil dated to 13,000 bc. You already know that I believe the Lehites were not alone. I believe HF had brought all kinds of other groups. Same with the isles of the sea. v

J-Makes sense. Even in the CFM manual, the Olive tree allegory points out that there is a good branch scattered that is not mentioned again. And we know there was a crossing of peoples in the B of M. So, yeah...

Did you pick up this book? Or did you already have it? I enjoy reading all the quotes & insights after I've prepared my lesson. It's made me think of new & different things! Love that!

V-I love that you have that book. No I don't. Nor do I want to go pick it up because. . . I am hoping that I can glean from you. 🙂   This may sound prideful but I love it when people know stuff that I don't! V

J-lol well since I'm pretty limited in my knowledge, it's making me think on different levels. And the back of the book is treasure trove of references! You'd love It! 

I next proceeded to tease Janice about the big ugly 10% off sticker on the front. She teased me back saying that there are gross stickinesses underneath. But by the time she taught our lesson that night and showed us the book the obnoxious sticker was removed! Ha.

v-Tease: You need to tear off/ scrape off that obnoxious yellow sale sticker! Do you need some help?

j-Ha! No it's just sticky under it. Ewwww

Friday, Jan 22 · 10:31 AM to Janice

My ultimate compliment: man did we have fun last night!  I am a yellow personality and fun is my driving force.

I seldom ask questions because the group is usually not up to the answers. But our group is! I asked four questions last night and was delighted with the insights I gleaned. 1- Who are the lord and servants of the vineyard? 2- gainsaying? 3- is this all Zenos' allegory? and one other. As you know I felt like our boM group stepped up to a higher level. I think it is because at least 3 of us are carefully studying the lessons.

You Janice, were so cute last night. Covid brain and all. You are an integral part of our group. In fact I think you are the most integral part of our group. You used to have to miss for RS stuff. Man were you missed. Now we get to have you even when you are physically disabled. JFS got his greatest revelations when he was the most physically disabled. (Not reflecting on you, unless you want it to.)

So I revisit and relive our best classes in my mind. I have had the best treat these last 15 hours. v

To Vern-lol I'm glad you enjoyed class so much. I wasn't sure it even made any sense or that the spirit of what I had prepared to share would be felt. And I think it worked because (and this is mean, so forgive me) Karye wasn't there last night. Love her to pieces but she can sometimes make a class quite the chore. 

And I even spent more time on the allegory than I had intended! Ugh. And that was by looking at the the nuances of it, more than the symbols/ meanings! 🙄

And thanks for the compliments. You always give me more credit than I deserve.

Saturday 1/30/21 · 8:13 PM to Vern

Thoughts on Thur class: loved all the discussion. Love that Joan is becoming more comfortable inviting our comments & insights. Love that the lessons in the D&C are going so hand-in-hand w/ our B of M studies. It is not lost on me that much of those first sections correlate so directly because much of that came from Joseph pondering and praying about all that he was learning while translating. Can you imagine how his very soul grew & stretched & thrived under the direct tutelage of divine inspiration? I've felt a closer... connection? Kinship? Appreciation?... for him as I've imagined him learning so many beautiful and mind-blowing truths that we've now Internalized into our own beliefs, testimonies, knowledge & personal revelations as to sometimes maybe not really reflect often enough upon the singularity of his experience(s). Loving & enjoying that connection immensely!

v-Yes, you are absolutely right. Imagining Young Joseph learning all this stuff is so fun. v

j-And I also was completely lost on where Karye was coming from on Thur  night with her "Enosh" questions/ comments. Where does she come up with some of this stuff?!! lol I noticed how no one really dared touch it or even comment on it. We were all like, 'no, uh-uh, no idea...'  lol Also, like you, am thrilled Judy is listening to old conference addresses.

Have to tell you a funny: spent tons of quarantine time reading, studying, pondering & preparing this week's lesson in the D&C (6-9) only to be reminded that we're not having class this Sun - 5th Sun, bishopric has it! But, I learned a lot! I've even ordered "Revelations in Context" from the church website so I can have it to study/ mark up! lol

1:27 PM 3vmails. V

j-So... Jonnie (finally!) went & got tested yesterday. Surprise surprise, she is Covid+. 🙄

2:38 PM

v-giggle

Now you can both take your masks off at HOME!!!

j-Yaaaaaayyyyy!!!  [BMXJ,Did you notice the date change? The end of this conversation is from today: 1/31/21]

