Jet Mariano

Tag: MIT8

  • MIT-8 “Righteousness from Heaven, Truth from the Earth”

    Preparing for Church this afternoon Suit pressed, heart steady, and gratitude present. The drive to Juniper Crest Ward reminds me how blessed I am — good health, sufficient food, and strength to keep my covenants. Six days of labor and training, one day to remember the Giver of all things.

    Excerpt

    After a demanding week of work and training, the Sabbath reminds me that truth rises from the earth while righteousness comes from heaven — and both lead us back to God.

    Intro

    Five days of stressful work as an Infrastructure Engineer, and six days of training — boxing and Muay Thai, three hours at a time — can leave the body tired and the mind stretched thin. But Sunday belongs to God alone.

    Today is not about productivity or performance. It is about renewal.

    The scriptures remind me that God’s work has always been a partnership between heaven and earth.

    Grateful for the strength to come, the means to arrive, and the faith to worship.

    Notes from My Friend

    “Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.”
    Psalm 85:11

    In Enoch’s expansive vision, God orchestrates a collaboration between heaven and earth for the salvation of humanity.

    Early in the vision, Enoch’s people are lifted up to God’s presence through his teaching and leadership (Moses 7:21), leaving a void of goodness on the earth. But the people who remained behind were not left alone:

    “Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.”
    Moses 7:27

    Both the heavens and the earth sorrow for the wickedness of humanity, causing Enoch to weep also (Moses 7:28, 40, 48).

    Then, before the Savior’s Second Coming, God sends revelation through both heavenly and earthly sources, to once again create a society like the one Enoch’s people built anciently:

    “And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.”
    Moses 7:62

    At the time of the Savior’s coming, Enoch’s city will return to the earth to unite with this new Zion:

    “Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;”
    Moses 7:63–64

    One literal fulfillment of God bringing truth “out of the earth” is the Book of Mormon itself, which Joseph Smith translated from engravings on metal plates buried by Moroni. As Moroni prophesied:

    “[this record] shall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness”
    Mormon 8:16

    Another fulfillment is the work of living people flooding the earth with truth as they share prophetic messages with one another. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland testified:

    “God will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen our belief”
    “Lord, I Believe,” April 2013 general conference

    Perspective

    All week long, truth rises from the earth through effort — work, training, discipline, endurance. Sweat, repetition, and responsibility shape the person I am becoming.

    But on the Sabbath, righteousness looks down from heaven.

    For decades, I have tried to keep Sunday different. I don’t shop or buy food on the Sabbath. I have six other days to do those things. Sunday is reserved for worship, visiting the sick, prayer, and quiet pondering.

    This discipline is not about restriction. It is about remembering who provides strength beyond my own.

    The strength I build through boxing and Muay Thai is earthly strength. The peace I feel on Sunday is heavenly strength. Both are necessary, but they are not the same.

    One prepares the body. The other restores the soul.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    Today I will be grateful for both earthly and heavenly help which God sends to bring us to Him. I will remember that in the important work of the salvation of His children, heavenly and earthly forces collaborate under His direction.

    Final Reflection

    When truth rises from the earth through effort and righteousness descends from heaven through grace, God prepares His people for Zion.

    Six days I labor and train. One day I worship and renew. In that rhythm, I see the wisdom of God’s design — strength from the earth, peace from heaven.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    Truth rises through effort. Righteousness descends through grace.

    What I Hear Now

    “Truth shall spring out of the earth.”
    “Righteousness shall look down from heaven.”
    “God will send help from both sides of the veil.”

    © 2012–2026 Jet Mariano. All rights reserved.
    For usage terms, please see the Legal Disclaimer.

  • MIT8 – The Thief of Hope

    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.

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

  • MIT8 – “I Have a Work for Thee”

    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.

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

  • MIT8 – A New Beginning Every Day

    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.”

    Link To The Talk

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/31kearon?lang=eng

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

  • MIT8 – “What I learned from the Doctrine & Covenants”

    Cheerful Giver.
    A quiet reminder that faith is practiced through trust, discipline, and gratitude.

