8/15/16Congrats on serving the missionaries!  Here is a voice recording! Love you guys

!President Uchtdorf, "Sometimes we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us—Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes “all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great and important things” that “He will yet reveal.” Brethren, the exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work? Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all our heart, might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly that of an observer? There is too much at stake for us as individuals, as families, and as Christ’s Church to give only a halfhearted effort to this sacred work. #therestorationistoday!   ----Elder Baldwin

8/14/16

“It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.” 

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey–delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

― Gordon B. Hinckley

Some of my favorite quotes from President Hinkley, They are so true, I think of them daily, it helps me remember the eternal perspective. I was reading in 2 Nephi chapter 4, I love it, Nehpi's pslam, what a balm of Gilead for us! My scripture this week has been verse: 16 Behold, my soul delighted in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

The pictures are of dad and I, the Talbots, the Jones, and the Tilby's (new couple who moved in on Old Farms Road. We all went 4 wheeling up to Pine valley, had dinner at the Branding Iron, and came back. It was fun, very dusty but fun. On the ride up passing Baker's reservoir, we almost hit a guy crossing the road, I recognized him from the Tuachann play "Hunch Back of Notre Dam" he was the the hunch back. Erin and I went to the show Wednesday night, the night before school started. It was sketchy if we were going to be able to see it. It had been raining all day and we were waiting with the audience to see if the remaining storm was going to pass over. It was so cool to see the storm play out, lighting, pretty colors. 30 min later we were in our seats, great seats, 2nd row. The show was excellent, sad, but wonderful production. At dinner we learned more about each other:  I really like Jerome jones, he is so humble and down to earth. I learned some things about him, he grew up in Gunlock, he was the only boy his age in the ward with 10 girls. There were 100 members in his ward growing up and he was the onlyAaronic priesthood holder. He had 15 families he home taught and Gunlock was known for getting 100% home teaching. Sometimes the only way to reach his families in the winter was by horseback. At dinner we learned more about each other:  I really like Jerome jones, he is so humble and down to earth. I learned some things about him, he grew up in Gunlock, he was the only boy his age in the ward with 10 girls. There were 100 members in his ward growing up and he was the only Aaronic priesthood holder. He had 15 families he home taught and Gunlock was known for getting 100% home teaching. Sometimes the only way to reach his families in the winter was by horseback.

   Friday night day and I went to Gunlock to watch the Cornwall family in a horse sort, I have never heard of it before, have you? if not here are the rules:  2 man team sorting 10 cattle numbered 0-9 and 1 unnumbered cow for a total of 11 head. A producer has the option to add 1 more unnumbered cow. A run starts with team members on opposite side of start line from cattle. 3.2.3 The cattle must be sorted in number sequence. It was fun, even Garrett Cornwall-4 years old was able to round up 5 cows, his team mate was 82 years old.  A person can participate as much as different teams as they want. So Garrett was also on his dad's team. Libby--she just turned 8 yesterday rounded up all 10 cows! It was so fun to watch, the next sort is September 30 at Gunlock, it is also free which is a bonus.

   So yes, we made it through the first week of school! We started Thursday, August 11th, .I have great students, no big behaviors this year:) Erin is not thrilled about school, she is anxious about her classes. She some tough classes: honors math, honors chemistry, AP English, AP US history. The reason why she did this is largely so she won't waste her time and learn something. The behaviors will be better in these classes, and the students tend to be more on the ball so she will go farther.

    Tonight we met with the missionaries with an investigator in our ward . 

  The discussion with the missionaries went well. There are Elders here now, Elder Lee and Elder More. Elder Lee is new-his first week out, from North Carolina--great discussion, he was sure, and everything flowed well between the 2. I need to tell him how impressed I was next time I see him. We had a lesson on the restoration which had last time we had the missionaries remember?  I bore my testimony about Joseph Smith and dad bore his testimony about the Plan of Salvation and shared a little of his conversion. Erin expressed how the gospel helps her with her challenges at school and the direction it gives her. I also expressed how to keep the feelings of the holy ghost going through out the week--praying and reading the scriptures every day. The missionaries capitalized on that and asked if they could come by Wednesday for 5 min and read/share with them what they have been reading. We made an appointment for next Sunday at 7:00pm. 

As we were with the missionaries and today in relief society; I was/am so homesick for you! Just saying!!!!

     I am also teaching a lesson in gospel prinicpals on charity next Sunday, so any thoughts?

xxoxoxox, Love you 

MOM