I was reminded of that truth while camping in Monument Valley, waiting patiently in the quiet hours before dawn. I stayed awake at the cabin, watching the sky, trusting that light would come in its own time. When the waning gibbous moon finally rose, it crowned the stone buttes with a soft, steady glow. And then—unexpectedly—I was rewarded with a distant lightning show on the horizon. Stillness and power shared the same sky. Waiting revealed what haste would have missed.
Excerpt
God’s empathy is not a weakness to be restrained. It is the very source of His justice.
Intro
In recent years, empathy has come under suspicion. Some Christian thinkers have warned that it can become excessive or misplaced, even harmful. While acknowledging compassion as a Christlike trait, they caution that emotional identification—if left unchecked—might blur moral clarity or weaken obedience to God.
That concern, however, finds no support in scripture.
Notes from the Moment
In Moses 7, Enoch is shown a vision of the future. His city has been taken into heaven. Other righteous souls dwell with God. Those left behind are marked by violence and cruelty. As Enoch observes God watching this scene, he expects detachment—or perhaps righteous anger.
Instead, he sees something that unsettles him deeply: God weeping.
“How is it that thou canst weep,” Enoch asks, “seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?” (Moses 7:29). To Enoch, holiness and empathy seemed incompatible.
God then explains:
“Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;”
Moses 7:32–34, 40
Here, there is no effort to dilute empathy in the name of justice. God does not administer justice despite His compassion—He administers it because of it.
Perspective
As Enoch begins to understand the depth of God’s love, his own heart expands beyond anything he had known. He “wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook” (Moses 7:41).
Divine empathy is contagious.
Practice
A similar pattern appears after the Savior’s death, when darkness covered the land in the Americas. The people heard His voice explaining the destructions that had taken place. These were not acts of emotional detachment, but of mercy—meant to prevent further suffering. Repeatedly, He gives the same reason:
“That the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them” (3 Nephi 9:5, 7–9, 11)
Justice, once again, is rooted in empathy.
President Dallin H. Oaks—having spent years studying and administering law—has reflected deeply on the relationship between love and commandment. In a worldwide devotional, he shared how his thinking has matured over time:
“I have previously referred to our ‘continually [trying] to balance the dual commandments of love and law,’ but I now believe that goal to be better expressed as trying to live both of these commandments in a more complete way. …”
“Stand for Truth,” Worldwide Devotional Address for Young Adults, 21 May 2023
Final Reflection
If God loves all His children with perfect love, then loving them cannot compete with loving Him. When compassion seeks their eternal good, it is aligned with holiness—not opposed to it.
The scriptures do not portray empathy as a liability. They reveal it as divine.
Pocket I’m Keeping
Compassion and holiness are not rivals. In God, they are one.
What I Hear Now
“God’s justice flows from His love.” “Empathy does not weaken truth.” “Holiness can weep.”
Organizing legacy cables while holding a squat—order through motion, clarity under pressure.
Excerpt
I don’t stay ready because I fear failure. I stay ready because experience taught me that motion reveals what stillness hides.
Intro
I am not a static person. I never have been. Sitting still has never helped me think clearly—especially in infrastructure work, where systems fail without warning and clarity often arrives too late. Movement keeps me alert, adaptive, and aware.
Notes from the Moment
While organizing a tangled pile of legacy cables, I wasn’t standing still. I was holding a squat—time under tension—sorting chaos into order. At the same time, my feet were subtly moving: slips, pivots, pendulum steps. The same habits I use at my standing workstation. The same habits I use in boxing.
This is how I work. Motion keeps my mind open.
Perspective
“Keep moving your feet.” — Elder David A. Bednar “If something can go wrong, it will.” — Murphy’s Law “Be water, my friend.” — Bruce Lee
Practice
I don’t wait for problems to announce themselves. I anticipate them.
Murphy’s Law isn’t pessimism—it’s preparation. If something can fail, it eventually will. That reality shaped how I think and move, starting in the mid-90s during the dot-com era, when uptime was survival and mistakes were unforgiving.
In boxing, moving your feet doesn’t give you x-ray vision like Superman. It gives you new angles. You see openings sooner. You avoid danger without panic. You’re no longer where the punch was.
In IT, it’s the same. I don’t “see afar off” because I’m gifted with foresight. I see because I move—physically and mentally. I change angles. I scan. I test assumptions. I stay proactive instead of reactive.
Health follows the same law. Circulation improves when the body moves. Stagnation invites breakdown. Motion sustains clarity, resilience, and longevity.
Final Reflection
Infrastructure professionals don’t get the luxury of being static. Thinking under pressure requires circulation—of blood, of ideas, of perspective. Standing still narrows vision. Motion expands it.
Water that moves stays clear. Water that stagnates decays.
Whether in boxing, IT, or life itself, the advantage isn’t supernatural vision. It’s movement.
Pocket I’m Keeping
Stay proactive. Stay moving. New angles reveal what stillness hides.
What I Hear Now
“You saw that coming.” “Good catch.” “How did you anticipate that?”
Not every battle is visible. But every choice to keep hope alive matters more than we realize.
EXCERPT
Hope is not lost in a single moment. It is stolen quietly, one small lie at a time.
INTRO
Scripture teaches that the adversary does not simply oppose us. He seeks to strip us of joy, confidence, and hope itself. Lehi warned that the devil works tirelessly to rob us of our agency and lead us toward misery. Nephi later added that these efforts are rarely loud or obvious. They are subtle. Gradual. Easy to overlook if we are not watchful.
That pattern explains why discouragement so often feels heavier than temptation. The enemy’s goal is not only to make us stumble, but to convince us that getting back up is pointless.
Yet the scriptures also give us a clear pattern for resistance.
After Moses had seen God and spoken with Him, he found himself suddenly alone and physically weak. In that vulnerable moment, Satan appeared and demanded worship. The timing was no accident. Weakness is when doubt feels loudest.
