Do All Things Without Murmurings

Philippians 2:14

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:"

If I am murmuring or disputing, I am double-minded. I am fighting with myself. I need to become one. Even as Christ and the Father are one.

Without Fear

Philippians 1:14

"And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."

Which means "with peace". Which means with the fundamental belief that nothing can harm me.

Daily Ponderings: Praise of God

Philippians 1:11

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

I should praise God for the good things in my life.

I can notice good things in my life

TFHW: Visit to His House

12-30-21
Did an endowment session in the Temple

Daily Ponderings: Approve Things That Are Excellent

Phiiippians 1:10

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

I should praise the good.

I can find the right words to be kind.

Daily Ponderings: Love Our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity

Ephesians 6:24

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

I shoud speak the truth at every opportunity.

I can have the courage to speak the truth kindly.

TFHW: Newsletter Gathering

12-29-21
Texted several people about calendar items for the Gathering Israel newsletter

Daily Ponderings: The Word of God

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

I should focus on the truth I know, and let it guide my actions

I can know the best course for me if I ask how

TFHW: Roger Lives

12-28-21
Texted Roger, got response

Joy, Peace, and Spiritual Time Travel

Joy, Peace, and Spiritual Time Travel When I invite His peace, it manifests itself as a tangible release of tension in my chest muscles, and a cessation of negative mental dialogue.

Happiness is a result of focus on a positive external event. If a positive external event is not occurring, then focus on either the memory of an event or the thought of an anticipated future event will suffice.

This is spiritual time travel - the ability to travel instantly back and forth through time. It is a godlike power that humans are gifted with. Lower animals do not possess it. I am not born with the gift in full flower, but only with the potential. I spend a lifetime being trained in its use, by parents, by spiritual leaders, and by myself. Its purpose, after being trained in its proper use, is to allow me to experience joy regardless of my present circumstances.

Joy is to focus on a positive experience, with the belief that it - or something like it - will happen again

Despair (or it's milder form, discouragement) is to focus on a positive event, with the belief that it can't or won't happen again.

Misery is to focus on a negative event - past, present or future - with the belief that it will happen again.

Hope is to focus on a negative event, with the belief that it can't or won't happen again.

I always have the choice to select either joy, hope, misery or despair.

Peace is the resetting of my spiritual time machine to the present moment, plus the belief that when I restart it, I can choose either joy or hope. After I reset to peace, I can bring the peace with me as I time travel. I can examine past events without feeling distress and ask "what can I learn from this?" As I go forward, I can ask, "what can I do to make this happen?"

The adversary mainly uses spiritual time travel to take my mind to a past negative event, then tries to convince me that I have to re-experience the bad feelings of that moment. And that I'm not allowed to leave until.... well, that part's not really clear. The important thing is that I feel bad instead of feeling anything else. Or doing anything but brooding. The point of his game is to waste my time. Then he tries to make me feel bad for not having accomplished anything while I was brooding about the thing he wanted me to spend my time thinking about. So no matter what I do for him, it's not enough. I'm never enough.

Satan's counterfeit to peace is escape (aka diversion or distraction) - resetting to the present moment, plus the belief that when I restart it, I will feel either misery or despair. That encourages me to stay trapped in the present.

I choose peace, joy, and hope.

Daily Ponderings: Your Master in Heaven

Ephesians 6:9

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

I should be able to recognize a prompting and trust that I will have all the help I need to be able to act on it successfuly.

I can recognize promptings.

TFHW: Sister Christmas

12-27-21
Email from Patty about her childhood Christmases
Emailed Corey about his TFH experiences

You Only Have to Do the Work

Ephesians 6:8

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Covenant, or even belief in God, not required.

Daily Ponderings: Love His Wife Even As Himself

Ephesians 5:33

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

I should do for my wife the things that make her feel loved.

I can discern how to love my wife in the moment

Being Honest and Trying

From Bradley R. Wilcox's October 2021 "Worthiness Is not Flawlessness":

"God's message is that worthiness is not flawlessness. Worthiness is being honest and trying"

I should accept that any unworthiness I feel is based on imaginary supporsition of other people's opinion of me. I should also accept and believe that their opinion doesn't really affect who I am or what I do.

I can act regardless of the judgment of others. I can wait for others to criticize me rather than presuming to criticize me for them.

Focus on Incremental Growth

From Bradley R. Wilcox's October 2021 "Worthiness Is not Flawlessness":

"They got rid of the all-or-nothing expectations and focused on incremental growth..."

On Bible Study

From Knowable Word:

"The acronym OIA summarizes the method:

Observation – what does it say?
Interpretation – what does it mean?
Application – how do I need to change?[what do I need to do?]
You can restate these three steps as what? why? and so what? Or again, as what did the original author say? What did that mean to the original audience? And what does it mean in our context?"

