Daily Ponderings: Love Not the World

1 John 2:15

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

I should elevate my temporal gaze to the far horizon.

Daily Ponderings: The Word of God Abideth in You

1 John 2:14

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

I should focus regularly on overcoming. The adversary's assaults are many and subtle and constant. Slightly cheerless thoughts. Minor complaints and irritants. He is thorns and thistles.

Daily Ponderings: Fellowship with Him

1 John 1:6

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

If I am walking His path, I will know it because I will feel his light around me.

Daily Ponderings: The Day of the Lord Will Come

2 Peter 3:10

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The day of the Lord is any day where the world is not enough to give me what I need and I can only succeed to the degree that I have already become like Him.

Every day is the day of the Lord.

Daily Ponderings: Things That They Understand Not

2 Peter 2:12

But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

I should strive to understand things instead of speaking evil about them.

How Inspiration Flows

From Boyd K. Packer's October 1994 "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise":

"You have your agency, and inspiration does not - perhaps cannot - flow unless you ask for it, or someone asks for you."

The "cannot" notion fascinates me. What changes in your mind when you ask for inspiration that allows you to receive it?

Daily Ponderings: Put You Always in Remembrance

2 Peter 1:12

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Every day I start anew and must reload the important knowledge and ideas that will help me become more like Him. That's why morning scriptures are so important. They invite the Holy Ghost to help me elevate my level of godliness. Holding a higher level gives me more power.

Daily Ponderings: An Entrance Shall Be Ministered

2 Peter 1:11

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To enter his kingdom, the things that I do should fall under one of the categories from verses 5-7:

Faith, virtue, knowledge,
temperance, patience, godliness,
and kindness.

I once heard that, in a good movie, every word and scene should either advance the plot or develop character. I wonder if this is something similar?

Empowering beliefs, acting on them, and using the results of those actions to reinforce those empowering beliefs.

Adhering to commandments, obeying them even when the promised blessings don't appear immediately, looking to the future to know that they'll appear eventually.

And the whole time, being kind to everyone I meet, and myself.

Daily Ponderings: Vigilance for the Roaring Lion

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

A lion can only devour me if I allow him to get close enough to bite. If I spot him from a distance, I will have an opportunity to avoid him.

Daily Ponderings: He Careth for You

1 Peter 5:7

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I don't have to do this - any of this - alone.

Daily Ponderings: Every Man Hath Received

1 Peter 4:10

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

I should administer kindnesses to others as freely and cheerfully as He has been kind to me.

Daily Ponderings: Hospitality Without Grudging

1 Peter 4:9

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

It is good for me to be kind. It is better for me to do it ungrudgingly, because then I get to feel powerful as well as kind.

Daily Ponderings: His Ears Are Open

1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

He hears me, but if the answer I'm getting is "no," I need to ask for something else.

Daily Ponderings: To Every Ordinance of Man

I Peter 2:13

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

I can be courteous while being true to my beliefs.

Daily Ponderings: Small and Simple

Alma 37:6

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

Daily prayer, daily scriptures, daily blogging about both.

To Be Worthy

From Howard W. Hunter's October 1994 "Exceeding Great and Precious Promises"

"The things that we must do and not do to be worthy of a temple recommend are the very things that ensure we will be happy as individuals and as families."

Art of Being Kind

From Gordon B. Hinckley's April 1995 "The Light Within You"

"Cultivate the art of being kind"

Blind, Deaf, Heal, Touch

From Karen Maxwell's April 1995 "Being Leaders Who Foster Growth":

"Heal Thou my deafened ears;
touch Thou my blinded eyes.
Increase my joy in Thee,
That I may rejoice in Thee,"

Do, Know, and Grow

From Karen Maxwell's April 1995 "Being Leaders Who Foster Growth":

"Our efforts to DO really feed our efforts to KNOW and to GROW the word."

Await the Growth

From Karen Maxwell's April 1995 "Being Leaders Who Foster Growth":

"...you cannot force or compel: you must await the growth"

IABDITN: Come Down and Say Hello

p48 FRED
You left without getting to say goodbye so I'm glad we get to continue to talk. I'm going to New York City today to film and Joanne is coming with me, so we thought you might like to come down and say hello.

Fred honestly didn't want to stop talking to Lloyd. He enjoyed their conversation because he was beginning to discover who Lloyd was, deep inside, what he felt, and what motivated him. Fred didn't want that to end. So he gives Lloyd an easy invite to continue. No pressure. Nothing about "finishing the interview". No agenda, just an opportunity for connection.

