Jet Mariano

Tag: discipline

  •  MIT-8: “The Brass Serpent”

    Not everything that heals you is complicated. Sometimes, you just have to look.

    Excerpt
    Sometimes the hardest problems in life are answered with the simplest solutions. The challenge is not the solution—it is whether we are willing to accept it.

    Intro
    As I reflected this past month, I realized how often I complicate things that are meant to be simple. In the scriptures, the story of the brass serpent is one of the clearest reminders that healing, both physical and spiritual, often comes through simple acts of faith.

    Notes from the Scriptures
    As the children of Israel journeyed near the land of Edom, they complained along the way. Because of their murmuring, “the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:6).

    Moses sought the Lord on behalf of the people, and the answer he received was unexpected. “Make thee a fiery serpent,” the Lord commanded, “and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” Moses obeyed, “and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:8-9).

    At first glance, the solution seems straightforward. Yet Nephi later revealed an important truth: “The labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished” (1 Nephi 17:41). The difficulty was not in the act itself, but in accepting something so simple.

    Alma later taught that the brass serpent was a symbol of the Son of God. However, “few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts.” Many “would not look,” not because they couldn’t, but because “they did not believe that it would heal them” (Alma 33:20).

    This pattern mirrors the mindset of Laman and Lemuel. When asked if they had prayed, they replied, “We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us” (1 Nephi 15:9). Doubt prevented action.

    Alma then invited the people with a simple but powerful question: “If ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly?” He urged them to “cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God” (Alma 33:21-22).

    He later reinforced the same principle: “The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever” (Alma 37:46).

    Nephi, generations later, made the connection even clearer: “As Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come… even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith… might live, even unto that life which is eternal” (Helaman 8:14-15).

    The Savior Himself confirmed this truth: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

    Perspective (direct quotes)
    “The labor which they had to perform was to look.”
    “And because of the simpleness of the way… there were many who perished.”
    “They did not believe that it would heal them.”
    “Cast about your eyes and begin to believe.”

    Practice (today, not someday)
    Today, I will not overcomplicate what God has made simple.
    I will act, even when I do not fully understand.
    I will choose faith over doubt, even when the solution seems too easy.
    I will look up—toward Christ—rather than around for alternatives.

    Final Reflection
    The brass serpent reminds me that the issue is rarely the solution. The issue is whether I am willing to trust it. Healing is available, but it requires humility. It requires action. And sometimes, it requires doing something so simple that pride resists it.

    Pocket I’m Keeping
    “Don’t ignore simple solutions.”

    What I Hear Now (direct quotes)
    “If ye could be healed… would ye not behold quickly?”
    “The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.”

    Link to the talk/scriptures
    Numbers 21:6–9
    1 Nephi 17:41
    Alma 33:20–22
    Alma 37:46
    Helaman 8:14–15
    John 3:14–15

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  • MIT-8 “It Was Not You That Sent Me Hither, But God”

    15 seconds to run into position.
    No retake. No guarantee.
    Just trust… and move.
    Standing here at Daybreak, I realized something—
    the moment may feel rushed, uncertain, even forced…
    but the placement is never random.
    Like Joseph, what once didn’t make sense
    now feels guided.
    It was not timing.
    It was not chance.
    It was God placing me exactly where I needed to be.

    Excerpt
    Sometimes what feels like a setback is actually God positioning us exactly where we need to be.

    Intro
    There was a time I looked back at a loss in my career and felt the weight of it. It didn’t make sense. It felt like something was taken away.

    But looking at Joseph’s story, I see it differently now.

    Notes from the Scriptures
    He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant.
    Psalm 105:17

    When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he acknowledged the devastating decision they had made decades earlier: “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.” But he immediately explained how that decision had helped God fulfill his purposes for their family: “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:4-5). He concluded, “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God” (Genesis 45:8).

    Perspective
    Joseph stood in front of the very people who caused his suffering—and saw purpose instead of pain.

    I’ve had moments where I questioned why something had to happen in my career. At the time, it felt like a loss I didn’t deserve.

    But if that door hadn’t closed… I wouldn’t be here.

    A full-time opportunity in Utah.
    A place to rebuild.
    A place to grow stronger—spiritually, physically, and mentally.

    Daily discipline.
    Clean living.
    Boxing training that keeps me sharp and grounded.
    Time to think, to reflect, to reconnect with God.

    And the quiet blessings that don’t make noise—but change everything.

