Keep Trying

I was looking for a specific quote by President Holland, but can't seem to locate it right now.  But in my search I found some other good quotes by President Holland.  This is from a talk he gave in April 2016 called Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You.  Here are a few excerpts that I liked.

"Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them. If you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep going. If you fall, summon His strength. Call out like Alma, “O Jesus, … have mercy on me.” He will help you get back up. He will help you repent, repair, fix whatever you have to fix, and keep going. Soon enough you will have the success you seek.

“As you desire of me so it shall be done unto you,” the Lord has declared.

“… Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously. 

“… [Then] whatsoever you desire of me [in] righteousness, … you shall receive.”

"I love that doctrine! It says again and again that we are going to be blessed for our desire to do good, even as we actually strive to be so.

…"Now, with that majestic devotion ringing from heaven as the great constant in our lives, manifested most purely and perfectly in the life, death, and Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can escape the consequences of both sin and stupidity—our own or that of others—in whatever form they may come to us in the course of daily living. If we give our heart to God, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, if we do the best we can to live the gospel, then tomorrow—and every other day—is ultimately going to be magnificent, even if we don’t always recognize it as such. Why? Because our Heavenly Father wants it to be! He wants to bless us. A rewarding, abundant, and eternal life is the very object of His merciful plan for His children! It is a plan predicated on the truth “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” So keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever." – Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You, By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 2016 

If we desire to do good and keep trying to do so, the Lord will bless us.  Trying counts.  Even when we keep failing.  But we need to keep trying and trust in the Lord.  He will bless us for our efforts.  He wants to bless us.

Here are a few more quotes from President Jeffrey R Holland that I really like.  I got these off of someone's blog and they didn't include the reference and I'm too lazy to look it up right now.  Sorry about that.  But they are still great quotes from President Holland. 

“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement.”
Jeffrey R. Holland

“Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized.”
Jeffrey R. Holland

“No one has failed who keeps trying and keeps praying.”
Jeffrey R. Holland

“God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe.”
Jeffrey R. Holland

The Lord loves effort.  He wants us to pray.  He wants us to believe.  He wants us to try.  We will all fall short, but that's what His Atonement is for.  None of us are beyond redemption.  I love Elder Holland's quote, "It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement".  Never give up.  There is always hope.

Keep praying, keep desiring to believe until that desire becomes faith, then exercise that faith by trying to keep His commandments.  We have not failed if we keep trying.  We fail when we give up.

Trying counts.

That's my two cents.

Happy Independence Day

I love the fourth of July!  It's always nice to celebrate defeating the British.  :-)  This nation, the United States of America, is divinely designed, as God's promised land, to be free!  No monarchs, no kings, nobody ruling over us.  Independence!  Freedom!

I am indeed grateful for our founding fathers who signed and ratified the Declaration of Independence on this day, July 4, 1776 – 249 years ago – asserting our independence from Great Britain.  Our founding fathers recognized that our rights and freedoms come from God and not governments.  The Declaration of Independence and also our Constitution are divinely inspired documents.  God's hand was in the founding of this great nation and He has divinely preserved our freedoms throughout its 249 year existence.

I'm thankful for all the men who have fought and died to preserve our independence and freedoms over the last over 250 years.  Freedom isn't free.  It comes at a cost.  A big thank you to all those who have sacrificed so much to preserve our freedoms in this great nation.

Also, thank you to President Trump and all those in his administration who are working tirelessly to preserve our freedoms and undo the damage done by the previous administration and all those evil, conspiring men trying to destroy our great nation.  President Trump's life was preserved by God nearly a year ago for this purpose.  He has already done so much good to make America great again in the few months he's been in office.  This is why God preserved his life from evil assassins.

Yes, God's hand is still divinely guiding and protecting His promised land.

God bless America!

Happy Independence Day!

That's my two cents.

God bless America!

Last Saturday I happened to click on Instagram three minutes after President Trump posted that we had bombed Iran's nuclear facilities and had obliterated them.  My heart swelled and I was so proud of President Trump for being a true leader and for having the guts to do what his predecessors wouldn't do – which is to take out Iran's nuclear capabilities.  Apparently Iran was only weeks or months away from completing a nuclear bomb.  This would have been detrimental to the world.  The United States is the only country that had the military capability to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities.  Everyone in the world should be thanking us, and especially President Trump for saving the world from obliteration. 

This morning I watched Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and General Caine give a press conference.  I loved it!  They explained the mission to take out Iran's underground nuclear facilities and the perfect execution by our military.  Again, it made me proud to be an American.  General Caine explained how two of our guys had spent 15 years watching one nuclear facility in Iran and gaining intelligence for 15 years to execute the mission, and how they had to keep it secret even from their families.  It was heartwarming. Again, it made me proud.  