But Moses was not confused. He did not argue. He did not panic. He anchored himself in truth.
He remembered who he was.
NOTES FROM THE SCRIPTURES
Moses’ encounter with Satan teaches us that temptation often comes after spiritual strength. When the vision ended, Moses was left exhausted. That is when Satan approached him, trying to blur the line between creator and pretender.
But Moses did not measure himself by his weakness. He measured himself by his identity.
He stood on three unshakable principles.
First, he remembered that he was a son of God. Second, he refused to stop resisting when temptation persisted. Third, he relied fully on the power of Jesus Christ.
Each step brought greater strength until Satan’s influence finally broke.
The pattern is clear. Identity anchors us. Persistence strengthens us. The Savior delivers us.
PERSPECTIVE (DIRECT QUOTES)
Scripture
“I have a work for thee, Moses, my son.” Moses 1:6
“Moses, son of man, worship me.” Moses 1:12
“Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God.” Moses 1:13
“Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not.” Moses 1:16
“Depart hence, Satan.” Moses 1:18
“In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan.” Moses 1:21
“Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence.” Moses 1:22
Sister Tamara W. Runia
“Satan is the thief of hope.”
“Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy,” April 2025 General Conference
PRACTICE (TODAY, NOT SOMEDAY)
Today, I will resist temptation by choosing three simple acts of faith.
I will remember who I am. A child of God, not defined by weakness, but by divine heritage.
I will be persistent. I will not give up just because temptation returns. I will stand again, and again, and again.
I will rely on Jesus Christ. Not only in moments of crisis, but in every quiet struggle where hope feels fragile.
FINAL REFLECTION
Satan rarely begins by asking us to abandon faith. He begins by whispering that faith is not working.
He steals hope before he steals obedience. He drains courage before he attacks conviction.
But Moses shows us a better way.
Hope is protected when we know who we are. Strength grows when we keep standing. Victory comes when we trust in the Savior’s power instead of our own.
POCKET I’M KEEPING
Hope is not something I lose. It is something I must protect.
WHAT I HEAR NOW
“Satan is the thief of hope.”
But Jesus Christ is the Giver of strength. And with Him, hope can never truly be stolen.
Snow resting on the Oquirrh Mountain Temple this morning, a quiet reminder that even in the coldest seasons, God is still building something holy in us.
EXCERPT
God does not just see who we are. He sees what we can become — and invites us to help Him get there.
INTRO
Most of us want to feel valued, not just noticed, but trusted. We want to know that our lives matter beyond our own circle, that what we do makes a real difference.
One of the quiet truths of the gospel is that God increases our sense of worth by inviting us to participate in His work. He does not simply affirm who we are. He assigns us something meaningful to do.
When the Lord spoke to Moses, He first declared, “Thou art my son.” Then He added an invitation that changed everything: “I have a work for thee.” In that moment, identity became purpose.
The same pattern appears again and again in scripture. Abraham learned that he had been chosen before he was born. Alma taught that many were prepared from the foundation of the world to help others enter God’s rest. These were not random callings. They were expressions of divine confidence.
Not everyone receives a visible role like Moses or Abraham. Most of us are called in quieter ways. Still, the principle is the same. Whether the work feels large or small, every invitation to serve is God saying, I trust you. I need you. You matter in My plan.
NOTES FROM THE SCRIPTURES
Throughout scripture, God affirms worth and then invites action.
Moses learned he was a son of God before being sent to liberate a nation. Abraham learned he was chosen before being entrusted with leadership. Alma taught that many were prepared long before they were ever called.
The pattern is consistent. Calling follows confidence. Service follows identity.
Even Amulek, who described himself as being “called many times,” shows us that repeated, simple invitations can be just as sacred as dramatic ones.
PERSPECTIVE (DIRECT QUOTES)
Scripture
“I have a work for thee, Moses, my son.” Moses 1:6
“Thou wast chosen before thou wast born.” Abraham 3:23
“They were called and prepared from the foundation of the world.” Alma 13:3
President Spencer W. Kimball
God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. … So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!
“Small Acts of Service,” Ensign, December 1974
President Thomas S. Monson
I experienced … as I have many times before, a sense of gratitude that my Heavenly Father had answered another person’s prayer through me.
“The Priesthood—a Sacred Gift,” April 2007 General Conference
PRACTICE (TODAY, NOT SOMEDAY)
Today, I will look for the ways God is calling me to serve.
Not only in the obvious moments, but in the quiet ones. In a kind word. In a listening ear. In a simple act that no one else may notice.
I will recognize these invitations for what they truly are. Not interruptions. Not obligations. But expressions of trust.
Each small call is a reminder that God believes in me. That He sees my potential. That He trusts my ability to bless others right now.
FINAL REFLECTION
Some people are asked to lead nations. Others are asked to lift one soul at a time.
Both are sacred.
God’s work does not move forward only through grand moments. It advances through countless quiet acts of faith, done by ordinary people who accept divine invitations.
To be given work in God’s kingdom is not a burden. It is a gift. A sign of confidence from heaven.
POCKET I’M KEEPING
When God gives me something to do, He is not testing me. He is trusting me.
WHAT I HEAR NOW
“I have a work for thee.”
Not just for prophets. Not just for leaders. But for me. Today.
A quiet morning at the Los Angeles Temple, where light meets stillness and reminds me that every day with Jesus Christ is a new beginning.
EXCERPT
A new year does not begin because the calendar changes. It begins because Jesus Christ makes change possible, again and again.
INTRO
January always feels like a threshold, but this year feels different. I am not stepping into 2026 only with goals, but with a deeper awareness of how much I still need the grace of new beginnings.
On a personal level, I began something in late December that has already humbled me. I enrolled in boxing training and quickly learned the truth of a saying I once heard, “Everyone can fight, but not everyone can box.” Since December 23, I have trained six days a week, three hours a day, discovering that boxing is not about force, but fundamentals. Footwork. Head movement. Timing. Discipline. Skills, technique, and speed matter more than power.
