Jet Mariano

Tag: Elder Neal A. Maxwell

  • MIT8 “The Light That Never Goes Out” — Jet Mariano

    (October 22, 2025 — Guideline #18 from Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s “21 Guidelines for Righteous Living”)

    Fall reflection of the Idaho Falls Temple with the Snake River in the foreground—a visual reminder that God’s light remains constant even when clouds move through.

    Excerpt

    “Hopefully, we will do as the Master did and acknowledge that God is still there and never doubt that sublime reality—even though we may wonder and might desire to avoid some of life’s experiences.” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    Intro

    Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s Guideline #18 addresses the fundamental issue of constancy in a world of crisis. We are promised that trials—the stormy and dark moments—will come. The world often responds with fear and panic, but the disciple finds peace in a different reality.

    The core instruction is simple and absolute: “Know that the Son of God is always there. His light will never go out, and the cloud cover will pass.”

    As an Infrastructure Engineer, I understand the concept of a High Availability (HA) System—a service guaranteed to remain functional without failure, no matter what happens to individual components. The Lord is our perfect, 100% available HA resource. Our faith is the mechanism by which we connect to and draw power from that never-failing light source.

    Perspective

    The High Availability (HA) System Analogy
    Faith in Jesus Christ provides us with a spiritual redundancy and uptime guarantee that no mortal system can match.

    ElementThe Network (Mortal Life)The Spiritual Parallel
    The Primary ServerOur own strength, energy, and will to endure.Our personal resolve, which can be depleted or “go down.”
    The Failover SystemThe backup system that ensures continuous service during a crisis.Jesus Christ: The perfect, always-on resource. His light will never go out.
    The DowntimeThe “stormy and dark moments of life”—trials, afflictions, Gethsemane-like anguish.Feelings of being forgotten, forsaken, or unappreciated (as the Savior felt).
    The Uptime GuaranteeThe system is guaranteed to remain functional (100% availability).The Sublime Reality: God is always there; the cloud cover will pass; the Atonement is total and constantly available.

    Elder Maxwell reminds us that just as the Master acknowledged that God was still there even as He drank the bitter cup, we must never doubt that sublime reality, even if we wish to pray away the pain.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    To fully utilize this constant source of light, we must practice connecting to the divine HA system daily.

    1. Acknowledge the Source: In every prayer, I start by explicitly acknowledging God’s constancy and omniscience—that He lives in an “eternal now where the past, present, and future are constantly before Him.” This grounds me in the reality that my current struggle is only a single frame in His perfect, eternal video stream.
    2. The Enduring Test: I try to view current perplexities and intellectual shortfalls not as system failures, but as a temporary “muddled, mortal middle.” The ability to endure well and remain faithful while the outcome is still uncertain is the true test of my connection to His light.
    3. Refusal to Be Uncomforted: In moments of deep difficulty, I actively refuse to be uncomforted. I deliberately turn my thoughts toward the promises I have received and the knowledge of Christ’s character, choosing to believe that He is there and that my temporary “downtime” is only a small moment.

    Final Reflection

    The assurance that His light will never go out is the ultimate security doctrine. We can be vexed by uncertainties in the immediate steps ahead, but we can have clear faith in the ultimate outcomes at the end of the trail.

    Our ultimate safety is found in keeping our precious perspective wherever we are and keeping the commandments however we are tested. The Lord knows our individual bearing capacities, and because the Son of God is always there, we have the power to receive help and guidance over adverse things.

    What I Hear Now

    “Your current crisis has an expiration date. His light does not. Stay connected.”

    Link to the Talk

    “21 Guidelines for Righteous Living” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bVYkkNeWE

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • The Stretched Soul—Making Music Only When Stretched

    The Manti Temple: A testament to souls stretched by faith. Elder Maxwell taught that the soul is like a violin string—it only makes music when it’s under tension. Our greatest works, like this one, emerge from our deepest stretches.

    Intro

    The journey of discipleship is rarely comfortable; it is, by divine design, a process of tension. Before we can accept that tension, we must first recognize our divine capacity. Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s Guideline #16 addresses this necessity, giving us the perfect, two-part charge: “Believe in yourself not only for what you now are but for what you have the power to become… and let the Lord stretch your soul.”

    The Manti Temple stands as a physical testament to enduring effort and spiritual pressure. Like that magnificent structure built by saints who were stretched, we are only capable of fulfilling our highest purpose when we embrace our potential and accept the load of our trials. The core truth is: The soul is like a violin string. It makes music only when it is stretched.

    Excerpt

    “Someone has said that the soul is like a violin string. It makes music only when it is stretched. And because he loves you, the Lord will stretch your soul.”

    — Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    Perspective

    The System Stress Test Analogy

    As an Infrastructure Engineer, I know that hardware is pushed to its limits before deployment to guarantee reliability. Our spiritual development follows the same principle of Stress Testing. The stretching is not a punishment for a failed system, but a loving process to ensure maximum spiritual resilience and capability.