Daily Ponderings: Gird up the Loins of Your Mind

1 Peter 1:13

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

I should keep my mind focused on His voice, not on the voice of the adversary. Never lose in your own mind.

Daily Ponderings: Trial of Your Faith

1 Peter 1:7

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

If your current empowering belief is not strong enough to see you through your trials, you are always free to choose an even more powerful empowering belief.

Daily Ponderings: Happy Which Endure

James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

If I think of enduring as "lasting" rather than "suffering", I can see how happiness and joy can be the structure of my life, like a steel bridge instead of a wooden one.

Daily Ponderings: Mourn and Weep

James 4:9

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

The role of sadness in my life is to help me recognize that something needs changing, whereupon I can seek His power to help me change it.

Daily Ponderings: Proceedeth Blessing and Cursing

James 3:10

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Given the choice between pronouncing a blessing or a cursing, I should choose to pronounce blessings. On everyone and everything that I feel irritation with.

I can start by choosing to use more neutral descriptions, like "that was sudden and unexpected."

Daily Ponderings: Unspotted from the World

James 1:27

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Every time I behave short-sightedly, it leaves a mark on my soul that will need correction.

Daily Ponderings: And Bridleth Not His Tongue

James 1:26

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Expressions of irritation - murmuring - are the beginning of all sin. I should practice relaxing every time I notice that I feel irritated.

Daily Ponderings: Firstfruits of His Creatures

James 1:18

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

I am a son of God. Every day I should strive to grow toward my divine potential.

Daily Ponderings: Trying of Your Faith Worketh Patience

James 1:2-3

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

As my boot camp Company Commander used to say, it's teaching me "frustration tolerance".

Daily Ponderings: Working in You That Which Is Wellpleasing

Hebrews 13:21

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

He will start with whatever I have, wherever I am, and help me become better. He will not chastise me for not being better already. That's a different voice.

Daily Ponderings: In All Things Willing

Hebrews 13:18

Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

I don't need perfection. What I need is to be willing to change to become more like Him.

Small Sins Spread

From Neal A. Maxwell's April 1995 "Deny Yourselves of All Ungodliness":

"Young parents know how a mere half cup of spilled milk seems to cover half a kitchen floor. Small sins spread like that, too.

I should catch my problems before they spread.

Daily Ponderings: Offer the Sacrifice of Praise

Hebrews 13:15

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

I should be thankful more often.

Question: How many times did Jesus give thanks in the scriptures?

Daily Ponderings: Lest Any Root of Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

I should ask for His help immediately at the first moment I hear that bitter voice.

Daily Ponderings: Lay Aside Every Weight

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

If there is a burden I can set aside and leave to His care, I should.

Daily Ponderings: Received the Spies With Peace

Hebrews 11:31

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

When I do works that are in line with His will, the strength of my faith increases.

Strength - the capacity to use power

Daily Ponderings: By a New and Living Way

Hebrews 10:20

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Like the first covenant, my old ways no longer apply. I should have the courage to make progress by increasingly becoming more like Him.

Neither Mock Nor Persecute Anyone

From Aileen H. Clyde's April 1995 "Covenant of Love":

"The love Christ commands requires a mighty change and great humility. It requires us to forsake pride and to be stripped of envy. It requires that we neither mock our sisters and brothers nor persecute ANYONE."

[emphasis in original]

Kindness Shall Not Depart

From Aileen H. Clyde's April 1995 "Covenant of Love":

"For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee..."

[Isaiah 54:10]

To Submit, to Be Better

From Henry B. Eyring's April 1995 "Always Remember Him":

"...to hope that if they would just submit, if they could just learn what to do, they could be better."

Calculated to Promote Happiness

From M. Russell Ballard's April 1995 "Answers to Life's Questions":

"He will never institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances."

Pray for Help, Follow the Inspiration

From Gordon B. Hinckley's October 1995 "The Fabric of Faith and Testimony":

"You need the help of the Lord. Pray for that help and follow the inspiration which you receive."

Daily Ponderings: He Is the Mediator

Hebrews 9:15

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

I can't do this alone. If I notice myself trying to, it's a sign I need to ask for His help.

Standards and Peace

From Russell M. Nelson's October 1995 "Perfection Pending":

"Lofty standards, when earnestly pursued, produce great inner peace and incomparable joy."

Daily Ponderings: If Faultless, No Place for the Second

Hebrews 8:7

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

As circumstances change, I have an opportunity to change and embrace a new path that is richer in blessings.