Watching the greats only deepened that lesson. Manny Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, did not become legendary by relying on strength alone, but by mastering movement, adaptability, and relentless discipline. His career is proof that greatness is built on fundamentals refined over time.
The same principle echoes in Bruce Lee’s timeless words, “Be water, my friend.” To be adaptable. Formless. Fluid. To empty the mind and adjust to whatever shape life requires. Water flows around obstacles, yet can also crash through them when needed. That image has stayed with me in training. Every session feels like learning how to move with life rather than against it.
Professionally, 2026 brings its own kind of discipline. Major work lies ahead. Domain transitions. Intune migrations. Expanding responsibilities in Azure that will demand precision, patience, and steady endurance. These are not quick victories. They require humility, adaptability, and the willingness to begin again when plans change.
As I reflected on these personal and professional goals, Elder Patrick Kearon’s message from General Conference settled deeply in my heart. His words felt like the spiritual parallel to everything I was learning in the gym and at work.
“All of us can have a new beginning through, and because of, Jesus Christ. Even you.”
In that moment, I saw the connection clearly. Boxing teaches me to move with discipline. Work teaches me to adapt with patience. But the Savior teaches me something far greater.
No matter how many times I stumble, hesitate, or feel behind, through Jesus Christ I am never out of beginnings. This year is not just about improvement. It is about remembering that in every arena of life, spiritual and temporal, I am allowed to start again.
NOTES FROM ELDER PATRICK KEARON
Elder Kearon reminded us that when Jesus walked among the people, He did more than perform miracles. He restored hope. He reached those society avoided. He touched the diseased and comforted the weary. He taught liberating truth and called sinners to repentance.
To the blind, the lame, the grieving, the ashamed, and the broken in spirit, what the Savior offered was not simply relief from pain. He offered a new beginning.
Not once. Not rarely. But as often as needed.
Elder Kearon taught that baptism is not our only chance to start again. Through weekly sacrament and daily repentance, we are invited into continual renewal. This is not a church of one-time forgiveness. This is the Church of new beginnings.
PERSPECTIVE (DIRECT QUOTES)
“All of us can have a new beginning through, and because of, Jesus Christ. Even you.”
“With baptism by water and the Spirit, we are born again and can walk in newness of life.”
“These new beginnings can happen every day.”
“Jesus gives us as many new beginnings as we need.”
PRACTICE (TODAY, NOT SOMEDAY)
Today’s practice is choosing renewal over regret.
It is stepping into the gym again, even when yesterday felt like failure. It is opening the laptop again, even when yesterday felt overwhelming. It is kneeling in prayer again, even when yesterday felt heavy.
Faith is not demanding perfect conditions. Faith is trusting the Savior who makes imperfect beginnings holy.
Repentance is not fear. It is hope in motion.
FINAL REFLECTION
The Savior never gave up on His mission, even when the cost was suffering beyond measure. He endured so that I would never run out of beginnings.
Not just at baptism. Not just at major turning points. But every ordinary day when I choose to stand up again.
That is what faithful endurance looks like. Not perfection. But persistence with God.
POCKET I’M KEEPING
I do not have to wait for a perfect moment to change. I only need to choose to begin again, today.
WHAT I HEAR NOW
“All of us can have a new beginning through, and because of, Jesus Christ. Even you.”
“This is the Church of new beginnings.”
“Jesus gives us as many new beginnings as we need.”
Layton Temple beneath the final supermoon of 2025 — a quiet witness that light continues to rise, even after long nights.
Excerpt
“Don’t give up, boy. Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”
Intro
For the last four days, I have listened repeatedly to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk An High Priest of Good Things to Come. On December 4, 2025, standing at the Layton Temple beneath the final supermoon of the year, those words settled deeply into my heart.
This was not a message of quick relief or easy answers. It was a message spoken to the weary, the long-suffering, and those who keep walking even when the road feels endless.
Notes from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Elder Holland shared a tender, personal account from his life — a moment when he imagined speaking to his younger self during a season of discouragement and uncertainty.
Rather than rewriting the past, he offered reassurance. Not denial of hardship, but perspective gained through time, faith, and endurance.
His message was simple and powerful: God was already at work. Help was already coming. And quitting was never the answer.
Perspective (Direct Quotes)
“In that imaginary instant, I couldn’t help calling out to him: ‘Don’t give up, boy. Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying.’”
“There is help and happiness ahead — a lot of it — 30 years of it now, and still counting.”
“You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end.”
“Trust God and believe in good things to come.”
Practice (Today, Not Someday)
Today, the practice is not dramatic change. It is refusal to quit.
It is continuing to walk when answers are delayed. It is continuing to believe when outcomes are unseen. It is choosing faith not because the road is easy, but because God is faithful.
Today, I keep walking.
Final Reflection
Under the rising supermoon at the Layton Temple, I felt something quiet but firm: reassurance does not erase trials, but it strengthens the traveler.
God does not rush us through our struggles. He walks with us through them.
Pocket I’m Keeping
“Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Keep walking. Trust God. Good things are coming.”
Oquirrh Mountain Temple glowing at dusk, December 13, 2025 — a quiet reminder that holiness is preserved by preparation.
Excerpt
“The other card which I have is what we call a temple recommend. It represents a credit card with the Lord, making available to me many of His greatest gifts. The bank card is concerned with things of the world, the recommend with things of God.”
Intro
December 13, 2025. 6:00 PM. Proxy Endowment at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.
As the sky deepened into winter color and the temple stood illuminated against the dusk, I carried more than a recommend in my pocket. I carried a reminder. President Gordon B. Hinckley’s words returned clearly and quietly, teaching not just what a temple recommend is, but what it represents. Not a formality. Not a routine. A sacred trust.
Notes from President Gordon B. Hinckley
President Hinckley offered a simple but unforgettable comparison.
He held up two cards.