Personally my study looks more like:

What words is the Spirit highlighting for me? [This often has little to do with the objective meaning of the entire verse or its historical or conversational context]

What should I do with this instruction?

What empowering belief do I need to hold to follow this instruction?

TFHW: Day After

12-26-21
Shirley Schreiber mentioned me after giving a talk noting that a genealogy was given at His birth and at the beginning of His ministry. Gave her a Plan w/ a gold star on "Share"
Joan Jones asked for help with printing out names. I referred her to Kitten, who helped her. Gave her a Plan w/ a gold star on "Share"
Emailed Patty

Daily Ponderings: The Husband Is the Head of the Wife

Ephesians 5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

I should lead my wife in the ways of righteousness

I can lead, and I can ask for her help and support if I don't know what to do.

What Things Can You Do?

From M. Russell Ballard's October 2021 "Lovest Thou Me More Than These?"

"What things can you do within your own life to show that you love the Lord first?"

"Can you do" vs "should you do" vs "are you already doing"

TFHW: what are you already doing? What would you like to do if you had a little more time? Is there anything else I can do to help you with that?

I became the TFH leader in September. After talking to people about TFHW, I developed a theory that everyone already does some kind of TFHW, but they don't talk about it...

TFHW: Christmas With Family

12-25-21 Spent Christmas with family Emailed Patty

Daily Ponderings: Speaking to Yourselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

I should make my self talk sound like His voice, with a constant chorus of love and peace

I can feel peace and the strengthening support of His love which tells me I'm worthy of good feelings and blessings.

Daily Ponderings: Christ Shall Give Thee Light

Ephesians 5:14

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Light is power, and I should seek to harness the power He makes available to me.

I can harness power beyond my own

Daily Ponderings: Speak of Those Things

Ephesians 5:12

For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

I should have the courage to speak truth at all times.

I can speak truth kindly

TFHW: Christmas Is Coming! It's Practically Here!

12-24-21
Final preparations for Christmas with family

Daily Ponderings: No Fellowship With the Unfruitful Works

Ephesians 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

I should focus my time and energy on the things that help me make progress

I can, an am worthy to, make progress

Daily Ponderings: Walk As Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

I should walk in kindness. Kindness is light. It is radiated energy. And it energizes the recipient

I can be kind to myself and others

Daily Ponderings: Therefore Partakers

Ephesians 5:7

Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

I should partake of the things He offers me

I am able and worthy to accept good things.

Daily Ponderings: Be Ye Kind

Ephesians 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

I should be kind; first and foremost to myself, and also to others

I can become consistently, habitually, effortlessly kind

The Bishop's Virtues

Paraphrased from "Laurie's Story"

prayer
confidence
slowness, gentleness
patience
can-do focus
commending
following the Spirit
scriptures
blessings
finding allies
encouragement
loving regardlessly

TFHW: Love Note

12-23-21
Sent text to TFH Council
Did Endowment session

Daily Ponderings: The Truth Is in Jesus

Ephesians 4:21

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

I should seek to follow truth at all times.

I can know and choose to follow what I know

TFHW: Prayer Matters

12-22-21
Prayed for TFH Council

Daily Ponderings: And He Gave Some

Ephesians 4:11

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

I should ask for whatever I need, and He will give it to me.

I can have what I need

TFHW: Last Memory Alive

12-21-21
Wrote to Aunt Marion
Texted Roger
Tried to improve place names: Greece, Granada, Guadalupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, and Honduras. O for 10 on all of them. Turns out these countries get a lot of one word place names that could be from any one of a dozen countries.

Daily Ponderings: Throughout All Ages, World Without End

Ephesians 3:21

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

I should live with a longer timeline than the day. I should create visions of years.

I can see farther than I see right now.

TFHW: Touch Base

12-20-21
Texted Roger to see how he was doing and to share Philemon 1:24

Daily Ponderings: Is Named

Ephesians 3:15

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

I should call things by names that empower me (reframing)

I have a choice in the labels I use.

TFHW: When I Invite, I Win

12-19-21
Invited Roger & Betty to view our Christmas Cantata meeting via Zoom - he didn't see the text until it was over, but he tried.

Daily Ponderings: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Ephesians 3:8

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

I should seek after the spiritual riches He offers

I have access to spiritual riches

TFHW: Love My Family As the Spirit Directs

12-18-21
Visited Roger & Betty, helped to trim their tree.

Daily Ponderings: This Opportunity Would Cause Them to Believe in the Power of God

Alma 19:17

Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people.

I should always look for opportunities to do His work

I can do His work

Daily Ponderings: Ye Are Also Builded Together for an Habitation of God

Ephesians 2:22

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I should feel the Spirit of God within me.