Here is your riddle for today:1/21/21 Hello BMXJ, I went in for a duplicate driver's license on Tuesday. My appointment was for 11am. Yes, you have to sign up for an appointment and they are scheduled 2 days out. I was anxious so I went early and I was out by 11am! So glad I went early. :) I am in the middle of my 2nd hour of indexing but I think I drove a little old lady crazy in the park and as I was thinking about it, it made me laugh. There is a little 80 year old lady who drives her golf cart with clubs, up to the park to walk her little white 10 year old Bailey (pekingese), twice a day. She says they try to get in their 3 miles. I have seen her 20+ times so I decided to walk Hace Ventura with her today and get to know her. As soon as Hace hit the park he took a dump/ dodoo. She wanted me to clean it up and asked if I had a bag? I had 2 bags. I showed her and then picked up his little poop beans. I showed them to her and then declared that I usually left his, in favor of cleaning up some big ones, like the ones my labs used to leave. She had quite a chip on her shoulder about all the big dog poops left in the park. If I were to walk the park twice a day I would probably feel similarly. She also walked on the grass next to the trail and when I offered to move over she said she was socially distancing for covid and didn't want to walk too close to me. She has 2 compromising illnesses. Bailey and Banni were their names. I told her how I had seen Duane Derfler with a shovel and small trash can cleaning up derelict dog poops once. She admitted what a nice man he was and that she knew him. :) By the time we got to the other side of the park I found a big one. I picked it up with my 2nd bag and showed her. By this time she seemed a bit perturbed with me, and told me “good job” with a little bit of irritation. We split paths but she did ask me my name. It is easy to ask a dog's name but asking a person's name seems a little too exposing/ vulnerable at times. Daid Hughes-Smith was walking Shadow (Lab terrier mix) earlier this week. I had to look his name up on the lds website or my ward phone list because I hadn't dared to ask. @ The answer to the riddle is:Alessandro. 5/10 on my hardness/difficulty scale today.

Mareea Maynes sent me her 4th ecard this week celebrating the 50 states having a new President. She is so approving and hopeful for Joe Biden. He is our oldest president. I didn’t think he had a chance. But I was wrong. God bless Joe Biden.

Sunday 1/31/21 When Brooklyn told me about Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle I had to come home and look it up. First written in 1947 they are still going strong! Cool, huh! @ Brandon, you commented about my quick change of topics. This mark @ is supposed to be a paragraph change marker. @=new paragraph I started using it back when I had to fit everything on a postcard at Purgatory Jail. It saved me tons of space. :) @ I am rejoicing about the above communication with Jessica. Yippee! If it could be once a month it would be wonderful. @@

5th Sunday meeting. BBB is so wonderful! He got Mark Clayton to host our meeting today about mental illness. He got our stake patriarch to host the youth SS class today on patriarchal blessings. So BMXJ, when you are in a zoom meeting people can type in the “chat” while the meeting is going on, without interrupting. The chat is what follows plus my comments in Arial font:

From L Merrill PALMER to Everyone: 01:48 PM

No Audio.

From Julie Kunzler to Everyone: 01:48 PM

Still no audio

From Cameron Tolman’s iPhone to Everyone: 01:48 PM

when you share your screen the box should come up with a click box that’s says “share audio”

We had 55 screens on Zoom for this meeting. That means with spouses there were lots! BBB didn't get started until 1:35 because of technical difficulties. Mark Clayton couldn't be heard when it was his turn to take over! As you can see above it was 1:48 when he started a video that couldn't be heard! G r o a n . . . That got resolved by our quick thinking BBB showing it to us on his host computer.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/mormon-message-like-a-broken-vessel

That was after MC hadn't been heard and they tried everything to make it so his audio would work. With 55+ people waiting you can imagine the pressure. It was only after Mark exited the meeting and joined his 3rd time that we were finally able to hear him. Yes, everyone got to practice patience today. I felt the pressure and I was not even in charge!

At one point Mark asked what remedies have you heard so far? “While you are thinking let me share this quote” he said. By the time he had read it I was ready to unmute and answer: “The three I heard are 1-prescription, 2-counseling, 3-exercise.”-v

By the end there were two others he had added to the list: 4- socializing, 5- spiritualizing/ religioning/ inviting God.

Light, and nutrition are the two others he teaches to make 6 in his counseling. He leaves out #5 in his therapy teachings. I loved hearing it. Kenzie Tolman participated twice and even gave the closing testimony. Julie Kunzler participated twice as well, and I don't even know her.

A wonderful twist was when he asked how we were ministering? It tied into Social!

Another secret was when he said “Walking for exercise with someone else does double or more the benefit.” They keep you going and you exercise and socialize!

BBB and MC were so calm amidst the tech difficulties! I wasn't. I was amazed at their faith that it would work the way that God wanted. I don't know if Satan had a hand in trying to thwart that beautiful class or not, but if so, God won! Thank you faithful brethren. My notes are in my journal. :) Yep, that is an excellent place for them. They are of that much value. (I wasn't sure when I started.) 60minutes so rewarding.

From Mark Clayton to Everyone: 01:52 PM

can you stop the video when the girl in the roof is done? [This is an example of how MC tried to tell BBB when to pause]

From Kenzie Tolman to Everyone: 02:05 PM

finding good apps on my phone has been helpful

From McKay and Megan Bird to Everyone: 02:07 PM

Headspace is a meditation and mood app that helps with winding down and sleep.

From Derek Larson to Everyone: 02:09 PM

The “Calm” app is another good meditation app.

From Quincy Adams to Everyone: 02:12 PM

I just go to the gym 5 times a week, and don’t live in fear of the virus

From Mindy Bird to Everyone: 02:13 PM

live free or die

From Julie Kunzler to Everyone: 02:18 PM

No sound again

From Scott Salmon to Everyone: 02:28 PM

Thank you, Kenzie, for sharing today. Depression is real and it's nice to hear what has helped you. Love you!

