Traces of Time . . . September 30 - October 6, 2019

Traces of Time . . .

(To see last week's blog post--scroll down to the end of this week, then 

the Week of  September 23-29, 2019 will be there. 

If it's not, hit "Older Posts." at the bottom right.) 

THIS WEEK- 

SEPTEMBER 30, OCTOBER 6, 2019

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 

Family is Everything…

  Thanks, Karen, R.N.,
for checking on Walt each week.

 We try to bicycle 30 minutes
most days at the club house.

We are excited to start this 
new Empty Nesters' FHE group...

...studying
"Becoming Spiritually Centered
and Overcoming the World."
by James B. Cox.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2019 

Family is Everything…

  Another great Institute today.
Joseph Smith's First Vision

 Thanks, Sister Mindy Aldredge,
for another great lesson.

We were able to bicycle again

this afternoon.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

It was a touching funeral

for Ross Conner.

 Brother Conner will be missed!

  We honor his life.

 We went to the Mt. Timp Temple

and saw them planting

tulip bulbs for the Spring.

 Then I got my teeth cleaned this afternoon.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

We had a wonderful 

Central America

Area Presidency, 

Missionary Presidents

and Medical Advisor

Reunion Dinner tonight.

Thank you to Scott and Janis Farrell

for organizing this for the 

past ten years or more...

Standing--left to right 

Hank and Kristy Nelson, 

Shirley and Marlene Christensen,

Hugo and Nuria Martinez,

Don and Maryanne Clarke,

Ricky and Lynette Jones,

Scott and Janis Farrell,

Tom and Carolyn Coleman,

Michael and Gaye Duffin.

Sitting:

Walt and Eileen Petersen.

Lynette's photo turned out 
better than my photo.

Lynette's photo in larger format...
but it cuts off the sides.

Here's the group photo from Janis

Don and Marianne Clarke

Shirley and Marlene Christensen

Hugo and Nuria Martinez

 Scott and Janis Farrell

 Michael and Gaye Duffin

 Ricky and Lynette Jones

 Tom and Carolyn Coleman

 Hank and Kristy Nelson

 Walt and Eileen Petersen

 Thank you, Ricky and Lynette for driving
us to and from Saratoga Springs.

                                                                  What great memories of serving together.                                                     

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

 General Conference

...is a sacred time of year 

to learn at the feet of the Lord's

annointed...

189th Semi-Annual General Conference

 The First Presidency enter 
the Conference Center
President Russell M. Nelson
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Henry B. Eyring

 The First Presidency ready to
begin General Conference.

 The first speaker...
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

 We also heard inspiring talks from...
Elder Terence M. Vinson
Elder Stephen W. Owen
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Sister Michelle D. Craig
Elder Dale G. Renlund
President Dallin H. Oaks


Saturday Afternoon Session
of General Conference
Elder David A. Bednar
Elder Ruben V. Alliaud
President Russell M. Nelson
Elder Quentin L. Cook
Elder Mark L. Pace
Elder L. Todd Budge
Elder Ricardo R. Giménez
Elder Ronald A. Rasband 

General Women's Session

(Copied from the Church Web Site)

·    FAITH·    UTAH ·    GENERAL CONFERENCE

8 new Latter-day Saint temples announced by President Nelson at women’s session

By Trent Toone  Oct 5, 2019, 7:34pm MDT

President Russell M. Nelson, center, waves to conference goers before the general women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. 

Colter Peterson, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to build eight more temples during the women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference.

President Russell M. Nelson said temples will be built in the following locations:

• Freetown, Sierra Leone
• Orem, Utah
• Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
• Bentonville, Arkansas
• Bacolod, Philippines
• McAllen, Texas
• Cobán, Guatemala
• Taylorsville, Utah

“All our efforts to minister to each other, proclaim the gospel, perfect the Saints and redeem the dead converge in the holy temple,” President Nelson said. “We now have 166 temples throughout the world, and more are coming.”

President Nelson reminded Latter-day Saints about plans to renovate the Salt Lake Temple, Temple Square and the adjoining plaza near the Church Office Building at the close of this year.

“This sacred temple must be preserved and prepared to inspire future generations, just as it has influenced us in this generation,” President Nelson said.

“As the church grows, more temples will be built so that more families can have access to that greatest of all blessings, that of eternal life. We regard a temple as the most sacred structure in the church. Whenever plans are announced to construct a new temple, it becomes an important part of our history.”

At the conclusion of last April’s conference, President Nelson announced eight temples in Pago Pago, American Samoa; Okinawa City, Okinawa; Neiafu, Tonga; Tooele Valley, Utah; Moses Lake, Washington; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Antofagasta, Chile; and Budapest, Hungary.

In this Story stream

189th Semiannual General Conference

·         General conference: Here are all the changes announced at Saturday’s sessions

·         8 new Latter-day Saint temples, including 2 in Utah, announced by President Nelson at women’s session

·         Women’s session: Promise of spiritual blessings, revised Young Women theme and new temples

Next Up In General conference

·         General conference: Here are all the changes announced at Saturday’s sessions

·         Women’s session: Promise of spiritual blessings, revised Young Women theme and new temples

·         General conference: Here’s how Twitter reacted to Saturday’s sessions

·         More changes announced at conference: Young Men and Young Women programs, terminology and budgets

·         ‘Bold initiatives and new announcements’ have one purpose, church leaders say

·         189th Semiannual General Conference talk summaries, photo galleries

Most Read

1.      