I can feel His presence

TFHW: A Note Because It's Friday and I Forgot

12-17-21
Sent love text to TFH council

Daily Ponderings: To Make in Himself of Twain One New Man, So Making Peace

Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

I should turn to Him to find peace.

I can have peace

TFHW: I Don't Know the Accent

12-16-21
Improved place names: Ghana

Daily Ponderings: He Is Our Peace, Who Hath Made Bothe One

Ephesians 2:14

For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

I should walk away from the warring factions in my heart and accept the peace He offers

I can have peace

Daily Ponderings: Saved Through Faith

Epehsians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God

I should embrace empowering beliefs throughout the day and call out the adversary any time he points my thoughts toward an unchangeable event of the past.

I can choose the focus of my thoughts.

TFHW: Hot Winter Baptisms

12-15-21
Did baptisms at the temple (high temp of 62 today) with Abigail Howell as a guest

Daily Ponderings: The Fulness of Him

Ephesians 1:23

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

I should strive every day to become more like Him by asking for His help as often as needed, knowing there's no such thing as "asking too many times", asking with every breath, if necessary, for His peace to fill me.

His peace can fill me in any circumstance if I ask

Who Am I?: Fear vs Wonder

Rather than remaining mired in fear, you'd need to summon up a sense of wonder and adventure.

I am what I believe, what I value, and what I do.

I believe many things. Most are trivial.

The most empowering things I believe are what I think I ought to value.

What I actually spend my time doing is what I actually value.

Who am I when I'm at my best? When I'm at my worst? Do these identities negate each other?

You have to let go of the things that are holding you back. You have to trust that you're doing the right thing by shedding the parts of you that aren't you.

TFHW: Update the Tracker

12-14-21
Updated TFH Contact Tracker Google Sheet

Christmas Invitation

Christmas invites us to be born again, become as a little child, and live our lives as He did, holy and without spot. And when we make mistakes, His atonement allows us to pick up where we left off and continue progressing

Daily Ponderings: Your Faith in the Lord Jesus

Ephesians 1:15

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

I should seek to internalize empowering beliefs so that acting on them becomes automatic

I can make empowering beliefs a seamless part of who I am

Miraculous Outcomes from the Simple Application of Principles

From Gary E. Stevenson's October 2021 "Simply Beautiful - Beautifully Simple":

"...miraculous outcomes brought through the simple application of simple gospel principles."

I should do my daily spiritual work to receive the guidance I need.

The Holy Ghost will prompt me

TFHW: Jawohl!

12-13-21
Improved place names Germany

Daily Ponderings: He Hath Abounded Toward Us

Ephesians 1:8

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

I should notice and feel thankful for the good things that abound in my life.

My life abounds with good things.

Receive the Power of Godliness in Our Lives

From David A. Bednar's October 2021 "With the Power of God in Great Glory"

"Sacred covenants and ordinances... enable us to receive the power of godliness in our lives"

My goal should be to live consistently, habitually, effortlessly focused on my long-term best interests.

Be Perfected (Have I Already Been?)

From Gary E. Stevenson's October 2021 "Simply Beautiful - Beautifully Simple":

"To receive eternal life, we must 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him'"

Whenever I see a commandment, I should think "yes, I already do that" and not think about how I fail.

Do I do the bishop list for me?

I can be joyful at all times because "Joy comes when I make peace with who I am, why I am, and how I am."

How do I balance divine discontent with "I'm not enough"?

Am I the person I want to be? Am I the person God wants me to be?

Who does God want me to be, who am I now, and how do I make the transition?

TFCW: Come to the Temple

12-12-21
Asked Jacom Davie to spearhead a youth temple trip at BYC. He did, and set the date for Jan 6.

Daily Ponderings: Christ Be with Your Spirit

Galatians 6:18

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

I should be unafraid to acknowledge truth in all things.

I can be at peace even when I'm uncomfortable

More Focused on Our Blessings Than on Our Problems

From Moises Villanueva's October 2021 "Favored of the Lord in All My Days":

"...do we feel thankful in word, thought, and deed because we are more focused on our blessings than on our problems?"

TFHW: Help the Family

12-11-21
Went to the temple to do sealings. Watched the Pierce kids while they did sealings.

Daily Ponderings: Keep the Law

Galatians 6:13

For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

I should obey His commandments, and seek for more to help me learn and grow.

I can keep commandments even when it's inconvenient

Feel Joy Regardless

From Moises Villanueva's October 2021 "Favored of the Lord in All My Days":

"When the focus of our lives is on God's plan of salvation... we can feel joy regardless of what is happening - or not happening - in our lives."

When the focus of my life is on... not the plan, that's a Sunday School cliche... What, when focused on, helps me feel joy?