    ElementThe Process (Mortal Life)Spiritual Capacity (The Soul)
    The BlueprintSelf-Belief: Believing in the “great possibilities” the Lord sees in you.Acknowledge your divine identity and potential for greatness.
    The MechanismTension: Applying controlled, intense load to force reliance on a greater power.The Lord’s tutoring (trials, grief, and opposition) designed to force us to choose Him.
    The OutcomeMusic: A refined, resilient character, fitted for greater service and happiness.The ability to endure well and fulfill the promises you made long ago.

    Elder Maxwell makes it clear that God “will tutor us by trying us because He loves us, not because of indifference!” We must trust that the Father, being perfect, is fitting us for further service and eternal joy.

    Practice (Today, Not Someday)

    To utilize the power of this guideline, we must actively participate in the stretching process:

    1. Reframing the Crisis: I consciously reframe moments of deep difficulty—the moments when I feel stretched thin—not as random misfortune, but as the precise tutoring designed to fulfill my potential. I remember the violin string: if I feel this tension, I am close to making music.
    2. Give Your Only True Possession: I strive to recognize that the only possession truly mine to give is my will. When faced with a trial, I work to let my will be “swallowed up in God’s will” rather than demanding that my will be done. This submission is the only way the stretching can be successful.
    3. Endure for the Witness: I understand that some experiences are not explainable in the moment. I must endure the trial of my faith, trusting that the witness and the understanding of the lesson will come after I have held fast through the stretch.

    Link to the Talk

    This principle is delivered in:

    Guidelines for Righteous Living – Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    What I Hear Now

    “The only way to play a celestial symphony is to accept the necessary tension of mortality.”

    Final Reflection

    We cannot ask for immunity from tribulation when the only perfect man who ever walked the earth did not have it. The courage to face life’s challenges comes from knowing that the Lord has placed us here now, precisely because of the skills and talents that are packaged within each of us. By accepting the stretching, we allow our souls to be made resilient and ready to sound forth a lasting, beautiful melody.

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • “Elder Maxwell taught that spiritual reflexes…”)

    Morning light at the Orem Utah Temple—where discipline becomes devotion and reflex turns into righteousness.

    (October 20, 2025 — Guideline #8 from Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s “21 Guidelines for Righteous Living”)

    Excerpt

    In moments of pressure, there’s no time for debate. What we practice daily determines what we choose instinctively.

    Intro

    Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s Guideline #8 teaches that discipleship is not just knowing what’s right but becoming the kind of person who does what’s right automatically. Just as an athlete relies on muscle memory, disciples rely on spiritual reflexes—responses trained by repeated obedience.

    In my world of IT, when systems crash, there’s no time to analyze from scratch. I act on instinct built from years of disciplined practice. Spiritual life requires the same readiness—decisions born not of panic but of principle.

    Perspective

    The Quarterback Analogy
    Elder Maxwell used the example of a great quarterback to explain righteous reflexes.

    ElementDescriptionSpiritual Parallel
    The QuarterbackA great quarterback doesn’t pause mid-play to analyze how to hold the football.The individual in life’s fast-moving moments.
    The ActionProper technique is internalized—it’s all reflex.Righteousness must be practiced until it becomes instinct.
    The ReasonLife offers too many temptations and sudden tests to always stop and reason through them.We need habits of holiness, not hesitation.
    The GoalThe quarterback throws correctly without thinking.The disciple chooses correctly without delay—spiritual safety through reflex.

    Elder Maxwell reminded us that we cannot afford slow moral decisions: “Do the right thing out of reflex and not agonize over a temptation to which you then might succumb.”

    Practice (today, not someday)

    Righteous reflexes aren’t built overnight—they’re shaped through disciplined repetition. My daily rhythm keeps both body and spirit tuned to respond to life’s pressures with steadiness and faith.

    Every night, I review tomorrow’s priorities, focusing on what’s urgent and important. I close my day with scripture study, prayer, and meditation. At 4 a.m., I start again—prayer first, then stretching, followed by 120 straight push-ups to keep my body strong and my mind awake.

    Breakfast is clean and balanced before I shower and prepare for work. If I’m early, I swing by either the Oquirrh or Taylorsville Temple to photograph the morning light—my quiet offering before the day begins. By 6:30 a.m., I’m at my desk, handling the priorities of the day.

    Saturday is for temple worship. Sunday is for renewing my covenants. Then Monday begins again. These patterns are not habits of routine—they are habits of devotion. They’ve become my spiritual reflexes: instinctive, practiced, and constant.

    Closer Reflection

    Elder Maxwell’s “righteous reflexes” remind me of Bruce Lee’s legendary speed—so fast that 1970s cameras could barely record it. Lee trained until motion became instinct; every move came from memory, not hesitation.

    Spiritual reflexes are the same. They come from daily, disciplined practice until obedience is automatic. Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

    In IT, the same principle applies. After years of handling systems under pressure, I’ve learned to respond instinctively—knowing where to look, how to act, and when to stay calm. It’s muscle memory built through faith and repetition.

    Whether in martial arts, spirituality, or technology, true mastery comes when preparation and reflex move as one—when right choices and right actions flow as easily as recognizing the palm of your own hand.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    When pressure comes, I don’t have to think twice. I’ve already decided to do what’s right.

    What I Hear Now

    “Keep practicing righteousness until it becomes your reflex.”