I almost had to turn it off when they started taking questions because the fake news asks the stupidest questions.  I'm so sick of our media in this country who not only don't report the truth, but actively lie to try to destroy President Trump, his administration, our military, and our country in general.  Makes me sick.  But I persevered to the end of the questions and I was happy to see that Secretary Hegseth and General Caine put the media in their place.  It's nice to have leadership in this country that aren't pansies.

Of course the reason they had to do the press conference was because the media was spreading lies that the mission was unsuccessful, and dissing our military.  The truth is the mission was 100% successful in obliterating and destroying Iran's nuclear facilities.  And our military was top-notch in executing the mission.  People need to stop watching "the news" which in reality is propaganda from the Democratic Party.  If you want to know what's going on in our country, go directly to the source and watch the press conferences.  "The news" gets their information from the same press conferences and twists the truth into lies then feeds those lies to the American people to fit their evil agenda.

Also, in light of an anti-American Muslim con man communist winning the New York City Mayor Democratic primary, I would like to express my horror at the destruction of a once great American city and of the degradation of our society and of Americans in general.

We have so many foreigners, some here illegally, who are elected as politicians in Great American cities and states.  It's disgraceful.  Some of these people have only been here a few years and are infiltrating our political system and destroying our nation from within.  It's despicable and very sad.

How do these evil people get elected?  Evil people who want to destroy our great nation?  What is wrong with so many Americans?  I'm sick and tired of hearing Americans bad mouthing America.  It's bad enough when foreigners invade our country and wave their foreign flags while destroying American property and protesting being deported from the very country they have invaded and refuse to leave.  But to have actual born and bred Americans siding with evil, including illegal aliens, and evil regimes like Iran over their own country and over truth and right is disgusting, despicable, and unbelievable really.

Any American who sides with foreigners and badmouths America should be thrown in jail for treason.  And all the foreign invaders should be deported immediately.

I'm so thankful for President Trump and his administration for their leadership and patriotism.  I have always been proud to be an American but even more so now that we have strong leadership making America great again.

God bless America!

That's my two cents.

Happy Birthday Lisa

I just wanted to wish my angel sister, Lisa, a happy birthday.  Happy 53rd birthday, Lisa!  

She truly is an earthly angel.  I know there are angels from the Spirit World, loved ones who have died and crossed over to the other side of the veil.  There are also angels on earth.  Mortal angels who sacrifice to help others.  Lisa is certainly a mortal angel.

I have known Lisa her entire life, since the day she was born.  She has always been there for me.  Especially since my accident.  I would be lost without her.  She has been my primary caregiver for six years.  And for the nearly 23 years since my accident, Lisa has always helped out whenever she was needed.  Which was a major sacrifice for her and her family.  For that I'm eternally grateful.  Yes, Lisa epitomizes being an angel.

Lisa is always more concerned for others than herself.  Lisa sacrifices much to help others, especially me.  Lisa is a true disciple of Jesus Christ.  I'm so thankful to have an angel for a sister.  I love you so much, Lisa.

Thank you for all that you do for me and for everyone.  Thank you for being a wonderful example of Christlike service.

Happy 53rd birthday, Lisa!

That's my two cents.

Happy Father's Day

This is my sixth Father's Day without my father here on earth.  I miss him dearly.  But I take comfort in the fact that I will see him again.  I think people tend to dismiss fathers as not as important as mothers in the rearing of children because mothers are the primary nurturers but fathers are just as important as mothers in a child's life.  Fathers and mothers have different roles in raising children and each is vitally important.  I am so thankful for the goodly father I was blessed with.  I was blessed beyond measure with wonderful parents.  And for that I'm eternally grateful.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!  I love and miss you so much.  And thank you to all the fathers out there who take seriously the responsibility of fatherhood and unselfishly sacrifice for their children..  Happy Father's Day!

That's my two cents.

Hugs

Sometimes we all just need a hug. 

When Abinadi was young he loved giving hugs.  I was thinking of this photo of Abinadi giving Dallas a hug so I decided to post it along with a couple other photos of Abinadi giving hugs and the joy they bring to the people he is hugging.

This is my favorite picture of Dallas.  The pure joy on his face makes me happy.  I imagine that the happiness in this scene is what we would see in the Spirit World now.  Dallas loves hugs.  I can't wait to give him one when I get there.  In the meantime, there are plenty of other loved ones there who can give him plenty of hugs, including Abinadi.

