We have a pet bunny/The sixth anniversary of our engagement

This will be a personal news update. On this Independence Day, Amy and I received a pet bunny. Amy's brother Troy had jokingly been asking us a lot recently if we wanted one, as his property has been overtaken by one. When he asked us today, we took him up on the offer. He's a cute little black bunny with brown splotches. Amy and I haven't decided on a name for him/her yet, but I'm leaving it for Amy to do. She was always creative in choosing names for the fishes she had growing up. Among the most memorable is Zorath the Avenger and His Squire Flip the Elusive. I had suggested to Amy that we use one of the names from our list of those we made for our children, as it doesn't appear that we will be parents soon, but she said she wants the bunny's name to be as unique and special as he/she is, so I'm leaving it to her.

As this Independence Day also marked the 6th anniversary of our engagement, we did a couple of things to celebrate. I ordered Amy some books she'd been wanting, and she's getting me a copy of the October 2007 General Conference DVD. We additional got a set of Doctrine and Covenants tape cassettes and some VHS copies of movies we wanted. We had the opportunity to see both of our families today.

As per our established yearly tradition of going to the temple grounds where I propose to her all over again, we went there today. This year has taken a wear and tear on us and our marriage because of all the stress and setbacks we've experienced of late. I will post more about what's been going on at a later time, perhaps within the next few days. But my point in mentioning this is that I knew our special circumstances required special attention. So in the several days prior to our engagement anniversary, when Amy was either asleep or absorbed in her own projects, I compose a letter to her to let her know what she means to me. I typed mine, unlike the letter she sent me that started our relationship, which she had handwritten, because I was afraid that in the moment I wouldn't be able to read my own handwriting.

As part of the letter, I wrote her a song, with the borrowed tune of the country song "Could I Have This Dance?" Because I want to share the joy of this anniversary with all my readers, I include a copy of the lyrics:

I’ll always remember

            The song my heart played,

            The first time we met and I knew

           

            As I pondered my feelings,

And we went and we dated,

I fell in love with you.

May I have your love

For this life and beyond?

Will you be beside me

As every day dawns?

            When we are together,

I know we’ll carry on.

            May I have your love,

            For this life and beyond?

I can never forget

The joy of the moment

We knelt at the altar right here

As we made commitments,

And pledged to each other

I knew I had nothing to fear.

May I have your love

For this life and beyond?

Will you be beside me,

As every day dawns?

            When we work together,

I know we’ll carry on.

            May I have your love,

            For this life and beyond?

Finally, I wanted to close this post by sharing something with you about us that I never knew until tonight. When we had our wedding ceremony in the Mount Timpanogos Temple, three of my aunts (Sharon (now Wardle), Jacqui Howden, and Louise Sturt (a surrogate grandmother who in some ways is more dear to me than my own blood grandmothers because of her outstanding presence in my life), all observed that when Amy and I were looking into each other's eyes, she wasn't seeing me as I was now (a disabled man), but as I will be after being healed by the Savior at the time of His Second Coming, and that they could clearly see in our eyes that we loved each other and had known each other in the premortal life and had agreed to meet and marry here.  I thought that was really neat to hear, and I thank my family for sharing that with us tonight.

As I close this post, I share my infinite gratitude and everlasting love for this sweet woman, Amy Nuttall Stokes, who loved me enough to not be hung up on my physical disabilities and limitations. I will be eternally grateful to the Lord for bringing this remarkable individual into this insignificant man's life. I love you, sweetheart, now and forever!

"Your Personal Ministry"--Elder Gary E. Stevenson's address at the Seminar for New Mission Presidentss

Elder Gary E. Stevenson spoke at the Seminar for New Mission Presidents on the topic of their personal ministries, in which he referenced his own experience at the first Seminar he attended as a newly-called mission president in 2004. His address was yet another in the series of great addresses presented at the Seminar. For a summary  of what he talked about, please see this article. Thanks for your readership.

2016 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Tour kicks off in Berlin

As the title of this post states, the 2016 Tabernacle Choir tour has kicked off in Berlin, a city known for its cold war history. Please see this link for all the details. Thanks.

Preliminary Report on the Seminar for New Mission Presidents

I am posting today with a preliminary report on the seminar for new mission presidents, at which all the apostles (in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) and other general authorities spoke.

Church President Thomas S. Monson appeared at the Seminar via a prerecorded message. He instructed new mission presidents on their duties, citing his own experience as a mission president and outlining some of the sacrifices made and blessings received as mission presidents and their wives serve. For the full text of his address opening the seminar, please see this article.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to the mission presidents on the subject of having faith to baptize converts. For a summary of his address, please see this article.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke to the new presidents about the importance of leading their missionaries and those taught by them to the Savior. To read a summary of his address, please see this article.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles urged new mission presidents not to be fearful of new technology. To read what he said on the subject, please see this article.

President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke on the miraculous miracle that the Book of Mormon is. In his addressed, he urged new mission presidents to encourage prayerful study of the book by their missionaries and those they teach. For a summary of his remarks, please see this article.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, reminded mission presidents that they are engaged in the Lord's work, and, in so doing, as President Monson has repeatedly reminded us, they are entitled to the Lord's help. For a report of President Uchtdorf's remarks, please see this article.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded new mission presidents that the Lord is in the details of furthering the work of His kingdom, and that we are instruments in His hands in helping the work to progress. For a summary of his remarks, please see this article.

