Education

Growing up, school was a challenge for me. I got mostly B and C’s and that was if I tried hard.
I repeated the 3rd grade by choice because I just wasn’t getting it like the others. In high school
I had a science class that my dad and I would pore over the chapter and answer the questions to
the best of our ability. the next day in class I thought “I got this” to find I’ve gotten 3 out of 5 wrong.
So when I graduated High School I was done, no more school for me. Why would I pay for more
school when I didn’t even like it or was very good at it. 

Jump forward to 2014 I was sitting in stake conference and I heard about a program called pathways.
It was a program set up with Byu idaho to help people finish school or start school. Wow that sounds
like a really good program for someone, definitely not me. A few days went by, that’s a good thing
for you. NOPE! Hey that’s a program you should take advantage of. NOPE!  You should really do
this program. oh man I should do this program, this program is good for me rats! I finished the
pathways program and enrolled at BYUI online in Sept of 2015 and can you believe it I have gotten
A’s so far, except for a C in math but I’ll take it. I tell you this not so all of you think I’m great or to
go out and enroll at Byu or even to do the pathways program I tell you that you can do it if you feel
so inclined or get prompted to do so. What’s important is that The Lord wants us to always be
learning. Whether that is going to college, reading a book, taking classes or just studying the scriptures.
My grama Brown couldn’t go to an institute class so she would study with byu professors on the byu
channel.  With the internet you could pick any subject and learn about it. There is so much out there.
And If someone like me who doesn’t even like school can do it certainly you can too.

“Joseph Smith loved learning even though he had few opportunities for formal education.
In his journals, he spoke happily of days spent in study and often expressed his love of
learning. The Prophet Joseph taught, ‘Knowledge does away with darkness, anxiety, and
doubt; for these cannot exist where knowledge is.’" Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 “Your mind is precious! It is sacred. Therefore, the education of one’s mind is also sacred. Indeed, education is a religious responsibility. Of course, our opportunities and abilities will vary a great deal. But, in the pursuit of one’s education, individual desire is more important than is the institution you choose; personal drive is more significant than is the faculty. Our Creator expects His children everywhere to gain an education as a personal endeavor … When you leave this frail existence, your material possessions will remain here, but the Lord has declared that the knowledge you acquire here will rise with you in the resurrection … In light of this celestial perspective, if you impulsively drop out or otherwise cut short your education, you would not only disregard a divine decree but also abbreviate your own eternal potential.” President Nelson

My cousin Archer spoke in church few weeks ago about this same topic he said, “When you gain
knowledge you can teach others” and he also said something to the effect that no matter your age
you can always learn. I like that concept. Nola Ochs in 2007, at the age of 95, graduated from college
and was certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest person in the world to become a college
graduate. So see really at any age you can still be learning. 

I never thought more learning as far as collage goes was for me. But after being in school for a while
I see that I needed to move forward. I think I was kind of stuck in my life. I don’t know what I’m
going to do with my degree when I’m done but I know it’s important to finnish and learn what I can.
If going back to school is something you have been thinking about, I know the Lord will help you like
he does and has for me. As part of the pathways program I needed to take a writing class. I was very
scared because spelling and punctuation were not my strong suit. I mean it’s not until recently that I
learned the difference between there, they're their. I was so sure I was going to fail then what would
be the point of doing this whole school thing. When through my tears one night I heard, you may not
know spelling and punctuation but I do. The Lord wants us to learn so he will help us to accomplish
that task. 

“It is also clear that spiritual learning would not replace our drive for secular learning. The Lord
clearly values what you will find in that history book. And He favors not only Spanish verbs but
also the study of geography. His educational charter requires that we have “a knowledge also of
countries and of kingdoms” (D&C 88:79). There is also an endorsement for questions we study
in the sciences. It is clear that putting spiritual learning first does not relieve us from learning
secular things. On the contrary, it gives our secular learning purpose and motivates us to work
harder at it…Remember, you are interested in education, not just for moral life but for eternal life.”
Elder Eyring

I like the show NCIS, one of the main characters is Gibs, and he always says to his team “learn things.”
One of my examples of someone who “learned things” is my mom. She went back and got her master's
in education after most of her children were grown and she still had my sister Rachel at home, she had
to go down at night but she did it she “learned things.'' Also later in life, several of my sisters went
back to school to “learn things.'' My family to me is a great example of “learning things.” It' not
always easy to "learn things" but it's worth it and it can be fun sometimes.  

I heard the song “I’ll go where you want me to go” last week and it seemed to fit, I’m going to
change the words just a bit.

1. It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I’ll learn what you want me to learn.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I’ll learn what you want me to learn.

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I’ll learn what you want me to learn.