    Excerpt

    In 2025, the Doctrine and Covenants did more than guide my study. It quietly shaped my choices, my discipline, my priorities, and the way I practiced faith in ordinary life.

    Intro

    Studying the Doctrine and Covenants this year felt less like following a schedule and more like walking alongside revelation that insisted on application. The lessons were not abstract. They pressed gently but consistently into how I prayed, how I worked, how I cared for my body, how I gave, and how I treated time as something sacred rather than expendable.

    This was not a year of dramatic spiritual moments. It was a year of steady alignment.

    Notes from the Doctrine and Covenants

    Again and again, the Doctrine and Covenants reminded me that God is already offering light, direction, and help. Receiving those gifts requires intention. Revelation is not passive. It is chosen.

    Holiness emerged as something practical. Holy places matter, but so do holy habits. Order invites peace. Discipline creates freedom. Obedience is not restriction. It is alignment with divine patterns that actually work.

    Joy was reframed. Not as ease, but as purpose. Even in difficulty, joy grows when time is used wisely and life is ordered toward things of eternal value.

    Education stood out as a divine expectation. Learning is not optional. God prepares His people by helping them develop intelligence, skill, and faith together.

    Family relationships deepened my understanding of eternity. Joy increases as relationships are strengthened on both sides of the veil. Zion is not built alone.

    Perspective (Direct Quotes)

    Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved.

    Be anxiously engaged in a good cause.

    Teach ye diligently.

    Seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

    Where much is given, much is required.

    Practice (Today, Not Someday)

    Today, I choose to receive light intentionally.
    Today, I guard time spent in holy places.
    Today, I live the Word of Wisdom as a daily discipline, not a checklist.
    Today, I practice the law of tithing with trust rather than fear.
    Today, I invest in learning, family, and unity.

    Holiness is not postponed. It is practiced now.

    Final Reflection

    The Doctrine and Covenants taught me that obedience is not about perfection. It is about direction. When life is ordered according to divine patterns, strength is renewed, clarity increases, and peace follows.

    God does not rush His work. He prepares His people patiently as they choose to act.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    Light fills every part of life that is opened to receive it.

    What I Hear Now

    Be anxiously engaged in a good cause.

    Where much is given, much is required.

    I am bound when you do what I say.

    Every blessing is predicated upon obedience.

    Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.

    Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.

    Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved.

    Seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

    As health is honored, wisdom and hidden treasures of knowledge are revealed, and strength is renewed to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint.

    As trust is practiced through tithing, fear gives way to confidence, and the promise stands that the faithful shall not be burned at His coming.

    The same sociality that exists among us here will exist among us there, coupled with eternal glory.

    Whatever principles of intelligence we gain in this life will rise with us in the resurrection.

    Zion is built together.

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

  • MIT8 – “And Now I See”

    From the Last General Conference Address of President Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2025

    After nearly four years since moving to Utah, I returned here for proxy endowment. As I arrived at the temple grounds, news came that Jeffrey R. Holland had passed away. California had endured storms through Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after. As the rain finally lifted, light broke through lingering clouds, marking a quiet and sacred hour.

    MIT8 — “And Now I See”

    From President Jeffrey R. Holland, Oct 2025 General Conference

    Excerpt

    “Whereas I was blind, now I see.”
    John 9:25

    Intro

    On December 27, 2025, while I was inside the Los Angeles Temple performing proxy endowment work, President Jeffrey R. Holland passed away.

    As I later reflected on his final General Conference message, my thoughts returned not to sentiment, but to scripture — to the blind man healed by the Savior, and to the simple, unmistakable declaration that became the heart of Elder Holland’s witness:

    “And now I see.”

    Notes from President Jeffrey R. Holland

    President Holland anchored his message in John chapter 9, where Jesus and His disciples encounter a man blind from birth. When the disciples asked complicated questions about blame and cause, the Savior answered not with theory, but with action.

    He spat on the ground, made clay, anointed the man’s eyes, and sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeyed. He returned seeing.

    When challenged by those who opposed Jesus, the healed man bore a witness rooted not in argument, but in experience:

    “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”

    President Holland emphasized that evidence matters — lived truth over accusation, obedience over debate.