One was a bank credit card. Useful. Valuable. Governed by contracts and conditions. Issued temporarily. Revocable if misused. Owned ultimately by the bank.
The other was a temple recommend.
A different kind of credit entirely. A credit card with the Lord.
Unlike financial credit, eligibility for a temple recommend is not based on wealth, status, or means. It is based on consistent personal behavior, moral worthiness, and the goodness of one’s life. It is concerned not with money, but with eternity.
He reminded us that a recommend is not permanent. It must be renewed. Worthiness must be maintained. And sometimes, he cautioned, we rush people to the temple before they are truly prepared.
So sacred was this matter in earlier times that Presidents of the Church personally signed every recommend themselves.
Perspective (Direct Quotes)
“I hold before you two credit cards. Most of you are familiar with cards such as these.”
“The other card which I have is what we call a temple recommend. It represents a credit card with the Lord, making available to me many of His greatest gifts.”
“Eligibility for a temple recommend is not based on financial worth. That has nothing whatever to do with it. It is based on consistent personal behavior, on the goodness of one’s life.”
“The temple recommend which you carry, if honestly obtained, is certification of your moral worthiness.”
“What a unique and remarkable thing is a temple recommend. It is only a piece of paper with a name and signatures, but in reality it is a certificate that says the bearer is honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous.”
“It makes one eligible for an exclusive and remarkable privilege—the privilege of entering that House which says on its wall, ‘Holiness to the Lord—the House of the Lord.’”
“Live worthy to serve in that house. Keep it holy.”
Practice (Today, Not Someday)
Today I ask myself:
Am I treating my temple recommend as a privilege or as a routine?
Am I living in a way that quietly honors what it certifies?
Worthiness is not proven at the interview table alone. It is practiced daily in private choices, honest dealings, clean thoughts, and deliberate restraint. Today, not later. Now, not eventually.
Final Reflection
Standing before the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, I was reminded that holiness is not accidental. It is cultivated. A recommend is renewed on paper every two years, but it is renewed in the soul every single day.
The Lord does not rush holiness. He invites preparation.
Pocket I’m Keeping
“Entering the temple is a privilege to be earned and not a right that automatically goes with Church membership.”
Joshua Tree National Park – The Milky Way at 2 AM. 30 sec exposure, f/11, ISO 2400. Manual focus locked on the brightest star to prevent lens hunting. A quiet lesson in light, patience, and faith.
Excerpt We all will experience illness, disappointment, temptation, and loss. These challenges can knock our self-confidence. However, disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence — the confidence that comes from covenants, virtue, and the Spirit.
Intro While I sat in the Celestial Room of the Oquirrh Temple, I heard a quiet assurance: “In due time.” It echoed the nudges I felt early Friday morning. I had come seeking peace, but what I received was perspective — that confidence before God comes not from circumstance, but from virtue and covenant faithfulness.
Notes from President Nelson (April 2025 General Conference) From his talk “Confidence in the Presence of God”:
“We all will experience illness, disappointment, temptation, and loss. These challenges can knock our self-confidence. However, disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence.”
“When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit. The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith that our confidence can ‘wax strong in the presence of God.’ Imagine the comfort of having confidence in the presence of God!”
President Nelson continued:
“When I speak of having confidence before God, I am referring to having confidence in approaching God right now! I am referring to praying with confidence that Heavenly Father hears us, that He understands our needs better than we do.”
He reminded us that confidence is the byproduct of charity and virtue.
“Let thy bowels be full of charity… and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.”
He also promised:
“Regular worship in the house of the Lord increases our capacity for both virtue and charity. Thus, time in the temple increases our confidence before the Lord. Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
And finally:
“Then, as we go to our Heavenly Father with increasing confidence, we will be filled with more joy, and your faith in Jesus Christ will increase. We will begin to experience spiritual power that exceeds our greatest hopes.”
What Is Virtue? This is what I learned in the Celestial Room of the Oquirrh Temple: If you let virtue — morally clean and excellent thoughts, kindness, and all that is positive — fill your mind, then the bad actors on the stage of your mind like doubt, fear, and depression will evaporate.
Why? Because we control the stage of our mind.
We can divert our thoughts to virtue: our favorite Church talk, a meaningful scripture, or a motivating experience. These are our arsenal to protect the mind from intrusive darkness.
As Elder Boyd K. Packer taught:
“The mind is like a stage… There is always some act being performed. Virtue determines which act takes the spotlight.”
Darkness will never have power over light. When virtue becomes our daily focus, we begin to understand what it means to “garnish our thoughts unceasingly.”
Perspective D&C 124 teaches, “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” To “garnish” means to arm or equip. Virtue, then, is our spiritual armor — the unseen force that steadies the mind and protects confidence.
In IT, confidence is also earned — through repetition, study, and mistakes turned into mastery. When knowledge becomes daily practice, it forms character; and character, in time, becomes wisdom — the quiet confidence that endures.
Practice Virtue doesn’t silence thoughts; it trains them. It replaces anxious noise with light. It equips us to approach God not as strangers but as sons and daughters who trust His timing — His due time.
Final Reflection – Light in One of the Darkest Places The photo above was taken at Joshua Tree National Park — one of the darkest places on earth. Out there, you can hardly see your own hands.
To capture the Milky Way, I did what years of practice taught me:
Mounted my camera on a tripod
Pointed the lens toward the brightest star in the Milky Way using the LCD screen
Let the autofocus lock in until the stars were sharp
Then switched both the 14–24mm f/2.8G lens from AF to M and the camera to Manual so the lens wouldn’t “hunt” in the dark
Set the exposure to 30 seconds, f/11, ISO 2400
Hit the 30-second timer and walked into the frame, shining a small LED flashlight toward the Milky Way
I became both the subject and the seeker — trusting the focus, the settings, and the process. The sky didn’t suddenly change; the Milky Way was there the whole time. The difference was confidence built from quiet, repeated attempts.
