Wednesday, January 22, 2014

          Another excursion brought Saints who filled the temple today, but it was not over-crowded—just pleasantly busy and very nice.

          There is nothing interesting to share tonight, but there are a couple of anecdotes I’ve kept in my back pocket for just such an occasion.  I’ll share one.

You (children) know how Glade is, about bumping his head on anything close by that might have any potential for danger.  Well, last week when we were shopping, we had to walk on a very narrow sidewalk to get from the mall to the Office Depot.  As usual, there were a “million” taxis around all trying to get our attention to see if we needed a ride.  One close driver called out to us “Taxi, taxi?”  Glade turned his head to call out “No thanks” and in so doing, missed seeing a metal sign posted right in the middle of the sidewalk; and he ran right into it, bruising his nose badly and breaking the skin.  Surprisingly, it didn’t break his nose, but it made him angry; and when two more taxi drivers in front of us on the sidewalk asked if we needed a ride, he just shouted at them “No!  We don’t!”  You know him, he doesn’t shout much.  Anyway, he has recovered nicely and the swelling wasn’t too bad.

Now for a spiritual thought from the Conference Ensign.  “Our ability to endure to the end in righteousness will be in direct pro portion to the strength of our testimony and the depth of our conversion.”  --Elder Richard J. Maynes  “True conversion occurs as you continue to act upon the doctrines you know are true and keep the commandments, day after day, month after month.”  --Bonnie L. Oscarson 

May we ever be watchful of Satan’s tendrils snaking into our lives and make sure to grasp the Iron Rod and hold tight as the worldly environment we live in threatens our spiritual security.  

11:00 p.m. 64 degrees with wind and intermittent clouds.