2013

Abinadi giving Dad a hug in 2013.  I love this photo also because of the joy on Dad's face.  I like to think that these scenes are what we would see in the Spirit World today.  The carefree happiness and pure joy that can be found on the other side.  Seeing these pictures of loved ones that have graduated from mortality makes me think of how happy they are now.  It also makes me long to see them again.  I miss them all so much.

March 26, 2013

Abinadi giving Juliet a hug.  Even Juliet has an expression of pure joy on her face while getting a hug from Abinadi.  And she doesn't even like dogs that much.  :-)

I just love the happiness that Abinadi's hugs gave people.  I'm glad a few of the reactions were captured on camera.

There's just something about hugs that brings comfort and joy.  I can't wait till I can give hugs again.  I'm going to give all of my loved ones hugs on the other side, when I get there, including Abinadi.

If you're having a hard day or just feeling a little blue, find a loved one and give them a hug and see how much better you feel.

That's my two cents.

Happy Birthday Mom

It's hard to believe that Mom would have been 80 years old today.  She died a week shy of her 77th birthday three years ago.  I miss her so much!  I am truly blessed that God chose her as my mother.

I'm so looking forward to the day when we are reunited again.  She was my angel on earth, and now she is my angel from the other side of the veil.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Love and miss you so much!

God be with you till we meet again.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today Dad would have been 79 years old.  Unfortunately, he graduated from mortality nearly 6 years ago when he was 73.  I miss him so much!  I think of him every day.  I can't wait until the day we are reunited again!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Love and miss you tons!

God be with you till we meet again.

Happy Graduation Day, Mom

Today marks three years since Mom graduated from mortality and crossed over to the Spirit World.  I miss her so much.  I cherish all the time I was able to spend with her here on earth.  Especially those sacred last few days of her life.  Mom truly is an angel.  She was an angel here on earth, and now in heaven.

I can't wait until the day I am reunited with her in the Spirit World.  I am so looking forward to that day!

Love you tons, Mom, and miss you so much!

Happy Graduation Day, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day

Mom and Tammy 1971.  I'm posting this picture because Mom liked it.

Happy Mother's Day to the best mom ever.  Tomorrow marks three years since Mom graduated from mortality.  I miss her every day.  I am so blessed to have her as my mother.  Mother's Day certainly isn't the same without Mom here.  I cherish the time I was able to spend with her and all of my memories.

Happy Mother's Day also to the mothers out there who sacrifice so much in raising your children.  Motherhood is truly a sacred gift from God.

Mom kissing Tammy – December 9, 2003

Happy Mother's Day!

Keep All of God's Commandments

I just saw something posted to Church Newsroom Instagram story that irritated me.  Church Newsroom is the official news source of the Church.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They posted some lady saying, "We love God and love our neighbor.  And the way we show that we love God is by loving our neighbor".  That statement is deceptive – as if loving our neighbor is the only way we show God we love Him.  That's only one way to show God we love Him.  The main way we show God that we love Him is by keeping His commandments – one of which is to love our neighbor.  But by no means is that the only way we show God we love Him. God has given us many, even countless Commandments He wants us to follow. 

Doctrine and Covenants 59:4-5

4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.

5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.

Here, in the Scriptures, the Lord is emphasizing that He has given us "commandments not a few".  Then the very next verse He emphasizes the first great commandment to love God– with all our heart, mind, mind, and strength.  The next verse does mention loving our neighbor.  But right after mentioning giving us "commandments not a few" the Lord emphasizes the first great commandment again, not the second.  This seems to be backwards today. 

There seems to be an increase, lately, in emphasizing the second great commandment – love your neighbor.  That's all people seem to be focusing on now, even in the Church.  Which, is an important commandment obviously.  It's the second great commandment.  But people seem to forget the first great commandment – love God.  And they focus solely on "love thy neighbor".

Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)  Commandments plural, not singular.  Very simple and direct.  

I just think people need to focus more on keeping all of the Commandments, not just one.  As if it's the only commandment that matters. Because He has given us a multitude of commandments – only one of which is to love our neighbor.  Yes, we should all love our fellow man, but if you focus on loving God first and keeping His commandments, loving our neighbor is a natural consequence.

That's my two cents.

Happy Easter

 He is risen!

I am so thankful for Christ's resurrection!  Because of Christ's resurrection we will all be resurrected one day!  I'm so looking forward to that day when I will have a perfected resurrected body!  Words cannot express my gratitude for my Savior and for His love for me and for all of us.

I hope, on this Easter day, that we will all remember our Savior, His Atonement and Resurrection, and reverence Him.