Faith works the same way. We may feel surrounded by darkness, but if we’ve prepared, practiced, filled our minds with virtue, and kept showing up in God’s house, the light eventually appears — and our confidence, in His presence, slowly waxes strong.
Pocket I’m Keeping Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts. In time, it becomes confidence — the kind that lets you stand in God’s presence without fear.
(Guideline #21: Time Isn’t Your Natural Dimension)
The Oquirrh Mountain Temple — where silence felt eternal, and the dawn waited its turn.
Excerpt: In the quiet hours before dawn, the cold air at Oquirrh Mountain Temple carried a whisper — not of time passing, but of eternity reminding me where I truly belong.
Intro
It was early morning in the 30s, the kind of cold that clears the mind but steadies the heart. The temple stood bright against the darkness, its light spilling upward toward the heavens. I wasn’t seeking answers — only understanding. And somewhere between the wind and silence, understanding came.
Notes from Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Elder Maxwell taught that time isn’t our natural dimension.
“There are days when you wish that time would pass quickly, and it won’t. There are days when you wish you could hold back the dawn, and you can’t. You and I are not at home in this dimension we call time… we belong to eternity.”
He compared our souls to fish who thrive in water — but for us, time isn’t our home. We move through it like visitors, wearing watches only to measure what eternity already knows.
Perspective (Direct Quotes)
“There are days when you wish that time would pass quickly, and it won’t. There are days when you wish you could hold back the dawn, and you can’t.”
Those lines carried me this morning as I stood still beneath the steeple. I realized that my soul has never felt at home in time. I’ve always felt that sense of being from somewhere else.
Practice (Today, Not Someday)
Today I practiced stillness. Not to rush, not to resist — only to be.
The chill pressed against my coat, but my heart felt warmth rise from within. I prayed, not for time to change, but for me to be at peace within it.
While I sat in quiet prayer, a gentle assurance came — one of peace and reconciliation. It reminded me that understanding often arrives before words are ever spoken.
Final Reflection
Elder Maxwell said, “We are struck out of eternity and this is not our natural home.”
I thought about how often I’ve wanted to fast-forward pain or freeze moments of peace. Yet both are teachers. Time doesn’t imprison us — it refines us, reminding us that eternity is our real address.
The Pocket I’m Keeping
When moments press hard against me, I’ll remember: I’m not built for time, I’m built for eternity. Every second that stretches me brings me closer to Him who shaped both time and soul.
What I Hear Now (Direct Quote)
“Sometimes experiences we want to end are the very ones we need in order to grow.” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Lightning Strikes During My Hike” — halfway up a 500-foot trail, a storm rolled in. Lightning flashed all around, but I steadied my iPhone and captured the moment — proof that even in turbulence, light still finds a way through.
Excerpt: In IT, not every failure is about systems — sometimes it’s the people, the politics, or the process. That’s when you learn that survival isn’t just technical; it’s spiritual.
Intro: I’ve been in technology long enough to know that the real crashes don’t happen in code — they happen in communication. You can design the perfect plan, follow every procedure, and still watch bureaucracy rewrite the script. It’s invisible at first, but sooner or later, it finds you.
Last week reminded me of that truth — what I now call a 3:1 moment. (Details redacted.) Three hits came hard and fast, but one quiet mercy broke through — proof that when everything else seems stacked against you, grace still shows up.
That’s when the job becomes endurance training.
Notes from Elder Maxwell: Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:
“Make Jesus the light of your life, and by His light see everything else. He is your best friend. If you worry most about what that Friend thinks of you, you’ll be safe… When you are out in the world, away from a special environment like college, and you start to worry about what other people think, don’t worry about that too much. Instead, worry about what Jesus feels towards you and how He regards you.”
Replace college with work, and you have a perfect roadmap for surviving the modern workplace.
Perspective: The IT world can feel like a contact sport — part Navy SEAL, part MMA. You prepare, you adapt, and you always keep contingency plans. Because if you don’t, you’ll get run over by process, politics, or ego.
Even world champions know this truth. Manny Pacquiao was knocked down before — but never stayed down. In his fight with Keith Thurman, ten years younger and undefeated, the odds were stacked against him. Yet in the very first round, he delivered a lightning-fast two-punch combination — a left to the body followed by a right hook to the head — and Thurman went down.
That wasn’t just speed. It was preparation. It was discipline meeting opportunity — a reminder that when life corners you, your response determines the outcome. Manny didn’t rely on luck; he relied on the quiet confidence of someone who’s trained for every possible contingency.
Michael Jordan once said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” His words mirror the same principle: failure isn’t final — it’s part of mastery. In sports, in IT, and in faith, the ones who rise are the ones who keep taking the next shot.
That’s what faith and readiness look like.
And that’s what integrity demands. Sometimes the test doesn’t come from code or systems, but from people — from moments when ego challenges your principles. When faced with the choice between comfort and conscience, integrity means standing your ground. As President Monson taught:
“Just be the same person you are in the dark that you are in the light.”
Practice (today, not someday): When systems fail or meetings go sideways, pause. Ask, “Am I reacting through the light of Christ or through the frustration of the moment?” Then answer with calm precision, integrity intact. Be the same person in the dark server room that you are in the spotlight of success.
Final Reflection: The week tested me — a 3:1 kind of test. (All redacted.) Yet through it came the same whisper that I’ve heard again and again: “Make Jesus the light of your life, and see everything else by His light.”
Because in this field — and in this life — even the best plans break. But faith doesn’t.
Pocket I’m Keeping: True uptime isn’t about servers — it’s about keeping your soul online with God.
What I Hear Now:
“Make Jesus the light of your life, and see everything else by His light. Worry most about what He thinks of you, and you’ll be safe.” — Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“Be the same person you are in the dark that you are in the light.” — President Thomas S. Monson
Photo Caption (BTS): “Lightning Strikes During My Hike” — halfway up a 500-foot trail, a storm rolled in. Lightning flashed all around, but I steadied my iPhone and captured the moment — proof that even in turbulence, light still finds a way through.