From Brenda’s iPad to Everyone: 02:30 PM

thank you Bishop Clayton

From Mark Clayton to Everyone: 02:31 PM

you are welcome!!!!!

No point of doctrine sets this church apart from the other claimants as this one does.

  

Monday, 11/9/20 Hey BMX, Hope you are well!  I just called FS to see if they let me in by accident last week. Yep! No one is allowed in until January or further notice! Darn! So then I checked the library and discovered this:

The Washington County Library System wishes to celebrate staff member David Huskinson, who has marked his 30 year anniversary as a library staff member. He began working for the Washington County Library System in 1990 when the library was in a transition from wooden card catalogs, stamped due date slips, and was moving into the world of computers. David said that one of his recollections of working at the Main Street library was the extensive collection of phone books from across the western United States that were kept at the reference desk. These were in high demand with patrons looking for information in the pre-google era. Another memory was the mountains of tax forms that were available at the library, which now are all available online. David says that the best part of working for the Library System for the past 30 years is the wonderful people he works with and the patrons, many who have become good friends over the years. One of his favorite memories was when a mother and her six year old daughter were checking out books, and the little girl told her mom “I think he does a good job”. He said that moments like this make everything about his job at the library worthwhile. Congratulate David when you see him next for reaching this momentous milestone! David Huskinson receives a commemoration of his thirty-year anniversary as a Library staff member at the County Commission meeting. Pictured from left: Commissioner Gil Almquist(my stake president!), Adam Huskinson, Tina Huskinson, David Huskinson, Library Director Joel Tucker, Commissioner Dean Cox and Commissioner Victor Iverson.

V- Adam is his son, Tina is his wife and she had a stroke just after they were married and had to quit teaching at my school: home ec at Desert Hills Intermediate. He is my friend. We visit every time I see him there. He used to wear a toupee because he was shy about his scalp disease back in the 90’s. God bless him! 

@ I listened to this talk this morning and he said a bunch of stuff that I thought I had figured out all by myself. So I will leave the talk clean for you to enjoy but afterwards I am going to pick out all the stuff I thought was outrageous and awesome!!

The Redemption of the Dead

Boyd K. Packer

Of the Council of the Twelve

I have reason, my brother and sisters, to feel very deeply about the subject that I have chosen for today, and to feel more than the usual need for your sustaining prayers, because of its very sacred nature.

When the Lord was upon the earth He made it very clear that there was one way, and one way only, by which man may be saved. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6.) To proceed on that way, these two things emerge as being very fixed. First, in His name rests the authority to secure the salvation of mankind. “For there is none other name under heaven given … whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12.) And next, there is an essential ordinance—baptism—standing as a gate through which every soul must pass to obtain eternal life.

The Lord was neither hesitant nor was He apologetic in proclaiming exclusive authority over those processes, all of them in total, by which we may return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. This ideal was clear in the minds of His apostles also, and their preaching provided for one way, and one way only, for men to save themselves.

Over the centuries men saw that many, indeed most, never found that way. This became very hard to explain. Perhaps they thought it to be generous to admit that there are other ways. So they tempered or tampered with the doctrine.

This rigid emphasis on “one Lord and one baptism,” was thought to be too restrictive, and too exclusive, even though the Lord Himself had described it as being narrow, for, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.” (Matt. 7:14.)

Since baptism is essential there must be an urgent concern to carry the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. That came as a commandment from Him.

His true servants will be out to convert all who will hear to the principles of the gospel and they will offer them that one baptism which He proclaimed as essential. The preaching of the gospel is evident to one degree or another in most Christian churches. Most, however, are content to enjoy whatever they can gain from membership in their church without any real effort to see that others hear about it.

The powerful missionary spirit and the vigorous missionary activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints becomes a very significant witness that the true gospel and that the authority are possessed here in the Church. We accept the responsibility to preach the gospel to every person on earth. And if the question is asked, “You mean you are out to convert the entire world?” the answer is, “Yes. We will try to reach every living soul.”

Some who measure that challenge quickly say, “Why, that’s impossible! It cannot be done!”

To that we simply say, “Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.”

Against the insinuation that it cannot be done, we are willing to commit every resource that can be righteously accumulated to this work. Now, while our effort may seem modest when measured against the challenge, it is hard to ignore when measured against what is being accomplished, or even what is being attempted, elsewhere.

Presently we have over 21,000 missionaries serving in the field—and paying for the privilege. And that’s only part of the effort. Now I do not suggest that the number should be impressive, for we do not feel we are doing nearly as well as we should be. And more important than that, any one of them would be evidence enough if we knew the source of the individual conviction that each carries.

We ask no relief of the assignment to seek out every living soul, teach them the gospel, and offer them baptism. And we’re not discouraged, for there is a great power in this work and that can be verified by anyone who is sincerely inquiring.