    Link to the Talk

    “21 Guidelines for Righteous Living” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bVYkkNeWE&t=300s

    Behind the Shot (BTS)

    Captured outside the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple under a moonlit sky—a quiet reminder that repetition builds readiness. Every photo, every prayer, every early start is practice for spiritual precision.

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MIT8: “Loneliness with Righteousness”

    Crescent moon rising above the Taylorsville Utah Temple spire—captured in double exposure before sunrise. 70-200 2.8G mounted on tripod

    Excerpt

    Elder Neal A. Maxwell teaches that the loneliness that sometimes comes with righteousness is where we grow closer to God—and where we learn the courage of “But if not.”

    Intro

    At 6 a.m., Oct 17, 2025, I pulled over at the Taylorsville Temple and framed a moon-over-spire double exposure while listening (again) to Elder Maxwell’s 21 Guidelines for Righteous Living—especially Guideline 20. This week’s trials were real, yet the Spirit kept bringing me back to Daniel 3: God can deliver—but if not, we still will not bow. That truth has turned my fear of workload into faith to move forward with Him.

    Notes from Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    • Righteousness can feel lonely, but that is where we come closer to God.
    • Fidelity means not bowing—even when the fire is hot.
    • God is able to deliver; But if not, disciples still trust and obey.
    • Act in faith now—serve, pray, and work; heaven’s help becomes practical courage.

    Perspective (direct quotes )

    The Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
    To emphasize this point, Elder Maxwell recounts the biblical story:

    The Fiery Furnace: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace that was heated to such a high temperature that the men who tended the furnace died.

    The Fourth Figure: The scriptures describe the three young men walking around in the midst of the furnace unharmed. The scripture then says, “And there was a fourth figure in the fire and its form was likened to the Son of God.”

    The Promise: Elder Maxwell concludes that when you are passing through these trials and lonely moments, the Lord will be especially close to you.

    They were cast into the fire because they refused to bow to the idol of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:16–17). Their loyalty brought them closer to God—the pattern for all discipleship.

    Scripture (Daniel 3:17–18)

    17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
    18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    • Pray, then step into the hard tickets and deadlines: God is able—but if not, I still will not bow to fear or compromise.
    • Serve and mentor anyway; courage grows as I lift others.
    • Keep temple focus and steady duty; closer to God is the goal, not merely quick fixes.

    Final Reflection

    Elder Maxwell’s witness reframed my week: **God can deliver—**and often He does. But if not, I can still move forward with Him. As I prayed and worked, impressions came and solutions followed. Either way, the fire became a classroom, and I felt closer to God than ever.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    “God is able—but if not, I will not bow.”
    If there is a furnace, there is also a Fourth.

    What I Hear Now

    “Trust Me. Whether I calm the fire or walk you through it, you are not alone.”

    Link to the talk

    “21 Guidelines for Righteous Living” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell (YouTube)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bVYkkNeWE&t=300s

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • The Unwavering Light (Manila Philippines Temple)

    Manila Philippines Temple — I waited for the exact second the sun aligned with the spire. The light pierced through just as if Heaven itself whispered, “I’m still here.”

    Excerpt

    The sun hid behind the spire—then broke through. That light reminded me of a different storm long ago, when a screen turned blue, and I learned that faith and persistence are built the same way: line upon line, brick by brick.

    Intro

    November 1999. The world was bracing for Y2K. I was working for an aerospace company in Carson, California, getting ready to drive my parents to LAX for their flight to the Philippines. Before leaving, I decided to double-check our Veritas backup on the Exchange 5.5 server running on Windows NT 4.0. Then came the dreaded BSOD—Blue Screen of Death.

    My shift was supposed to end at 4 PM Friday. I didn’t go home until Monday morning. No sleep, no shortcuts—just brick-by-brick rebuilding until email was restored. I missed saying goodbye to my parents, but I kept the company connected.

    Notes from Elder Maxwell

    “You’ve all been in a storm… when you couldn’t see the sun but you knew it was still there. Likewise, in the stormy and dark moments of life know that the Son of God is always there. His light will never go out.”

    That quote became my anchor—both in IT and in life.

    Perspective

    That night taught me more than any certification. There was no Google, no AI, no online forums—just manuals, backups, and faith that the system could rise again. Today, AI fixes in seconds what once took days. But the light that kept me going then still burns now: the belief that persistence itself is a form of faith.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    • When systems—or souls—crash, don’t panic. Pause, breathe, and build.
    • Keep working, even if it’s one file or one prayer at a time.
    • Remember: the Light is constant, even if the screen goes dark.

    Final Reflection

    The Manila Temple photo symbolizes that memory. When the sun broke through the spire, I felt the same quiet assurance I knew in 1999: He never left me. The blue screen, the missed flight, the fatigue—it was all part of learning that perseverance is light in motion.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    The Light never goes out—only our view of it does.

    What I Hear Now

    “Faith is not seeing the light; it’s working until it returns.”

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MIT8: “The Healing Power of Service”

    Lightning breaks over Saratoga Springs Temple—framed through the open driver’s window, with rain reflections and the flower bed lit by my Tesla.