Trust the Lord, for He sees your possibilities even when you do not. Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s counsel reminds us that, like Enoch, we can turn doubt into divine potential.
Las Vegas Temple with a full moon and the Las Vegas skyline at sunset — photographed from an elevated ridge using distance compression to unite the sacred and the city.
Excerpt: Even when we feel inadequate, the Lord sees the builder of Zion within us—just as He did with Enoch.
Intro: This morning at Juniper Crest Ward, I sat in the chapel and felt a deep sense of peace. Life continues to offer its share of challenges—both at home and at work—but I’ve come to see them as part of the Lord’s refining process. As I pondered Elder Maxwell’s words, the phrase “He sees your possibilities” filled me with quiet assurance that every experience, even the difficult ones, is part of His design to help me grow.
Notes from Elder Maxwell: Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s twelfth Guideline for Righteous Living reminds us:
“Trust the Lord, for He sees your possibilities even when you do not.”
He taught that the Lord’s call to Enoch reveals how heaven measures potential differently than men do. When the Lord called Enoch, the young prophet protested:
“I am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech.”
Yet the Lord saw something more. He saw in Enoch a builder of Zion—the only city in human history where righteousness never had a relapse. Enoch’s faith allowed the Lord to transform his weakness into strength and his fear into greatness.
Perspective: I see a reflection of that same principle in my own journey. There are moments when I’ve questioned my worth or felt small in the work I do. But the Lord continues to remind me through scripture, prayer, and personal experience that He knows my capacity far better than I do. Like Enoch, my task is not to measure my ability—but to trust His vision.
Practice (today, not someday): Instead of asking “Can I do this?”, I’m learning to ask “What can the Lord make of this?” I’ve seen His hand in small mercies at work, in strength during solitude, and in clarity during uncertainty. Each trial is not punishment—it’s preparation for the next assignment the Lord already sees.
Final Reflection: The Lord doesn’t always reveal our full potential at once. Sometimes, He lets us walk by faith until we recognize what He already knew we could become. Like Enoch, if we trust Him, He will turn our limitations into instruments of Zion.
Pocket I’m Keeping: “Possibility is heaven’s word for faith that kept going.”
What I Hear Now (direct quotes):
“Trust the Lord, for He sees your possibilities even when you do not.” – Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Photo caption (BTS): Las Vegas Nevada Temple beneath the setting sun and a rising full moon. I climbed to a nearby ridge with a 500mm lens to capture distance compression—bringing the temple and the Las Vegas Strip closer together in one frame. In that balance of sacred stillness and the world’s brilliance, I saw a quiet symbol of what it means to trust the Lord’s vision beyond our own.
From coding late nights to building real solutions — proof that persistence pays off. DeveloperJourney #IvyFalls #NoBandAidFix
Introduction: The Path Is the Practice
My journey to development and infrastructure followed the same rhythm — discipline by day, learning by night. While working full-time at All Electronics Corporation in Van Nuys (1990–1995), I woke at 4 A.M. to catch two LA Metro buses from Western and 3rd Street to my 6:30 A.M. shift, then sometimes worked evenings at the Taco Bell drive-thru in Glendale.
I wasn’t chasing titles; I was chasing understanding. At All Electronics, I became obsessed with the Integrated Circuit (IC) — the heartbeat of every computer. There was no Internet back then — only library books and endless curiosity. I crashed my own PCs, rebuilt them, and soon began fixing computers for free for anyone who needed help.
Back then, I used to dream of a day when I wouldn’t have to wait for the bus in the rain just to get home. Years later, those same dreams became reality — not through luck, but through faith, discipline, and persistence. The rides changed — from buses to a BMW, an Audi, and now a Tesla — but what never changed was the purpose: to keep moving forward.
Those early mornings and late nights opened the door to my first IT role at USC as a PC Specialist, then to GTE (now Verizon), Aerospace, and eventually to my own IT consulting business serving clients large and small across California and beyond.
Season of Refinement
While working full-time at USC, I entered what I call my season of refinement. By day I supported campus systems and users; by night I was a full-time student at Los Angeles City College (LACC) and a weekend warrior at DeVry University, studying Management in Telecommunications.
It was during this time that Microsoft introduced the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) program. One of my LACC professors encouraged me to earn it, saying, “Once you have that license, companies will chase you.” He was right — that MCSE became my ticket to GTE, my first step into enterprise-scale IT.
My tenure at GTE was brief because Aerospace came calling with a six-figure offer just before Y2K — an opportunity too great to refuse. After Aerospace, I founded my own consulting firm — Ahead InfoTech (AIT) — and entered what I now call my twelve years of plenty.
One of my earliest clients, USC Perinatal Group, asked me to design and implement a secure LAN/WAN connecting satellite offices across major hospitals including California Hospital Medical Center, Saint Joseph of Burbank and Mission Hills, and Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. We used T1 lines with CSU/DSU units and Fortinet firewalls; I supplied every workstation and server under my own AIT brand.
Through that success I was referred to additional projects for Tarzana and San Gabriel Perinatal Groups, linked by dedicated frame-relay circuits — early-era networking at its finest. Momentum carried me to new partnerships with The Claremont Colleges and the City of West Covina, where I served as Senior Consultant handling forensic and SMTP (email) engineering.
Word spread further. An attorney client introduced me to an opportunity in American Samoa to help design and build a regional ISP, and later to a contract with Sanyo Philippines. During this period Fortinet was still new, and I became one of its early resellers. I preferred building AIT servers and workstations from the ground up rather than reselling mass-produced systems. DSL was just emerging, yet most clients relied on dedicated T1 lines — real hands-on networking that demanded patience and precision.
Those were the twelve years of plenty — projects stretching from Los Angeles hospitals to overseas data links. By the time AWS launched in 2006 and Azure in 2010, I was already managing distributed networks and data replication.