In his remarks at the Seminar, Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke on the subject of how the Lord is preparing people to receive the gospel and said that the mission presidents play an invaluable role in training missionaries on this important topic. For an account of his remarks, please see this article.

That's all this report will focus on. I will share more talk summaries as they become available. Thanks for your readership.

Historian Managing Joseph Smith Papers Project gives lecture on Zion's Camp

The historian managing the Joseph Smith Papers project gave a lecture on June 23 on the important role of Zion's camp. For an account of that lecture, please see this article. Thanks.

Update on flooding in West Virginia

The Church News reported an update on the flooding that has occurred in West Virginia. Over 1000 homes have been destroyed and 23 lives have been lost as a direct result of that flooding. To read more about this tragic upheaval of nature, please see this article. Thanks.

10 Church Members Lose Homes to Wildfires

Among the loses reported from a fire at Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, 10 Church members have lost their homes. Please see this article for details. Thanks.

Church News article about New General Authority Seventy Elder Evan A. Schmutz

The Church News ran an article this weekend about new General Authority Seventy Elder Evan A. Schmutz. To read that introduction of him, please see this article. Enjoy!

Apostolic News Update

Here is an overview of the latest apostolic news:

As the featured speaker at the Freedom Festival Patriotic Service on Sunday June 26, 2016, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that religious freedom is "under fire". For an account of what he said at that event, please see this article.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband recently visited the Barranquilla Colombia temple site recently, As evidenced by the previous blog post I did, temples are making astounding progress worldwide, and it was good to hear of Elder Rasband's visit.

The members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recently spoke at the Seminar for New Mission Presidents. For an overview of what was said during that seminar, please see this article. More Church News articles will be released in the near future with further information about the seminar, and you can be sure and find information about all of that on this blog.

That's a brief summary of the latest apostolic news to cross my radar.

Yet Another Update on Temple Progress

There have been further strides in temple-related progress, so I am reposting my list describing these important strides. As always, I welcome any and all feedback.

Temple Construction Progress Report (current as of 6/28/16)

Current Temple Status: 150 operating, 16 under construction (5 scheduled for dedication), 11 announced (2 groundbreakings anticipated to be announced soon), 4 undergoing renovation (1 scheduled for rededication).

Dedication scheduled:

151. Sapporo Japan Temple: Accepting free reservations for public open house; dedication scheduled on Sunday August 21, 2016.

152. Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple: Accepting free reservations for public open house; dedication scheduled on Sunday September 18, 2016.

153. Fort Collins Colorado Temple: Open house tickets available beginning Monday July 11 @ 10 AM MDT; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 16, 2016.

154. Star Valley Wyoming Temple: Facing landscape structures with ledge rock; installing fence posts around temple; dedication scheduled on Sunday October 30, 2016.

155. Hartford Connecticut Temple: Granite being attached to front façade; building entrance plaza and temple president’s residence; dedication scheduled on Sunday November 20, 2016.

Under Construction:

156. Paris France Temple: Planting trees shrubs, and flowers; awaiting art glass installation; completion estimated sometime in early 2017.

157. Meridian Idaho Temple: Stained glass windows installed; pouring parking lot curbing; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

158. Cedar City Utah Temple: Exterior panels attached; work continues on interior and grounds; completion estimated sometime in late 2017.

159. Tucson Arizona Temple: Angel Moroni placed atop temple on July 7, 2016; completion estimated sometime in late 2017 .

160. Rome Italy Temple: Interior work underway including some material replacement and rework; completion estimated sometime in 2018.

161. Concepcion Chile Temple: Exterior walls poured; completion estimated sometime during 2018.

162. Fortaleza Brazil Temple Site preparation phase; building permit sign posted; completion estimated sometime in either 2018 or 2019.
163. Durban South Africa Temple: Site fence erected; full-scale operations pending; completion estimated sometime in either 2018 or 2019.

164. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple: Site clearing and preparation phase; completion estimated sometime in either 2018 or 2019.
165. Barranquilla Colombia Temple: Building the substructure; completion estimated sometime in 2019.
166. Lisbon Portugal Temple: Ground broken on Saturday December 5, 2015; completion estimated sometime in 2019.

Rededication scheduled:

33. Freiberg Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication scheduled on Sunday September 4, 2016.

Undergoing Renovation:

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple: Closed for renovation; installing marble trim; rededication estimated sometime in early 2017.

41. Frankfurt Germany Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in mid-2017.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple: Closed for renovation; rededication estimated sometime in late 2017.

Announced:

167. Arequipa Peru Temple: Construction preparation phase; groundbreaking date anticipated to be announced soon.

168. Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple: Construction preparation phase; plans approved by local government; groundbreaking may be announced soon and scheduled sometime after the summer Olympics.

169. Urdaneta Philippines Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

170. Winnipeg Manitoba Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

171. Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

172. Bangkok Thailand Temple: Planning and approval phase; awaiting official site announcement.

173. Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

174. Quito Ecuador Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

175. Harare Zimbabwe Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

176. Belem Brazil Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

177. Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: Planning phase; awaiting official site announcement.

Key:

Bolded numbers and text denote temples whose number already exists (for renovations), or is certain due to a scheduled dedication, as well as information that is certain, such as dedication or groundbreaking dates.

Italicized numbers and text denote temples whose number may change based on the order in which future dedications and groundbreakings are scheduled.

Underlined numbers and text denote temples whose number may change based on the order in which their future groundbreakings are announced.