Beneath the Wraps

           Once a month, the church holds a sacrament meeting known as “fast and testimony meeting”.   This meeting is normally held at the first Sunday of the month.   The exceptions are just prior to or after General Conference.   Conferences take place the first weekend in April and October.   The ward I reside in has always done the testimony meeting the last Sunday in March and September.   This gives members of the congregation the opportunity of standing at the pulpit to express their understanding of the gospel and to share their testimonies.         Yesterday’s meeting was quite powerful and the Spirit was delivered in such reverent manner.   I had worn a clean mask which was no longer clean as it was filled with moist emotion. It had started before the bishop had invited the congregation to come and speak.  The sacrament hymn was "I Stand All Amazed" ( here ) which I have memo...

           I recently learned that Brigham Young had told Ephraim Hanks to shave his face.   I have probably heard the story ( here ) several times but did not resonate like it does at present.   “Wear a mask”. How hard is that?   Few people enjoy being told what to do.   We all have our free agency.   Not everybody will wear a mask – or if they do, they will wear pretend masks or fail to cover both mouth and nose. https://www.amazon.com/Mustache-Handmade- Washable-Copyright-Protected/dp/B08DK461YP          Ephraim Hanks had free agency.   He didn’t have to shave.   He chose to obey the council.   It’s not that he needed to prove anything to others or even God.   He had to prove to himself that he was willing to obey.   This act played a huge role with his ability to lead others.            This article reinforces that wearing a mask is showing Christ...

 Each year after the smoke leaves  the fog descends and the hills seem to disappear  as before but the air is clean and moist and breathable

            It has rained                      the last two mornings.   Sweet Beautiful Rain.     It has pounded over the skylight           and has woken me up.   I don't mind.   It's such a pleasant sound to my  ears. The rain has cleaned the air and swallowed up the hills – but in a positive way –           unlike the smoke.   I enjoy looking at the clouds.  The elements are awesome  

           Roland took a warehouse job with GREAT benefits – less than ten minutes away – but graveyards.   He had done that kind of work before.   He was doing that when I met him – graveyards. His body was younger and in better shape 20 years ago.   Just three days in seemed to take a toll on him and he quit.   Dang.   He is now training for a sales job at a jewelry store.   Jewelry.   Sales.   Blech!   I was much more excited about the warehouse.   NOT excited about sales or jewelry.   But it’s his comfort zone.   To sell.   He seems excited about it I guess.   He has felt the need for new clothes.   He has also wanted to purchase clothes for Jenna – who does enjoy shopping at the dollar store, discount stores and even second hand store.   But not for clothes.   A teenage girl who hates to go shopping. Roland has taken Jenna by himself a few times, but neither one ...

 One of the pigs got out of his/her yard and into ours.  Isn't the first time.  Could even be the same pig as last year.  I don't know.  It sounds as though they have been more trouble than what they're worth.  Neither one of these guys were particularly happy as it cost two hours of time they could have spent elsewhere.   When you view these (some not great quality due to a dirty window) pay attention to the pigs in the background.  They seem intrigued. not the most durable climbing shoes in my opinion appears to be a standoff LOL the details don't stand out so great in this photo but the pig in the background does

                 Every essay needs a thesis statement, at least three body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph.  Jenna is now taking an English based on writing letters to solicit scholarship funds.  Her first theme currently is “Beat the Odds Scholarship”.  I looked over her first rough draft and we changed some of it.  It’s still not perfect but we knew that going in.  One of the suggestions that her instructor has was that she should focus on overcoming disabilities or hardships that affected her life.   Jenna’s only comment was the pandemic which is definitely NOT a personal struggle.   It is still a struggle nonetheless – and the only one that either of us can think of.           The fact that Roland and I are college graduates has already kept Jenna from the summer program that at least one of her friends had gone to this year.   Our family way of life...