Beneath the Wraps

                In April I was asked to outline the RS lessons to correspond with Come Follow Me lessons.   I had only my notes and the titles of the 2020 “Don’t Miss This” Episodes. It was right after general conference and so I didn’t have the titles of the talks we had picked, only the speakers. Of course I prayed for inspiration on where to put the 11 or 12 conference talks that we had picked for our lessons.   There were six that were definitely set in stone but wasn’t quite certain how to place the other talks.   This week’s theme was spot on as the reading in Come Follow Me was on the Strippling Warriors (starting here ) and the RS lesson was from this talk .  

             Shortly after we had moved to Oregon I remember a Book of Mormon class having been offered on a Tuesday night of each week.  The missionaries would teach the class which seemed well attended. I became familiar with the class when I would go to the Relief Society activity meeting which was held once a month – also on a Tuesday. There were some sisters who chose to attend the Book of Mormon class rather than support the sisterhood of the Relief Society.  I remember being annoyed that they were on the same night usually at the same time.              It must have been in 2019 when the Book of Mormon class was changed to the Come Follow Me class.   In addition to Sunday school there were members of the ward who would meet once a week with the missionaries – but the time was changed to 4:00 on Wednesdays.   During nice weather we would meet outside.   It was a nic...

                Last night I had a dream that we had gone to the Enchanted Forest and somehow ended up with a book of names.  The names were written in my father’s handwriting – or so I believed.  The only name I can remember was Priddy Meaks – who is an ancestor on my mother’s side.  So maybe it was my mother’s handwriting?  I, of course, do not remember the details as I had when I initially woke up.  I remember telling Jaime that we should collect all the pressed pennies that we could for they each had the names of our forefathers.  Lies.                First of all, Enchanted Forest didn’t even exist when Priddy Meaks crossed the plains with the pioneer company.   There is some monument or structure that bears his name.   I have never seen it but my mom said she did when she was in Illinois.   It is not in Oregon.   It is no...

  I was not on facebook at all on December 31 or January 2.  It was nice.  So many times I have considered removing myself from being connected but there are aspects I enjoy such as “ Come Follow Me ” and keeping connected with the ward relief society and different community pages.  More pluses than negatives if I will allow myself to look at it that way. The only reason I had turned on my computer yesterday was because Roland wanted to send Randy a card for his birthday – which is tomorrow and will not get to him in time if we were to mail it out.   If my computer is opened I will open the internet and dabble.   Last night I saw a notification from a member in the ward who I have bonded with in some ways but do not always choose to read her posts and wish I would have gone with my first impulse NOT to click on the notification but ignore – but it was Sunday and she often does share inspirational messages.   No, last night was a question and answe...

              Yesterday we hid twenty plastic eggs for Jenna to find.  The Easter egg hunt has always been a  tradition  for her.  She has participated in at least one hunt every year - and it is usually with someone other than us.  But as we are stuck inside this year and I won't allow her to go further than the mailbox, I decided to create a hunt for her.  We had purchased Easter candy a while ago and also included scriptures and other Easter thoughts so we could include the true meaning of Easter as well. Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to. – Jeffrey R. Holland  His Atonement makes available all of the power, peace, light, and strength that we need to deal with life’s challenges – Sheri L. Dew For the Atonement of the Lord and His gift of resurrection—for this sublime message of  Easter  – Russell M. Nelson To understand the meaning of death, we mus...

For my post today I would like to share this special message presented by David Butler and Emily Freeman.  I think it applies to more than just full time but all of us as well.  I hope they don't mind my sharing on my blog video: handout: Enjoy

          There were several signs of spring before it the equinox made (or will make) it official.   So many trees in pink and white blossom and all the daffodils and allergies.    Though my eyes appreciate the view from a distance, I have a hard time with spring up close as my sinuses go ballistic.   My ears tear and my nose runs.   Allergies.   I’m not sick.   I’m annoyed.   I need more moisture than the air has been providing me with lately.   Time to bring out the humidifier – which always seemed like an oddity for this part of Oregon.   But with Roland always being cold at night, the electric heat is really not agreeing with me right now.             It’s the heat.   It’s not a virus.   I’m not sick.   Even if I do get sick, I won’t admit it.   I’m not going to the doctor’s or hospital.   Ther...

This morning my alarm went off as I had set a reminder to meet with the bishop this morning.   Of course that never happened.   It is weird not going to church on Sunday.   The dismal air outside mirrors the way Jenna and I feel with summoned isolation. Jenna and I watched a “Come Follow Me” video before reading Jacob in its entirety.    She still plans to study independently according to her daily schedule starting with seminary and each class that she has – except for maybe one of her math classes as she has no reference from the school.   I told her to watch math videos during that time. I did get a message from the friends of Myrtle Creek library.   They may be staying open as they are not considered to be a public library.   However, the library is still in a city-owned building and so the decision may not solely be left for patrons and volunteers of the library to decide. This is such an odd reality – or is it?   A...

             When it was announced that church meetings would be cut back to only two hours on Sunday so that the third hour could be spend with families, neither Jenna nor I believed it would last.   It has been left up to each family or individual to study the "Come Follow Me" program to prepare for the following Sunday.   I could hear Jenna's moans - wishing that would happen but predicting that it would not.                 Like many New Year's Resolutions, there is diligence within the first month, perhaps a couple, but then we start to taper off from what we started and had every intention of keeping.   Jenna and I have been pretty good about going over the manual first thing when we get home.   She stops me and asks lots of questions or rewords the message (or scripture) according to her own understanding.   During the ...

          The ward Christmas dinner is tonight - it's going on right now, actually.   And so is the light parade - which I will be missing this year - am missing.   It's barely past 6:00 and I am hearing fireworks - are you kidding me?   Why so early?   I suppose the answer to that would be because we have more hours of fog than we have seen - this being our forth Christmas in Myrtle Creek.                   It's been so dry, only a few days of rain,   and the fog lingers so much longer than I have ever seen.   Sometimes we have a couple of hours of sun but once it goes down (quite early by the way) the fog makes its way back.   I think there may pieces of smog mixed up in it.   Perhaps that is why it lingers.   It doesn't look as clean as it used to. Anyway, I guess if they don't set the fireworks off right now, ...