Happy Easter everybody!

That's my two cents.

Trump's Tariffs

I love Trump's tariffs!  It makes me so happy to see President Trump putting America first.  I'm sick and tired of these pansy Americans griping about the tariffs.  They obviously don't understand simple logic.  President Trump is doing what our previous panseric presidents were too chicken to do.  The United States of America has been getting ripped off for decades – my whole life – in trade with the world.  Other countries have very steep tariffs on goods coming from the United States but cry like little babies when Trump levels the playing field.  They are entitled little brats.  Why should we keep subsidizing other countries?  All President Trump wants is fair trade.  Is that too much to ask?

Yes, it may cause a little pain at first.  But it will be well worth the temporary pain to bring jobs back to America and to become more self-sufficient.  All these Americans crying about the tariffs need to chill out and trust our wise leader, President Trump.  President Trump knows what he's doing.  He and his administration have done their homework and understand the consequences of the newly implemented tariffs and know that it will benefit us. 

President Trump is the only president with the guts to actually take on the world and stand up for America.  For that I am extremely grateful.  This is exactly what I voted for!

From what I've read over 70 countries have already come forward asking President Trump to negotiate.  And President Trump being the reasonable dealmaker that he is, is willing to negotiate with these countries.  But, China, being the stubborn communists that they are, is retaliating with higher tariffs on us.  Apparently they are too stupid to realize that we hold all the cards and they can only be on the losing end of that deal.  I'm happy to see that President Trump, after warning China not to add retaliatory tariffs on our goods, has now raised the tariffs on China to 125%!  Play stupid games win stupid prizes China.

The days of the United States of America being ripped off by all the other countries in the world are over!  President Trump wants fair trade.  We deserve fair trade.  And we will get fair trade!

I love President Trump and his tariffs.  I'm so happy we have a president who will fight for us.  God bless President Trump and God bless America.

That's my two cents.

General Conference

This will be short because I'm feeling pretty sick today.  But I just wanted to express my gratitude for General Conference this past weekend and how much I enjoyed it.  Three sessions yesterday and two sessions today.  It's always uplifting to hear from the Lord's living prophet and apostles.  And other General Authorities and General Officers of the Lord's true and living church upon the face of the earth– The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I'm grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I would encourage anyone reading this blog to go watch General Conference or at least part of it.  You will be uplifted and edified if you do.

You can find a link to watch General Conference here, or on BYU TV, or YouTube.

That's my two cents.

Mortality Works

General Conference is coming up again this weekend.  I can't believe it's been six months already since the last General Conference.  One of my favorite talks from our last General Conference in October 2024 was a talk called, "Mortality Works!"  by Elder Brook P.  Hales of the Seventy. I want to share a few paragraphs of that talk with you. 

"Brothers and sisters, mortality works! It is designed to work! Despite the challenges, heartaches, and difficulties we all face, our loving, wise, and perfect Heavenly Father has designed the plan of happiness such that we are not destined to fail. His plan provides a way for us to rise above our mortal failures. The Lord has said, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

"Nonetheless, if we are to be the beneficiaries of the Lord’s “work and … glory,” even “immortality and eternal life,” we must expect to be schooled and taught and to pass through the refiner’s fire—sometimes to our utter limits. To completely avoid the problems, challenges, and difficulties of this world would be to sidestep the process that is truly necessary for mortality to work.

"And so we should not be surprised when hard times come upon us. We will encounter situations that try us and people who enable us to practice true charity and patience. But we need to bear up under our difficulties and remember, as the Lord said:

“And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal." –"Mortality Works!",  Elder Brook P Hales, October 2024 General Conference

Mortality is hard.  Mortality is full of very difficult trials.  Mortality may seem unbearable at times.  I always say that mortality is a mess.  But, mortality works!

Mortality wasn't designed to be easy.  The whole purpose of mortality is to be tried and tested and prove ourselves to God.  Mortality is a probationary state where we learn and grow and develop Godlike characteristics.

So many people question why they have to go through difficult times and trials that don't seem fair.  We all experience difficult trials.  But I have never questioned why.  Because I know why.  Mortality is a key part of Heavenly Father's plan of salvation or plan of happiness.  We couldn't progress without experiencing mortality.

So, as difficult as mortality is – and it is extremely difficult – I'm so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for this experience.  I'm eternally grateful that Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for us.  Our Savior's atonement is necessary for our salvation, it is part of Heavenly Father's plan.  Because of our Savior, Jesus Christ's atonement we can overcome sin, or spiritual death.  And because of our Savior's resurrection, we will all be resurrected one day and will all overcome death.  I am so looking forward to that day! 

