2012 in Review

One really bad car accident where someone was really hurt and I now have a probation officer.
One hurt dog- Coco- 2 legs that need surgery.  
One day (2 hours really) subbing in the Twin Falls School District.
One new temple to add to the list of ones I've done work in- Rexburg.  I think that's 22.
One temple re-dedication attended- Boise
One Mennonite family to love.
One job in sales in K Mart for Olan Mills.
Two Firings from job.
Two different roommates.
Two interviews in Idaho Falls for jobs I did not get.
Two visits with Annie in IF. (a happy thing!)
Two dates with senior citizens - YUCK!
Two visits to BYU-Idaho
Two testimonies born on Fast and Testimony meeting.
Three PSR companies worked for.
Four times playing "Loaded Questions" at unofficial SA parties.
Four visits from the sheriff or police about my dogs pooping in other yards- but no tickets!
Five new friends on Facebook I've never met in person.
Six zip lining runs -Fun! 
Loss of my unemployment for one year.
Lots of visits to the dog park- Happy!
Lots of visits to mom and other families in Meridian ID.
Lots of visits to my counselor Jason Beard and a little less to Bishop Mix. 
Tons of calls from my brother Karl in Oregon.
A handful of new friends made.
Many kittens played with.
A live and then dead pheasant in my car.
A mouse in my house.
Not quite 50 lessons on The book of Mormon given to teenagers.
A few really bad hair cuts. 
Financial help from- Mom, the church and Uncle Sam. 

 

Good bye 2012. Hello 2013!  I hope you are better than that other year.

Idaho Dislike and the Single Adults in Twin.

I figured out why I've been so disgruntled, even angry about Idaho.  It's the complete opposite of the Western Washington I lived in. 

I come from Millionaire land- literally. Many members of my ward were millionaires, they owned million and 2 million dollar homes. If they weren't millionaires they were pretty darn close to it.  Lots of people making 6 digits and often a few times over.  If both couples made that much then..well you get the idea.  The CEO of Expedia and was in the bishopric.  Other CEO's and other jobs of those in leadership positions and not in leadership positions had a lot of money. 

Almost all 274 people of my HS graduating class went to college- 16% of Idaho HS students graduate with even an AA or 4 year degree.

While I love all the animals around here: goats, sheep, cows, horses, chickens, etc.  I seriously can't stand the  stupidity of the people.  In Idaho a subsitute teacher only needs to have a HS diploma.  Of course the bigger cities want you to have a college degree- but not necessarily in teaching. In the small towns that leaves for some lame teachers- who can't tell time on the face clock or don't know what the word "soot" is or how to say it, who don't like reading out loud, who think Columbus rowed his way to America! Ya- rowed.  The best part?  The lady who believed that has and AA degree.

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but honestly..... it made me want to scream sometimes.

I received a Christmas present each year from the ward, usually just a picture of the temple or the years theme- not in Idaho. Got nothing. Often the RS did the same thing- a gift for Christmas and in those presidencies where they were creative and crafty a birthday gift too. Real gifts. In Idaho nothing.

Dog parks can be found in nearly EVERY city.  Seattle of course has more than 2.  Seattle and Mercer Island has a dog park on the lakes- which means swimming for the dogs. Merymoor Park has a 42 acre park with a river flowing through it with at least 3 openings for the dogs to go swim.   Twin is having to raise money- thousands of dollars for one.  Hardly anyone knows that when you take a dog to a dog park you MUST take them off leash.  That is the point!  It's neutral territory so no feelings of protecting their property and keeping them on leash leaves them less able to protect themselves and gives them the feelings of needing to protect YOU!  I'd talked to so many people  about the dog park and they won't even try! There are lame laws and lame people with the farmer mentality- keep them in a cage or in the back yard.  They know nothing of REAL dog needs or care.

Twin Falls has nearly NO single adult program to be spoken of.  Sure if your a senior citizen life is good, but not for the mid-singles. There are 3 stakes in Twin alone.  2 stakes were having dinners once a month and a speaker afterwords. My stake did nothing. I went and spoke to the stake president. WA has a SUPER program.  Check out the stuff going on there.

Now lets talk about the license plates here.  Every 7 years you have to give them back and get a new one.  And ya you have to buy it!  In WA you can have your license plate for 20 plus years. Why would anyone need to change?  Stupid.  I'm gonna guess it's about making money for the state. 

Lack of a SA program and lack of men is a problem.  The men around here work at dairy farms, cheese or yogurt factories and think it's great if they make 50K a year.  Really?  Really. I'm used to men that work at Microsoft or Expedia or Boeing some other big companies.

I've traveled the world.  Granted it's been to no Asian countries or anything south of Panama, but I have my dreams.  Idahoans think they are cool if they have been to other states.