    Behind the Shot (BTS)

    I waited patiently for the perfect lightning strike, switching my iPhone to video mode so I could later capture the exact frame. I parked strategically, rolled down the driver’s window, and composed the scene—rain-slick path, temple reflection, and the flower bed on the left illuminated by my Tesla’s headlights. I took over fifty shots, braving 55-mph winds and heavy rain until I was drenched to the bone.

    Tesla’s Summon feature became my safety net—it allows the car to move itself up to 20 feet in a straight line. I’ve visited this temple many times and know exactly where to park during storms like this. When the lightning finally hit, my car quietly rolled beside me, heater set to 75°, ready to bring warmth after the storm.

    Excerpt

    Setbacks lose their sting when we turn outward. The surest cure for heaviness of heart is to lift another’s. In serving, we find strength we didn’t know we still had.

    Intro

    After proxy endowment at the Saratoga Springs Temple, rain came hard—55 mph winds, lightning cracking over the spire. I was soaked through but determined to capture the moment. This week was one of the toughest—under the weather, training a new engineer, racing the Windows 10 → 11 deadline. Yet, even weary, I pressed on. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, “When difficulties come, don’t feel sorry for yourself. Lose yourself in service… When you feel down, lift other people up.” That truth steadied me more than the storm.

    Perspective

    In IT, storms don’t always come from the sky—they come from deadlines, downtime, and people who depend on you. The temptation to withdraw is strong, but the gospel has taught me that light returns when I reach outward. Service becomes medicine: teaching, fixing, lifting, sharing, mentoring. Each act reorders the soul toward purpose. The temple reminded me that the Lord’s work never pauses for weather, and neither should mine.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    When exhaustion whispers, “You’ve done enough,” I’ll answer with quiet action. I’ll keep helping the next person who needs guidance—whether that’s a coworker puzzled by PowerShell or a friend weighed down by unseen battles. The Savior’s healing always flowed outward; so must mine.

    Final Reflection

    The downpour cleansed more than the temple steps—it washed away my self-pity. I realized that serving amid struggle doesn’t drain me; it refills me. My soaked jacket, cold hands, and the warmth of my car’s heater at 75° felt symbolic: heaven never leaves its servants freezing in the storm.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    “Lose yourself in service.” When the clouds gather again, I’ll remember this night of lightning and light—how the act of giving steadied the heart that was slipping.

    What I Hear Now

    “Lift others. That’s how I’ll lift you.”
    The whisper wasn’t from the wind but from the One who calms it.

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MIT8 – Bad breaks and trusting the Lord

    Super Harvest Moon rising through thin clouds over the Draper Utah Temple. Double exposure, short telephoto (70–100 mm f/2.8) on tripod.

    Excerpt
    Setbacks aren’t a verdict; they’re the venue. What feels like a bad break can become a disguised doorway when we trust the Lord’s larger view.

    Intro
    Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught that “bad breaks need not ruin a good man or a good woman… so often in life opportunity comes disguised as tragedy,” and, “trust the Lord, for He sees your possibilities even when you do not.” Those lines met me this week. Sleep was thin, appetite gone, heart stretched—but even the stretch nudged me heavenward.

    Perspective
    There are no super heroes in IT—no capes, no instant rescues. Systems fail, humans tire, plans bend. The real test is not whether I dodge hard things but whether I meet them with faith, honesty, and steady work. Joseph didn’t waste Egypt, and Job didn’t waste ash and silence. I don’t want to waste my own classroom of adversity.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    • Whisper a prayer of trust: “Lord, I choose to keep trying.”
    • Do one quiet act of goodness for someone who can’t repay you.
    • Write a single line of gratitude for help you didn’t expect.
    • Sit in a patch of light—outside or by a window—and breathe until your shoulders lower.

    Final Reflection
    Worry took sleep and appetite, yet the Lord met me in the stretch. He didn’t remove the weight; He strengthened my will and widened my view. A bad break does not define me; how I walk through it, with Him, refines me.

    Pocket I’m Keeping
    “Proving is strengthening.” When the wind rises, roots go deeper.

    What I Hear Now
    Be steadfast. Keep moving toward Me. I know how to carry you.

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • Soul-Stretching Days: Learning to Let God Shape Me

    Night setup: Nikon 14–24mm f/2.8G on tripod • Manual/Bulb • 30-second exposure • f/2.8 • ISO 2400

    Excerpt
    It struck on a day I never expected—like the day I lost my father, on my birthday. The same jolt ⚡️ twice. Bitter and sweet at once.

    Intro
    Some experiences arrive unannounced and unforgettable. The day held joy—time with loved ones, a wonderful dinner, thoughtful gifts 🎁 (I treasure shirts and cologne and keep them for years). Yet the soul-stretching overshadowed the sweetness, and the ache still lingers.

    Notes from Elder Neal A. Maxwell
    • “It takes time to prepare for eternity.”
    • God customizes our curriculum—He gives what we need, not always what we like.
    • Discipleship is daily; steady choosing matters more than dramatic moments.
    • Meekness is strength under control.
    • Cheerfully submit: trust His timing and tutoring.
    • Be grounded and settled in Christ to endure well, not just long.

    Perspective
    The lingering pain doesn’t mean I failed; it means the lesson matters. Like completed IT projects etched in memory, some days don’t fade—they shape.