Mortality works because of our Savior's grace and atonement.  Mortality works because God does not want us to fail, He wants us to succeed.  Mortality is hard – mortality is a mess – but, mortality works!

If we make and keep our covenants with God, and endure to the end, we will be able to live with our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ again for eternity.  Because mortality works.  For this eternal truth I am forever grateful.

That's my two cents.

I'm Proud to Be an American

I'm proud of President Trump and Vice President Vance.  I'm proud of the way they handled Zelenskyy yesterday.  They were both calm and assertive.  Very polite yet strong.  I loved it!  I haven't actually watched the whole meeting yet but I did see a couple of clips and it made me even more proud to be an American.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is an entitled disrespectful brat with little man syndrome trying to dictate to the leader of the free world to continue to give him handouts with nothing in return.  When in reality, Zelenskyy is at the mercy of the United States of America.  Zelenskyy is a wimpy peon.  He has no chance whatsoever to win the war against Russia without our help.  So who does he think he is?  Trying to tell us what to do.  Expecting us to bow to his every wish and command.  Well, not anymore!  That may have worked with Biden.  But there's a new sheriff in town, and President Trump will always put America first.

Obviously Zelenskyy has no concern for his own people's lives.  Vice President Vance pointed out to him that Ukraine doesn't have the manpower to win the war and are already forcing their young men to fight.  I think it was mentioned that 2000 troops were lost just last week in the Russia Ukraine war. 

President Trump tried to mediate a cease-fire and Zelenskyy said he didn't want the cease-fire.  What?!  What an idiot.  He wants the United States to send troops so he can win the war.  That's not happening. Why should American lives be lost in a war between Russia and Ukraine?  That's ridiculous.  Like President Trump said, "We have a big beautiful ocean between us".  

Zelenskyy is like a two-year-old pulling a temper tantrum to get what he wants.  President Trump and Vice President Vance will not kowtow to him.  And I love it!  I'm so tired of the United States of America being a pansy and letting everyone walk all over us.

Zelenskyy needs to man up and do what President Trump is asking to make the necessary concessions to end the war. In the words of the great prophet Jacob, "O be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12) 

President Trump wants peace.  President Trump is a dealmaker.  This war would be over if Zelenskyy actually wanted peace.  But instead he wants to have his cake and eat it too.  He wants things his way.  Well, it doesn't work that way when you are relying on the USA.  You don't come to our President and Vice President in the Oval Office and disrespect us, and expect us to help you.  Hopefully Zelenskyy will figure it out soon, before too many more lives are senselessly lost.

I'm so proud and happy to have President Trump and Vice President Vance and the whole Trump administration in the corner of the American people.  It's such a refreshing change. 

Thank you President Trump and Vice President Vance for having backbones and for standing up for us.  Thank you for putting America first!  Thank you for your sacrifice and timeless service for the American people and to the United States of America!

I've always been a very patriotic person who loves my country and I've always been a very proud American.  But I'm even more so now.  I just love President Trump and all he's doing to make America great again!

In the immortal words of Lee Greenwood's patriotic song, "God bless the USA", "… I'm proud to be an American…"

God bless President Trump and God bless America!

That's my two cents.

We Believe in Obeying the Law

What is with all of these liberal pansies bawling about illegal aliens being deported?  What don't they understand about law and order?  Countries have borders.  A country without a border is not a country.  Countries have laws regarding who is allowed to cross the border into their country.  The United States of America is a country with borders.  We have immigration laws.  If you breach our border and come into the United States of America illegally, you are a criminal.  You have broken the law.  By definition you are a criminal.  What is so hard to understand about that?

Now that we have a real leader in President Trump, who is actually enforcing our immigration laws, liberal pansies are losing their minds..  It makes absolutely no sense because all President Trump is doing is making life better for all Americans by deporting illegal aliens.  One thing these bawl baby liberal pansies keep saying is that it is not Christian to deport illegal aliens.  That's a big fat lie.  They are just virtue signaling, jumping on their high horse acting holier than thou.  The truth is, Christ's church teaches that we should obey the law.  The 12th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reads, 

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."  (Emphasis added)

It baffles me that so many members of the Church and fellow Christians boldly and defiantly advocate breaking the law.  Even to the point of protesting at the state capital.  It's insane.  These people are judging their fellow Christians who are actually following Christ's teachings in pointing the finger at them as being un-Christlike.  When they should actually be pointing the finger at themselves as being un-Christlike for advocating breaking the law.

