Cherish Those Opportunities

From Dallin H. Oaks's October 1985 "Spirituality":

"...we should not be so occupied with what is routine and temporal that we fail to cherish those opportunities that are unique and spiritual."

I should look for the possibility of magical moments.

Daily Ponderings: The House of Prayer

Mark 11:17

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

I should turn to prayer quickly and easily for both my sorrows and my joys.

Daily Ponderings: Whose Wife Shall She Be of Them?

Mark 12:23

In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

I should focus on asking Him questions pertaining to my day to day life. My love of the gospel is a very practical matter to me.

Daily Ponderings: By What Authority?

Mark 11:28

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

My authority is from Him, sometimes just from the simple fact that he created me. I do not need another person's permission simply to live or to be happy.

Daily Ponderings: An Hundredfold Now in This Time

Mark 10:30

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

His blessings to me for enduring my adversities will come to me in this lifetime.

Daily Ponderings: With God All Things Are Possible

Mark 10:27

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

No matter how difficult my struggle, He can make a way for me to move forward.

Direction, Security, and Strength

From Rex D. Pinegar's October 1985 "The Gospel Lifeline":

"Every wife and mother has a perfect right and responsibility to look to her husband who holds the priesthood for guidance, for strength, and for direction. And he has the responsibility of magnifying his priesthood so he might be able to give this direction, this security, this strength that is needed in the home."

I should at all times be a source of direction, security, and strength for my family. He can help me do this if I ask.

Test of Spirit Mastery

From Russell M. Nelson's October 1985 "Self-Mastery":

"Part of each test is to determing if your body can become mastered by the spirit that dwells within it."

If I can master the body of matter I have been given, then I will be prepared to become like Him and master the matter of all my creations.

Daily Ponderings: And Came Out of Him

Mark 9:26

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

If I ask, whatever is troubling me can be removed using His power.

Daily Ponderings: How Many Baskets Took Ye Up?

Mark 8:20

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

I should recall to my mind the miracles I have seen.

Daily Ponderings: Entereth Not Into the Heart

Mark 7:19

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

The good things of Christ I should take into my heart.

Daily Ponderings: Commanded His Head to Be Brought

Mark 6:27

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

The bad ideas in my life should be killed immediately.

Daily Ponderings: Preached That Men Should Repent

Mark 6:12

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

I can do better. I can be better. I should examine my life to see what needs changing. I can make progress every day.

Daily Ponderings: Commanded That Something Should Be Given Her to Eat

Mark 5:43

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

I don't just need to be cured of my affliction, I also need to be strengthened afterward.

Daily Ponderings: When He Saw Him, He Fell at His Feet

Mark 5:22

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

I should recognize and know that He can help me solve my problems.

Daily Ponderings: A Thankful Heart in All Things

Doctrine & Covenants 62:7

I, the Lord, am willing, if any among you desire to ride upon horses, or upon mules, or in chariots, he shall receive this blessing, if he receive it from the hand of the Lord, with a thankful heart in all things.

I should be thankful even for the hard things.

Daily Ponderings: Carest Thou Not That We Perish?

Mark 4:38-40

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Carest thou not that I am sad? Lonely? Worried?

The answer is the same: Peace, be still.

Daily Ponderings: Be Set on a Candlestick

Mark 4:21

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

I should set myself on a candlestick.

Daily Ponderings: And Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite

Mark 3:18

And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

All of these were called for a reason. I should ask Him the reason I was called.

Daily Ponderings: There Were Many, and They Followed Him

Mark 2:15

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

No matter what mistakes I've made, I can still follow Him, and become the sort of man worth following myself.