Your Treasure is Where Your Heart is.

Today I started noting how to focus on Heavenly things, for your treasure is where your heart is. Seek after Heavenly things because they will never perish. The following are my thoughts and notes:

Don't seek the pursuits of pride.

- glory of men

I almost considered writing about the many pursuits of pride, but the term "glory of men" from Jesus Christ sums it up simply. If one find seeking the "glory of men" in their desires, the individual should evaluate their ambitions.

Don't talk or make visual presentations about your works.

- Alms and miracles 

don't talk about your spiritual work. Let it talk for itself. Don't talk about the miracles in your life casually or regularly. Keep all of these things sacred. Treasure them secretly in prayer, and God will openly reward the faithful saints openly.

The Standards of Taking Care of a Cat

The job was simple. I fed them a couple hours late, but everything went late today. Taking care of cats is simple. The standards of taking care of a cat by our instruction are the following:

- give 1/6 cup of food twice a day

- serve clean drinking water once a day

- a clean the litter box; guessing twice a day

- Jessica threw out the cat litter yesterday. She said to do that twice a week; I believe.

The opposite is actually true.

'The phrase “I never knew you” in Matthew 7:23 was changed in the Joseph Smith Translation to “Ye never knew me” (Matthew 7:23, footnote a).' (Come, follow me) [Questions are from the same section.]

How does this change help you better understand what the Lord taught in verses 21–22 about doing His will? 

A doctrinal change is given, for the King James Translation says that Jesus Christ only knows the people, who are faithful to the gospel; however, it is the opposite. Only people, who are faithful to the gospel, truly know Jesus Christ.

How well do you feel you know the Lord? 

I think that I know him well. I read Jesus the Christ by Elder Talmage and the New Testament to learn of his life.

What can you do to know Him better?

I can learn of him more by practicing his attributes; then, I can learn of his thought patterns.

26 February 2019

When I arrived to work, I was surprised to hear that management arranged for me to inspect the completion of RDH's site visit report items. Foreman has never arranged for me to go down the Hydro mobile lift to verify QC items until today. They did take me down to document the first-in-place stone sill installation though.

The crew that took me down the Hydro mobile from floor 15 to 5 was excited to work with me. Kyle & Damin Junior took down with Damin Senior. Damin Senior always says that he wants to set stone with me. I worked with the Damins In California.

People seem to be valuing my work more. Hoffman inquired about my QC reports for the last two days. They actually said that I am doing a good job.

I am happy that we are able to report that we completed the RDH SVR items before we received the report, and I reported their completion within a few hours after the RDH report was forwarded to me.

Trevor, my little brother, called me right at the end of my work as I finished my response to the RDH Report. We talked about tech, friends, and so forth.

I remembered to mail Jessica & I's Passport applications. My work at the project across the street got me instantly on terms with the passport guy at USPS. He set me up with my applications, making things simple.

I practiced taking care of cats today. Jessica usually does it, but she is working nearly twelve hours as a babysitter today.

The job was simple. I fed them a couple hours late, but everything went late today. Taking care of cats is simple. The standards of taking care of a cat by our instruction are the following:

- give 1/6 cup of food twice a day

- serve clean drinking water once a day

- a clean the litter box; guessing twice a day

- Jessica threw out the cat litter yesterday. She said to do that twice a week; I believe.

Today I wrote the following in my scripture study journal:

'The phrase “I never knew you” in Matthew 7:23 was changed in the Joseph Smith Translation to “Ye never knew me” (Matthew 7:23, footnote a).' (Come, follow me) [Questions are from the same section.]

How does this change help you better understand what the Lord taught in verses 21–22 about doing His will? 

A doctrinal change is given, for the King James Translation says that Jesus Christ only knows the people, who are faithful to the gospel; however, it is the opposite. Only people, who are faithful to the gospel, truly know Jesus Christ.

How well do you feel you know the Lord? 

I think that I know him well. I read Jesus the Christ by Elder Talmage and the New Testament to learn of his life.

What can you do to know Him better?

I can learn of him more by practicing his attributes; then, I can learn of his thought patterns.

Learning from the example of the Lord's Prayer

Family Home Evening included watching videos of the Sermon on the Mount and discussing it. I learned from the Lord's Prayer that his example shows that man should express humility to God, seeking his will. Jesus Christ has also expressed that gratitude is appreciated in the story of the Ten Lepers' healing. 

I was reminded of D&C 59:21 "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." I would like to bear unto you my witness that my life would be meaningless without Heavenly Father, and his plan of Happiness. My efforts have not brought me to my station in life, but I trust that God will provide for me. His grace has blessed my best effort, and I express gratitude in this wise often.

25 February 2019

Today Columbia Stone was digesting a big QC bust. QC like safety saves money over the long run especially on a project like the Multnomah County Central Court House, where our scope is way beyond our expertise. QC was never really a priority. This project has been very hard. 

I walked all the floors of the building today, and I was surprised that I nearly have thirty inspections for this week. Progress in welding was so slow that I may have doubted it the passed two weeks. I have not completed many recently.

Family Home Evening included watching videos of the Sermon on the Mount and discussing it. I learned from the Lord's Prayer that his example shows that man should express humility to God, seeking his will. Jesus Christ has also expressed that gratitude is appreciated in the story of the Ten Lepers' healing. 