If they were listening at church and actually read their scriptures they would certainly know that throughout the Scriptures different groups of people had their own lands and governments.  They had borders! Here is one example:

3 Nephi 6: 1, 4

1 And now it came to pass that the people of the Nephites did all return to their own lands in the twenty and sixth year, every man, with his family, his flocks and his herds, his horses and his cattle, and all things whatsoever did belong unto them.

4 And they began again to prosper and to wax great; and the twenty and sixth and seventh years passed away, and there was great order in the land; and they had formed their laws according to equity and justice.

So in this example, the Nephites returned to their own lands and there was order in the land because they had laws.  And because of this, they prospered.  That is exactly what President Trump wants for America.  He wants us to prosper.  Every great leader will put his country and his people first.  This is what President Trump is doing.  America first.  In order for America and its people to prosper, there must be laws, which are enforced, which create order in the land and allow prosperity.  President Trump understands this.

Bawl baby leftist liberal pansies who cry about President Trump enforcing our laws do not understand this.  If they think that allowing open borders is good for Americans and is the Christlike thing to do, they are sorely mistaken.  Open borders will destroy any nation, and it is certainly not Christlike to break the law of the land.

That's my two cents.

Happy Presidents' Day

Happy Presidents' Day to President Trump, the greatest president not only of my lifetime but in the history of the United States of America.  

It has only been four weeks since President Trump's inauguration and he has already done more good than most presidents do in four years.  I love President Trump even more now than I did during his first term.  He is an incredible leader.  President Trump is brave, courageous, a defender of truth and right, an amazing negotiator, and a tireless fighter!  He is fighting for us and our wonderful country.

Present Trump actually reminds me a lot of my dad.  He is exactly one month younger than my dad to the day.  They were contemporaries.  They share a lot of the same qualities. They are both real men and true patriots.

I am so thankful for President Trump, especially on this day that we celebrate our presidents.  I'm so grateful for a selfless leader who is not President for the power and glory, but out of genuine concern for his fellow citizens and his beloved country.  A true patriot who sacrifices his billionaire lifestyle to serve his country and its citizens to make America great again.

Thank you, President Trump!

Fight, fight, fight!

That's my two cents.

Happy Groundhog Day

I love Groundhog Day.  Today Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and therefore predicts six more weeks of winter.  

We haven't had much of a winter here so I was kind of hoping Phil would see his shadow this morning.  

We actually got a few flakes of snow yesterday for the first time this winter.  But it was too warm to stick. After Phil saw his shadow, maybe we'll actually get some snow this season.  We, in fact, have snow in the forecast today.

Happy Groundhog Day everybody!

That's my two cents.

Winning Never Gets Old!

President Trump is a beast. He hasn't even been in office for two weeks yet and has already accomplished so much.  

He has effectively closed our southern border – the mass invasion of illegal aliens is over.  Deportations of the upwards of 15,000,000 illegal aliens who have invaded our country over the past four years has started off strong and is ramping up.  The president of Colombia foolishly refused to accept his own citizens back who were being deported and President Trump put the smack down and showed him who was boss.  It was awesome.  

President Trump dissolved all DEI nonsense in federal government – which is a huge moral win against discrimination.  He returned us to a merit based hiring system rather than hiring people based on prejudice.  People actually qualified to do the job will now be hired, thus increasing public safety.

President Trump signed an executive order stating that there are only two genders – male and female.  Which is crazy that he even had to do that, but this is a crazy world we live in.  President Trump is returning our nation to common sense.

President Trump withdrew us from the World Health Organization. President Trump cracked down on abortion – withdrawing Biden's order to pay for military women to cross state lines to get abortions in abortion friendly states. President Trump also cracked down on transgenders in the military and reinstated those who were kicked out of the military for refusing the Covid vaccine.

President Trump has done a lot more, but those are a few examples that come to mind.  If his accomplishments during his entire second administration were based off his first two weeks alone, he would be a very successful president.  But he's not done, there's a lot more for him to accomplish in these four short years.

President Trump is a man of his word, he will do what he said he will do. And he has a lot to do to undo all the damage done in the previous four years by the Biden administration.

It sure feels good to have a real leader who cares about our nation and wants to preserve our freedoms and actually defends, preserves, and protects the Constitution of the United States of America.

Winning never gets old!

That's my two cents.

Goodly Ancestors

The Book of Mormon starts out with the line, "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…" (1 Nephi 1:1).  I have been focused a lot on my ancestry lately.  A few weeks ago,I was on familysearch.org and happened upon my maternal grandfather's life history that my aunt added to his memory page. So I took a few days and I read my maternal grandfather's 240 page history.  It was quite interesting and a lot of the stories I had heard before, but it was fun to read the first-hand accounts in detail. It made me proud to be his granddaughter.  Then I was thinking of all my other goodly ancestors and family members and contemplating on how blessed I am to come from such great lineage.

