Week 26 October 22- 28

 Fall has arrived in Utah, even at Walmart.

The little bit of frost we had earlier has bought out the beautiful fall colors.  I love this time of year.

The sun lighting on the Salt Lake City temple as Elder Koberstein and I went shopping for wedding gifts for Brandon on Friday afternoon.

Friday evening our MTC social group decorated sugar cookies and visited.  It was fun to catch up on what is happenings of each member of our group as they work in different parts of our mission. 

Saturday morning Elder Koberstein and I took an eleven mile bike ride on the Legacy bike trail.  I love the horses we passed by on the ride.

We attended the BYU game in Provo against the Northern Illinois University.  It was a good game but could have been better if we had won, score 6 to 7.   We then drove over to see the new paint job on our Orem duplex.  

After looking at our duplex, we had time to drive by the Timpanogus Temple in American Fork before going to the wedding reception for BB.  It was getting dark when we arrived but we still got a fairly good picture of the temple with lights on it.

We then attended the wedding reception for BB and AP.  The B1 floor combined and bought a gift for the newlyweds.  Elder Koberstein and I were able to bring the gift to the reception.  Our group bought them a "Family Tree" wall hanging, a "Charter Club Damask Designs Comforter Set" from their Macy's gift registry plus the extra change.  It made a nice ending to a fun p-day.

A THOUGHT FOR YOU
And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing.  For if ye would hearkened unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.  2 Nephi 32:8

Week 25 - October 15-21

Tuesday we worked at the Family History Library on the evening schedule.  In the morning Elder Koberstein and I rode part of the Legacy trail.  It was about an eleven mile ride.  I was glad to see five corners round-about on the return trip.

We said good by to this beautiful sister.  Sister Pederson is 90 years old and has worked at the Family History Library for twelve years.  It has been my privilege to have known her.

Friday night Elder Koberstein and I enjoyed dinner out at the Black Bear Dinner.  We enjoyed a turkey dinner together. 

Saturday was spent preparing for next week (laundry, cleaning, shopping and preparing a Relief Society lesson).  In the afternoon we went with the Johnson's to see the movie "Emma and Jane".  It is an enjoyable movie about and early black convert who went to Nauvoo and there worked for Joseph and Emma.  I now need to look into Church History and find out the facts about Jane and Emma.  After the movie we enjoyed dinner at Chuck-a-Rama. 

THOUGHT FOR YOU

What would happen if we ...

Treated the Book of Mormon 

like we treat our cell phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we showed friends our favorite part?

What if it was the first thing we looked at when we got up?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we used it when we got lost?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forget it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids and friends as gifts?

What if we used it to find answers to life's questions?

What if we used it when we were lonely?

What if we used it in the case of an emergency?

What if we spent even 1/10th the amount of time using it?

What if we used it to check the time? (signs of the times)

What if we turned to it to find out self-worth?

What if we used it to communicate with our Father?

What if we used it when we needed directions?

And unlike our cell phones...  One plan fits all.  

Unlimited usage. No roaming charges.  

You always have reception.  You never need to recharge it.  

No weak signals.  We don't have to worry about our 

Book of Mormon being disconnected 

because our Savior already paid the bill!

Thing about it!  

Do you have a physical copy of the Book of Mormon?  

When was the last time you read it?  

Shared it with a friend? or turned to it in a time of need?  

What about in a time of rejoicing, do you turn to it then?

Consider the words of a prophet.

Jeremy at mylifebygogogoff.com

Week 24 - October 8-14

Monday started with a day at the "Big Picture Event" presented by FamilySearch.  Steven Rockwood the managing director of Family History Department came and spoke with us for a few minutes.  What a treat.  It was an all day event with both breakfast and lunch served on site.  We learned from Rod De Giulio, senior VP of FamilySearch International and Director of PAS "The Lord has especially prepared you for the work you will do."  I have found this statement to be true in my life.  I am so grateful to have the health to be able to serve him in my retirement years. 

It is starting to feel like winter is coming.  I even pulled out my light jacket to break the cold wind.  We see snow on the mountain tops.  This picture was taken as we drove into Bountiful returning from the Family History Center.  It has not yet frozen on the valley floor but the snow on the mountain tops seems like it is here to stay.

Friday was our research and temple day.  We decided to drive to Layton and do our research at the Layton FamilySearch center. 

This is part of the discovery center.  We timed it just right to run into the director of this new facility.  He was interested in our missionary tags and gave us a tour of the building. 

This picture is looking toward the computer center, where you do your research.  There is also a large computer lab where classes can be taught and a classroom that holds large groups.  The director said they often have groups of forty plus youth visit the facility.  It was busy today with guests who were doing their own family history work.  Elder Koberstein and I hope soon there can be a Regional FamilySearch Center built near our home in California.  It is a great place to teach the youth and adults about family history work.

We finally made it to the Brigham City temple, third try since it was dedicated.  This is the eleventh of the seventeen operating temples in Utah we have visited since arriving in Utah.  We hope to be able to visit the six remaining dedicated temple before our mission ends.  This temple has nice underground parking, amazing in the wintertime.  It is one of the few temples in the world to have fruit bearing trees growing on the grounds.  A big part of the economy in Brigham City has been the fruit grown in the area.  Peach blossoms play a big part in the temple's interior design.  When we finished at the temple we drove down highway 89 and bought a few of the last peaches this year and a butternut squash to bring back to Bountiful. 

The flowers that Susan's children planted in their flower garden last spring are just starting to bloom.  