    Practice (today, not someday)
    • Pause to breathe and pray before I speak.
    • Trade rumination for one small act of service.
    • Write three lines of gratitude (including a gift I’ll lovingly keep).
    • Use meek words with firm boundaries.

    Final Reflection
    Bitter because it hurt. Sweet because love showed up. Both can be true while God stretches my capacity for trust and kindness.

    Pocket I’m keeping
    “Customized by a loving Father.” Not random storms—tailored tutoring.

    What I hear now
    Be still. Do the next right thing. Let Me do the shaping.

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MIT8 — “Roses, Stone, and Sky”

    Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland framed by morning roses and a still moat. Low-angle composition, layered foreground-to-background for color, structure, and reflection.

    Intro

    The castle is storybook stone, but the roses are living color. Faith is like that—rooted, seasonal, and bright against whatever feels immovable.

    Excerpt

    I framed this low in the rose bed to stack three layers: blooms, castle, and reflection. The flowers pull you in, the bridge and turrets anchor the middle, and the sky opens the scene. The castle gets most of the attention, but the roses do the inviting.

    Notes from the Devotional

    “Make Jesus the light of your life. And then by his light, see everything else.” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell
    When the Light is first, everything else makes sense.

    Perspective

    “Sometimes it is better to be left out than to be taken in… It is better for you to be alienated from the gang than to be alienated from God.” — Elder Maxwell
    Beauty is not popularity; it’s alignment. Choose the view that keeps you closest to the Light.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    “Obeying is one of the best ways of exploring.” — Elder Maxwell
    Honor park rules and guests. Work within limits: arrive early, stay off the beds, wait for gaps in foot traffic, and compose from the edge.

    Final Reflection

    “Trust the Lord for he sees your possibilities even when you do not.” — Elder Maxwell
    The bloom you notice is rarely the only one ready to open. In time, a whole garden appears.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    “Be very careful about what you let come inside your storehouse of memories. Those memories will be there for a very long time.” — Elder Maxwell
    I want a storehouse full of color and peace—moments of quiet light with people I love.

    Behind the Shot

    • location: Sleeping Beauty Castle, Disneyland
    • approach: arrive early; look for still water in the moat for a clean reflection; use flowers as a foreground frame
    • composition: very low angle, flowers as leading foreground, bridge arches and turrets for structure, negative space in the sky
    • settings (starting point): 16–24 mm, f/8–f/11, base ISO, shutter as needed; confirm nearest bloom focus; keep verticals natural
    • etiquette: stay out of the beds; don’t block paths; be quick and kind with guests and cast

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MIT8 — “The Dog With the Keys”

    Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland — the dog with the keys. Captured from a moving boat, manual exposure, 24mm at f/2.8, high ISO, no flash allowed.

    Intro

    The pirates beg; the dog holds the keys. It’s funny—and it’s a mirror. The way out is often right in front of us, but we still have to earn it: patience, timing, and steady hands in the dark.

    Excerpt

    No flash, no tripod, no second chances—just a drifting boat, dim lantern light, and the moment you either catch or miss. I rode the attraction several times, dialed in manual settings, and waited for the boat to line up with the dog and the bars. The frame finally clicked when the scene, the motion, and my breathing all settled together.

    Notes from the Devotional

    “Righteousness has to become a matter of reflex.” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell
    When the light is low and everything moves, you don’t have time to analyze; you respond because you’ve practiced. That’s true for cameras and character.

    Perspective

    “Don’t be discouraged if, in your lifetime, you seem surrounded and outnumbered.” — Elder Maxwell
    Surrounded by bars? Sometimes the key is closer than it feels. Keep your eye on it—and keep reaching.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    “Obeying is one of the best ways of exploring.” — Elder Maxwell
    Honor the rules of the ride—no flash photography is allowed—then explore within those limits: open your aperture, raise ISO, steady your body, and work the timing on each pass.

    Final Reflection

    “Believe in yourself not only for what you now are but for what you have the power to become.” — Elder Maxwell
    Low light doesn’t mean no light. There’s enough light to grow if you learn how to see it.

    Pocket I’m keeping

    “Be very careful about what you let come inside your storehouse of memories.” — Elder Maxwell
    This frame reminds me to stock my mind with moments earned by patience and restraint, not shortcuts.

    Behind the Shot

    • location: Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland
    • camera: full-frame body, 24mm f/1.4G
    • settings: manual, f/2.8, high ISO, shutter fast enough to freeze boat bobble
    • constraints: moving boat, dim practicals, absolutely no flash allowed
    • approach: rode multiple times, pre-focused, timed shutter as boat paralleled the dog

    Tips if you want this shot

    1. flash is not allowed on this ride—respect the rules, the show, and other guests
    2. use manual exposure; start around f/2.8, 1/125s, ISO 6400–12800 and adjust
    3. stabilize with breath control and elbows tucked; shoot short bursts as the boat glides parallel
    4. ride again; patience is part of the art

    © 2012–2025 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • Marked In Time – “21 Guidelines for Righteous Living” – Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    Setting crescent moon over the Taylorsville Utah Temple at dawn—just left of the spire—captured as a double exposure with a 70–200mm f/2.8G lens.

