19 May 2024, Sunday

 19 May 2024, Sunday

Prioritized Daily Task

Carter Hobbs 14th Birthday

Ellie Hobbs 16th Birthday

10:30 am - Knutsen, Abbington Memory Center

6 PM - Kylie and Tylee's graduation 

Note:  Today's scripture study in the Book of Mormon brought up a story:  "But most of all I enjoyed counting the window panes—2,244 of them in the tabernacle—because I grew up on the story of Peter Neilson, one of those little-noted and now-forgotten Saints.  In the course of constructing the St. George Tabernacle, the local brethren ordered the glass for the windows from New York and had it shipped around the cape to California. But a bill of $800 was due and payable before the panes could be picked up and delivered to St. George. Brother David H. Cannon, later to preside over the St. George Temple being built at the same time, was charged with the responsibility of raising the needed funds. After painstaking effort, the entire community, giving virtually everything they had to these two monumental building projects, the Temple and the Tabernacle,  had been able to come up with only $200 cash. On sheer faith Brother Cannon committed a team of freighters to prepare to leave for California to get the glass. He continued to pray that the enormous balance of $600 would somehow be forthcoming before their departure.

Living in nearby in Washington, Utah, was Peter Neilson, a Danish immigrant who had been saving for years to add on to his modest two-room adobe home. On the eve of the freighters’ departure for California, Peter spent a sleepless night in that tiny little house. He thought of his conversion in far-off Denmark and his subsequent gathering with the Saints in America. After coming west he had settled and struggled to make a living in Sanpete. And then, just as some prosperity seemed imminent there, he answered the call to uproot and go to the Cotton Mission, bolstering the pathetic and sagging efforts of the alkali-soiled, malaria-plagued, flood-bedeviled settlers of Dixie. As he lay in bed that night contemplating his years in the Church, he weighed the sacrifices asked of him against the wonderful blessings he had received. Somewhere in those private hours he made a decision.

Some say it was a dream, others say an impression, still others simply a call to duty. However the direction came, Peter Neilson arose before dawn on the morning the teams were to leave for California. With only a candle and the light of the gospel to aid him, Peter brought out of a secret hiding place $600 in gold coins—half eagles, eagles, and double eagles. His wife, Karen, aroused by the predawn bustling, asked why he was up so early. He said only that he had to walk quickly the seven miles to St. George.

As the first light of morning fell on the beautiful red cliffs of southern Utah, a knock came at David H. Cannon’s door. There stood Peter Neilson, holding a red bandanna which sagged under the weight it carried. “Good morning, David,” said Peter. “I hope I am not too late. You will know what to do with this money.”

With that he turned on his heel and retraced his steps back to Washington, back to a faithful and unquestioning wife, and back to a small two-room adobe house that remained just two rooms for the rest of his life.

Today we are being blessed by the love of God and by the faithfulness of so many down through a thousand generations. May we do as much with the blessings we have been given as they did out of the deprivations so many faced.  In such abundance may we never “forget the Lord” nor “go after other gods,” but always be “a holy people unto the Lord.” If we do so, those that hunger and thirst for the word of the Lord will continue to come “as doves to [our] windows.” They will come seeking peace, growth, and salvation. If we live our religion they will find all of that and more.

We are a blessed people to live in such a marvelous time as this, I feel an overwhelming debt of gratitude.  I thank my Father in Heaven for blessings unnumbered and incalculable, the first and foremost being the gift of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus of Nazareth, our Savior and King. I testify that Christ’s perfect life and loving sacrifice constituted more than a King’s ransom, an atonement willingly paid, to lead us not only from death’s prison but also the prisons of sorrow and sin and self-indulgence.

I know that Joseph Smith beheld the Father and the Son and that this day is a direct extension of that day. I owe much for the precious knowledge of which I testify here. I owe much for the priceless heritage that has been given to me. Indeed I owe everything, and I pledge the rest of my life in giving it—in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.  Elder Jeffery R. Holland, April's General Conference 2000

I showered last night so when I woke and got up at about 7:00 am I had my personal prayer and shaved.  I still have a cold in my head and chest but I decided I was going to church and partake of the sacrament.  It has been too long, 3 weeks today, since April 28th when I last took the sacrament.   I knew Debbie would be upset so after we had prayer together I laid back down.  She made some breakfast but I told her I did not want anything.  After she left I got dressed and drove the Land Rover to church.  Tylee still has our Subaru.  The meeting had not started, set on the back row, and after the sacrament was administered I left.  When I left home this morning I did not take my phone and when I got home I checked to see if any of the children had called or texted me.  None from the children but I had a text message for Debbie. "You are not supposed to be around people."  I had worn a facemask.  The camera Ring Door Bell I had forgotten about.  Since I did not have my phone with me I did not know Ring had taken my picture and sent it to my and Debbie's iPhones.  I changed clothes and some toast, fruit, vitamins, and almond milk for brunch.  Debbie came home after the sacrament meeting was over.  She went back to bed.  She is also still sick and store for her surgery.  I also laid down and slept until 1 pm.  Debbie also got up and started cooking to take a meal over to Laura's.  Samantha is being released from the hospital and her family is coming over.  Samantha will be staying at her mother and dad's until she gets her strength back.  Laura sent a text message to Debbie.  "Sam still has a line in for some of her medicines to be administered but they can be administered at home" and thanked everyone for their prayers and support. Later Jared and Porter came over and visited.  I called and talked to Beth.  Michael, Matthew, and Rae Lynn did not answer their phones.  Ryan sent a link to watch Kylie's graduation from seminary at Wellsville.  Debbie forwarded the link.  Debbie attended Tylee's seminary graduation and. I watched Kylie's graduation.  A young sister graduating told a personal story about her younger sister who bork her back and how seminary has helped her in her life.  Kylie and her mother, Stephanie, sang a special song.  (All are alike unto God. 2 Nephi 26:33).  I watched Kylie receive her certificate from her bishop, Mike Malm, of the Wellsville 8th Ward.  There was a graduating senior in the Wellsville 10th Ward who was handicapped, Sinett Christen, and Kennedy Jones, another graduating senior helped her walk and get on the stage to receive her certificate.   The Stake President, Justin Naser, gave the concluding talk and played a short clip of a tape by President Russell M. Nelson encouraging the youth to attend institute.  President Naiser emphasized to them they are each a child of God.  Later Debbie got home and we had some of the same dinner she took to Laura, Samantha,  and family.  Jared brought the Sabaru that Tylee borrowed.  Matthew called and I had a chance to talk to him.  I called and talked to Rae Lynn and her family before studying scriptures, having prayer with Debbie, and going to bed.