    Looking back now, I can say with peace:

    It was not them.
    It was God.

    Practice (Today, Not Someday)
    Today, I will trust that not everything that feels like loss is truly loss.

    I will move forward with faith, knowing that God may be preparing something I cannot yet see.

    Final Reflection
    Joseph didn’t just survive what happened to him—he understood it.

    And when I look at my own path, I see that some of the hardest moments were actually turning points.

    God didn’t just fix things later.

    He was already there… guiding it from the beginning.

    Pocket I’m Keeping
    What I thought was a setback… was actually a setup.

    What I Hear Now
    “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God” (Genesis 45:8)

    Link to the Talk / Scripture
    Genesis 45
    Psalm 105:17

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    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MIT-8 Not Shrinking Is More Important Than Surviving

    Before I earned my black belt, I had to execute every kick with precision. Discipline before promotion. Alignment before advancement. Not shrinking is formed long before the test.

    Excerpt

    “As we confront our own trials and tribulations, we too can plead with the Father … that we ‘might not shrink’ (D&C 19:18). Not shrinking is much more important than surviving. Moreover, partaking of a bitter cup without becoming bitter is likewise part of the emulation of Jesus.” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    Intro

    I thought I understood what it meant not to shrink.

    I survived hunger at 14.
    I survived selling food to passengers just to eat.
    I survived a near-death experience in 1996.
    I survived panic attacks and insomnia.
    I survived being told I might never work in a high-stress IT environment again.

    But this week, after lap after lap, mitts that escalated from 4 to 10 sets, 87 squat jumps from Tyson cards, mountain climbers, pushups, and 12 nonstop rounds of heavy bag combinations, I understood what Elder Maxwell meant. Not shrinking is more important than surviving.

    I have survived many things.

    When hunger, anxiety, and loneliness visit, I move.
    This is how I train my body
    so my spirit does not shrink.

    But survival is not the same as not shrinking.

    Notes from the Talk

    Elder Maxwell did not ask merely to survive chemotherapy.

    He asked not to shrink.

    Not to retreat.
    Not to recoil.
    Not to become bitter.

    The Savior Himself said:

    “…and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
    Nevertheless, glory be to the Father…” (D&C 19:18–19)

    Not shrinking is not loud strength.
    It is quiet submission.

    Perspective

    When I was 14 and hungry, movement became survival.
    If I exercised, I could forget hunger.

    When doctors questioned my future after my NDE, I refused to shrink. I sought a second opinion. I rebuilt my life.

    When anxiety and insomnia threatened my stability, I trained harder. I cleaned up my diet. I disciplined my schedule.

    Even today, when loneliness creeps in, I move.
    When silence feels heavy, I train.
    When desire rises, I redirect it into discipline.

    This week I completed 87 squat jumps through Tyson cards. Not to prove something to anyone. Not to impress younger men. But because discipline has been my medicine for decades.

    But here is the paradox I am learning:

    It is easier for me to outwork discomfort than to sit still with it.

    Surviving built my endurance.

    Not shrinking requires surrender.

    Practice (Today, Not Someday)

    For me, not shrinking today looks like:

    Training without ego.
    Competing without needing validation.
    Continuing IT responsibilities with integrity even when exhausted.
    Feeling loneliness without immediately escaping it.
    Submitting my will when outcomes do not match my expectations.

    I once believed not shrinking meant pushing harder.

    Not shrinking begins in submission, not in strength.

    Now I am learning it sometimes means staying still without fear.

    Final Reflection

    Surviving builds muscle.

    Not shrinking builds character.

    Back kick board break during black belt testing. Commitment through resistance. Not shrinking means driving through the barrier, not recoiling from it.

    I survived poverty.
    I survived medical predictions.
    I survived anxiety.

    But the deeper test is partaking of the bitter cup without becoming bitter.

    To trust God’s timing.
    To accept outcomes I cannot control.
    To allow my will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father.

    That is not weakness.

    That is discipleship.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    “I just don’t want to shrink.”

    Not from hunger.
    Not from fear.
    Not from loneliness.
    Not from aging.
    Not from silence.

    What I Hear Now

    “Strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives—even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted.”

    I know how to push.

    Now I am learning how to submit.

