Day 11 - The Word Careful
Day 12 - The Word Centered

Well as you can see, I wasn't very careful to get my blog done yesterday. But as I got myself centered with today's word, I was able to get back on track, and here I am.

One thing I like about all of these words, while they all have different meanings, they all lead to the same place. They all lead to the peace of Jesus Christ. They all lead to the cleansing of the inner vessel. The scriptures lead us to the same place if we are really diligent, but these words help us focus and get to the nitty gritty of the clean up process. I am really grateful for the new approach to "focus".

Careful, like most of these words has more meanings than I had thought of. 1) full of care; anxious; solicitous. Full of care I understood. We all have people we are full of care for and also things and activities. I had to think about anxious though. Our oldest son is going through a serious situation with an arm that his tendon has come unhinged. He has to get it operated on and put back together. It's been too long. His company and the doctors didn't deal with things until it became way overdue. Now we have to hope and pray that the outcome will be positive and thorough. We are very anxious about the carefulness that will be needed to make him as close to 100% again. I had to look up Solicitous. I found out that we are very solicitous regarding his situation. Another benefit of going through these words. We learn pieces of the definitions that we didn't know before. 2) provident; attentive to support and protect. We have definitely done this.3) watchful; cautious; giving good heed. To me this was self evident. At work, I am working on some really steep grades and we definitely have to do that. Most things we do in life require these things. Raising children is certainly one of them. 4) filling with care or solicitude; exposing to concern, anxiety or trouble; full of cares. I especially find these with my children and their families. When I have ah ha moments and wonder why I had to wait 60 years to get this. Then I want my children and grand children to know because I don't think they have 60 years before time as we know it runs out. I do admire those who get it young.

Centered is pretty easy. I know there are many aspects and avenues to be centered on but of course our main one is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the focus of ridding ourselves of the natural man and becoming pure as Christ is pure. I'll be glad when it becomes a reality and not just a distant hope. It sure is nice to recognize improvement isn't it? I think if we stay centered on fully implementing all of these words, we will get there a lot faster. But of course, that is where we are centered isn't it?

Day 10 - The Word Conscious

A very interesting word. For me just staying awake can be a struggle. I get up at 4:15 am on the days I go to work. I have to drive about an hour and 10 minutes to get to and from work. The drive at night isn't so bad but the morning drive can be real hard if I didn't go to bed at least by 9 the night before. It takes a lot of head shaking, yelling and just shear will to make it there with out loosing consciousness. On the way home at 5pm I usually have someone to talk to to help me stay awake. No one is up at 4:15 am or I would call them.

Last night at the Temple, I had a real struggle with this word conscious. My head did not want to remain conscious and I had to fight to stay awake most of the time. The temple isn't a good place to be unconscious.

One of the definitions of conscious is: possessing the faculty or power of knowing one's own thoughts, or mental operations.

When one embarks on a journey as we all are on right now with these words, or when we get immersed in the scriptures daily, It's real easy to identify the good and bad thoughts. Once a determination is made, it is quite easy to separate the two. Then when we determine to not let the bad ones stick around, it becomes more and more easy to send them packing as long as we practice it diligently. If I don't continually put good pondering into it, it is easy to get complacent and slip out of consciousnesses of what I am working on.

Well, I have to go to bed so I can be conscious in the morning and be able to work on being Careful.

Blessings on you.

Day 4 - The Word Composed
Day 5 - The Word Contrite
Day 6 - The Word Compassionate

Day 7 - The Word Coordinated
Day 8 - The Word Constant
Day 9 - The Word Connected

As you can see, I'm way behind.  I didn't realize I was so far behind.

Well it was an interesting week.  On day 4, things didn't go so well.  I was mad at my wife and she was mad at me. So much for being composed.

It all started at work. I was mad at my boss and one of the other workers. The harder I tried to be composed, the worse it got. It was one of those days that the adversary just wouldn't go away. I think the Lord lets us have days like that so we will really appreciate the really good days. Anyway, I came home from work and took it out on my wife. I didn't necessarily know it until Bronwen told me I was guilty. Funny how we see it in everyone else, but often not in our selves. I did know I was fed up with the guys at work though but it turned out I read it all wrong. Big learning day, which leads into Day 5's word...Contrite.

