29 June 2008 – Sunday

As I was starting to write this entry, the sun came over the mountains and filled the roomwith light. Another beautiful day in Utah. After being home for over 3 weeks, I am finally sleeping and feeling good. Maybe I have finally acclimatized. The morning rushes by as I take some pictures of the yard, read the SS lesson again, start to clean up the living room because Mary is having the RS presidency over at noon, and catch up posting this journal.

It was a busy day around here. At 11:00 I went to a HP group leadership meeting where we talked about all of our duties, programs, plans, etc. Alton Thygerson is going to be the executive secretary – a first we think for the stake groups – and Howard Campbell will keep minutes, etc. Tom keeps Genealogy and Temple work while I get missionary work. I am going to try to be better at promoting missionary work this time than I was before we went on our mission.

Since it was the 5th Sunday there was an adult combined meeting where the bishopric talked about 3rd Nephi and what it meant to them. They encouraged all members to read 3rd Nephi and ponder what is taught. I thought Nate Tanner made the best presentation as he talked more about the spirit of what he found in 3rd Nephi rather than the words. Before the end of the meeting the new HP Group leadership was sustained and after the meeting we were set apart in the bishop’s office. I felt the spirit as President Jackson set me apart and I tried to remember what he said that made me feel it the most but by the time I got a pen in my hand, I had forgotten. It was something about helping each member of the group use their talents but exactly what I do not know.

We went into the last 20 minutes or so of SS with Jane Poggio teaching again. She did not realize she was supposed to but since no one else had been asked, she bravely stood up and taught. Since I had read the lesson a number of times, I did what I could to help with what I think were good comments and thoughts.

It was a patriotic theme for Sacrament. I usually am not excited about such programs but Sven Wilson gave an excellent talk in which he outlined 5 things that he felt a gospel centered patriotism should exhibit: Equality, Stewardship, Consecration, Humility and Gratitude. I kept notes so I could go back and review these thoughts later.

After the block meeting we went to sister Karen Parkinson’s and made a home teaching visit. Later I went to the Clark Christensen’s and did a rather short HT visit and arranged to do a better one on the second Sunday.

The evening was spent eating dinner, watching some TV, packing for our trip tomorrow, and going to bed early.

It was a good Sabbath day and I often felt the spirit of the meetings and the songs. It is good to be able to fully participate in the meetings. It is one thing that I did miss while in Indonesia. I could feel the spirit there but I could not really become involved in the lessons.