TFHW: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

12-10-21
Improved place names: France

Daily Ponderings: Whatsoever a Man Soweth

Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

I should choose to sow kindness

I can choose to be kind

TFHW: Light the Tree!

12-9-21
Send Light the Family Tree reminder to TFH Council Texted Roger

Daily Ponderings: Restore Such an One in the Spirit of Meekness, Considering Thyself

Galatians 6:1

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

I should apply the rule to myself before criticizing another by it, thus transforming every criticism into self-improvement

I can improve constantly

Inadequacy, Disappointment, Anger

From Ronald A. Rasband's October 2021 "The Things of My Soul":

"When we are heavy laden with mistakes, heartaches, feelings of inadequacy, disappointment, anger, or sin, the power of the Savior's Atonement is, by divine design, one of the things that lifts the soul."

I should recognize when I'm having bad feelings and ask for His help in deleting them.

I can change my hard feelings to peace in an instant

Daily Ponderings: Glory

Galatians 5:26

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

I should seek His transformational power in my life.

I don't have to stay stuck in an unpleasant mood - I can choose to feel peace.

TFHW: Something Is Better Than Nothing

12-8-21
Prayed for TFH Council

Study With the Desire to Believe

From Ronald A. Rasband's October 2021 "The Things of My Soul":

"Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources. Study with the desire to believe..."

Daily Ponderings: Do the Things That Ye Would

Galatians 5:17

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

I should seek His help in doing the things that I would like to accomplish.

I can accomplish good things

TFHW: Sing a Song of Joy

12-7-21
Told Roger my & Katrina's favorite hymns
Sent Mariah a new laptop. She called me "Brolson" and said she's grateful for me (not "to" me)
Asked Kristen Gustafson if Phoebe Olson has been replaced for TFH
Roger sent me Grandpa Wright's obituary
I put Grandpa Wright's obituary on Family Search

Daily Ponderings: A Little Leaven

Galatians 5:9

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

I should focus on the small things I can do to make my life better.

I can make my life better

What Things Do You Ponder?

From Ronald A. Rasband's October 2021 "The Things of My Soul":

"Nephi's words raise the questions 'What things do you ponder?' 'What things really matter to you?' 'What are the things of your soul?'"

I ponder how to deliberately, consciously, replace fear with peace.

TFHW: Yine!

12-6-21
Texted Roger, asked about his favorite hymn
Improved place names: Finland
Corey told me he's gone back as far as he can with Family History

Daily Ponderings: But of the Free

Galatians 4:31

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

I should pursue advancement, growth, understanding, and progress in spiritual matters

I can know more if I but ask "how".

Sufficient to Teach and Not to Do

"The man goes along his own way imagining himself to be learned, leaning on his own understanding seeking the honor and esteem of men, and feeling it is sufficient to teach and not to do."

In all that I teach, it should be by example.

Simple Acts of Love, Meekness, Kindness, and Respect

From Erich W. Kopischke's October 2021 "Addressing Mental Health"

"I have often pondered what it means to hold on to them with faith. I believe it includes simple acts of love, meekness, kindness, and respect."

TFHW: Trumpet!

12-5-21
Asked Gary Jones to tell me a story about his Grandparents and encouraged him to tell family history stories to his kids and grandkids
Indexed (12 straight months!)

Daily Ponderings: Tell Me

Galatians 4:21

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

I should share my burdens with Him

I don't have to bear my burdens alone.

Also, being curious about other people is the key to happiness, both theirs and yours. Genuine curiosity is curative. "Tell me..." is the great icebreaker

Daily Ponderings: Labor in Vain

Galatians 4:11

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

I should keep moving forward so that my previous efforts don't go to waste.

There's always a way forward

TFHW: At the Temple

12-4-21 Did endowments at the temple

TFHW: A Trip to Come

12-3-21
Texted Roger
Suggested date for temple trip to Mike Davie
Asked Craig Quinney about hard copies of Come Follow Me for 2022
Improved place names: Fiji

Daily Ponderings: According to the Promise

Galatians 3:29

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

I should be conscious of the promises He has made to me

I will receive the help I need

TFHW: Questions

12-2-21
Texted council to see if any temple trips are planned for Dec
Helped Kitten work on Christmas party
Improved place names: US

Daily Ponderings: To Whom the Promise Was Made

Galatians 3:19

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

I should remember the promises that He has made to me

I can trust Him to keep His promises

TFHW: Outreach

12-1-21
Sent love text to TFH Council
Spent evening with Brett Lloyd

Daily Ponderings: All Things Which Are Written in the Book of the Law, Do Them

Galatians 3:10

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

I should obey His commandments, especially the personal ones

I can choose in a moment which path to take, even if it's hard

TFHW: But I Have a Project I'd Like to Do

11-30-21
Prayed for TFH council