Contrite has something to do with repentance and feeling bad for being out of order. I had a contrite day.

Day 6, Compassionate was a pretty good day. I found myself counting my blessings and grateful the enemy didn't have such a hold on me.

Coordinated, Day 7. I have a damaged hip that is renewing it's self and some days I don't feel very coordinated. I guess the highlight of the day was the realization that coordinated filled a much bigger space than just walking straight.  It was fun to explore the possibilities.

Day 8, Constant. Boy, that is a big one. Much to integrate into life as I looked into and pondered where I am constant and where I am not. I really enjoy this exercise because not only does it cause one to learn the full meaning of the words, but it makes me reflect on where I fall short and where I am strong so I can really go to work on the weaknesses.

Day 9, Connected. We are all so connected in so many ways and directions when we really take time to study it out. I had a unique experience in the Temple tonight. I was having ill feelings toward my wife and hadn't been able to work it out so it would go away. My wife likes to participate in the prayer and they don't like people to participate if you have ill feelings toward anyone there. I couldn't shake it so I wasn't going to participate. I was nervous about that because I didn't want to be angry with her and at the same time I wanted to get rid of it but couldn't. Just as it was about time for this to take place, the spirit swooshed through me and took all the bad feelings away. I was amazed at how fast it can happen when the Spirit takes over and answers our prayers. The bad feelings were so gone, I was able to participate and the feelings I had for the whole group were magnified also. It was good to feel connected

I'm really grateful for this exercise. Each day I look forward to it. My wife really helps me by texting me the word of the day with the definitions for it. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be Conscious so I can work on the broader meanings of that word.

Day Three - The Word Clean

This was a great word for me today. On my way to work I pondered how being Clean helps me to be receptive to the Holy Ghost. As I was driving along, a car came up behind me and followed way to close with his brights on. This happens often especially on this road which is a back road to Tooele (Utah). My normal mental response would be to mentally rebuke and think what a ****** this person was for a few moments before catching my self and then feeling so low for loosing my composure. This morning I simply thought of the word Clean and it took over. So far, all of the words have had this same effect.  It reminds me of all the times someone in church has recommended we pick a hymn to drive away the negative thoughts and acts. I never managed to make that happen. I guess I thought it took to long to go through a song. Also without the book, I don't have many songs that I can remember all of the words. With one word it is easy and very specific.

Through out the work day, there are many different distractions that can take my mind where it shouldn't go. I work with some of the most foul folks you can imagine. They can be very likable and good in many ways but they definitely don't share the virtues that I seek for. This week all I have had to do is summon my word of the day. I especially liked today's word though. It feels good to be clean and make good choices.

Day 2 - The Word Clear


Today's word wasn't as interesting as yesterdays word, Contained. It seemed harder to focus on yet I did find myself asking myself if I was Clear for the Holy Ghost to be able to communicate with me from time to time. All in all, I still did well because, like yesterday, each time I did something out of line, I found myself backing up and taking the higher road while thinking of the word Clear.

Day 1 - The Word Contained.

Last night, my wife, my daughter and I sat on the bed and brainstormed. We told each other things that were positive about each other. No one could argue or gasp or comment. we could only write down what one of the other said about us. It reminded me of a situation in court where my attorney ask my wife to collect some character reference letters from people that knew me.  I didn't know I was such a great guy. It's good to do exercises like this. It gives us positive platforms to launch anew from.

Today, our word of the day was "Contained". The admonition was to focus on that word for the full day. Each time I found myself  having a negative or judgmental thought or attitude, I thought of that word and was immediately able to get my self contained. I liked it.  My wife had a good experience with it also. I think I am going to like this assignment.

It's an honor to be asked to be a part of this project. I hope I can get as much from it as the women are projected to achieve.

Probably the best thing I can get out of this is just recording the thoughts and activities going on in my life. I love growing and achieving new heights of awareness.

I hope I can be of some benefit to those who read this blog. I know I have grown much, in the past, from the things I've learned from the people who have put this program together.