Signs of the times

Last Saturday I mentioned that we went out to lunch with Dan.  What I didn't mention was that at the Brigham Young park on the corner of State Street and 100 North were swarms of people.  We wondered what was going on, knowing that it would be very unusual for a concert to be held in the middle of the day.  Today (Wednesday--Nov. 18) I read in (Sunday's) paper that the people at the park that day were resigning their memberships in the Church.  I am including this in my blog/journal because it seems an interesting historical event.  We know that as we get closer to the last days, there will be a great sifting of the wheat and the tares.  Most of the people at the park that day were inactive members, non-members, or members who had long ago renounced their memberships, but there was a handful of people who said that they went to church every week.  What this says to me is that their testimonies were weak and they had been "carried about by every wind of doctrine." (see Ephesians 4:14).  Though it's always been important to have our own testimony, the days where you can just ride along on the backs of other church members are gone.  Now it is imperative to have your own testimony.
(question: which general authority said that the number of people leaving the church is really very small?)
 I am reading a book that was written nearly 20 years ago by S. Michael Wilcox.  He talks of the actions that lead to a society being in the fulness of iniquity.  These are Wilcox' examples (very briefly):  The generation of the flood--Violence; The Jaredites--Secret Combinations; The Nephites of Mormon's Time--Without Civilization; Sodom and Gomorrah--Perversion of the Procreative Gift; The Cannanites--Fascination with Evil; The Israelites'--Worship of False Gods (worshiping materialism and military might), Then he adds oppression of the poor, and finally rejection of the Good and the refusal to repent, (Ammonihah and Zarahemla).  On this rejection, Wilcox writes, "The rejection of the righteous involves more than rejecting people or stoning prophets; it encompasses the rejection of principles, commandments, values, and ethics.  A fulness-of-iniquity society fights to destroy the very laws and morals the inspire the righteous..."
He adds, "It is often suggested by the opponents of spiritual truth that a people can flourish in a moral society devoid of religious convictions, but history has proven otherwise.  No people have been able to create a moral climate independent of a religious base.  The scriptures especially testify to this truth."
As we read the news lately, we can see that our society has definitely become more violent.  Just in the past few days there have been bombings in France, a hostage situation in French owned Mali, another shooting in New Orleans...Unfortunately, I could go on.  I could probably give examples of each of the above categories but I'm sure you can come up with your own.
My plea to my family is that you will continually study and read the scriptures.  They are true.  Say prayers daily--pray that you may hold fast to the iron rod because "Satan desires to have you that he may sift you as wheat." (See Luke 22:31).

This week was rather uneventful.  Tuesday night was Caitlyn's Young Women in Excellence.  Wednesday and Thursday, Roy was out of town for business.  Friday, we went up to Logan to visit Crista, and Saturday, with the help of Nick, Dan, and Jieun, we got out the Christmas stuff--train boards and all.  Thanks for your help you guys.  We got it out a little early because #1, the train needs to be out longer because it's so much work, and #2, we will be gone the first week of December and have parties at our home right when we get back.  Also, it was good to get it ALL out while we had help :)

Sunday night Nick fixed dinner at our home for all of us as well as a couple of his friends.  He did it all because his good friend Toby was in town.  However, Toby's kids were sick so he ended up coming alone and only for a few minutes.  Ollie got sick, too, so Adrienne and her family stayed home. Nick had a couple of other friends there that he knew from college.   Thanks for a nice dinner Nick.

After everyone else had gone home except Nick, Sara and their friends, Roy and Jennie had a chance to read to Ori.

I didn't take many pictures this week, but Elise sent us a couple of Max

Happy Thanksgiving coming up!  It's a great time to be extra mindful of our many blessings, though of course, we know we should have gratitude always for all that the Lord has given us.  I am so grateful for so many things.  The gospel and my family are at the top of the list.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it on this blog, but I had my violin tuned up--restrung with handpicked strings, a new soundpost put in, and a new bridge put on.  I have been practicing quite a bit and having a lot of fun with the accompaniments on Youtube.  One of the pieces I'm working on is Mozart, Concerto in G for violin and piano.  If I'd had Youtube when I was young I'd probably be a much better violinist today because it makes it so fun to practice!