They are a beautiful variety of colors. 

Each night we wonder if it will be the night that freezes.  

Saturday evening was a hard decision.  We had bought tickets for the BYU football game in Provo & there was a Zone Leader Social at the same time.

We chose to give our tickets away and attend the social which was held about two blocks from the Family History Library parking lot.  It was an amazing walk with the Conference Center on one side and 

the beautiful Salt Lake temple on the other side of us.  I still marvel at the blessing we are enjoying serving here.  I never get tired of Temple Square.

This is a beautiful home we passed on our walk.

We enjoy visiting with other couples that serve as zone leaders in the Family History Library and a wonderful potato bar dinner.  On the walk back to our car we saw the Salt Lake Temple with a crescent moon near.  Heavenly Father has blessed us to be able to enjoy such beauty.

When we returned to Bountiful we listening to Brigham Young Universality vs Hawaii Football game.  It was a fun game to listen to which ended with a decisive 49/23 win for BYU.

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

If you give your heart to God and walk in faith and compassion, He will use you in ways you cannot now imagine.  -Dean M. Davies 

Week 23 - September 31- October 7

Tuesday this past week we had the privilege to work at the Family History Library on the Tuesday PM shift.  That means we work from 1pm to 9pm.  We love that time of day as we can sleep in, shop and exercise etc. before going in to the library.  Tuesday morning I tried my knee on the bike again.  We rode a little over six miles and it did okay.  It felt good to be on the bike again.

We saw the Bountiful temple on our ride.  It is the little white steeple on the mountain side above the school.

Friday some of our MTC group rode the FrontRunner train to the BYU vs Utah State football game.  We also invited our son, Louis, who graduated from Utah State, to go with us.  Elder Koberstein was sure it was a good ideas as we could all be happy.  If BYU won we would be happy and Louis would be happy for us.  If Utah State won Louis would be happy and we would be happy for him.  Elder Koberstein was happy for our son.

Our cousin Ida Beth and husband Larry stopped by on Saturday and visited with Susan and I for a few minutes between conference sessions.  They were headed back to Star Valley.

Elder Koberstein and I had the opportunity to attend "Music and the Spoken Word" this morning before the morning session of General Conference.  The Spoken Word's message was by Lloyd D. Newell titled "Set Our Hearts at Liberty".  He told the story of Valjean fron Victor Hugo's classic Les Miserables.  Jean Valjean spent 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread.  When he was released he could not find employment or housing-or even a friendly word.  He stops by a cathedral and is offered a place to sleep and a meal.  He steals the church's silverware and the police catch him and bring him back.  The clergyman reports that he gave Valjean the silverware and wanted him to take the silver candlesticks too.  The police leave and the cleric challenges Valjean to use this gift to become an honest man.  The stunning act of grace, a gift some might say wasn't deserved, forever changes the course of Jean Valjean's life.

"God's love is 'pure, unbounded love' and He grants it not because we are strong but because we need strength, not because we are good but because He is good." Music and the spoken Word, October 7, 2018.

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

People are often unreasonable,

Irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you

Of selfish, ulterior motives. 

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, 

You will win some unfaithful friends

And some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere 

People may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, 

Others could destroy overnight

Create any way. 

If you find serenity and happiness, 

Some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, 

Will often be forgotten

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have,

And it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis,

It is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

Week 22 - September 24-30

Elder Koberstein and I received an invitation to attend the Chinese Cultural Activity for the FamilySearch group.  It was a program and lunch for employees.  We have a very talented sister on our floor, from China, that was in charge of all the decorations for the festival.  She spent many hours working on the project and it was beautifully decorated.  The picture is by a large gong used to start the activity.

This picture is of a Chinese genealogy chart for all the clans in China.

Friday, for our half day research, we drove to the Regional Family History Center in Lehi.

We found it had many of the same activities that can be done on the main floor of the Family History Center in Salt Lake City.  It also has many computers for those who want to do research.  Missionaries were available to help guest with their own family history just like the FHL in Salt Lake City.  It was a very busy place.

Elder Koberstein and I had a hard time finding two computers together.  It is a beautiful place to introduce guest to finding their past.  In the future, there many be Regional Family History Center like this one closer to members world wide.

We took Elder Koberstein's bike with us.  He rode his bike the last 26.45 miles.  We stopped at McDonald's for an ice cream cone together.  He then changed into his biking cloths and rode the rest of the way back to Bountiful.  He took this beautiful fall picture along the Jordan River Trail on his ride.

He saw Canadian Geese feeding in the Jordan River.

He navigated bridges and

tunnels.  It is nice to miss many of the hazards of the roads.

Sunday we drove to Smithfield and attended Sacrament Meeting with our grandchildren.  It was fun to be with them for their Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  We enjoyed a wonderful meal of Italian Shredded Beef Sandwiches.
I had to take a picture of the beautiful Logan temple as we drove through.

The canyon between Logan and Brigham City had beautiful red and orange fall leaves.

We enjoyed a beautiful red sunset as we drove through Brigham City.

THOUGHT FOR YOU

"Doesn't it seem foolish to spoil sweet and joyful experiences because we are constantly anticipating the moment when they will end?" 

 -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"This life is great!  Let's follow Elder Uchtdorf's counsel and enjoy the now,  despite challenges.  God has given us so many wonderful things to be happy about.  I am grateful for my loving family and friends, and for my companion ... and for this beautiful world and for music and delicious food!"  -Sister Howell