Quotes of the Week

 One crucial element of this gathering is preparing a people who are able, ready and worthy to receive the Lord when He comes again, a people who have already chosen Jesus Christ over this fallen world, a people who rejoice in their agency to live the higher, holier laws of Jesus Christ.

--Russell M. Nelson

As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered.

Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times, answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase or song.

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Never miss an opportunity to bear witness of Christ.

--Bonnie H. Cordon

Quotes of the Week

 I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when they are paraphrased. Sometimes when there is a significant need in my life, I review mentally scriptures that have given me strength. There is great solace, direction and power that flows from the scriptures, especially the words of the Lord.

--Richard G. Scott

We are all His Latter-day Saints, and although not yet all we want to be, we are serious in our desire to be His true disciples.

--Neil L. Andersen

Let the fire of the covenant which you made in the House of the Lord, burn in your hearts, like flame unquenchable.

--Brigham Young

With the dedication of each new temple, additional godly power comes into the world to strengthen us and counteracts the intensifying efforts of the adversary.

--Russell M. Nelson

Quotes of the Week

 Family history research and temple service are one work in this church. We cannot do vicarious work for our progenitors unless we know who they are. Temples are nourished with names.

--Russell M. Nelson

Discipleship is not cheap, because the companionship of the Holy Ghost is priceless.

--Kevin W. Pearson

We must not pull away from our children. We must keep trying, keep reaching, keep praying, keep listening. We must keep them within the clasp of our arms.

--Jeffrey R. Holland

Our joy becomes full as we feel Jesus Christ's grace and forgiveness for us. And as we offer the miracle of His grace and forgiveness to each other, the mercy we receive and the mercy we offer can help make life's injustices just.

--Gerrit W. Gong

Quotes of the Week

 Through His infinite Atonement you can forgive those who have hurt you and who may never accept responsibility for their cruelty to you. But the Savior will grant you the ability to forgive anyone who has mistreated you in any way. Then their hurtful acts can no longer canker your soul.

--Russell M. Nelson

Trials do not mean that the plan is failing: they are part of the plan meant to help me seek God. I become more like Him when I endure patiently, and hopefully, like Him, when in agony, I pray more earnestly.

--Michelle D. Craig

As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to be changed.

--David A. Bednar

To know Heavenly Father and to understand our relationship to Him as our Father and our God is to find meaning in this life and hope in the life to come.

--M Russell Ballard

BYU Game in Lawrence, Kansas--Where Basketball Began

Glen had a crazy idea going to Kansas for the BYU/Kansas basketball game. 

Well, the idea started with Glen trying to convince me we would drive to Lawrence, Kansas, watch the game and then drive right back home. Not going to happen!! If I make that long of a drive, I want to stick around longer than one night.

That led to the idea of flying to Kansas, watching the game, and then flying home early the next morning. 

Jacob's family was driving from Omaha to the game. They picked us up at our hotel in Kansas City and took us to Lawrence, Kansas. We ate at Hog Wild Pit BBQ once we got there.

Apparently, the restaurant wanted it known to us BYU fans that KU was important to them as the school's initials were BBQed onto my bread.

We saw a lot of Jayhawk memorabilia on display.

Glen kept telling me what an experience it was going to be to be able to watch a game in Lawrence, Kansas--the place where basketball began.

James Naismith's Original Rules of Basketball, written in 1891, were on display.

The two pages of the 13 rules of basketball were enlarged to make it easier for viewers to read.

On one wall was a picture of James Naismith which was made using lines of words. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the words running all throughout his portrait were the Original Rules of Basketball written over and over again. 

There were a lot of sports trophies and memorabilia throughout the years on display.

We got our first look inside the stadium. 

The game was looking pretty bleak with BYU always trailing behind. The halftime entertainment helped lift our spirits. The marching band was amazing. This was a particularly memorable moment with the  band assembled together in a circle on the floor playing their hearts out.

Laurie and I opted to take the seats a few rows behind where Glen and Jacob were sitting. They love to yell their heads off and we wanted space from them. Logan soon joined us. 

Claire is probably the biggest fan of everyone, and she was happy cheering her heart out alongside her dad and her grandpa.

Shockingly, BYU made a big comeback in the second half winning Kansas by 8 points. The whole home team fans were just shocked by that surprising turn of events. 

Jacob's family wanted to bask in the afterglow of the victory.

They waited until the team came out so they could get photos and autographs of the players. 

Claire was having the players autograph her ball cap. 

Jacob was the most proud of this photo that was posted in a BYU article commenting about the yelling and cheering by the BYU fans. Jacob takes pride in the fact he got the chants going, which seemed to fluster the Kansas fans. 

We were all in the photo except me. Claire is to the left of Jacob, Glen is to the right. Laurie is a few rows back right next to Jacob's head. Logan is standing up next to her. I am on the other side of Laurie hidden from view by chanting Jacob.

That picture might be the one Jacob loves the most, but this next one is the one I think is the best. Glen and Jacob are standing up in the sea of fans in this historic building. 

The temperature was 70 degrees when we landed in Kansas City earlier that day, and when we walked out of the ball game, there was a blizzard going on with the wind blowing like crazy! It was a white-knuckle driving experience all the way back to our hotel. 

Jacob wanted to make the drive back to Omaha that night, so he pushed on through. He said the weather cleared up about 5 minutes from our hotel. That was good news! It had definitely been a memorable experience for all of us.

Glen and I are going back to Kansas City to spend next week there at the Big 12 Basketball Tournament with all three of our sons. This time we are driving.

I am sure Glen would have me end this post by yelling, "GO COUGARS!!!!

Quotes of the Week

 I am learning that Heavenly Father is more interested in my growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ than He is with my comfort, I may not always want it to be that way -- but it is!

God bless us to teach our children and our grandchildren what great blessings await them by going to the temple.

I pray that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will bless modern Israel with the compelling desire to seek all the blessings of the fathers in the House of our Heavenly Father.

--Ezra Taft Benson

If we must compare, let us compare how we were in the past to how we are today, or even to how we want to be in the future. The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us. Please, sincerely ask Him what He thinks of you. He will love and correct but not discourage us, that is Satan's trick.

--J Devn Cornish