    Link to the Talk

    That We Might Not Shrink (D&C 19:18)
    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/that-we-might-not-shrink-d-c-19-18?lang=eng

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    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MARKED IN TIME — “DO YOUR PART” (MIT8)

    Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf — October 2025 General Conference

    Where effort meets grace, discipleship blooms

    Excerpt

    “Trust the Savior and engage, patiently and diligently, in doing your part with all your heart.”

    Intro

    Life moves fast — technology, deadlines, expectations, and noise. Elder Uchtdorf’s message reminded me to slow down, trust the Savior, and stay consistent in the small habits that shape who I am. It’s not about speed. It’s about direction. And the quiet discipline behind every disciple’s journey.

    Notes from Elder Uchtdorf

    Trust the Savior completely and give Him your steady daily effort.
    Discipleship requires practice.
    Skills fade without continued effort.
    Greatness grows from repetition, humility, and patience.
    The Lord magnifies even small efforts when offered with heart.

    Perspective (direct quotes)

    “Getting good at anything… takes consistent self-discipline and practice.”
    Whether flying, rowing, sowing, learning, or becoming — practice never stops.

    “Trust the Savior and engage… in doing your part with all your heart.”
    He doesn’t ask perfection — just faith in motion.

    Practice — Today, Not Someday

    My Discipline in IT
    Technology evolves every day. You don’t master it once — you study daily. I use Microsoft Learn, Udemy, and YouTube Premium, and I blog because writing helps me lock in what I learn. This is my stewardship: my part in staying sharp.

    My Discipline in Photography
    Photography isn’t just technical settings. It’s learning to read the light, study it, and anticipate it. Capturing it is an act of patience and discipline — just like discipleship.

    My Discipline in Health
    My body is my engine. If I don’t stay fit, how can I keep up with the never-ending pace of IT? Health keeps my mind focused. My discipline keeps me grounded.

    My RFC Trio
    Just like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC work as a trio — strengthening trust and protecting identity — my three disciplines work together:

    Mind (IT)
    Creativity (Photography)
    Body (Health)

    One supports the other. One anchors the next. And that’s how discipleship grows: line upon line, habit upon habit.

    Final Reflection

    Discipline is not punishment. It’s devotion — devotion to the future you, and trust in a God who sees more in you than you see in yourself. “Doing your part” isn’t dramatic or loud. It’s small steady steps that build spiritual muscle.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    “Trust the Savior… and engage diligently in doing your part.”
    Not perfectly.
    Not instantly.
    Just faithfully.

    What I Hear Now (direct quotes)

    Consistency is strength.
    “Keep practicing.”
    “I will make your small offering enough.”
    “Do your part — I will do Mine.”

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    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • Because I Have Been Given Much, I Too Must Give

    Because I Have Been Given Much, I Too Must Give

    Jordan 4s laced, knee braces locked, and 20s in hand—another stair session. I train to stay ready, not just fit.

    I train to stay rooted in purpose, faithful in service, and prepared for life’s demands.
    Fitness clears my mind and sharpens my focus.
    The goal isn’t just strength—it’s being able to make a difference.

    That’s why I wear McDavid knee braces, elbow support, and back support. My workouts are non-stop—compound, high-rep, and uninterrupted. You have to train smart. No shortcuts. No injuries.

    Tonight’s training flow?

    • 30-minute stair run (1st floor to basement, non-stop)
    • 120 reps each of:
      • Pushups
      • Sit-ups
      • Leg raises
      • Abs crunches
    • Bird/Dog exercise for balance and core control
    • Crab-walks to engage hip and glute strength
    • 20-minute plank rotation
    • All while my laundry spins in the background
    • Tilapia fillets thawed and ready for a clean dinner
    • Playlist? Pure Church music, filling the air with purpose

    This is a multi-tasked project of body, spirit, and home.

    During sacrament, the hymn “Because I Have Been Given Much” played softly—but its message roared inside me.

    It asked me:
    What are you giving in return?

    I reflected:

    👉🏼 I give my focus to study—choosing AZ-104 over passive scrolling
    👉🏼 I give my energy to fitness—choosing movement over comfort
    👉🏼 I give my rest to quality sleep—choosing recovery over distraction
    👉🏼 I give my time to the Lord—choosing temple service over idle time
    👉🏼 I give my work my best—choosing to document, secure, and improve

    This isn’t boasting. This is realignment.
    When you’ve been preserved, protected, and placed where you are for a purpose—
    you can’t just sit still.

    You move.
    You give.
    You train.
    You serve.
    Because you’ve been given much.

    And what you give in return becomes your praise.

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    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

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