Lots of hunters here, lots of guns and cowboy boots.  I sort of freaked out when a 8 year old told me he was shooting guns.  Ya, ya can't do that in the cities. 

I try to explain to even college educated been around the clock and when I mention millionaires their eyes get big.  I've just learned to lower my expectations about everything. 

Regardless of my stake now working on a SA program- once a month family activity for all ages at no cost to them, it will make no difference for me in the men area.  There is only a dance one a year around here, not every weekend like in WA. Firesides are just a stake president speaking, not Harvard professors or other extraordinary topics.  It's just a fireside- just come- no topic info.  It's been frustrating, but I have to except it.  It is what it is. I have no way of changing it.  They can only do what they do.

As I look at pictures for WA there is rain forest, mountains, oceans, lakes (two 5 min from my old house),and deep forests, islands, and ferries,  I went to flat land and if you want anything fun- you have to drive at least 45 min to 2 to 5 hours or more to get anywhere and honestly- there is not much that can compare.  If it does- it's on a MUCH smaller scale.  For someone who has been to Europe, Israel, and 2/3 of the states, while this farm land is quaint, it's not impressive. 

Dec 14, 2012 Newtown Connecticut

This is a great little idea that is simple to do for those families in Connecticut.  Send "Kiss Cards" with your name and where you live and Renae will do the rest.  We just need to send them to Renae at:

Renae Christine

6935 Aliante PKWY

Suite # 104-273

Las Vegas, NV

89084

Make 20

Christian thing to do, Less sin for you

Jason had only learned to handle problems by reviling back.  He practiced the law of Moses.  It drove me crazy because he was so mean and angry and it solved nothing.  He blamed others for his behavior. I put scriptures on the fridge like:

3 Nephi 6: 13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.

and 

Alma 34: 40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have ^apatience, and that ye bear with all manner of ^bafflictions; that ye do not ^crevile against those who do cast you out because of your ^dexceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

There are other scriptures that say the same thing with out using the word revile.  Matt 5:39-40

 But I say unto you, That ye resist not ^aevil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right ^bcheek, ^cturn to him the other also.  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

And then Mormon 8:20 Behold what the scripture says—man shall not ^asmite, neither shall he ^bjudge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.

There is more than one form of smiting.  It doesn't always mean physical violence, but verbal  as well. 

It really came home to me though a few months ago when I was teaching the be-attitudes in 3 Nephi.  I light bulb went on so bring that had never been on so bright before. Here is a few of the scriptures from Matthew: 

6: 14-15  For if ye ^aforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye ^aforgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

5:44 But I say unto you, ^aLove your ^benemies, ^cbless them that ^dcurse you, do ^egood to them that ^fhate you, and ^gpray for them which despitefully use you, and ^hpersecute you;

 45 That ye ^amay be the ^bchildren of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth ^crain on the just and on the unjust.

 46 For if ye ^alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

3 Nephi 12: 22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is ^aangry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 23 Therefore, ^aif ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—

 24 Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be ^areconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full ^bpurpose of heart, and I will receive you.

Here is the big kicker.   If you want to come unto Christ and there are people that have anger towards YOU, (not you towards them) go to them and make restitution with them.  

So, I've had a lot of anger in the past towards Jason and the Twitchells, but I think I've almost let it go.  There are others too, but I'm learning that to be the righteous one, turning the other cheek is the best thing to do.  My dad was awesome at doing this.  It may seem like signing up to get walked on, but it's just letting it go and not letting it bother you.  Do not let someone walk all over you and treat you like crap. Do not. 

Not reviling back when someone reviles at you is the Christian thing to do and avoids MORE sin.  They can keep their sin.  You take the higher road, forget the law of Moses and that eye for an eye stuff!

So while I still want to send a letter I wrote to the Twitchell's or send emails to Jason that are true, but sarcastic, rude and in your face, I don't. I don't because it will do no good for me.  It will only cause me harm (bad replies and proof for them I'm crazy and have not moved on) and increase my anger and my sin. I take the high road of self-denial.  The road where even if you are justified, you don't act.  The road that at first that can be painful, but in the end will bring more peace once time has lapsed.  Good job Becky for finally learning this lesson.  It's about time! 

 Proverbs 25: 21 If thine ^aenemy be ^bhungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall ^areward thee.

The Accident 9.15.2012

My mom's 2008 Toyota Prius

The 2012 Harley Davidson

2 people were on the motorcycle, a man and his wife.  He got up and was walking around looking for his wife.  She had been thrown over the bike and was laying face down in front of the cycle.

I started to pick up debris from the accident to get it off the road.  Shouldn't of done that.

They had to get help to move the cycle to get to the hurt lady.