Not Distressed, Not in Despair

From Jeffrey R. Holland's October 1995 "This Do in Remembrance of Me":

"...we can remember that Christ was also troubled on every side, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair..."

A reminder for when I am feeling distressed and despairing.

I wanted to be encouraged when I read this, but it was hard. He was not discouraged because He had knowledge. All I have is hope.

But I can focus on what I do know, from my own experience and the testimony of the Holy Ghost. This will be the basis of empowering beliefs that will make it possible for me to move forward in faith even without knowledge.

Daily Ponderings: Ariseth Another Priest

Hebrews 7:15

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

I can use Him as my role model in all things and use His priesthood power to bring blessings into my home.

Daily Ponderings: Afflictions Swallowed Up in Joy

Alma 31:38

And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.

Every adversity is overbalanced by an opposing joy. Am I listening to a voice that's distracting me from seeing it?

IABDITN: It Can't Be Easy

p48 FRED
Andrea, while I have you, I just wanted to thank you so much for sharing Lloyd with us.
ANDREA
Um. You're welcome?
FRED
It can't be easy -- with him traveling, what with Gavin at home.
ANDREA
Thank you for saying that.

Not "let me talk to Lloyd". He remembers her name because she's important to Lloyd, but now that he's talking to her, she becomes real in her own right, and now deserves the same connecting-with that Lloyd deserved. Fred connects by empathizing with the hard thing he knows she's had to do, and he thanks her for her sacrifice because it made his life better. Fred is different because he continually lets gratitude pour out of him.

Everyone does hard things all day long. No one recognizes the hard things others go through. I should recognize and be thankful for the hard things other people have to do.

[A subtle parallel later in the movie, p 57 "I can't imagine it was easy to grow
up with you as a father" and "But you're right, Lloyd -- it couldn't have been easy on them.
Thank you. Thank you for that perspective."]

Daily Ponderings: Diligence to the Full Assurance

Hebrews 6:11

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

The more I try to become like Him in thought, the more I will become like Him in deed, and the further I will be transformed to become like Him.

Not Leave the Teaching

From H. David Burton's October 1995 "I Will Go":

"...and I will not leave the teaching and governance of my family to society, to the school, or to the Church."

I will raise my children by God's word, my wisdom, and my wife's counsel.

Qualified

From Henry B. Eyring's October 1995 "To Touch a Life with Faith":

"You can trust that he will qualify you as his servant."

He can provide me with the power to transform into anything worthy of one of His sons.

Not a Mysterious Process

From Henry B. Eyring's October 1995 "To Touch a Life with Faith":

"It won't be done by a mysterious process. It will be the natural result of your choosing to follow Him."

Improvement isn't magic. It's daily dragging myself across adversity's stone to hone my soul's edge.

Plant by Trying

From Henry B. Eyring's October 1995 "To Touch a Life with Faith":

"...they must do more than hear the word of God; they must plant it in their hearts by trying it."

Knowledge.

Daily Ponderings: Boldly Unto the Throne

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

I need help to become more like Him. I should ask for it over and over and over. The well of grace is infinite and even sipping from it constantly, I will never make it run dry. Worrying about partaking of his grace too much is like sitting in a room with the curtains drawn because I don't want to use up "too much" sunlight.

Brightening my life is what the sun is for. To not use the free and infinite gift as much as I need - or even as much as I want - is simply prideful and foolish.

He is my partner in my transformation like my lungs are my partner in breathing.

Am I holding my breath?

Daily Ponderings: Therefore a Rest

Hebrews 4:9

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

There are blessings that come as I strive to be more like Him.

That Feeling of Surrender

From Henry B. Eyring's October 1995 "To Touch a Life with Faith":

"That feeling of surrender is not likely to come unless they experience some feeling of being loved and some value in their being meek an lowly of heart."

It's OK to surrender to one who makes you feel safe.

Daily Ponderings: Known My Ways

Hebrews 3:10

Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

I should strive to know His ways better. And to know His ways - not merely know OF His ways - I should live His ways.

Daily Ponderings: Bringing Many Sons Unto Glory

Hebrews 2:10

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

I was born to be transformed. That is why I'm here. To become transformed to be like Him.

IABDITN: Play at the Plate

p33 Fred notices the ring on Lloyd's finger.

He looks for something that's important to the person he's with. Then asks about it. How long? - Fred offers a compliment. Her name? - Fred shows he would like to know more about these things that are important to Lloyd.

[...]

35 LLOYD There's you, Fred, and there's the character you play, Mister Rogers.

Fred narrows his eyes, studying Lloyd, really taking him in.

