Melva Gifford

In the process of preparing a story about Johnny Appleseed, I found these interesting facts about apples.

Growing:

• 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States, but only the crabapple is native to North America.
• There are 7,500 varieties of apples grown around the world.
• Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.
• Apples ripen six to 10 times faster at room temperature than if they are refrigerated.
• Apples harvested from an average tree can fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.
• Apple varieties range in size from a little larger than a cherry to as large as a grapefruit. The largest apple ever picked weighed 3 pounds.
• Apples are a member of the rose family.
• The top apple producers around the world are China, United States, Turkey, Poland and Italy. Apples account for 50 percent of international deciduous fruit tree production.
• Apples are actually part of the rose family, just like pears and plums.
• Red Delicious apples are the most widely grown apple variety in the U.S.
• Apple trees can live for more than 100 years.
• Many apple orchards grow dwarf apple trees because their shorter height makes them easier to maintain and harvest.
• Apples are thought to have originated in central Asia.
• How tall is the average apple tree? Over 40 feet!
• To produce one apple, it takes energy from 50 leaves

Health:

• Apples contain no fat, sodium or cholesterol and are a good source of fiber.
• A peck of apples weighs 10.5 pounds. A bushel of apples weighs about 42 pounds.
• It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.
• On average, apples contain 4.5 grams of fiber. It takes nearly two servings of Metamucil to get that same amount of fiber.
• Two-thirds of the fiber and lots of antioxidants in apples are found in the peel.
• A medium apple contains about 80 calories
• A medium apple (tennis-ball size) is an excellent source of fiber. One medium apple with the skin on provides 5 grams of fiber. Fiber and pectin help reduce cholesterol, aid in digestion, and may help prevent certain types of cancer.
• Many apples have a natural wax applied to them after they’re harvested. This isn’t just done to make them look shinier—it helps keep out bacteria and slows the ripening process.
• Apples contain high levels of boron, which increases mental alertness.
• The average person eats 65 apples each year.
• Thanks to their high levels of boron, apples can help improve your memory, mental alertness, and electrical activity of the brain.
• More than half of all apples grown in the United States for fresh eating come from orchards in Washington State!
• Apple blossoms are pinkish in color but they turn white as they get older.

Food:

• It takes two pounds of apples to make one nine-inch apple pie.
• It takes roughly 36 apples to make one gallon of apple cider.
• Humans have been eating apples as far back as 6500 BC.
• Animals which eat apples include horses, monkeys, chimpanzees, bears, raccoons and rabbits.
• Ever wondered why apples float? It’s because 25 percent of their volume is made up by air.

Sources:

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=johnny%20appleseed%20folk%20tales&oq=johnny%20appleseed&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j0l4.11813j0j7

This is section three, and the last of my notes of the Stake fireside three weeks ago. Any misinformation or inaccurate information is the fault of the note taker.

Other signs of the 11^th Hour continued:

• 2nd Nephi 28: Nephi warns of evil actions and evil attitudes. Verse 14: discusses stiff necks and high heads.
• Dc 45: 26-29: wars and rumors of wars. (End of earth means at the end or the last of the 1000 years or the end of the dispensation. Christ comes at the end of the earth.
• The temptation is to become caught up in academic learning and not follow church leaders is something to work for.
• 45:34: not put trust in arm of flesh. There is a temptation to look at church leaders as men. We thank God for a prophet until they say something we don’t agree with. Some may disagree with brethren because they are not politically correct. Precepts of man is when people put their trust in people over God.
• Nibley: never put our trust in temporary words of man rather than the eternal word of god.
• Look at the parable of the 10 virgins, think about it, we can’t share our spiritual development. We don’t do a spiritual marathon. We do gradual growth and development. Drop by drop of oil, we fill the lamp. We can’t do it without the oil. “Those who are wise (virgins) shall not be horn down; but, shall abide the day.
• Joseph Smith’s Matthew, states: who treasures up my word shall not be deceived.
• The gospel shall be shared to all the nations. There is already an increase of full time missionaries. Members are responsible for doing the missionary work and the missionary are responsible for teaching them the gospel. When praying for missionaries we do it wrong. We should pray for ourselves that we become better missionaries. So missionaries can teach them.
• Rev 5:9-10 elder McCombie said blessing of the temple becomes available for saints to access. We have to reach the point where people accept the gospel and become worthy to go to the temple to be ordained Kings and priests/Queens and priestesses etc.
• General suggestions: on reading the signs of the times. It is impossible to create a perfect chronological order of the signs of the times. The scriptures contain divine ambiguity. God does it intentionally.
• Bruce r McCombie: millennial messiah: There is not in a known timeline. Before the final appearance, there are some preliminary Christ appearances. (They are private appearances).
• Millet suggests we spend more of our times in the scriptures provided by the restoration, not the book of Ezekiel or Revelations but modern scriptures such as the BofM and DC and modern prophets.
• Miliot told one lady who was spending too much of the contemplating issues of the Book of Revelations such as trying to interpret the horn of the beast, or the mark of the beast. He suggested she burn Book of Revelation and read the book of Mormon. He humorously told the woman that maybe she was spending too much time on trying to understand Revelation.
• Each dispensation has adequate records for our desperations. The Gospel is revealed that is complete for that dispensation. It also is sufficient to teach us the gospel. Comment by President Romney.
• Last days has a great deal of info in Book of Mormon and doctrine of convenient.
• We also need to look to modern church leaders. Dc 68: Revelations are given to 4 men. Unto you will be shown signs of the times. Verse 11.
• March 1996, m Russel Ballard gave a talk titled: “when these things shall be” at BYU. If we don’t know when Christ will come no man knows. Be extremely worried who claims to be an exception to divine decree.
• 1 Thessalonians, Paul says “of the times and seasons … lord cometh as a thief in the night. Like a very pregnant woman. When people ask the prospective mother when baby come? She answers “Soon!” She does not know the hour. How know = sign of the times. Verse 5.
• Dc 106:4 to warren calbery. Modern prophets will have an idea of times.
• Build a strong doctrinal foundation.
• Maxwell: it amazes me how gullible the Saints are. Our lack of doctrinal knowledge makes us easy prey.
• We need to know the doctrines are. We need to pay attention how leaders provide helpful commentary on scriptures. See how they interpret a parable. Discuss the doctrine of grace.
• Try this exercise this next conference. Have a piece of paper in half. On the left write what is said. On the right have what does the spirt say to me.
• You could also do a paper divided into thirds. What is said, what does the sprit say and then how does that speaker relate the scriptures in their interpretation.
• We need to stay in the main stream of the church. Any deviation to the left or right will be hazardless.
• Allen oaks: we can accelerate our preparation. We ask ourselves, what if he came tomorrow? What would we do today? What testimonies would we bare, what account would we settle?
• When we miss reading the scriptures we feel guilty for missing reading them. But the better emotion would be that we missed the opportunity to learn what we could have learned from the scriptures that day.