Now there is another characteristic that identifies His Church and also has to do with baptism. There is a very provoking and a very disturbing question about those who died without baptism. What about them? If there is none other name given under heaven whereby man must be saved (and that is true), and they have lived and died without even hearing that name, and if baptism is essential (and it is), and they died without even the invitation to accept it, where are they now?

That is hard to explain. It describes most of the human family.

There are several religions larger than most Christian denominations, and together they are larger than all of them combined. Their adherents for centuries have lived and died and never heard the word baptism. What is the answer for them?

That is a most disturbing question. What power would establish one Lord and one baptism, and then allow it to be that most of the human family never comes within its influence? With that question unanswered, the vast majority of the human family must be admitted to be lost, and against any reasonable application of the law of justice or of mercy, either. How could Christianity itself be sustained?

When you find the true church you will find the answer to that disturbing question.

If a church has no answer for that, how can it lay claim to be His Church? He is not willing to write off the majority of the human family who were never baptized.

Those who admit in puzzled frustration that they have no answer to this cannot lay claim to authority to administer to the affairs of the Lord on the earth, or to oversee the work by which all mankind must be saved.

Since they had no answer concerning the fate of those who had not been baptized, Christians came to believe that baptism itself was not critical in importance, and that the name of Christ may not be all that essential. There must, they supposed, be other names whereby man could be saved.

The answer to that puzzling challenge could not be invented by men, but was revealed. I underline the word revealed. Revelation too is an essential characteristic of His Church. Communication with Him through revelation was established when the Church was established. It has not ceased and it is constant in the Church today.

As I address myself to the question of those who died without baptism, I do so with the deepest reverence, for it touches on a sacred work. Little known to the world, we move obediently forward in a work that is so marvelous in its prospects, transcendent above what man might have dreamed of, supernal, inspired, and true. In it lies the answer.

In the earliest days of the Church the Prophet was given direction through revelation that work should commence on the building of a temple, akin to the temples that had been constructed anciently. There was revealed ordinance work to be performed there for the salvation of mankind.

Then another ancient scripture, ignored or overlooked by the Christian world in general, was understood and moved into significant prominence: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:29.)

Here then, was the answer. With proper authority an individual could be baptized for and in behalf of someone who had never had the opportunity. That individual would then accept or reject the baptism, according to his own desire.

This work came as a great reaffirmation of something very basic that the Christian world now only partly believes: and that is that there is life after death. Mortal death is no more an ending than birth was a beginning. The great work of redemption goes on beyond the veil as well as here in mortality.

The Lord said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25.)

On October 3, 1918, President Joseph F. Smith was pondering on the scriptures, including this one from Peter: “For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Pet. 4:6.)

There was opened to him a marvelous vision. In it he saw the concourses of the righteous. And he saw Christ ministering among them. Then he saw those who had not had the opportunity, and those who had not been valiant. And he saw the work for their redemption. And I quote his record of this vision:

“I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; but behold, from among the righteous he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men. And thus was the gospel preached to the dead.” (“Vision of the Redemption of the Dead,” The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Jan. 1919, p. 3.) [D&C 138:29–30]

We have been authorized to perform baptisms vicariously so that when they hear the gospel preached and desire to accept it, that essential ordinance will have been performed. They need not ask for any exemption from that essential ordinance. Indeed, the Lord Himself was not exempted from it.

Here and now then, we move to accomplish the work to which we are assigned. We are busily engaged in that kind of baptism. We gather the records of our kindred dead, indeed, the records of the entire human family; and in sacred temples in baptismal fonts designed as those were anciently, we perform these sacred ordinances.

“Strange,” one may say. It is passing strange. It is transcendent and supernal. The very nature of the work testifies that He is our Lord, that baptism is essential, that He taught the truth.

And so the question may be asked, “You mean you are out to provide baptism for all who have ever lived?”

And the answer is simply, “Yes.” For we have been commanded to do so.

“You mean for the entire human family? Why, that is impossible. If the preaching of the gospel to all who are living is a formidable challenge, then the vicarious work for all who have ever lived is impossible indeed.”

To that we say, “Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.”

And once again we certify that we are not discouraged. We ask no relief of the assignment, no excuse from fulfilling it. Our effort today is modest indeed when viewed against the challenge. But since nothing is being done for them elsewhere, our accomplishments, we have come to know, have been pleasing to the Lord.

Already we have collected hundreds of millions of names, and the work goes forward in the temples and will go on in other temples that will be built. The size of the effort we do not suggest should be impressive, for we are not doing nearly as well as we should be.

Those who thoughtfully consider the work inquire about those names that cannot be collected. “What about those for whom no record was ever kept? Surely you will fail there. There is no way you can search out those names.”

To this I simply observe, “You have forgotten revelation.” Already we have been directed to many records through that process. Revelation comes to individual members as they are led to discover their family records in ways that are miraculous indeed. And there is a feeling of inspiration attending this work that can be found in no other. When we have done all that we can do, we shall be given the rest. The way will be opened up.

Every Latter-day Saint is responsible for this work. Without this work, the saving ordinances of the gospel would apply to so few who have ever lived that it could not be claimed to be true.

There is another benefit from this work that relates to the living. It has to do with family life and the eternal preservation of it. It has to do with that which we hold most sacred and dear—the association with our loved ones in our own family circle.

