The Hot Place

     I thought going to church helped one avoid going to "the hot place," but today church IS the hot place.  It is hotter than my home! (Well, at least at the moment.)  We don't have central heat. We run fans all day and night. We use a not fully working whole house fan morning and evening. And, when it really gets hot, we use a portable air conditioner my daughter, Sariah gave us which pretty much cools one room, especially if you are in direct line.  We have tiny wall air conditioner in the "family room".   Both air conditioners are "new to us" in the last year or so.  Their reach is limited, but appreciated.  For years we sweltered without  any relief except fans.  The house still gets pretty warm sometimes. But here at church today, it is hot. No AC in the chapel, but lots of warm hearts.

    My friends from Utah lamented getting snow on May 1st.  Too cold too late! We are experiencing triple digit weather when it is only mid-May.  Too hot too soon! What ever happened to moderation?

    The boys and I were discussing our ideal temperature ranges.  I would be really happy with temperatures ranging from 40º-80º.  Ben wants to take it down 10ºs each and Joseph wants to take it up 10º.  I missed Andrew's take on it.

    My chronic lack of sufficient sleep, the overly warm chapel and High Counsel Sunday.  Doesn't it sound like the kiss of death to attentiveness?!  However, even without my alternate twin "secret weapons"  (which don't always work) of note taking or crocheting, I think I would have stayed awake this week.  Great speakers.

But I did take same notes:

Dennis Roberts -concrete finisher - more comfortable outside in work clothes than in a suit.
    The most important work you will ever do will be within your home.
may we demonstrate kindness & love
    Home should be a sanctuary where storm stops & peace dwells
    It's ok for kids to help parents remember prayer, FHE, scripture
    a home is made of love, sacrifice & respect
    most sacred place on earth should be the home
    grandparenting is a chance to so better
    Brother Roberts lost son in Iraq 1 year ago- since then has reflected on what is important-
love, hug, teach, FHE, call grown kids & express your love
    so much of what people concentrate on will not make a difference in immortality, but the family will
    parents are to be living examples of kindness & pure knowledge
    stop the storm at the door by building your life on the teachings of the Savior
    never let a day go by without family prayer & scripture study- put it to the test

Daniel Hunt -he's a lawyer, he's didn't say so, but we know that-
    with the right perspective, life experiences can bless us
    they prepare us for future
    we can have eternal life if we want, but only if there is nothing we want more
    our experiences may not be dramatic,but they are important to our growth
    decide early to serve mission, to marry in the temple
    Richard G Scott April Conference 2004 (I  found the quote) "You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed with concern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given to live with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil. If you choose to concentrate on the dark side, this is what you will see. Much of the world is being engulfed in a rising river of degenerate filth, with the abandonment of virtue, righteousness, personal integrity, traditional marriage, and family life. Sodom and Gomorrah was the epitome of unholy life in the Old Testament. It was isolated then; now that condition is spread over the world. Satan skillfully manipulates the power of all types of media and communication. His success has greatly increased the extent and availability of such degrading and destructive influences worldwide. In the past some effort was required to seek out such evil. Now it saturates significant portions of virtually every corner of the world. We cannot dry up the mounting river of evil influences, for they result from the exercise of moral agency divinely granted by our Father. But we can and must, with clarity, warn of the consequences of getting close to its enticing, destructive current.

"Now the brighter side. Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with many good and sincere people. God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it. You can live a virtuous, productive, righteous life by following the plan of protection created by your Father in Heaven: His plan of happiness. It is contained in the scriptures and in the inspired declarations of His prophets. He clothed your intelligence with spirit and made it possible for you to enjoy the wonder of a physical body. When you use that body in the way He has decreed, you will grow in strength and capacity, avoid transgression, and be abundantly blessed."
    it is not good that man should be alone (his wife was away for a week at time twice recently so he has a testimony)
    experiences we have are a sign of God's love for us
    Brother Hunt served a mission in Philippines
    many time we do not comprehend the blessings of the temple until we are going through affliction:
story of brother - I missed his name - His wife went to the home of her childhood in anticipation of the birth of their first child.  He was going to join her before the birth, but got a call from his father-in-law telling him that he had a new daughter and they were fine.  Happily, he told his coworkers, who asked for chocolates.  The next day as he went about giving chocolates to his coworkers, he got another call.  Your wife is ok, but your daughter has died.  The funeral is tomorrow, we cannot wait for you to come.  He asked to talk to his wife. They discussed the promises of the temple and the promise that little children who die are alive in Christ.  They felt blessed to know that their daughter was alive and eternally theirs.  They agreed that he would join his wife in two weeks. Then he went back to distributing chocolates.  One of his coworkers asked how he could do that in the face of this tragedy.  He said, if you have 3 hours, I can tell you.  Later they got together and talked for 4 hours as he shared the plan of salvation and exaltation.   His friend took the missionary lessons and accepted the gospel.
    D&C 122: 7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
  8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
  9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

Sunday School-
Abinadi could not be killed until he delivered the Lord's message. It was imperative that this message be heard.  Of all his listeners, how many listened?  Only 1.  What difference did that 1 make?
How do we write the commandments on our hearts? desire & repetition of obedience
Alma 42: 11 And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord.
  12 And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;
  13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.
  14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.
  15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.

good news
Mosiah 15:
19 For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.
  20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.
  21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.
  22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.
  23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.
  24 And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.
  25 And little children also have eternal life.

plan of salvation provides hope, a way for all to come back

Relief Society
good news minute:  Yesterday was a Stake Women's Conference.  They had a goal to make 180 Baby Bundles (I think for babies of homeless women) and they put together 270! 

The lesson was based on one of my favorite scripture passages
Alma 34:   20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
  21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
  22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
  23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
  24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
  25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
  26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
  27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

     Pray about EVERYTHING
    study it out and take it to the Lord
    Don't "hang up" before He has a chance to answer
    sometimes when we ask A or B and the Lord doesn't (seem to)  answer, it is because he wants us to come up with C
    The things that are important to us, even if they are not important to anyone else, are important to the Lord