When I returned to Corporate America, my first full-time role was at Payforward, where I led the On-Prem to AWS migration, building multi-region environments across US-East (1a and 1b) and US-West, complete with VPCs, subnets, IAM policies, and full cloud security. That’s when I earned my AWS certifications, completing a journey that had begun with cables and consoles and matured in the cloud.
Education, experience, and certification merged into one lesson: Discipline comes first. Validation follows. Degrees and credentials were never my starting line — they became the icing on the cake of years of practice, service, and faith.
My Philosophy: Code Like a Craftsman
Photography taught me patience. Martial Arts taught me form. IT taught me precision. All three share one secret: the art lies in repetition with awareness.
As Ansel Adams said:
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
Coding feels the same. When logic becomes unclear, I focus. When code seems inadequate, I find peace in understanding.
Build three apps (CRUD, API, SPA) + README + screenshots + a short blog for each.
Final Reflection
From library nights in Koreatown to pushing code in the cloud, this path proves that curiosity and consistency still change lives. Keep learning, keep building, and remember — every keystroke is one more kick toward mastery. This blog will continue to grow as technology changes — come back often and build along with me.
🪶 Closing Note
I share this story not to boast but to inspire those still discovering their own path in technology. Everything here is told from personal experience and memory; if a date or detail differs from official records, it’s unintentional. I’m grateful for mentors like my LACC professor, who once told me to look up a name not yet famous — Bill Gates — and earn my MCSE + I. He was right: that single decision opened countless doors.
I don’t claim to know everything; I simply kept learning, serving, and sharing. My living witnesses are my son, my younger brother, and friends who once worked with me and now thrive in IT. After all these years, I’m still standing — doing what I love most: helping people through Information Technology.
⚖️ Legal Disclaimer
All events and company names mentioned are described from personal recollection for educational and inspirational purposes only. Any factual inaccuracies are unintentional. Opinions expressed are my own and do not represent any past or current employer.
(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.
Element
The Network (Mortal Life)
The Spiritual Parallel
The Primary Server
Our own strength, energy, and will to endure.
Our personal resolve, which can be depleted or “go down.”
The Failover System
The backup system that ensures continuous service during a crisis.
Jesus Christ: The perfect, always-on resource. His light will never go out.
The Downtime
The “stormy and dark moments of life”—trials, afflictions, Gethsemane-like anguish.
Feelings of being forgotten, forsaken, or unappreciated (as the Savior felt).
The Uptime Guarantee
The 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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Element
Description
Spiritual Parallel
The Quarterback
A great quarterback doesn’t pause mid-play to analyze how to hold the football.
The individual in life’s fast-moving moments.
The Action
Proper technique is internalized—it’s all reflex.
Righteousness must be practiced until it becomes instinct.
The Reason
Life offers too many temptations and sudden tests to always stop and reason through them.
We need habits of holiness, not hesitation.
The Goal
The 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.”
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.
Day: Autumn flowers and clear sky framing the Orem Utah Temple—captured before my proxy endowment. Night: The Orem Utah Temple illuminated under the moon—taken after completing sacred ordinances.
Excerpt
Becoming is more than doing—it’s transforming. The gospel doesn’t just ask for effort; it asks for change.
Intro
These photos were taken on October 18, 2025—before and after my proxy endowment at the Orem Utah Temple. The sunlight and moonlight felt like bookends to a sacred day.
I never photograph temples as a tourist. Each image is a memory of worship—an imprint of the moment I performed sacred ordinances and left a part of my old self on the altar. The lens simply helps me remember what the Spirit taught that day.
President Dallin H. Oaks’ message “The Challenge to Become” echoed in my mind as I walked the temple grounds: the gospel is not about what we do but who we become through covenant living.
Perspective
The temple reminds me that becoming is a process. Every ordinance refines character. Every act of service—inside or outside the temple—draws me nearer to what Heavenly Father intends me to be.
President Oaks’ invitation is personal: the world values performance; heaven values transformation. My work, my worship, and my quiet efforts at home and at Church are all shaping me into something more Christlike.
When I leave the temple, I ask not, “What did I accomplish?” but “Who am I becoming?”
Direct Quotes from President Oaks
“It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.”
“In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.”
Practice (today, not someday)
I will focus less on checking boxes and more on softening my heart. In every task—whether leading, fixing, or serving—I’ll remember that heaven measures growth, not status.
Becoming Christlike happens quietly: through patience with others, humility in learning, and gratitude after every challenge.
Final Reflection
President Oaks’ counsel changes how I see discipleship. The gospel isn’t a checklist; it’s a journey of transformation. Every temple visit, every ordinance, every prayer adds to who I am becoming.
I’m grateful the Lord sees me not as I am but as I can be. That vision gives purpose to every struggle, reminding me that growth is the goal—and grace is the guide.
Pocket I’m Keeping
“The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.” That single line redefines every effort I make.
What I Hear Now
“Keep walking. You’re not just doing—you’re becoming.”
Behind the Shot (BTS)
Saturday, October 18, 2025—before and after my proxy endowment at the Orem Utah Temple. The late afternoon light revealed bright autumn blooms; by nightfall, the temple glowed beneath the moon. Both shots symbolize the Lord’s invitation to grow from light to greater light.
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)
17If 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. 18But 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.”
Captured outside the Mount Timpanogos Temple during peak fall—standing in stillness after a long day, I waited for the sky to open and remind me that light always returns.
Excerpt
Autumn reminds me that service is like the seasons—quiet, constant renewal. Even when we’re tired or uncertain, giving of ourselves brings color back to the soul.
Intro
This week felt like an uphill climb. Long nights, long thoughts. I could barely rest, yet something inside me refused to quit. I realized once again that when you love what you do—when your work serves a purpose beyond yourself—fatigue fades behind fulfillment.