This month, I have spent most of my time adding memories, mostly pictures, to several different people on family search.  It's a lot of work but it's also been a lot of fun to look at all the old photographs and reminisce or learn about my ancestors. It's like a snowball effect once you get started, and you start branching out to many different people on your family tree.  

At this point I've added hundreds of photos to my own family search page, my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and other family members memory pages on family search.  You can also add documents, of which I've added a few.  Talks given at funerals, etc.  Each photo added has four boxes to add details – title, description, date, and place.  So I've added as much information as I know to each photo.  I'm sure I have made some mistakes but I did the best I could.  I would encourage anyone reading my blog to go on family search and if you don't have an account, create one – it's free – and start browsing your family history and adding any additional information you may have.  And correct any mistakes I may have made on the photos I added.  :-)

Anyway, I am just so thankful for all of my goodly ancestors and family members who have blessed my life so much and have taught me directly or through example to help shape me into the woman I am today.  I just feel so blessed to come from such noble lineage.

I'm at the age now where most of the major influencers on my life are on the other side.  I am now the oldest surviving member of my direct lineage.  It's kind of a strange feeling.  But it also brings a sense of deep gratitude to those goodly ancestors who have gone before me.  Gratitude for their lives, their examples, their sacrifices, and their influence.

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all my goodly ancestors and those who have influenced my life for good.  I would also like to thank all my living family members who have influenced my life for good, and continue to, and for their sacrifice and service.

Like the prophet Nephi, I have been born of goodly parents – and many goodly ancestors – and for that marvelous blessing, I am eternally grateful.

That's my two cents.

Trump is Back!

I know I'm a couple days late but I wanted to acknowledge President Trump's inauguration.  What a glorious day it was!  It was a big relief to me, and I'm sure to many Americans, to have President Trump back in office.  I watched live as President Trump took the oath of office and assumed the heavy mantle of President of the United States of America.

 "I Donald John Trump do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."

When I heard him conclude the oath of office with, "So help me God.",  my heart swelled.  I know it's part of the oath but you could sense the sincerity as he said those words.  It's nice to have a President who acknowledges God.  I know that God will be with President Trump to guide and protect him during these next four years.

After he concluded the oath, I was so happy that he was now our president again.  And that he has our best interests at heart, and fully intends to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.  Such a contrast from the previous President and administration – who did their best to destroy the Constitution and our nation.

Immediately after taking the oath of office and becoming our 47th President, President Trump addressed the American people and gave a magnificent speech.  It was direct and to the point and mentioned many of the promises he will accomplish – and already has in the first 36 hours.  President Trump has already done more for our country in his first 36 hours in office than any Democrat in my lifetime has done for our country as President of the United States of America.  In fact, President Trump has to undo many of the policies that Biden implemented to destroy our country.

President Trump acknowledged God's hand in preserving his life on that fateful day when an assassin's bullet ripped through his ear.  President Trump said that God preserved his life so that he could make America great again.  That was my favorite line of his speech.  And it is so true.

President Trump also said that he will put America first.  He talked about manifest destiny and mentioned a couple of ways that he will put America first.

It was awesome that President Trump didn't mince words in making clear how terrible the Biden Harris administration was.  Although he didn't mention them by name, it had to be awkward for them to sit there, just feet away, and listen to President Trump's speech.  I loved it.

When everyone else in the room applauded and gave a standing ovation to Trump's words – Biden and Harris just sat there grim faced.  Even when he talked about God preserving his life.  I thought that was rude of them.

But my favorite part of the whole inauguration ceremony was when President Trump and our lovely First Lady, Melania escorted Joe and Jill to the helicopter to take them away from the White House forever.  It was such a big relief to watch the helicopter fly off with Joe and Jill into the wild blue yonder.

Welcome back President Trump.  Thank you for your sacrifice and service as our 45th and 47th President of the United States of America.  We love you.  We appreciate you.  Thank you for putting America first and for protecting, preserving, and defending the Constitution of the United States.  God bless you and your family.

The most powerful country in the world once again has a powerful leader.  President Trump will make America great again – make no mistake about it.

God bless America!  And God bless President Trump!

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks – 2024 Season Results

1. Clint 31
2. Tammy 37
3. Rex 43
4. Lisa 50

Congratulations to Clint!  2024 season winner!  Lisa was pretty fast at tallying the season results and Clint came out as the winner this year, which came as no surprise.  Although I am surprised that I came in second, but I'll take it!  :-) 

It was a fun, friendly competition.  Too bad the season's over but, on the bright side, it's only about seven months until the next college football season.  :-) Thanks to everyone who participated and made it fun. 