More changes announced at conference: Young Men and Young Women programs, terminology and budgets

 The Brethren show their admiration and
unity with each other as they leave
each session of General Conference.

We enjoy seeing our leaders with their wives. President Nelson tells us and shows us how he cherishes his wife, Wendy. 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019 

Family is Everything... 
We watched the 189th Semi-annual
General Conference of
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints today...

 “Revelation Continues in the Church,” Says President Nelson at Historic October 2019
 General Conference"

During a general conference filled with more adjustments and changes to policy and organizational structure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson said, “Revelation continues in the Church … under the Lord’s direction.”

Building on those comments from the prophet about this season of revelation, Elder Quentin L. Cook said: “These efforts, together with those announced during the last two years, are not isolated changes. Each of the adjustments is an integral part of an interlocking pattern to bless the Saints and prepare them to meet God.”

Adjustments announced by the First Presidency began during the General Authority leadership meeting on October 2, where President Nelson announced new opportunities for women, children, and youth to serve as witnesses during baptism and sealing ordinances

To help young men and young women develop their sacred personal potential, adjustments to the organization of Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes, along with a new Young Women theme, were announced by Church leaders. Ward Young Men presidencies were discontinued, giving bishoprics more opportunities to assist Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies to learn and fulfill their responsibilities. President Nelson says it’s all connected to helping children and youth to gather Israel and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

“They are the ‘hope of Israel, Zion’s army, children of the promised day,’” said President Nelson. “We express our complete confidence in our youth and our gratitude for them.”

Women Have Direct Access to God’s Power

In his address to the women of the Church, President Nelson promised women that they have access “to all the spiritual treasures the Lord has for His children.” One spiritual treasure he emphasized is “direct access to the power of God” available to all women. He also emphasized that the voices, input, and power of women are needed in God’s work.

President Nelson concluded his women’s session address by announcing 8 new temples and blessed the women to “understand the priesthood power with which you have been endowed and that you will augment that power by exercising your faith in the Lord and in His power.”

Worldwide Welfare Service

In the Sunday morning session, President Nelson commended members all over the world for their efforts to obey the “second great commandment” and lift the burdens of others to live as true followers of Jesus Christ.

President Nelson listed efforts by the Church to provide life-sustaining resources through humanitarian work, disaster relief, and fast offerings. “As members of the Church, we feel a kinship to those who suffer in any way,” he said, citing the Savior’s teachings in Matthew 25 as one of the inspirations for selfless service and giving.

“Giving help to others,” he concluded, “is our joy.”

Changes to Temple Recommend Questions

In his closing remarks about preparing to qualify to enter a temple, the house of the Lord, President Nelson announced revisions to the questions to be asked by priesthood leaders in a temple recommend interview for both adults and youth.

“Individual worthiness to enter the Lord’s house requires much individual spiritual preparation. But with the Lord’s help, nothing is impossible,” said President Nelson. “Individual worthiness requires a total conversion of mind and heart to be more like the Lord, to be an honest citizen, to be a better example, and to be a holier person.”

President Nelson ended his address by giving members a charge to prepare for the next general conference in April [2020 will be called a Bicentennial year], which will coincide with the 200th anniversary of the First Vision. He invited every member and family, over the next six months, to read Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision, read and study the Book of Mormon and consider questions about its importance, and become immersed in the light of the Restoration.

He closed the conference by reaffirming his love for the global membership of the Church and the Savior and said, “Revelation continues in the Church and will continue under the Lord’s direction until ‘the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done’” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 142).

---

Blog Staff

"The purpose of the blog on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to share the teaching of Jesus Christ through the telling of personal stories and experiences that help to fortify faith in Jesus Christ and His Church."

Walt and Eileen's comments at the end of General Conference today... 
We are thankful for the living Prophets, Seers, and Revelators that the Lord has chosen to guide us in these days of the Last Dispensation of this earth.

We pray we will heed their counsel, advice, invitation to come unto the Savior, and the warnings to protect us in these latter days from deception, distraction, and discouragement.

 *** *** ***

We are so thankful for The Plan of Salvation

and the Atonement of  Jesus Christ

that makes this Great Plan operational.
We are thankful for the First Vision of a young boy, Joseph Smith, at age 14, who sought to know which Church to join and received an answer in the Spring of 2020.

At the end of this October 6th,
General Conference weekend,

we pray you have had a

restful , peaceful, and spiritual

Sabbath Day...

We share these truths as our testimony to you...

Heavenly Father lives and knows us each by name. He loves us and wants us to return to Him and Heavenly Mother when we leave this mortal existence.  He loves us just as we are at this very moment.

*** *** ***

Jesus Christ came to earth as The Only Begotten of the Father and fulfilled the Atonement. He is the Redeemer of all. 

*** *** ***

Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the Prophet of the Restoration.  He is the Restorer of all things.

*** *** ***

President Russell M. Nelson is the Living Prophet today for all the world. He receives revelation from God to guide The Kingdom of God on the earth.

*** *** ***

The Bible is "the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly" and is a Testament of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

*** *** ***

The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the most correct book of any book on earth.  As we read it daily, we will be guided to stay on the covenant path that leads to The Tree of Life and have Eternal Life.

*** *** ***

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the True Church on the earth today.  It was restored to the earth by the Prophet Joseph Smith under the direction of Jesus Christ from Authority by His Father, Elohim.

*** *** ***

Of these truths we testify in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Walt and Eileen Petersen

Saratoga Springs, Utah, U.S.A.

October 6, 2019