Years ago, in another IT assignment, I worked through the night restoring a critical system. No one saw the hours or the quiet prayers between reboots, but the satisfaction came from knowing others could keep working because I did not stop. That same quiet joy has followed me ever since. It’s the joy of standing up, of helping, of serving—whether the task is big or small.
Notes from President Monson
“Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives.”
“Man’s greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others.”
“At baptism we covenanted to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light.”
“How many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of another? How often have you intended to be the one to help—and yet life’s busyness interfered?”
Perspective
President Monson’s words reached deep this week. I saw how easy it is to get lost in endless to-dos, alerts, and deadlines—the “thick of thin things.” Service, however, brings focus. When I choose to help, I find peace. When I act, I feel alive again. The Savior’s example is the ultimate model of losing oneself in love and lifting others quietly, consistently, and completely.
Practice
Today, not someday, I can serve—by listening more, forgiving faster, and stepping forward even when tired. True discipleship isn’t about grand gestures; it’s in the small, unseen moments where compassion overrides convenience.
Final Reflection
Each time I walk past the temple, I’m reminded: service sanctifies. The light that falls upon its walls is the same light that can fill our hearts when we give of ourselves freely. The world doesn’t need our perfection—it needs our presence.
Pocket I’m Keeping
When I help someone quietly, heaven notices loudly.
What I Hear Now
“We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives… too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things.”
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.
One of yesterday’s frames at Deseret Peak. Thank you, President Nelson, for teaching me where peace lives—inside the temple, inside covenants.
Excerpt
Nearly eight years he pointed us to Christ, the temple, and higher thinking. I saw one change up close: the move from LDS.org to ChurchofJesusChrist.org—sacred identity, careful work, and no lost mail.
Intro
Last night I felt both loss and gratitude. President Nelson’s invitations—think celestial, be a peacemaker, focus on the temple—have become a rhythm for me. One moment from his ministry is personal: I was on the support email engineering team during the transition from LDS.org to ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the updated Church symbol. Behind the scenes, we prayed, planned, and tested so identity would be clear and messages wouldn’t drop. MX, routing rules, list servers, SPF, DKIM, and countless aliases—all touched, all safeguarded so the Lord’s work could keep moving without a missed heartbeat.
Notes from President Nelson
• Correct the name of the Church and center everything on Jesus Christ. • Focus on the temple; go more often; live inside your covenants. • Home centered, Church supported worship; two hour Sunday schedule. • From home teaching to ministering—people over checklists. • Accelerate temple building; take covenants to more of God’s children. • Keep the Restoration moving; methods can adjust while doctrine remains. • Peacemakers needed; lift our gaze—think celestial.
Witness — two moments that shaped him
• 1976 flight: in a small prop plane, an engine “burst open and caught on fire,” the aircraft dropped in a spiral, the flames went out, and they landed safely. • 2009 Mozambique: armed robbers put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger—“the gun did not fire”—and he and Sister Wendy felt the Lord’s peace and protection.
Foundation parallel — Salt Lake Temple and spiritual earthquakes
President Nelson used the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple’s foundation as a living parable. Engineers are reinforcing stone to withstand earthquakes and time; likewise, we take “extraordinary measures” to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations so we can stand steady when life shakes.
“Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants.” A simple promise, and it matches my experience: when I live inside covenants, spiritual earthquakes don’t topple me—they tutor me.
Perspective — direct quotes
“I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.” “Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants.”
Practice — today, not someday
• Temple rhythm: two visits a week when possible, with time to linger in the Celestial Room. • Ministering: one person to love and lift this week—quietly. • Peacemaking: choose the soft answer once a day. • Think celestial: make one decision with eternity in mind.
Final Reflection
Deseret Peak yesterday surprised me—the far drive, the light under the arch, and a whisper I needed. Layton’s pools, Syracuse’s grasses, Taylorsville’s familiar glow, Saratoga Springs where I first learned to notice the nudge—each room speaks differently, yet the message is the same: build on Christ. President Nelson’s legacy feels very close to the ground for me—temples and small daily choices that shape a life. Foundations strengthened. Identity clarified. The work moves forward.
Pocket I’m Keeping
Safest place spiritually—inside my temple covenants.
Deseret Peak Utah Temple at sunset—sunbeams radiating behind the spire; foreground includes a ONE WAY sign and sweeping curve leading to the grounds.
Excerpt
There’s one way that never fails: return to the temple. Time there refines the soul and tunes it to Christ.
Intro
The sun dropped behind the Oquirrhs and the rays split the sky while I stood by a road sign that simply read ONE WAY—its arrow bending toward the House of the Lord. That felt exactly right. My weeks are fuller and messier than I can say, yet the path that steadies me is singular: one way to the Celestial Room. I need that room every week. Every temple where I’ve lingered long in that quiet has offered a different whisper—no adjectives in English quite fit, only awe and a desire to stay.
Notes from President Nelson
• The Savior appeared to the Nephites at the temple—His house is filled with His power. • The Lord is accelerating temple building and access across the earth. • Increased time in the temple blesses life in ways nothing else can. • The temple helps gather Israel and spiritually refine disciples. • A living prophet invites us to focus on the temple in ways we never have before.
Perspective — direct quotes
“I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.” “It is significant that the Savior chose to appear to the people at the temple.”
Practice — today, not someday
Weekly Celestial Room: plan one session each week and leave time to linger.
Temple-first calendar: schedule temple time before the week fills with everything else.
Gathering habit: bring a name or help someone get to the temple each month.
Final Reflection
The sign says One Way. President Nelson’s promise makes the direction clear: choose the temple, and the Lord will shape the heart in ways nothing else can. Windows glowed, rays fanned the sky, and I felt the familiar nudge—be here often, let Christ refine you.
Pocket I’m Keeping
“One way to peace and power this week: go to the temple.”
What I Hear Now — direct quotes
“Focus on the temple.” “He is making His temples more accessible.”