Something of the spirit of this can be sensed as I quote from a letter from my own family records. I quote a letter dated January the 17th, 1889, Safford, Graham County, in Arizona. It concerns my great-grandfather, who was the first of our line in the Church, and who died a few days later, Jonathan Taylor Packer. This letter was written by a daughter-in-law to the family.

After describing the distress and difficulty he had suffered for several weeks, she wrote:

“But I will do all I can for him for I consider it my duty. I will do for him as I would like someone to do for my dear mother, for I am afraid I shall never see her again in this world.”

And then she wrote this: “Your father says for you all to be faithful to the principles of the gospel and asks the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob upon you all, and bids you all goodbye until he meets you in the morning of the resurrection.

“Well, Martha, I can’t hardly see the lines for tears, so I will stop writing. From your loving sister, Mary Ann Packer.”

I know that I shall see this great-grandfather beyond the veil, and my grandfather, and my father. And I know that I shall there also meet those of my ancestors who lived when the fulness of the gospel was not upon the earth; those who lived and died without ever hearing His name, nor having the invitation to be baptized.

I say that no point of doctrine sets this church apart from the other claimants as this one does. Save for it, we would, with all of the others, have to accept the clarity with which the New Testament declares baptism to be essential and then admit that most of the human family could never have it.

But we have the revelations. We have those sacred ordinances. The revelation that places upon us the obligation for this baptism for the dead is section 128 in the Doctrine and Covenants. And I should like to read in closing two or three of the closing verses of that section.

“Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; …

“Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! …

“Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple … a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.” (D&C 128:22–24.) V-THIS IS CELEBRATION AND PRAISE!

I bear witness that this work is true, that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that there is on this earth today a prophet of God to lead modern Israel in this great obligation. I know that the Lord lives and that He broods anxiously over the work for the redemption of the dead, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. We accept the responsibility to preach the gospel to every person on earth. CRAZY! HOW?

2. And if the question is asked, “You mean you are out to convert the entire world?” the answer is, “Yes. We will try to reach every living soul.”

3. Some who measure that challenge quickly say, “Why, that’s impossible! It cannot be done!”\To that we simply say, “Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.”

4. Now there is another characteristic that identifies His Church and also has to do with baptism. There is a very provoking and a very disturbing question about those who died without baptism. What about them?

5. There are several religions larger than most Christian denominations, and together they are larger than all of them combined. Their adherents for centuries have lived and died and never heard the word baptism. What is the answer for them? INDIA, CHINA ETC. ETC! AS YOU KNOW I HAVE A DEEP CURIOSITY ABOUT THESE COUNTRIES AND THEIR HISTORY. WHERE IN THE WORLD DID ALL THOSE PEOPLE COME FROM? ARE THEY DESCENDANTS OF NOAH? That is a most disturbing question. It SURE IS!!! AND BKP DARED TO SAY SO. ISN’T THIS FUN! HE WAS WILD IN THIS TALK! 

6. If a church has no answer for that, how can it lay claim to be His Church? He is not willing to write off the majority of the human family who were never baptized.

7. As I address myself to the question of those who died without baptism, I do so with the deepest reverence, for it touches on a sacred work. Little known to the world, we move obediently forward in a work that is so marvelous in its prospects, transcendent above what man might have dreamed of, supernal, inspired, and true. In it lies the answer. THIS IS SO SWEET. THIS IS WHY HE OPENED HIS TALK SAYING IT WAS A VERY SACRED SUBJECT! 

8. “Strange,” one may say. It is passing strange. It is transcendent and supernal. The very nature of the work testifies that He is our Lord, that baptism is essential, that He taught the truth.

9. And so the question may be asked, “You mean you are out to provide baptism for all who have ever lived?”

10. And the answer is simply, “Yes.” For we have been commanded to do so.

11. “You mean for the entire human family? Why, that is impossible. If the preaching of the gospel to all who are living is a formidable challenge, then the vicarious work for all who have ever lived is impossible indeed.”\To that we say, “Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.”

12. I say that no point of doctrine sets this church apart from the other claimants as this one does. Save for it, we would, with all of the others, have to accept the clarity with which the New Testament declares baptism to be essential and then admit that most of the human family could never have it.  THIS IS HUGE! THIS IS AS BIG AS THE WHOLE POPULATION OF THE WORLD THROUGHOUT ITS LIFETIME!!!! 80 BILLION PEOPLE HUGE!  SO COOL. DON’T YOU LOVE IT. :)

What fun!!

I can’t figure out how to get rid of the background color. I figured it out last month but I can’t remember now. @ I spent the last hour on facebook. Look at the two cool things I found on Xiang’s page!  I love you guys. This warms my heart. :)  @ Rolo has over 1k friends! Wow, what a popular guy. From his “about history” it looks like he has been in California his whole life. @ Jessica posts such funny comments and pictures about what it is like to raise 4 boys. I looked at her pictures for a couple of years back. @

Hardly – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Totally

Sunday, 5/10/20 Hello bmx, I have been asking myself from the beginning when LA would climax in a coronavirus outbreak/deaths? I think I just figured out why it will never compare to NYC even though the population is greater. 27k people /sq.mile is NYC and Manhatten island is 67k people /sq.mile.