I was reminded of D&C 59:21 "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." I would like to bear unto you my witness that my life would be meaningless without Heavenly Father, and his plan of Happiness. My efforts have not brought me to my station in life, but I trust that God will provide for me. His grace has blessed my best effort, and I express gratitude in this wise often.

Asking a retired sports columnist about writing side job opportunities.

I engaged in a couple new friendships in my temple service last Saturday; one, a service missionary, and the other, a retired sports columnist. I asked the columnist about writing side job opportunities. He said that newspaper companies don't have the staff to cover all of the events that they desire, and that correspondence writing is an opportunity. I may have used the wrong terminology. One would go to events, and write an article about it. My life is so busy that it would be hard to fit it in. I would have to network with newspaper companies to figure out this opportunity.

24 February 2019

Today I woke up later than my 5 AM routine. I did not get to do much before church. 

During Sacrament meeting a mother talked about her experience with the Holy Ghost. Many people feel the spirit emotionally. She is not one of them. I am the same way. I sympathize with her, feeling disfunctional. Her talk cited an apostle recently stating that it is okay to not feel the spirit regularly. Everyone has a different relationship with God the Father. I wrote that I understand the mind receives promptings from good and bad sources. Fundamentally we have one's spirit, the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The bad side has the natural man and Satan. My good thoughts come from the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. This is how I recognize the Holy Ghost in my life. 

There are different personality such as: abstract artistic thinkers, analytical thinkers, logic oriented people, and emotional empathetic people. The Holy Ghost works with the thought orientation of all man, and he does not work the same way with everyone.

Primary was unique. Two girls in my class had things to glue together. Lewis gave a couple origami crafts to Ember, and she wanted me to glue them together to make a jet plane. Ruby hoped that I could fix a necklace pendent, which she accidentally chipped. Asking Ruby if my gluing work is sufficient, I heard her reply that I hope that my mom does not notice; then, she said that she would tell her mom the truth anyways. I am grateful to be part of this learning experience in her life. Hiding the truth is harmful to human relationships, including ones' relationship with themselves.

After choir we headed straight to my parent-in-law's apartment because Jessica's father started working 5 pm to 5 am. I guessed that he might work for Nike because I had a schedule like that there. My guess was accurate, and I talked about my experience. John & I have a couple companies similar on our resumé. First it was Cutco, and Nike is now on the list.

It is okay if you don't feel the spirit emotionally regularly.

During Sacrament meeting a mother talked about her experience with the Holy Ghost. Many people feel the spirit emotionally. She is not one of them. I am the same way. I sympathize with her, feeling disfunctional. Her talk cited an apostle recently stating that it is okay to not feel the spirit regularly. Everyone has a different relationship with God the Father. I wrote that I understand the mind receives promptings from good and bad sources. Fundamentally we have one's spirit, the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The bad side has the natural man and Satan. My good thoughts come from the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. This is how I recognize the Holy Ghost in my life. There are different personality such as: abstract artistic thinkers, analytical thinkers, logic oriented people, and emotional empathetic people. The Holy Ghost works with the thought orientation of all man, and he does not work the same way with everyone.

23 February 2019

The Portland Temple opened after a three week maintenance closure. This weekend was my first one back working. My schedule, doing ordinance work, was full. 

I engaged in a couple new friendships; one, a service missionary, and the other, a retired sports columnist. I asked the columnist about writing side job opportunities. He said that newspaper companies don't have the staff to cover all of the events that they desire, and that correspondence writing is an opportunity. I may have used the wrong terminology. My life is so busy that it would be hard to fit in. I would have to network with newspaper companies to figure out this opportunity.

This weekend is slow because I made no plans. I caught up on dishes and laundry. 

Raising Stripling Warriors

This morning I finished reading the chapter of Alma 56, introducing the stripling warriors. I wrote that we need to treat the raising generation as stripling warriors because they have the faith to turn the tides of war. Completing the chapter, I learned how stripling warriors were treated as they grew up.

I believe that their valience comes from the faith in God implanted in them by the teaching of their parents. 

And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous...And it came to pass that we did flee before them, northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the Lamanites;... And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did camp for the night... And it came to pass that again, when the light of the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee before them. But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month. 
And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare; Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. 
For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it... 
But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war. (Alma 56:34, 36, 38, 41-48, & 56)

The sons of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people believed that God would divinely protect them; insomuch-that, none of them would die. There were only two thousand of them, and they did not fear the largest and strongest army of the Lamanites; although, none were trained in combat. How could this be true?

The key is faith in Jesus Christ, and the youth obtained it through the teaching of their parents. 

Faith is based on the word of God and revelation. The stripling warriors did not just make up the belief that God would protect them. I believe that the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people fasted and prayed for the preservation of their children's lives, and God granted according to their desires by revelation.

This type of faith is a higher level of faith than the regular standards of belief. The temple recommend interview has many questions similar to the baptismal interview. These questions are the standards of faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each question requires revelations; however, God designed that when an individual learns the truth fulness of the Book of Mormon that all of the questions are affirmed. If God told an individual something, the individual should act based on that knowledge. This is faith. Faith is not a blind belief because people receive revelation and knowledge of God. Faith is also known as an assurance.

One must trust the assurances that an individual is given. Faith weavers in doubt.

The stripling warriors trusted God's word that he would protect them. They would have died, if they doubted. We need to trust in our revelations today, for doubt will destroy faith, knowledge, and revelation, if we don't continually remember them. The stripling warriors would not have this higher level of faith, if they were not raised by stalwart parents in the gospel, teaching of faith in Christ.