    Perspective (Direct Quotes)

    Scripture — John 9:25
    “Whereas I was blind, now I see.”

    President Jeffrey R. Holland:
    “So what if the answers to our prayers come in plain or convoluted ways? Are we willing to persevere, to keep trying to live Christ’s gospel no matter how much spit and clay it takes? It may not always be clear to us what is being done or why, and from time to time, we will all feel a little like the senior sister who said, ‘Lord, how about a blessing that isn’t in disguise?’”

    President Jeffrey R. Holland:
    “My first sight-giving, life-giving encounter with real evidence of truth did not come with anointing clay or in the pool of Siloam. No, the instrument of truth that brought my healing from the Lord came as pages in a book, yes, the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ! The claims about this book have been attacked and dismissed by some unbelievers, the anger often matching the vitriol of those who told the healed man that he could not possibly have experienced what he knew he had experienced.”

    Practice (Today, Not Someday)

    Today’s practice is obedience without full explanation.

    It is accepting that the Savior may heal us through methods that seem plain, uncomfortable, or disguised.
    It is choosing to wash in the pool when instructed — even when we do not yet understand the why.

    Faith is not demanding better ingredients.
    Faith is trusting the Healer.

    Final Reflection

    President Holland taught that God’s power is not diminished by simple instruments.

    Spit and dirt.
    Clay and water.
    A book of scripture.

    What matters is not the method, but the obedience — and the courage to testify afterward.

    Inside the temple that day, I felt again the quiet power of a witness earned through experience, not argument:

    Whereas I was blind, now I see.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    “Are we willing to persevere, no matter how much spit and clay it takes?”

    What I Hear Now

    The Savior does not always heal in ways that impress the crowd.
    But He always heals in ways that change the soul.

    Link to the Talk

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/41holland?lang=eng

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

  • MIT8 – “If thou art merry, praise the Lord..”

    A fiery sky closing the day, almost as if heaven was offering its own hymn. The temple stood steady, unchanged, reminding me to praise Him not only in blessings received, but in blessings still forming.

    Excerpt

    A Thanksgiving weekend temple visit, four evening photos, quiet worship, and a lesson about gratitude that opened my heart in a new way.

    Intro

    Last night at the Syracuse Utah Temple, I watched the sky turn from warm sunset to cold moonrise. Christmas lights glowed on the temple grounds, and a waxing gibbous moon appeared just as I finished my proxy endowment session.
    It reminded me of something simple but powerful: joy is meant to be expressed. And worship, especially through music, is one of the clearest ways to do it.

    Notes from Elder Cook and Elder Soares

    Giving voice to our joy is just as important as seeking comfort in sorrow. Elder Quentin L Cook taught that lives full of praise, music, and thanksgiving are uniquely blessed.
    Moroni described worship this way:
    Preaching, exhorting, prayer, supplication, and singing — all led by the Spirit.
    Elder Ulisses Soares reminded us to tune our hearts to the Lord through sincere singing of sacred hymns.
    Singing is the one form of worship where the entire congregation participates. It is unity in real time.

    Perspective

    Last night I thought about the way music lifts the soul. A hymn is not just melody. It is prayer with a pulse.
    When we sing, we do not stand alone. Heaven joins us.
    I felt that inside the endowment room and again as I took photos outside: worship is not something we check off. It is something we become.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    Today I will worship with music. I will lift my voice, even quietly, in hymn-singing.
    I will let the words settle into my mind and soften my heart.
    I will give thanks in song, not just in thought.

    Final Reflection

    Tonight a single scripture opened in a new way for me: D&C 59:21.
    The Lord did not say to thank Him for all things.
    He said to acknowledge His hand “in” all things.

    There is a difference.
    For is gratitude for what God has already done.
    In is gratitude for what God is about to do.

    “For” looks back.
    “In” looks forward.
    For celebrates what arrived.
    In trusts what is still forming.

    Being thankful for blessings is remembering.
    Being thankful in blessings is faith — the kind that walks forward without seeing the whole path.
    Last night I learned that gratitude is not only a reaction to the past. It is trust in the present.
    It is the courage to say, even before the blessing is visible, I know God is working in this.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    Gratitude is not only looking back at what God has done.
    It is looking forward with faith at what He is shaping next.

