Judge Not, that Ye Be not judged..

The Sept.25 Women's Conference was so inspiring.  Pres. Monson's talk to all of us was poignant, and very emphatic, as he used illustrations from his own experiences to reiterate the importance for us to accept each and everyone, whether single, married, large, small, what we wear, it needed to be said.  The RS Presidency gave excellent talks, while the choir by the Kearns area Relief Society Sisters, was purely angelic, very powerful, I was truly uplifted.  Tears flowed freely while bowed in prayer.

Fall leaves up the American Fork Canyon

Mom McQuivey enjoying the leave with us.

My camera doesn't do justice to the colors.  Oh well, it's brilliant up there, and on a Sunday morning, we didn't have to fight the crowds.

Week ago today..went to St. George

with dear friends Beth and Neil Miller.  We saw the play "Tarzan" at Tuacahn, it was very interesting.  There were a lot of Apes swinging from above the audience, the story line was well done on stage.  The costumes were very well done and the singing and dancing was well choreographed.  Then on Thursday, the men went golfing with Jay's brothers Jerry and Ray at Green Springs, while Beth and I went to do a temple session for some of her relatives.  We later that evening went back to Tuacahn to see "Crazy For You" an Ira and his brother Gershwin play,  Songs and tap dancing more to our age group and style.  "Embraceable You" and other familiar songs that we didn't realize were in that play.  We returned home on Friday, mom's birthday, where we joined with brothers Roy at David's and spouses and mom and Jennifer, for a party.  A great birthday gathering for mom.  She just doesn't like to hear "and many more" in our song to her.  Cute.

O, Remember, Remember

This is the message that Steven E. Snow (70) delivered at our Regional Conference today which was aired to the 131 stakes in the Utah, Wasatch counties, and the 17 Stakes at BYU in the Marriott Center today.  He said, "Monuments are erected to remember the lives of those who went before us, we write in Journals, we go to the temples, we pray, and the Sacraments are means for us to Remember.  We Remember and we Covenant.  Remember and Renew....with our Testimonies. 
Julie Beck, "You are better than you think you are," and then she said, "but we're not doing as well as we could do."  She said, "Plan for Success, and Work for it.  If we weren't struggling, we woudn't be drawing closer to Him.  He will make us His people."    "You only need Faith," she said. Also, "The Lord will establish His House, and we will align.  Pray always, Read and study the scriptures, Prioritize our lives."  Elder Holland reiterized what the two previous speakers said earlier then he told of "Scouts sent to Southern Utah,  in P.P. Pratt's journal," he said, "this country is rugged and chaotic, and it is a country in Ruins."  Elder Holland talked of early saints who went through very difficult times, but it was their faith in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ that, "always has been and always will be the driving force to prevail."  Be spiritually girded, so when you're called, you go!  Call down for personal Revelation.  Testimonies need to be simple and deep, not complicated and superficial.  Build your family.  The Forces of Righteousness will always prevail.  If we have faith in our Father in Heaven, we will be safe and secure.   President Packer said, "From now on, it will be difficult and hard. "  He talked of when he was a Seminary teacher early in his life, he had a boy who was very difficult, he asked Antoine Ivins, 'What should I do with him, should I give up?'  and Ivins said, "what if he was your boy?" Pres. Packer further asked us, "What does the word Father mean?"  When Phillip asked the Savior to see the Father,'I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me.....we are one!'  Everything depends on you, what you make of your life.  Satan can tempt us, but we are the ones who have the power through our agency to say to the adversary, "get thee behind me Satan"  The Adversary does what we let him do.Get self control, to avoid evil.  Angels exist.  They speak by the power of the Holy Ghost.  You have to want to be righteous, then you have to know how.  OBEY....that four letter word.  Detach yourselves from those who are unrighteous.    (Tying into the previous talks)  "We've done all we should do at this point, we can do better.  "The Word of Wisdom is a monumental blessing.  We are a clean people. "  He then asked, "Are you so  touchy you can't be corrected?"(to which I poked Jay, I have a problem with him correcting me).  "A pattern for marriage is to teach by the spirit."  He then talked of his being corrected by Sister Packer, all she has to say is, "now boy".  President Packer said, "We will be protected and guided because the Father is in charge.  Never forget that you have a father.  Pioneer times were easy, now comes the hard part.  He then invoked a blessing on us, then counseled to "stay in concert with it".  I'm glad we went to our Regional Conference today which was aired in our building this morning at 10am. 

AF East Stake Conference

Saturday Night Session theme, "The New and Everlasting Covenant"........Everyone of the talks we heard tonight were exactly inspiring to all of us who attended.  Our Stake President Ivins encouraged us to keep the covenants we have made by attending, accordingly as we set goals to do so.  Keep our covenants, be worthy so when we ask for blessings, it won't be because of mercy that we will get our answers, but because we are worthy.  Ask, Listen and Act.  I like this.  I definitely see where I need to improve my life .  "Our pathway through life is grace filled", P.P. Pratt said that, and also explained what grace is.  We don't need to do it all by ourselves, the Lord is there to help us along the way.  We have all the attributes the Savior has, only, in embryo...but we can develop those attributes, and he can help us.  The power of the temple helps us to raise our lives.

Shakespeare and Football

in one week.  It was Shakespeare on Tuesday, and then Utah vs Pitt on Thursday night on TV, and then Saturday, we watched our former Seminary student Manti Te'o play for Notre Dame, and then our fave BYU beat Washington and finally watch TCU beat Oregon St.  Wow, we are in the Football season of 2010.  A long awaited season for us.  But now we have expanded our team interests to Kahuku, Kamehameha and even U of Hawaii.  Besides finishing the golf season, which has been of great interest to us too. 

The quality of mercy is not strained...

.....it falleth as the gentle rain..
This Shakespeare offering in Cedar City this 2010 season was most delightful.  Besides watching the characters who were speaking, you had to keep a watchful eye in your periphery to catch other things taking place on stage.  It was such a fabulous evening spent with  this, my most favorite of
Shakespeare's comedys.  Shylock was played by a most convincing actor,
Tony Amendola I believe.  He made me like the character, although I have always disliked him for his, "pound of flesh" and "bond"  and "revenge"....  The princes who arrive to select a casket for Portia's hand, are ever so delightful. 

The BnB we stayed at, the Garden Cottage, was perfect.  It was romantic and the host and hostess, Diana and Gary were so warm and inviting.  The breakfast was most delectable.