Thoughts from stake confence

Yesterday and today was our stake conference. Elder Kent F. Richards was our visiting authority and he taught us well as did our stake presidency and other speakers. Here are some nuggets that stood out to me from various speakers.
--Priesthood quorums/groups need three things: brotherhood, spirit-led instruction, and opportunities to serve
--We each should strive to be a more complete servant of the Lord.
--Three things that are necessary as we work with investigators/new members/less active members: teach them doctrinal truths; encourage and support them; respect their moral agency to choose.
--Home teachers (and visiting teachers, too, I would assume) should teach and testify to every family
--Three gifts God has given us: the Light of Christ--to know good from evil; moral agency--to be able to choose good or evil; 24 hours in a day--in which to fully exercise our moral agency for good
--God wants our hearts completely, 100%.
--Ask ourselves: "Is it my heart's desire to follow Him regardless of the consequences?" (YES!)
--It's the little decisions in life that indicate what direction our life is headed.
--Giving to others, with sacrifice, reaps the blessings of Heaven.

I am spiritually full.

The Joy of Reading

Was thinking this morning that while I enjoy modern technologies like the internet, cell phones, blogging, and social networking, nothing compares with good old fashioned reading. I love books--always have. I remember as a kid making a summertime trek to the Visalia public library and leaving with an arm full of books--westerns, science fiction, adventure and many others. Today our shelves are filled with books from a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres--novels, religious books, political analysis, self-help. I usually am working my way through several books at once. Here's my current reading list:
--Book of Mormon
--Old Testament
--The Democratization of American Christianity (sociological study of the "burned over district" during the Second Great Awakening, late 1700s to 1830)
--Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin (conservative political commentary)
--Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child (fluff adventure novel)
--Joseph Smith Papers, volume 1832-1839

I think fewer kids today know the joy of settling down with a good book. I hope my grandkids are the exception.

Change in the political landscape

I was pleased with Scott Brown's upset win in the Massachusetts special senatorial election--not just because I am a conservative but more importantly because I am suspect of the government when the executive branch and the legislative branch are of the same party and the latter holds a majority of votes--especially a super majority. Far better if there is a balance so that all parties are forced to cooperate with each other, limit the contentiousness and generate legislation that more equitably represents the concerns of all Americans, not just the right or the left.

Power outage_

All power--including land-line phone--out for 12 hours--1:00am to 1:00pm--due to high winds during the night. This gave us a good opportunity to hook up our generator which worked fine. Also inventoried our 72 hour kits and will replace expired food and other items. It is comforting to know we can handle these kinds of emergencies with minimal discomfort. "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Sabbath musings

What I love about Sunday:
--Being on the 1-4 schedule so I can have the morning--my freshest time mentally and spiritually--to prepare for worship and catching up on high priest group business
--Greeting friends at church and getting a small glimpse of what the celestial kingdom may be like
--Sitting next to Melba and knowing that the greatest joy in my life is right beside me
--Sharing the pew with Diane, Sean and William--nice to have family with us
--Partaking of the emblems of Christ's atonement--and reminding myself that had I been the only person in the world He would still have sacrificed Himself just for me
--Watching 93 year old Margaret Hannan conduct the congregational hymns--a calling she's had for 50 years; I'm convinced that when Lady Margaret (as I call her, to her great delight) passes away it will be on an upbeat during the fourth verse of "Come, Come Ye Saints"
--Seeing parents and children coming to worship together complete with quiet books, hot wheels, Cheerios, and coloring books.
--Lessons so well prepared and prayerfully given that I weep with the Spirit

What I don't like about Sunday:
--Noisy, out of control kids
--Noisy, out of control parents
--Uncomfortable pews
--Bone breaking hand shakes
--Prelude music that draws attention to the organist and not the Lord
--Teachers who never answer my question: "So what?"

Hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful, spirit-filled Sabbath.

Quiet Saturday morning

I love quiet Saturday mornings--Melba still asleep, some movement upstairs but so far no one down here. The quietness helps me ponder, meditate, and refocus on things that are best vs. those that are better or just good.

Dropped by my dear friend Harry's mobile home yesterday. He and his wife, Dolly, were our cruise partners when we went to Mexico a couple of years ago. Harry is 75 and has been diagnosed with some kind of dementia. Since I am the high priest group leader I needed to tell Harry that we are releasing him and another brother as our group instructors. They've served for over two years and it is time to "spread the wealth". Harry's first comment was "Are you releasing me because last Sunday's lesson was so bad?" I said "no", it's just time to do it. His second comment was "I'm really relieved to be released--I'm having more memory problems--just can't seem to hang on to things like I used to." I just about cried. I told him that I am his friend and along with his wife I will be there for him and will walk with him on this part of his journey--and I will.

We've got a date for surgery!

Finally....2 Mar is date for full knee replacement for Melba. Will be happy for her--she is in constant pain even when the Percocet is cranked up. When she hurts, I hurt for her--when she feels a little relief, I rejoice for her. That's what 31+ years of marriage to this wonderful woman has done to me--made me a better, kinder, more empathetic man. Thank the Lord she is in my life...now and eternally.