7.5k people /sq.mile is the population density of Los Angeles. With the 6ft rule you can tell that distance makes a humongous difference!

I guess it is time to be grateful that we are not crowded!!!



I found a picture of my brother Brent ‘58


Purslane is a very good source of alpha-linolenic acid. Alpha-linolenic is an omega-3 fatty acid which plays an important role in human growth and development and in preventing diseases. Purslane has been shown to contain five times higher omega-3 fatty acids than spinach. Omega-3 fatty acids belong to a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids essential for human growth, development, prevention of numerous cardiovascular diseases, and maintenance of a healthy immune system [7].Purslane has recently been identified as the richest vegetable source of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid [10]. Omega 3 are the anti inflammatory fatty acids! Purslane is a plant source of omega-3 fatty acids and melatonin, and it has the highest content of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) of any wild plant that can be eaten. Each 100 gms. of purslane contains 300-400 mg. of ALA, 12.2 mg. alpha tocopherol from of vitamin E, 26.6 mg. of ascorbic acid, 1.9 mg. beta carotene, and 14.9 mg. Glutathione.

Sunday 5/17/20 4:19pm It took me a while to figure out what message I could sent my ministering families today. This is what I sent:

Who is the most imaginative of our 15 apostles? There is one who tried to imagine what it would have been like to live in Joseph Smith's world and what he would have hoped for in his relationship and understanding of God. Do you remember any of them speaking about this? Does it sound vaguely familiar?

Last week I shared a story about a boy who tried to burn the BoM. See if you agree with the desires of this apostle in his 1820 environment? Count them. How many hopes does he name? I love the idea of having 3 wishes.

We imagined ourselves living in the early 1800s, looking at the religious beliefs of that day. In that imagined setting, we asked ourselves, “What’s missing here? What do we wish we had? What do we hope God will provide in response to our spiritual longing?”

Well, for one thing, we realized that two centuries ago we would have dearly hoped for the restoration of a truer concept of God [~1] than most in that day had, hidden as He often seemed to be behind centuries of error and misunderstanding. To borrow a phrase from William Ellery Channing, a prominent religious figure of the day, we would have looked for the “parental character of God,” which Channing considered “the first great doctrine of Christianity.”1 Such a doctrine would have recognized Deity as a caring Father in Heaven, rather than a harsh judge dispensing stern justice or as an absentee landlord who had once been engaged in earthly matters but was now preoccupied somewhere else in the universe.

Yes, our hopes in 1820 would have been to find God speaking and guiding as openly in the present as He did in the past, a true Father, in the most loving sense of that word. He certainly would not have been a cold, arbitrary autocrat who predestined a select few for salvation and then consigned the rest of the human family to damnation. No, He would be one whose every action, by divine declaration, would be “for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world”2 and every inhabitant in it. That love would be His ultimate reason for sending Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, to the earth.3

Speaking of Jesus, had we lived in those first years of the 19th century, we would have realized with great alarm that doubts about the reality of the Savior’s life and Resurrection were beginning to take significant hold within Christendom. Therefore, we would have hoped for evidence [~2] to come to the whole world that would confirm the biblical witness that Jesus is the Christ, the literal Son of God, Alpha and Omega, and the only Savior this world will ever know. It would have been among our dearest hopes that other scriptural evidence be brought forward, something that could constitute another testament of Jesus Christ, enlarging and enhancing our knowledge of His miraculous birth, wondrous ministry, atoning sacrifice, and glorious Resurrection. Truly such a document would be “righteousness [sent] down out of heaven; and truth [sent] forth out of the earth.”4

Observing the Christian world in that day, we would have hoped to find someone authorized by God [~3] with true priesthood authority who could baptize us, bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, and administer all gospel ordinances necessary for exaltation. In 1820, we would have hoped to see fulfilled the eloquent promises of Isaiah, Micah, and other ancient prophets regarding the return of the majestic house [~4] of the Lord.5 We would have thrilled to see the glory of holy temples established again, with the Spirit, the ordinances, the power, and the authority to teach eternal truths, heal personal wounds, and bind families together forever. I would have looked anywhere and everywhere to find someone authorized to say to me and my beloved Patricia that our marriage in such a setting was sealed for time and all eternity, never to hear or have imposed on us the haunting curse “until death do you part.” I know that “in [our] Father’s house are many mansions,”6 but, speaking personally, if I were to be so fortunate as to inherit one of them, it could be no more to me than a decaying shack if Pat and our children were not with me to share that inheritance. And for our ancestors, some of whom lived and died anciently without even hearing the name of Jesus Christ, we would have hoped for that most just and merciful of biblical concepts to be restored—the practice of the living offering up saving ordinances on behalf of their kindred dead.7 No practice I can imagine would demonstrate with more splendor a loving God’s concern for every one of His earthly children no matter when they lived nor where they died.

