Thanksgiving in Alaska

Our Missionary Prep lessons on Tuesday are not going as planned.  Our stalwart, Nia Ma'ake, is in Idaho visiting family for a couple of weeks.  Without her to round up the others, the others don't make it.  Vika is in California visiting family for Thanksgiving.  It is very important to these people to go south as often as possible to avoid the shorter days and the cold wet weather.

Wednesday at Institute we had a great turnout.  I announced on our YSA facebook page that Diane had fixed a wonderful meal, which she did.  She had a salad and some cheese Tortellini with pine nuts and asparagus.  There was a wonderful pistachio pudding and cook whip desert layered with chocolate grated cookies.  They loved it but she cooked enough for twenty I think.  We sent Matt Adamson home with the bowl of pudding.  He was so excited to have that. 

The Thanksgiving school break was going and so we had several show up that we don't see when school is cramping them for time.  Our discussion was a fun one to prepare, "The Signs of the Times."  I learned something I hadn't known, or thought about before.  That is, when the Savior comes in all of his glory there will be two left standing in the field and will be taken, and the other will be saved.  Then in trying to learn more about who these two individuals will be, the D & C teaches that those saved must be living at least a Terrestial law.  Those living a Telestial law will be burned as stubble.  This comes from the "The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" as well.  Bruce R. McKonkie also preached this doctrine.  We used the parable of the Ten Virgins to apply this to ourselves.  We also discussed "Hypocrisy" into some depth.  It is a Greek word meaning to act or to deceive.  In other words, it is bearing false witness and would qualify one for the Telestial Glory.  The Savior was very forward in calling the Pharisees and Herodians hypocrites.  He then taught his disciples to not be as them.    We also discussed the signs of the times spoken of by the Savior in Matthew 24.  We included D & C sections 45, 101 and 133.  Then we included the fate of the unprepared in section 38. 

 

Should we fear that time?  No.  We should be able to recognize the signs, know what they are announcing, and keep our lamps trimmed and full of oil.  It was a fun lesson for me.

 

I made some more bread.  Diane baked a pecan pie and she made a salad to take to the Olsen's.  Pres. and Sister Olsen invited to eat Thanksgiving dinner with their family.  We were very appreciative of that.  We had a wonderful visit and the meal was absolutely spectacular to look at and wonderful to eat.  We enjoyed being with their son, Eric, and his wife Courtney, their daughter Jaimee and her husband Zac Kirkpatrick.  They had also invited Matt Adamson.  He is a student from Valdez and is very active in the branch.  He also attends the Saturday missionary prep class. 

Skyping is a wonderful tool.  We were able to be with Gregg's family in South Jordan as our grandson, Parker, opened his mission call.  He will be leaving February 27 for the Long Beach, California mission for two years.  Thank-you Skype.