    Personal Note
    I listened to this 37-minute devotional more than twenty times from yesterday to today. It felt like a magnet—I couldn’t let go of it. I even fell asleep with it playing.

    Intro

    The Three Forms of Suffering:

    1. Suffering from Sin and Stupidity
    Quote: “There’s the kind of suffering we undergo which is very real and that’s the suffering that happens because of sin and stupidity. We do dumb things. We do things that are wrong. And then we suffer.”
    This first type of suffering is a direct consequence of our own poor choices, mistakes, or sins. It’s a natural outcome of actions that go against divine or moral laws.

    2. Suffering as a Part of Life Itself
    Quote: “There’s a second form of suffering and that goes just because it’s a part of life itself. The scriptures say the Lord maketh the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike.”
    This refers to the universal hardships and natural adversities that affect everyone, regardless of their righteousness. These are inherent stresses and strains built into the mortal experience.

    3. Soul-Stretching Suffering (The Highest Form)
    Quote: “But there’s a third form of suffering which is the highest form of suffering… There is that suffering brothers and sisters which we undergo in life because we believe because of who we are. It is that kind of suffering which comes to us because God loves us and will stretch our souls.”
    This is the most profound type of suffering, intended for our growth and refinement. It comes from a loving God who seeks to stretch our souls and help us achieve our divine potential, even when we don’t understand the reasons in the moment.

    Excerpt

    A beloved apostle mapped out a way to face “first-class challenges” with first-class discipleship—seeing suffering clearly, choosing joy over pleasure, and letting God stretch the soul He loves.

    Notes from the Devotional

    1. Make Jesus the Light of Your Life
    Quote: “Make Jesus the light of your life. And then by his light, see everything else. He is your best friend. And if you will worry most about what that friend thinks about you, you’ll be safe.”
    This counsel encourages prioritizing a relationship with Jesus Christ above all else. By focusing on what He would have us do, we can find true safety and guidance.

    Perspective

    7. The Difference Between Pleasure and Joy
    Quote: “Sometimes young people need help telling the difference between pleasure and joy… pleasure is plastic… It’s like the cotton candy you buy at the amusement park or the fairgrounds. It melts quickly in your mouth... But you will never find a substitute for joy.”
    This insight distinguishes between fleeting, superficial happiness (pleasure) and a deep, lasting state of being (joy). He reminds us that while pleasure is a temporary sensation, joy is an eternal principle centered in Christ.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    8. Righteousness as a Reflex
    Quote: “Righteousness has to become a matter of reflex. There are too many temptations and too many circumstances in life for you to always give an intellectual analysis of the sin or temptation… You’ve got to have good reflexes.”
    He taught that living righteously must become second nature. Through consistent practice, our choices should become automatic, allowing us to respond correctly to temptation without prolonged deliberation.

    The Loneliness of Righteousness (narrative bridge) — #20

    Quote: “When Shadrach Meshach and Abednego three young men were thrown into the fiery furnace that was heated to a temperature so hot that the men who tended the furnace died. The scriptures tell us as the three of them walked around in the midst of that furnace unharmed The scripture then says ‘And there was a fourth figure in the fire and its form was likened to the son of God.’ When you are passing through these trials and some of those lonely moments the Lord will be especially close to you.“
    Elder Maxwell used this powerful biblical account to illustrate that even in moments of extreme loneliness or adversity due to righteousness, the Savior is intimately present and provides comfort and protection. This reinforces the idea that choosing to live righteously, even when it means standing alone, brings us closer to God.

    Final Reflection

    16. The Stretched Soul
    Quote: “Believe in yourself not only for what you now are but for what you have the power to become… Someone has said that the soul is like a violin string. It makes music only when it is stretched. And because he loves you the Lord will stretch your soul.”
    This powerful analogy illustrates that growth requires discomfort. The challenges and hardships we face are not random but are purposeful, serving to refine us and help us reach our full potential.

    Pocket I’m keeping

    9. Guard Your Storehouse of Memories
    Quote: “Be very careful about what you let come inside your storehouse of memories. Those memories will be there for a very long time.”
    This is a call to be mindful of what we expose ourselves to, as our experiences and what we consume mentally become part of our inner spiritual landscape for the rest of our lives.

    What I hear now

    12. Bad Breaks and Disguised Opportunities
    Quote: “Remember that bad breaks need not ruin a good man or a good woman. They may even make him or her better as they did Joseph in Egypt… So often… in life opportunity comes disguised as tragedy.”
    This point offers a hopeful perspective on adversity. It suggests that even the most difficult experiences can serve as catalysts for personal growth and may contain hidden opportunities for a greater good.

    Link to the Devotional: “Guidelines for Righteous Living” Elder Neal A Maxwell, Oct 9, 1979 BYU-Idaho Speeches

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  • Marked in Time — Sep 15, 2025 “Grounded, Rooted, Established, and Settled”

    Sun crowns the Angel Moroni and echoes in the red-car reflection—heaven above, witness below. Today I’m choosing to be “grounded, rooted, established, and settled.” Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s devotional was given 44 years ago today (Sept 15, 1981); I’ve listened to and reread it more than forty times since last night, and it still steadies me.
    Behind the shot (BTS)
    iPhone only. I walked the grounds, lining up angles until the sun sat directly behind Moroni. I waited for the clouds to thin, then chose the red car as my foreground to mirror the spire and add a second “sun.” Composing a photograph isn’t easy—it takes patience, timing, and a little inspiration.