It was hanging by one screw.  I was hoping I could get it off, because the car still worked and we could avoid a tow truck.

Both people went on stretchers to the nearest hospital.  2 days later the lady who did not get up, was helicoptered to Pocatello's Hospital.

I will never forget my mother screaming my name and the way I felt for days after.  My mom's car was fixed 100%, but it took them 7 weeks!  10K in damage.  There is enough insurance from my mom's to cover the medical bills for them and to fix the bike.  Mom and I were fine due to wearing our seat belts. The lady on the bike was a broken leg, broken ribs, punctured and partially deflated lungs and a head injury.  They were not wearing helmets.

There was a witness- who was a nurse, who left her car and came to help.  The road had to be blocked off. This happened at 2:15 pm and we didn't get home till after 6 pm.

Did I cry?  No.  I was in shock and felt like the biggest looser on the planet.  

Boise ID Temple Re-Dedication

Today, was the Boise temple re-dedication.  The church cancelled all regular meetings for the day and the dedication was broadcast 3 times.  I caught the 12 noon one.  It was awesome!  I totally loved it and finaly when Elder Bednar got up to talk I started taking notes.  I wish I had started earlier.   As  I walked in the Stake President said when I shook his hand "Welcome to the temple!"   That's what the stake center was while we were there- a temple!  Pretty cool!

The opening hymn was #5, High on the Mountain Top. Some words spoke to me.  Verse four says this, speaking of the temple: For there we shall be taught, The law that will go forth, With truth and wisdom fraught, To govern all the earth.  The meaning to me?  Those who are endowed with power, that know the law will be those who govern the earth! I'm excited for the day when righteous men and women who know the law will govern.

One of the assistant to the matrons spoke.  She got teary eyed about her son who didn't get married till he was 29 (Big eye roll there).  Two of her daughters were married in that temple.  It was a spiritual talk.   I wish I could remember more.

The entrance. New stained glass!

One of the speakers talked about how in 1973 when Spencer W. Kimball was made prophet there was only 15 temples on the earth. When he passed away there was 36 more, Boise was one of those- # 27 I believe. Now there is 140.

The next speaker was Pres. Monson's Secretary for 42 years.   She said that she is  largely who she is because of him. He is caring, kind, serving, etc.  I really appreciated her coming and sharing.

The hall way.

Then Elder Bednar. Gotta love Elder Bednar.  He talked about  some of the things the Savior did in Matthew chapter 8 and then read these verses:   

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will ^afollow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Then he taught what that scripture means.  He quotes Joseph Smith at the corner stone dedication/laying at the Nauvoo temple, Brigham Young, and at the South Jordan Temple dedication (3 witnesses) that said that Father has no house (a temple) for his Son dedicated to him to lay his head.  I'm sure I must of heard that before, but this time it really made sense. 

He then told us some of the blessings of temple work- avoiding temptation, being just one of them.  He said something to the effect of any struggle, any price to obtain temple blessing is worth it.  He talked about family history work and quoted the scripture "where much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48)  He pointed out that it does not say 'encouraged', but REQUIRED! 

He read verses from section 109, which is the dedicatory prayer for the Kirkland Temple. I believe he read vs 5:  "To build a house to they name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people."  He suggested that every member should study this chapter and find the meaning for them in their individual lives.  This is something I want to do. 

The baptismal font.  New stained glass and paintings.  One of the most beautiful rooms there!

Then the holiest man on the earth stood talked to just the State of Idaho.  He pointed out future missionaries and wiggled his ears.  He also pointed out others who would marry here too.  The Boise temple was announced on March 31st 1982 and in May of 1984 Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated it. 

"The heaven seem so close today", he said.  If you remember well we can take our children  to the re-dedication of the temple through our memories.  

He mentioned going to South Africa and how people came up to him and asked him if they could have a temple there.  He told them he'd see what he could do.  Spencer W. Kimball told them 1 month later that yes they would have a temple.  Elder Monson received telegrams from some there congratulating him on his success.  It was not him.  He did nothing.  Temples come about through the prophet!  

A sealing room

President Monson has been the president for 5 years.  It was 49 years ago that David O. McKay called him to the apostleship.  He then told a story of talking to a man in Tonga.  He asked him if he had all this children sealed to him.  In sadness he hung his head and explained that he and his wife had 10 children, but they could only afford to take 4 of them to the New Zealand Temple, but he was saving up money to take the others. He came home and told this story and his daughter Ann (Now is the 2nd counselor in the General YW presidency) told her seminary counsel.  All of the seminaries in the SLC area did a service project every year at Christmas time.  Without her father knowing the counsel raised enough money for this family and others to take their families to the temple and be sealed.