FRED You said it was a play at the plate. That's what happened to you?

Put in a corner by this man to explain or justify himself, Fred becomes more curious about this man - who has just shown that what's important to him is keeping up appearances. Now Fred is curious about what appearances Lloyd is keeping up.

LLOYD I got into a fight.

FRED Oh my. Who did you get into a fight with?

LLOYD It's not important.

Lloyd chuckles. Fred doesn't.

LLOYD (CONT'D)Jerry

FRED And who is Jerry?

LLOYD My father.

FRED Oh my.

LLOYD I'd rather not talk about it.

FRED What were you and your father fighting about?

Who was involved in the incident, what is your relationship with that person, THEN what was it about.

And never the question of the idly curious, "what happened?".

Fred is more interested in people and their relationships - to objects, to other people - than he is about things, or bare facts about people.

A Scary Witness

From Bonnie D. Parkin's "An Anchor for Eternity - and Today":

...every person has a right to have a personal witness. I know that asking for this witness can be a little scary. We worry we just might not get an answer. Or we know that if we get and answer, we will have to live accordingly.

Hard to know which is scarier.

However, personally, I have never gotten a "yes" witness that was a burden to live by. Mostly what I get before asking for a witness is the adversary prattling on about how this one - unlike all the others - WILL be a burden.

I know that voice.

I Needed to Be Happy

From Anne Prescott's April 1996 "He Has Given Me a Prophet":

"What President Hinckley said did not take away my pain, but it helped me understand that I needed to be happy..."

Daily Ponderings: Anointed Thee with the Oil of Gladness

Hebrews 1:9

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

I don't know why, exactly, but I really like that phrase and the mental image it creates.

Daily Ponderings: Sceptre of Righteousness

Hebrews 1:8

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Whenever I know, speak, or learn the truth, I wield the sceptre of power in his kingdom, because truth is power.

Personal Knowledge, Personal Experiences

From M. Russell Ballard's April 1996 "Feasting at the Lord's Table":

"...life eternal is predicated upon our own individual, personal knowledge of our Father in Heaven and His Holy Son. Simply knowing about them is not enough. We must have personal spiritual experiences to anchor us. These come in the same intense, single-minded way that a hungry person seeks food."

[emphasis mine]

Who We Really Are

From Susan L. Warner's April 1996 "Remember How Thou Hast Received and Heard"

"Recalling spiritual feelings reminds us of who we really are."

This is running the script on an anchor of power to reinforce it and embed it deeper.

To Blind the Eyes

From Rulon G. Craven's April 1996 "Temptation":

"To blind the eyes is NOT to see or acknowledge the consequences of our actions. To harden the heart is to IGNORE or not be willing to accept counsel."

This happens when I deliberately choose to shorten the temporal focal length of the gaze of my godliness. This provides the illusion of making the unpleasant consequence disappear. The alternative is to accept that the unpleasant consequence exists on my temporal horizon, and start gathering information and making plans to improve the projected outcome.

Daily Ponderings: Ministered Unto Me

Philemon 1:13

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

I should surround myself with kind people and be grateful for their kindness.

Daily Ponderings: Good and Profitable Unto Men

Titus 3:8

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

My good works are profitable. They pay off in blessings. I should keep doing them.

Daily Ponderings: Sound Speech

Titus 2:8

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

I should speak the truth, and speak it kindly.

Daily Ponderings: Holding Fast the Faithful Word

Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

To hold fast the faithful word, I have to live the doctrine I've been taught. I should make my life an example of following the rules for becoming more like Him. Exhort and convince by example, not by words alone.

Daily Ponderings: Having Loved This Present World

2 Timothy 4:10

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Loving the world means shortsightedness. I should lift my vision deliberately every day to think about where I want to be in a day, a week, a month, a year.

Daily Ponderings: Shall Proceed No Further

2 Timothy 3:9

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

I cannot make progress if I resist what is. Only by accepting what is, can I make progress to a better future where I can be more like Him.

Acceptance does not mean approval. It just means the choice to embrace rather than resist, knowing that God provides every experience in my life for my benefit and growth.

Daily Ponderings: In Meekness Instructing

2 Timothy 2:24-25

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

I can exercise patience so that those under my stewardship have the option of following my example, just like I follow His; until they can learn to follow His example themselves.

Daily Ponderings: Strive Not About Words to No Profit

2 Timothy 2:14

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

Conversely, I should, before the Lord, strive about words to profit for the edification of the hearers.