    Excerpt
    When life feels hot and hurried, deep roots matter. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught us to become “grounded, rooted, established, and settled.” Today I’m practicing that—quietly, covenant by covenant—so the sun doesn’t scorch my faith.

    Intro
    What a coincidence—September 15. On this date in 1981, Elder Neal A. Maxwell delivered a devotional that feels tailor-made for our moment. He urged a discipleship with depth, the kind that survives heat and headlines: grounded, rooted, established, and settled. He reminded us that God’s curriculum is deliberate—patience, meekness, love, self-discipline—and that routine isn’t pedestrian; it’s providential. Real growth happens “in process of time” and “according to the flesh”—ordinary days doing eternal work. If the world’s scaffolding falls away, what stands? Holy ground and holy habits. I want those roots.

    Straight line
    • Deep roots > fast leaves (Colossians 2:6–7).
    • After we’ve “suffered a while,” grace “stablish[es], strengthen[s], settle[s]” (1 Peter 5:10).
    • The seed survives the sun when nourished “with great diligence, and with patience” (Alma 32).
    • Ordinary days are eternal classrooms; portable skills—meekness, charity, self-discipline—rise with us.

    Notes from Elder Maxwell (Sep 15, 1981)
    • Growth without roots scorches. Disciples withstand heat because they are grounded—not trending.
    • Scaffolding and applause fall away; covenant habits remain.
    • God’s curriculum forms eternal, portable skills we’ll need forever.
    • Routine can be resplendent: quiet covenant keeping outlasts headlines.
    • Keep gospel perspective: our basic circumstances are strikingly similar—we are God’s children, accountable, loved, and capable of steady growth.

    Perspective (directly from the devotional)
    “A hundred years from now, today’s seeming deprivations and tribulations will not matter then unless we let them matter too much now. A hundred years from now, today’s serious physical ailment will be but a fleeting memory.”

    “A thousand years from now, those who now worry and are anguished because they are unmarried will, if they are faithful, have smiles of satisfaction on their faces in the midst of a vast convocation of their posterity. The seeming deprivation which occurs in the life of a single woman who feels she has no prospects of marriage and motherhood properly endured is but a delayed blessing, the readying of a reservoir into which a generous God will pour all that he hath. Indeed, it will be the Malachi measure: ‘there shall not be room enough to receive it’ (Malachi 3:10).”

    Practice (today, not someday)
    • Choose one root to deepen: scripture before screens; prayer with listening; sacrament with intent.
    • Trade hurry for holy: slow the reply, soften the tone, serve someone nearby.
    • Write one “settled” choice: the commandment I will keep even when the sun is hot.
    • Plant a small habit that outlasts headlines: five minutes of gratitude, one quiet act of mercy, one bridge-building conversation.

    Final reflection
    I can’t cool the world’s weather, but I can deepen my roots. If I will be grounded in Christ, the same sun that scorches shallow soil will ripen real fruit. Ordinary days, kept with covenants, become the very ground where God “stablishes, strengthens, and settles” the soul.

    Pocket I’m keeping
    • Deep roots before bright leaves.
    • Perspective over panic.
    • Ordinary days are eternal classrooms.
    • Meekness travels well—now and forever.

    What I hear now
    “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith” (Colossians 2:7).
    “After that ye have suffered a while… stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
    “Nourished by your faith with great diligence, and with patience” (Alma 32:41).

    Link to the talk
    BYU Devotional, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, September 15, 1981 (searchable on speeches.byu.edu).

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  • Marked in Time Sep 9, 2025 – Repent of Our Selfishness

    Waning gibbous, waiting: I timed the moon to rest behind the Angel Moroni atop the Oquirrh Mountain Temple—quiet light on a higher call.

    Excerpt
    Selfishness is not just a flaw—it’s self-destruction in slow motion. Elder Neal A. Maxwell teaches that meekness is the real cure, for it doesn’t just mask selfishness but dissolves it.

    Intro
    Joseph Smith urged that selfishness be “not only buried, but annihilated.” Elder Maxwell builds on that: selfishness shrinks the soul, corrodes society, and detonates commandments. Like Copernicus reminding the world it wasn’t the center of the universe, we too must learn—we are not the center. Meekness and unselfish discipleship are the only antidotes.

    Straight line (what he’s saying)
    • Selfishness = self-destruction in slow motion. It narrows life until others no longer matter.
    • Appetite and ego can never fill emptiness; zero multiplied by anything is still zero.
    • Selfishness masks itself as swagger but is as provincial as goldfish in a bowl.
    • Joseph Smith: selfish feelings must be annihilated, not moderated.
    • Common forms: puffing credit, resenting others’ success, withholding kindness, rudeness, and abuse.
    • Cultural consequence: when selfishness spreads, societies decline—without mercy, without love, past feeling.
    • Selfishness detonates the Ten Commandments: it fuels envy, adultery, dishonesty, even murder.
    • Cain’s “I am free” after slaying Abel = ultimate selfish blindness.
    • Today: people strain at gnats (small issues) while swallowing camels (grave sins like abortion).
    • Followers share accountability with leaders in cultural decline; excuses won’t save.
    • True freedom comes from unselfishness—serving, forgiving, and lifting others.
    • Christ Himself is the supreme contrast: He did not look out for “number one.”