Then stories of the Temple in Frankfurt Germany behind the Iron Curtain.  It was dedicated in 1985.(The country would not let the church bring in any materials, so Thomas S. Monson with a photographic memory, memorized it all and had it written down while there)  There was a couple in Prague or the Ukraine who had 12 pictures of temples in their home.  Elder Monson asked the wife if her husband loved temples.  The sister said yes and then "I too, I too."  This man became the second president of the Frankfurt Temple and served for 4 years.

President Monson said he felt sad about what was said in Matthew chapter 8.  We have room for TV, for computers, for eating, for sleeping.  Do we have room for the temple?  We have time for golf and movies.  Let us have time for the temple. Then he quoted  Section 76: 5-6 

For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am ^amerciful and gracious unto those who ^bfear me, and delight to honor those who ^cserve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.  Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their ^aglory. 

The ceiling of the Celestial Room!  So beautiful!  They had to shrink the whole room down considerably to get everything in they wanted to.

I loved being there. I loved giving the Hosanna Shout. That was my second one.  The first being at the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple.  I gained glimpses of all the many many blessings of going.  It makes me want to find all of them.  It makes me want to be righteous that I may obtain them.   I'm so glad I was able to go and do that.  What an important thing!  I hope to be able to partake of many more temple dedications in the years to come.  

I know this is the true church.  I know that we are pulling down the powers of heaven and destroying the powers of Satan every time a temple is dedicated and we keep our selves worthy and do the work there-in. I am so happy to be a part of it and can't see why friends of mine don't make the necessary changes in their lives to be able to do and say the same thing.  I hope I will always be worthy to have a recommend and be in the temple.  Praise God from who all blessings flow. 

To learn more and see more pictures go here.  All pictures were from the church web sight, the link being provided.

Ye are of the House of Israel!

 

For the most part these phrases do nothing for me.  Everyone is unique and special and everyone is a child of God, even those who don't believe in a God.   This is what Christ told the Nephities:
3 Nephi 20: 25 And behold, ye are the ^achildren of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the ^bcovenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And ^cin thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

But being of the House of Israel, if you understand the significance of that can make a difference in how you feel about yourself.  It did for me this week.

"Israel is a group of souls tested, tried, and proven before they were born into the world. . . . Through this lineage were to come the true and tried souls that had demonstrated their righteousness in the spirit world before they came here. 

Malvin J. Ballard 

"Those born to the lineage of Jacob, who was later to be called Israel, and his posterity, who were known as the children of Israel, were born into the most illustrious lineage of any of those who came upon the earth as mortal beings. All these rewards were seemingly promised, or foreordained before the world was.  Harold B. Lee

 

If there is anything calculated to interest the minds of the Saints,
to awaken in them the finest sensibilities, and arouse them to
enterprise and exertion, surely it is the great and precious
promises made by our heavenly Father to the children of
Abraham; and those engaged in seeking the outcasts of Israel,
and the dispersed of Judah, cannot fail to enjoy the Spirit of the
Lord and have the choicest blessings of Heaven rest upon them
in copious effusions. Brethren, you are in the pathway to eternal
flame, and immortal glory; and inasmuch as you feel interested
for the covenant people of the Lord, the God of their fathers
shall bless you. Do not be discouraged on account of the
greatness of the work; only be humble and faithful. . . He who
scattered Israel has promised to gather them; therefore inasmuch
as you are to be instrumental in this great work, He will endow
you with power, wisdom, might, and intelligence, and every
qualification necessary; while your minds will expand wider
and wider, until you can circumscribe the earth and the heavens,
reach forth into eternity, and contemplate the mighty acts of
Jehovah in all their variety and glory.

–Joseph Smith, Jun., History of the Church, vol. 4, pages 128–129.

This quote above has SO much in it!  

Elder Russell M. Nelson has said, “Once we know who we are and the royal lineage of which we are a part, our actions and directions in life will be more appropriate to our inheritance.”  (The Power of the Word, p. 214) 

..when the Patriarch declares your lineage in your patriarchal blessing, it is “as much a statement about who and what we were as it is about who we are now and what we may become.” - Robert L. Millet

Not everyone can say they are of the house of Israel and of the Covenant of Abraham.  Not only is it a blessing, but also a responsibility. 

Blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant

1)      LAND: A promised land (Genesis 13:14-15; 3 Nephi 20:14)

2)      SEED:  A great posterity (Genesis 13:16; Abraham 2:9)

3)      PRIESTHOOD:  The Priesthood and its attached gospel (Abraham 2:9)

4)      MINISTRY TO THE WORLD:  The opportunity/ability to share all this with all the families of the earth (Abraham 2:10-11; 3 Nephi 20:25) 

 

A book to help you understand more and print out for free!  

 http://www.theredheadedhostess.com/most-popular/understanding-the-house-of-israel/