Well, our 1820 list of hopes could go on, but perhaps the most important message of the Restoration is that such hopes would not have been in vain.
. . .
How many did you count? [~0 I placed my counters in afterwards.] Do you recognize the language? Who speaks like that?

Well he wasn't done. He went on to identify hopes or wishes we have today. . .

He names some I did not think anyone would mention! What daring. What courage. What imagination.

I know this is extremely long for a text message. Perhaps your cell didn't know how to handle it. . . Oh well. I love you and I tried. Vern [Steven Gibbs texted me his first response: Thanks. ]

No practice I can imagine would demonstrate with more splendor a loving God’s concern for every one of His earthly children no matter when they lived nor where they died.
I agree. Isn't that beautiful!

the speed of dark by elizabeth moon
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Welcome to 40 years old Louis!
This is my book of the year! I had no idea what I was getting into when I read it.
– I like retired library copies because the cover is well protected.
– I discovered the author, Elizabeth Moon, last year. She has science fiction and fantasy books I have enjoyed because of the character development she does.
– Because of coronavirus I had to start reading on my cell phone. I think this is the second one I have ever read on my cell phone. In this last decade I have discovered that my brother Adrian, is autistic! I have called him a painting “Savant” to flatter him. He has an autistic partner in Boise Idaho and he supports her and her two autistic children by driving truck for Cox trucking.
– He is extreme. Whatever he espouses he goes way overboard, almost!
– I used to torment him as a child. Vern 1955 versus Adrian 1960. 5/19/60
– I think heavenly father wanted me to let up/give him a break/reduce my teasing and tormenting.
– Heavenly Father sent me the same dream twice, about six months apart. Each dream had Adrian die and I was devastated. I realized how much I really loved him.
– We often tease and torture and push the buttons of those we really do love. So sad.
– I once asked Mark Clayton how mentally ill I was and if everyone was mentally ill to some degree?

Hardly – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Totally

After internalizing this entertaining book I couldn't help but wonder: How autistic am I?
Michael Meacham has aspergers syndrome just like Shea Langston. That is a type of autism. They now call it the Autistic Spectrum because there are so many different manifestations of them.
– There is an old saying that “some people/spirits are sent to this life to be tested, and others are here to test.”
– I wonder if autistics and down syndrome people are here “to test”.
– Jesus said of the blind man: “that the purposes of God might be made manifest.” John 9:3”Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
– As you probably know I have been in awe of your sacrifice and attention and care for Lincoln. You have given and served so much. Plus, you and Bonnie have been so grateful for every blessing and little miracle along the way. At times you have been so aware of God's help and support.
– Well, and this book there is a brief/fun/insightful glimpse into one autistics mind and heart.
As you can tell, I love it.
I love you.
I respect you.
I admire you.
Dad/Vern
PS. I used to think that everyone else had mental illness and their families. That it was far away from me. Now I see that I have it in my family. And with reason! I wonder how mentally ill my parents were and their parents etc. Notice I did not say “if” but rather “how much”!
PSS. “Deeds of Paksenarrion ” was a great series.

closed 46 days and counting

Sat. 4/25/20 Death counts of epidemics since the year 2000.

How does coronavirus compare? It took 520 days for swine flu to stop killing people. As you can see c19 is much more virulent. These are cumulative graphs. It is the total number that have died altogether.


Thursday 4/30/20 The last day of April! I don’t have a printer or I would have sent these to you long ago. Next, Elder Topham and his wife are the directors of FS. I suspect this letter was written by Sister Topham. She is the one who manages the grounds and cares so much about recording our histories. When I read it the first time I treated it like it came from Elder Marshall Topham and I felt an affinity for him because I absolutely loved this talk in General Conference. But now I have to change my mind. It is not my old teaching partner after all, (we shared a classroom in 1981).

Hello Everyone,

Forty-six days ago we closed our doors, where has the

time gone? It was still winter and now spring has arrived

and we are busy in our yards. I took another picture of the

grounds at the center; BEAUTIFUL!

This week, just for pure enjoyment I re-read Elder

Andersen’s general conference message given on Saturday

morning; “Spiritually Defining Memories”. Since

FamilySearch is all about memories I believed everyone could

connect with this message.

Joseph Smith, nearly two decades later reflected on his

spiritual journey welcoming in the Restoration. He penned:

“I don’t blame anyone for not believing my history. If I had

not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it

myself.” This was a spiritually defining moment for him. His

experiences were real and he never forgot or denied them.

Later he said, “What I received was from heaven. I know it,

and I know that God knows that I know it.”

When I read what Joseph. Smith said, and I think of my

own life’s spiritually defining experiences I join with Elder

Andersen’s plea; “Embrace your sacred memories. Believe

them. Write them down. Share them with your family...

Trust they come from Heavenly Father.”

I want to be able to rediscover my treasured spiritual

moments by writing them out on paper. To me I am saying;

“I know it, and I know God knows that I know it.” I love to

acknowledge and treasure the spiritually defining events in

my life. Hope you do too.

We miss you all, please take care!

