Jet Mariano

Tag: righteousness

  • 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.”

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  • MIT8: “Loneliness with Righteousness”

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

    Excerpt

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

    Intro

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

    Notes from Elder Neal A. Maxwell

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

    Perspective (direct quotes )

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

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

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

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

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

    Scripture (Daniel 3:17–18)

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

    Practice (today, not someday)

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

    Final Reflection

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

    Pocket I’m Keeping

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

    What I Hear Now

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

    Link to the talk

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

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

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