    Final reflection
    Selfishness corrodes both heart and culture. The cure is meekness—choosing to notice, to yield, to bless. When I dissolve selfish wants, space opens for Christlike love. The world says “look out for number one”; Jesus says, “lose yourself and you’ll find life.”

    Pocket I’m keeping
    • Before big actions: quietly ask, “Whose needs am I meeting?”
    • Practice daily meekness: count to 10 before speaking, let the Spirit filter words.
    • Replace envy with gratitude; bless the success of others.
    • Sow unselfishness in family life—ordinary duties cultivate extraordinary love.
    • Remember: selfishness shrinks, meekness expands.

    What I hear now
    Unselfishness frees me under a “freer sky,” as Chesterton said. Meekness is not weakness—it’s strength without selfishness. When I choose it, selfishness dissolves and discipleship deepens.

    Link to the talk
    “Repent of [Our] Selfishness” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell

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  • “In Him All Things Hold Together” Elder Neal A Maxwell

    Syracuse Utah Temple at blue hour beneath a setting first-quarter moon. I lingered long; the nudge lingered longer. In Him, the night—and I—held together.

    Intro
    I lingered at the Syracuse Utah Temple until the first-quarter moon slid above the spire and the stars came on. The nudge I felt there was the longest I’ve ever carried from any temple—it stayed even while I was shooting. Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s cadence kept pacing me:

    “In Christ all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)

    And he widened the frame of my night with this:

    “I wish to talk about your unfinished journey. It is the journey of journeys… The trek awaits—whether one is rich or poor… married or single, a prodigal or an ever faithful. Compared to this journey, all other treks are but a brief walk in a mortal park or are merely time on a telestial treadmill.” —Elder Neal A. Maxwell

    The temple path made that “journey of journeys” feel less abstract and more immediate—boots on stone, heart in hand.

    The straight line
    Perishable skills expire; portable virtues don’t. The Lord is shaping “men and women of Christ”—meek, patient, full of love (Mosiah 3:19). When life frays, covenants are the stitching; Christ is the seam that actually holds me together.

    Final Reflection (Maxwell, in his own words)

    “These attributes are eternal and portable… Being portable, to the degree developed, they will go with us through the veil of death.”
    “Since He is risen from the grave, let us not be dead as to the things of the Spirit… In him all things hold together.”

    Standing beside the flower bed and the pale stone, I felt why: if I let Him order my heart, He will also order my steps.

    Another line the night underlined
    Elder Maxwell ties the sky to our discipleship:

    “At Christmastime we celebrate a special star… placed in its precise orbit long before it shone so precisely… ‘All things must come to pass in their time’ (D&C 64:32). His overseeing precision pertains not only to astrophysical orbits but to human orbits as well… our obligation to shine as lights within our own orbits.” —Elder Neal A. Maxwell (see Philippians 2:15)

    Insight: The moon over Syracuse wasn’t an accident; neither is where God has set me. If I stay in my covenant orbit—quiet, steady, on time—He’ll handle the timing and the alignment.

    What I hear now

    • Let Christ carry what’s flying apart. Pray first: “Hold this together in Thee.”
    • Choose portable over perishable. Practice a trait before a technique.
    • Shine in your current orbit. Steward the people and places already set around you; heaven runs on precision and timing.
    • Serve quietly. Authority of example > argument.
    • Take the yoke & learn (Matt. 11:29). Small obediences teach His large qualities.
    • Return, then refine. Revisit the same place (and person) until the light matches the message—the nudge at Syracuse taught me that.

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  • Thou Art There

    Captured in silence at Yosemite’s Tunnel View — February chill, bulb exposure, and a single LED light to find focus. In darkness, I discovered a sharper image and a quieter soul.

    I stood alone where shadows climb,
    Where granite guards the edge of time.
    The wind was sharp, the night was bare—
    But still, I knew Thou would be there.

    I could not see my hands or feet,
    Just trembling limbs in silent beat.
    One LED—my only spark—
    To chase away the endless dark.

    Each breath was frost, my fingers numb,
    Yet I refused to yield or run.
    A tripod, lens, and faith I gripped,
    Till starlight through the valley slipped.

    And while I waited, heart bowed low,
    The Spirit whispered what I know:

    “There are so many things to be endured:
    illness, injustice, insensitivity,
    poverty, aloneness, unresponsiveness,
    being misrepresented and misunderstood,
    and, sometimes, even enemies.”

    Still I remained, though cold and worn,
    Refusing night to leave me torn.
    I stayed until the shutter’s breath
    Returned a frame that conquered death.

    Not for the praise or photograph,
    But proof that I had passed the path.
    That even here, beneath despair—
    With frozen limbs and unanswered prayer—
    Thou art there.

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