Sincerely, Elder and Sister Topham

Engaged in a Good Cause

I am experimenting with the lds notebook. They have designed it to put my comments first! This date is when I made the comment->Sun, Apr 12, 2020

1. He must have been floored, shocked, stunned! All wrong? What?

2. What were all those angels doing?

3. He was filled with love for days, weeks, months afterwards! In my opinion that is what a change of heart feels like. :) I have been there. I have experienced that. Since God loves me so much, I can love everyone else.

*Shall We Not Go On in So Great a Cause? MRBallard

April 2020 general conference

He recalled: “They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as his church and kingdom. And … at the same time [I] receive[d] a promise that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.”

Joseph also noted, “I saw many angels in this vision.”

Following this glorious vision, Joseph wrote: “My soul was filled with love, and for many days I could rejoice with great joy. … The Lord was with me.”

Tues. 4/21/20 Yay, the library is partly opening! Library System Offers New Curbside Pickup Service\Washington County Library System today announced that it will offer curbside pickup services to the patrons at all eight library branch locations beginning on Monday, April 20, 2020. “Our libraries form an integral cornerstone in the structure of our community. Working with the Library Board, the county is now able to safely begin the phasing in of essential library services to the public,” explained Commissioner Dean Cox. Curbside service will be available at each location. For times, please call your closest library branch. Curbside Service allows customers to pick up library materials that have been placed on hold. Washington County has coordinated with our Public Health Officer on curbside services as well as the procedures. Social distancing is still recommended in order to effectively serve library customers and adhere to public health guidelines. For a list branch numbers and hours of operation, please visit: www.library.washco.utah.gov

Curbside Pickup provides increased access to our library resources during the COVID-19 closure. As we continue to put our patrons at the heart of everything we do, we strive to offer services that are adapted to this unprecedented time. Curbside pickup will allow patrons to access physical items in addition to taking advantage of the outstanding online service provided. We hope that access to these great reading and movie materials will help alleviate some of the disruption to everyday life that has occurred as a result of the pandemic.

Curbside Pickup: How it Works

Place items on hold using the Library website catalog, or call in if you know what you are interested in. Identify your preferred library pickup location: St. George, Washington, Santa Clara, Hurricane, Enterprise, New Harmony, Hildale or Springdale.

Wait for email or text notice that your hold items are ready.

Request Curbside Service by calling your pickup branch.

Library staff will prepare your items for pickup.

Staff will contact you when your items are checked out and ready for you to pick up. Items must be picked up that day or scheduled appropriately.

Go to the Library's designated Curbside pickup branch. This will be marked by signage at each location.

Holds will be delivered to the cardholder once name verification has occurred.

When you arrive at the Library's pickup location, call the number listed on the sign for further instructions. Pickup locations for curbside service will be clearly marked and patrons and staff should strive to comply with social distancing recommendations.

Wait for delivery of materials. If your vehicle is equipped with automatic doors, please open them upon arrival.

I looked up a bunch of books last night and put them on hold. Although having someone read to me each day at 1.25x speed has not been bad at all. Why do I share this with you? Answer: New, novel experiences and adjustments.@Next. Louis and Bonnie, Lincoln, Grace came and visited and brought me green onions, new cucumber plants and smiles last night. What a pleasant surprise! I have been asking L if I can come visit about once a week. He dropped by twice last week to pick up delivery items. Yep, he had one to pick up yesterday as well. He showed Lincoln how to use the new electric chainsaw. He took almond tree firewood he had cut at my house to Warner Valley camping 2 weeks ago.

Louis says he is on furlough for the month of May. His kids did their homework even in Warner Valley. Worldmark won’t have many vacationers in Saint George and he sells timeshares.

That is TawnaB my ward’s RS president on the left. What follows are perfect instructions for joining the team! Do you remember how my bishop had the YM and YW compete the last 2 weeks before General Conference? Well, now the RS is doing it! I am so excited. This is my baby, bmx, I am the master indexer in my ward.

Relief Society: (2-Week Indexing Challenge with BH6 Ward) https://youtu.be/FyM4YukmpbA

Sisters, please take a few minutes to watch this video from Sister Buckway introducing a 2-week indexing challenge with the 6th Ward that begins today. Instructions to join the group is below:

Group to Join: BH 2 RS

Here's how to join the group:

1. Go to https://www.familysearch.org and sign in with your church username and password (if you don't have one, text or call a member of the Bishopric and we can help you set one up)

2. At the top menu, click on Indexing and then select Web Indexing from the dropdown menu.

3. About 1/2 way down the page, click on find groups, select find groups again from the dropdown menu.

4. In the search bar, type: BH 2 RS and click on the group name.

5. Click on the Request to Join tab.

Once you enter your request, the RS will go in and approve your request. Once the request has been approved, simply go back in and begin indexing and it will start counting your indexing towards your individual and group statistics.

Sister Audrey Wood not only teaches music at school but is our primary chorister. This is cutting edge Brandon! Not only does my bishop send out 2 messages a week but now the RS and Primary have videos on youtube. I love seeing people engaged in a good work and doing many things of their own free will to bring to pass much righteousness. That has been one of my main motivations in the last 40 years. And it looks like I share it with others. So fun. So wonderful. Of course I had to email each of these sisters and compliment them.