Do you have observations of what you learned? Feel free to share in the comment section of this blog.

Socialism in America: Part 1 of 3 What is Socialism and how did we get here?

Good: potential

Bad:   protential

Not sure if this will work but we’ll see. When you add a bunch of delicious items into a POT it has the POTential of being delicious.

Do you have a better recommendation to remember the word? It so, please share your ideas in the comment section of this blog.

During a toast master’s meeting, I heard a humorous piece on marriage relationship and the following observations were made.

1. What do you want for supper? Husband gives options wife turns it down selections.
2. Valentine holiday: Hotels filled restaurants full, chocolate gone. The husband who wants to celebrate, have few options left.
3. One spouse hot. One spouse cold
4. One late one on time.
5. A couple packs for a short trip. The husband prepares 5 min before. The wife starts several days before departure. She make lists for self and kids. Husband tells boys to get their own clothes. End up, needed items are forgotten.
6. Quote: Behind every great man is a surprised woman.
7. Quote: Marriage like good wine as long as you put a cork in it.
8. Quote: I’m the boss and my wife is the decision maker.
9. Quote: to keep your marriage brimming with love Husbands should. Whenever you’re wrong admit it whenever your right shut up.
10. Women usually go to the bathroom in pairs.
11. Note on toilet: We aim to please, you aim please
12. YouTube: watch magic coffee table.

This is section two of my notes of last week’s fireside. The final group of notes will be next week. Any               misinformation or inaccurate information is the fault of the note taker.

• Principles to discern who is a false prophet by asking these questions:

• Q: how do I know if a revelation or sign is from God? If the person claims a divine message, then see if that message is acting within the right context of the gospel. Like claiming to advise those who are higher in authority than his rank/calling. A person does not have authority to advise a congregation unless that person is called over that congregation through God’s church.

• Q: Is the person acting within the bounds of their authority/ stewardship? God would not create circumstances of chaos or confusion.

• Q: is the person worthy to receive revelation? Harold b lee said, “We will receive revelations from who we follow.” You determine if you follow God or otherwise.

• Q: Is the communication they are getting in harmony with the standard works? God will not work against himself. That means not teaching against church principles or against moral behavior. (Leave the exceptions to God such as the event of Nephi killing Laban in the BofM) We don’t violate the law of the church nor the law of land.
• Millet gave an example of a man being antigovernment and refused to pay his taxes. He was often quoting President Benson. Millet told the man that President Benson paid his taxes.

• Q: Does the communication edify or instruct? Is it consistent with something that comes from God? Does it edify or is sit dignified. Does it teach me something?

• Parley p Pratt returned from his mission. He found a bunch of Saints who were caught up with strange spirts. Some were barking like dogs and other people doing bizarre things.
• DC 50: how to discern what comes from god.
• Marian Z Romney suggested that we pray for discernment.

• Q: Does the communications build my faith in Christ, church and strengthen my commitment? People will say brother is asleep on the switch.

Other signs of the 11^th Hour:

• 2nd Nephi 28: Nephi warns of evil actions and evil attitudes. Verse 14: discusses stiff necks and high heads.
• Dc 45: 26-29: wars and rumors of wars. (End of earth means at the end or the last of the 1000 years or the end of the dispensation. Christ comes at the end of the earth.
• The temptation is to become caught up in academic learning and not follow church leaders is something to work for.
• 45:34: not put trust in arm of flesh. There is a temptation to look at church leaders as men. We thank God for a prophet until they say something we don’t agree with. Some may disagree with brethren because they are not politically correct. Precepts of man is when people put their trust in people over God.
• Nibley: never put our trust in temporary words of man rather than the eternal word of god.
• Parable of the 10 virgins, think about it, we can’t share our spiritual development. We don’t do a spiritual marathon. We do gradual growth and development. Drop by drop of oil we fill the lamp. We can’t do it without the oil. “Those who are wise (virgins) shall not be horn down; but, shall abide the day.
• Joseph Smith’s Matthew, states: who treasures up my word shall not be deceived.

Do you have observations of what you learned? Feel free to share in the comment section of this blog.

Documentary about communism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU44n7P5elo

Good: cleanliness

Bad:   cleanslyness

There is the word LINE in cleanLINEs. So cleanliness is when you can see the lines of tile on the floor.  We’ll see if that works on remembering the LINE.

Do you have a better recommendation to remember the word? It so, please share your ideas in the comment section of this blog.