fire of faith and experiences that try to douse it

Faith is our loyalty to the Saviour.

Keep the fire of faith lit. Life is full of daily things that want to throw water on that fire 

poverty is loss of Spirit vs prosperity

Remember that in the Book of Mormon promise, the opposite of prosperity was not poverty—it was being cut off from the presence of the Lord. His presence refers to the influence of His Spirit in one’s life.

anger towards God

Talk directly to God in prayer about anger towards Him, rather than not pray to show anger. God is OK with our going through human emotions.

section 84 - Ripple of effects in life

Section 84 events mentioned in summary.

Temple...  PH...   Christ

Principles....commandments...covenants

struggling- everyday something new

remember blessings promised

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

“And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.” (Doctrine and Covenants 78: 17–18)

Destroyed fig tree- deciving appearance of faith

In The Chosen, Jesus explains the destruction of the fig tree (and its leaves) as a symbolic lesson to his disciples, connecting it to the spiritual state of Israel, specifically its leaders and the Temple. 

Here's how Jesus, in line with the narrative presented in The Chosen (and based on biblical interpretations of the event), explains the fig tree incident:

• Symbol of Fruitlessness: The fig tree with its abundant leaves but no fruit, despite the appearance of health, represents those who outwardly seem religious but lack genuine spiritual fruit (righteousness, justice, faith, good works).
• Connecting to the Temple: Jesus links the fig tree's barrenness to the state of the Temple in Jerusalem, emphasizing the corruption and lack of true spiritual devotion within its walls and amongst the religious leaders. Just as the Temple should be a place of prayer for all nations but has become a "den of robbers" (den of robbers), the fig tree's leaves represent an outward show without inner substance.
• Prophetic Judgment: The fig tree's withering serves as a prophetic act, foreshadowing the coming judgment on Israel and the destruction of the Temple due to their spiritual barrenness and rejection of Jesus' message.
• Individual Application: The lesson extends beyond the Jewish nation and applies to individuals as well. Bearing spiritual fruit is essential for all who claim to follow God. Those who only have outward appearances of religiosity but no real change of heart will face judgment. 

In short, in The Chosen, the fig leaf incident becomes a powerful object lesson from Jesus, serving as a symbolic representation of a deceptive appearance of faith without the accompanying fruit of genuine spiritual life. 

pres Nelson charity and virtue leads to confidence. April 2025

There’s the key! In the Lord’s own words, charity and virtue open the way to having confidence before God! Brothers and sisters, we can do this! Our confidence can truly wax strong in the presence of God, right now!

gratitude for life on Earth and my problems

Thoughts during sacrament mtg....Gethsemane, Jesus loves me...Jesus obeyed his Father....fathers....complexities of relationships...complexities of life on Earth...blessings of being able to balance it all...I love the energy and opportunities as I navigate life..I am energized by successes, my blessings....I do not do it alone...angels around me and Christ.

Charlie's Monument poem of all of us having our own special package of problems. We are here to use those problems to build to Him a monument of our obedience and love for Him

Victoria Simondi said in her testimony, "Heavenly Father builds us by trials".

broken

This made me think about making anyone, esp your child, feel broken. Then again, with the atonement, no one needs to feel broken.

prayer with purpose and willingness to obey

As you pray earnestly with the expectation to both receive and act upon an answer from God, as did young Joseph Smith, your capacity to recognize and respond to that divine witness will be increased. The Times of Restitution of All Things (Acts 3:21) By Elder David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Beware of spiritual malnutrition

Scriptures, light and gifts

Scriptures are pockets of light.  Elder Scott 

Seek best gifts.  Beware lest ye are deceived.  D&C .. :8

Great and dreadful day

See Second Coming with fear or faith?

solemnity vs levity

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.

importance of repentance

Alma 13

29 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; 

29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest. 

30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance,

My Love for the Savior Is My “Why”

Ricardo Jimenez (70) 

Think of WHY we do things

life is pilgrimage

To eternal life

be bold and intentional w temple work

W temple work

W sharing testimony

Bennion East stake conf 2/9/2025

I can sleep when the wind blows.  Be prepared for challenges ahead.  

Pres and Sister Watson of SLC mission. From Tenn.  Joy of gathering Israel on both sides of veil. Miracles.  Baptisms in slc have tripled in three years.

Elder Karl Hirst of area presidency. Pres Nelson asks us to focus on repentance. Jesus experienced sin and death according to the flesh because we experience according to the flesh. 

Sister Claire Hirst:   Most of Stripling warriors were sons of widows of those 1005 fathers who refused to pick up arms again to fight the Lamanites. Be still. Feel joy in storms. Be firm in truth. FIND TENDER MERCIES IN MY LIFE. Tender mercies keep us from being shaken

conclave movie- certainty

Certainty is the enemy of unity and intolerance. Faith is a living thing that walks hand in hand with doubt.

I conclave movie, "cardinals serve an ideal, but can not always be the ideal"

disposing of meds

I finally took all the meds and supplements that Tati brought from Florida to a mmeds disposal. It was a huge bag of bottles, probably about 30, and a quart size baggie of the prescription meds.

be willing to let God prevail

Look up Pres Nelson talk

Lord steps in, it would be ungrateful to complain

Remember times the Lord steps in to help and lift and guide

 He sees more than we can see.

Everyday is a new day of a new year

CPR

Church, prayer, reading scriptures

only God can orchestrate chaos into perfection

Member in Brendan's  ward related family baptism day when font was late to fill and family all slept in,  it was still a perfect day.

healing vs curing

Better than you were originally. 

"The savior submitted Himself to unparalleled spiritual and physical agony." Pres Nelson