    What I Hear Now (direct quotes)

    Moroni 6:6
    Their meetings were conducted after the manner of the workings of the Spirit.
    Elder Cook
    Lives full of praise, music, and thanksgiving are uniquely blessed.
    Elder Soares
    Tune your heart to the Lord through sincere singing.

    Link to the talk

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/43cook
    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/04/14soares

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

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

    Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf — October 2025 General Conference

    Where effort meets grace, discipleship blooms

    Excerpt

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

    Intro

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

    Notes from Elder Uchtdorf

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

    Perspective (direct quotes)

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

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

    Practice — Today, Not Someday

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Final Reflection

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

    Pocket I’m Keeping

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

    What I Hear Now (direct quotes)

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

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

  • MIT8 – “Watching the river run”

    “watching the river run” — Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Long-exposure fall stream; motion becomes grace.
    Shot very low on a tripod with remote shutter. 4-second exposure at f/11, ISO 200 to smooth the water like silk while keeping the scene crisp.

    Excerpt

    The current is fast and the banks are close—but I can still choose calm. Today I’m learning that peacemaking starts inside me, then flows outward.

    Intro

    This stream looks like my week—swirl, speed, and color. I can’t control every bend, but I can decide the spirit I bring into each conversation.

    Notes from Elder Gary E. Stevenson(Oct 4, 2025 Sat AM GC)

    • Peacemaking is a Christlike attribute that begins in hearts, then homes, then communities.
    • It requires courage and wise compromise without sacrificing principle.
    • Lead with open hearts, not closed minds; extended hands, not clenched fists.
    • Taught by Jesus Christ in scripture and reaffirmed by living prophets today.

    Notes from Elder Kelly R. Johnson(Oct 4, 2025 Sat AM GC)

    • Seek validation vertically, not horizontally.
    • When others try to label us by weaknesses, stand strong in who we truly are—children of God.
    • Identity in Christ anchors peacemaking; it removes the need to win and invites us to love.
    • President Russell M. Nelson has taught that using labels can breed animosity, judging, and division; peacemakers look past labels to divine identity.

    Perspective

    Peace isn’t pretending tensions don’t exist. It’s choosing the Lord’s way—firm in truth, soft in tone, willing to listen, ready to reconcile. Knowing whose I am steadies who I am, so I don’t need to fight for labels or approval.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    Stop: rehearsing comebacks; seeking validation from reactions and “likes.”
    Start: pray before hard talks; state principles clearly, then ask sincere questions; offer one olive-branch action (thanks, brief apology, or specific help); write “I am a child of God” at the top of today’s notes.

    Final reflection

    Rivers carve rock not by force but by steadiness. Peacemaking works the same—courageous, principled, and patient because my identity is anchored in Him.

    Pocket I’m keeping

    Extended hands, not clenched fists—rooted in the quiet confidence of a child of God.

    What I hear now

    Be brave and gentle. Hold to truth. Let peace start in your heart and flow to your words.

    © 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 — “Don’t You Quit” (Disneyland Fireworks)

    Sleeping Beauty Castle during the fireworks, framed by the Partners statue. Tripod + remote shutter, long exposure on the 14–24mm f/2.8G. Manual focus, no flash.

    Why this fits Elder Holland

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead… Some blessings come soon, some come late… but they come.”
    Fireworks are a patience test. You compose in the dark, wait through false starts, and trust the next burst will fill the sky. That is discipleship in miniature: keep your place, stay steady, believe light is coming.

    Pocket I’m keeping

    When life feels like a long exposure with nothing on the sensor yet, don’t touch the tripod. Hold your ground. Keep praying, keep working, keep walking. The frame will fill.

    BTS (how I made it)

    • Arrived early to anchor composition on Walt & Mickey leading to the castle and sky
    • Tripod low, remote shutter to avoid vibration; manual focus set before showtime
    • Long exposure to “draw” fans and heart-shapes in the air; no flash to keep ambient color
    • Wide at 14–18mm to include crowd, statue, castle, and sky in one story

    Final reflection

    Walt’s “dreams come true” meets Elder Holland’s “don’t you quit.” Courage starts the dream; covenant faith finishes it. Stay close to Christ and keep moving—light always finds the faithful.