CFP Bowl Games Results

1. Rex -16 tiebreaker 68    
2. Michael -17 tiebreaker 53
3. Clint -19 tiebreaker 64
4. Tammy -25 tiebreaker 57
5. Lisa -25 tiebreaker 72

actual tiebreaker 50

Sadly, another college football season has come to an end.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  It was fun.  Lisa will tally up the season winner and we'll let you know.

33 Years

33 years ago today, on January 15, 1992, I entered the Missionary Training Center to start my 18 month full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was assigned to labor in the Florida Tampa Mission.  

I don't have any pictures on my computer of my family dropping me off at the MTC – although I know we have some somewhere.  So I will just post a picture of my MTC district – whom I spent my waking hours with for three weeks.  I just did a post on my mission so I won't elaborate more here.  I can't believe it's been 33 years since I started my mission.  Crazy how fast time flies.

January 1992
Missionary Training Center

Sister Stone
MTC bedroom.  Studying at desk.
January 1992

I will always be proud of serving a full-time mission and extremely grateful for the opportunity.  It's a rare privilege that not many people on earth get.  I am so blessed in my life.

That's my two cents.

January 12, 1992

On this day 33 years ago, Sunday, January 12, 1992, I had my mission farewell as I prepared to leave for my full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I served full-time for 18 months in the Florida Tampa Mission.  

I entered the Missionary Training Center on January 15, 1992 where I had three weeks of intense training on how to be a missionary.  Then I departed for Tampa Florida, I believe it was either February 5th or 6th, 1992.  

I served in four different areas in the Florida Tampa Mission – Dade City (Zephyrhills), Brooksville, Port Charlotte, Seminole (Largo).  I returned home from my mission on July 23, 1993.

My mission was a wonderful, life-changing experience which I'm eternally grateful for.  Best decision I ever made.  Though it wasn't easy – in fact it was very difficult at times – it was certainly worth the effort to serve a full-time mission for the Church.  It was an honor to represent my Savior for 18 months.  I enjoyed putting on the black name tag every morning.  It was an incredible honor but also a huge responsibility knowing that I was representing our Savior and His Church.  I did my best to represent Him well.  I hope I did Him justice.

I certainly learned a lot during those 18 months.  I went on a mission to serve others and to help bring them to Christ, but I think my mission did more for me than I did for others.  I grew in all aspects of life during those short 18 months.

Anyway back to my mission farewell.  I have a few pictures from that day that I will share here.  For some reason I don't have any pictures of me with my parents or siblings.  But I do have pictures of me with my maternal grandparents, Marvin and Sylvia Sabin.  I also have pictures with my great aunts and their husbands.  My grandpa Marvin's sisters, Evelyn and Leora.

Back in the day missionary farewells and homecomings were a bigger deal than they seem to be now.  I had great aunts and uncles come from far distances to attend my farewell.  Uncle Ken and Aunt Evelyn came from Blackfoot Idaho.  And Uncle Bruce and Aunt Leora came from the Salt Lake area.   Calvin and Elaine, and their boys, also came down from Clearfield Utah to Orem for my farewell.  It was nice to have so many family and friends come support me at my missionary farewell.

Grandpa Marvin Sabin, Tammy (Sister Stone), Grandma Sylvia Sabin
Sunday, January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
Tammy's missionary farewell

Uncle Bruce, Tammy (Sister Stone), Aunt Leora
January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
Tammy's missionary farewell

Aunt Evelyn, Tammy (Sister Stone), Uncle Ken
January 12, 1992  – Orem Utah

Grandma, Nathan Naluai, Tammy, Grandpa, Mom
January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
Tammy's missionary farewell

Grandpa, Calvin and Danny Naluai, Grandma
January 12, 1992 – Orem Utah
 Tammy's farewell

friends and sisters at my farewell.  January 12, 1992  – Orem Utah

January 12, 1992 was a wonderful, memorable day filled with love and support.  I will always cherish that day, 33 years ago, and remember it fondly.  

I wish I had pictures of me with my parents and siblings but these will have to suffice.  Sadly, many of the people in these photos have died.  Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Ken & Aunt Evelyn, and Uncle Bruce, and even my mom and dad have all crossed over to the other side now.  Aunt Leora is still with us.  Mortality is fleeting.  Life passes quickly.  This is why it's so important to make the most of each day that God blesses us with.

That's my two cents.