    © 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.

  • Keep Going When the Odds Say “Not Today”

    Monsoon rain, no guarantee, and a low chance of lightning. I framed Mokoliʻi between the bougainvillea, promised myself “ten more minutes,” and waited. The sky answered with a single crack of light. Most breakthroughs arrive between patience and presence. Keep going.

    Intro

    Hawaiʻi is famous for warm trade winds and sudden monsoon rain—but not for lightning. That’s why I stayed anyway. Between gray bands of rain, a single bolt cracked over Mokoliʻi, and the island lit up like a punctuation mark on the horizon. Some shots don’t happen until you’ve already decided to keep waiting.

    Excerpt

    “We cannot expect life to be a first-class experience unless we face some first-class challenges.” – Elder Neal A Maxwell

    Notes from the Moment (BTS)

    • Place: Windward Oʻahu, looking toward Mokoliʻi.
    • Weather: Fast-moving cells; rain/sun/rain cadence.
    • Approach: Pre-framed the island between bougainvillea and palms; stayed sheltered and watched the cloud build. Shot short bursts when thunder rolled; reviewed only after the storm passed.
    • Tip: On days when odds look low, decide ahead of time how long you’ll stay. The decision to wait removes the temptation to quit early.

    Perspective

    Lightning over Mokoliʻi is a reminder that rarity isn’t impossibility. Breakthroughs often arrive in the minutes after most people pack up. The skill isn’t just technical; it’s endurance plus attention—staying present long enough for grace to show.

    Practice (today, not someday)

    • The “Ten More Minutes” rule: when you feel like leaving—stay ten more.
    • Pre-frame & wait: set one composition and guard it. Let the moment walk into your frame.
    • Write one sentence: “I’m still here because ______.” (Name your why.)

    Final Reflection

    Storms don’t always bring danger; sometimes they bring definition. Keep going. The bolt you’re waiting for may be one cloud away.

    Pocket I’m Keeping

    “Rarity is not a reason to quit—only a reason to stay.”

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

  • “Nobody gets too much heaven no more…”

    Autumn fire on the mountain after rain; an open doorway, wet boards, and a single chair facing the clearing light.

    Open door, lone chair, autumn mountain—proof that heaven isn’t scarce; it’s waiting to be noticed.

    Opening
    Some days heaven feels scarce—like peace is on allocation. We queue in long lines of noise and hurry, wondering if there will be any light left for us.

    The scene
    An empty chair by an open door says welcome without a word. The storm has rinsed the world clean; the mountain answers with color. See the chair—waiting in line. “Nobody gets too much heaven no more.” The Bee Gees were in my headphones when I made this image. It can feel harder to find, like we’re all waiting our turn.

    Reflection
    Their song dreams big: life that sees beyond forever, love that never dies, a warmth that turns the whole world into a summer day—and the fear that such love is only a dream that fades. I know that ache. Yet the doorway answers with abundance. Grace is already spilling through the threshold; the queue forms only in my mind. The chair is enough. The view is enough. God is not withholding; I’m just learning to notice.

    Scripture echo
    “Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

    Practice
    Open one door in your day—fewer tabs, slower breath, a real chair by a real window. Sit long enough for the clouds to move.

    Final reflection
    The chorus says love is mountain-high and hard to climb. Looking out, I see the mountain—and I remember: in Christ, the climb is companionship more than conquest. Scarcity is loud; heaven is quiet. When I stop hustling for a place in line, I find I’ve been standing at an open door the whole time.

    Pocket I’m keeping
    A chair by an open door is enough. Summer arrives in the heart that makes room.

    What I hear now
    A gentle nudge: You don’t earn heaven; you notice it. Love doesn’t fade when you sit in the light.

    Credit
    Inspired by “Too Much Heaven” (Bee Gees). Brief lyric quoted; the rest paraphrased with love.

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

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