Education in Real Life

Hi Lovelies!

The article I chose comes from the October 2002 Ensign by President Henry B. Eyring, entitled "Education in Real Life." Here's the link to this absolutely inspiring and rejuvenating article:

http://lds.org/ensign/2002/10/education-for-real-life?lang=eng

Maybe it's because the Spring semester is starting for me on Monday, and I have spent the last two days revising my students' syllabus and first week's lesson plans. Or maybe it's because I am hoping to start grad school either this Fall or next Winter, and perhaps considering getting a teaching certificate that will enable me to also teach high school. But whatever the reason, I felt really drawn to this article.

I love the title: Education in REAL LIFE. My real life is very different from my life when I was in undergrad, and I am sure you all can agree with me. There is soooo much to be done, and soooo little time, it seems! So many demands, so many responsibilities, now that I am a full adult. Which is why I love President' Eyring's reminder on time:

"There is another way to look at your problem of crowded time. You can see it as an opportunity to test your faith. The Lord loves you and watches over you. He is all-powerful, and He promised you this: 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matt. 6:33).

That is a true promise. When we put God’s purposes first, He will give us miracles. If we pray to know what He would have us do next, He will multiply the effects of what we do in such a way that time seems to be expanded. He may do it in different ways for each individual, but I know from long experience that He is faithful to His word."

And what is education, really, if not the process of taking on new understanding and being open to new experiences? If I allow myself to be open to new spiritual insight and understanding, then I can apply it to my daily application of growth and knowledge.

I also love how he reminds us that education is beyond graduation day. It is a lifelong process, and yes, even duty! Guess I better brush up on my algebra ;)

He states, "Let’s start with the purpose of our learning. The Lord and His Church have always encouraged education to increase our ability to serve Him and our Heavenly Father’s children. For each of us, whatever our talents, He has service for us to give. And to do it well always involves learning, not once or for a limited time, but continually."

President Eyring referenced the following scripture in D&C 88:76 - 80. I have always heard verses 76 - 78 mentioned and studied, but never enough of 79 and 80. The Lord expects us to be constantly educating ourselves - be it formally in the classroom or informally, like being open to new experiences and view points. This form of learning - the spiritual and temporal - in the end truly prepares us for real life.

Or in other words, Eternal Life.

This Do in Remembrance of Me

Hello friends,
Welcome to the start of a new year! I am actually excited for this year and for the possibilities that are waiting to be discovered. We left off last year with me. I thought I would post this wonderful talk from Elder Holland about the sacrament. I used this talk in December for a RS lesson on the sacrament. I have to admit that with two small kids and some feelings over being overwhelmed, I often forgot to focus on the beauty and meaning of the sacrament. Thanks to Liz and our new church bags I have come around and found a few minutes to find a spiritual nugget or two during sacrament meeting.

Here's the link:
http://lds.org/general-conference/1995/10/-this-do-in-remembrance-of-me-?lang=eng

I loved this talk because I felt like it gave me a renewed purpose during the sacrament. I, of course, love my Savior but I need help renewing that love and helping it grow and develop. I have often distorted my own levels of worthiness and allowed the Adversary to keep me locked up in guilt prison and because of that, I shy away from the Savior. The sacrament has been difficult at times. But I have been learning about the gift of repentance (see my post on repentance...) and feeling the mercy that the Savior has for me. I have become much more tender in a mature way of His great love for us. That, first and foremost, is why I take the sacrament. I take it in remembrance of Him.

Elder Holland says it best, "With a crust of bread, always broken, blessed, and offered first, we remember his bruised body and broken heart, his physical suffering on the cross where he cried, “I thirst,” and finally, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (John 19:28; Matt. 27:46.)

The Savior’s physical suffering guarantees that through his mercy and grace (see 2 Ne. 2:8) every member of the human family shall be freed from the bonds of death and be resurrected triumphantly from the grave. Of course the time of that resurrection and the degree of exaltation it leads to are based upon our faithfulness.

With a small cup of water we remember the shedding of Christ’s blood and the depth of his spiritual suffering, anguish which began in the Garden of Gethsemane. There he said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matt. 26:38). He was in agony and “prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

The Savior’s spiritual suffering and the shedding of his innocent blood, so lovingly and freely given, paid the debt for what the scriptures call the “original guilt” of Adam’s transgression (Moses 6:54). Furthermore, Christ suffered for the sins and sorrows and pains of all the rest of the human family, providing remission for all of our sins as well, upon conditions of obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel he taught (see 2 Ne. 9:21–23). As the Apostle Paul wrote, we were “bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20). What an expensive price and what a merciful purchase!"

I love the last part of his talk! I almost want to copy & paste it in case someone can't read the original talk. A few excerpts from it: "We could remember his magnificent but virtually unknown foster father, a humble carpenter by trade who taught us, among other things, that quiet, plain, unpretentious people have moved this majestic work forward from the very beginning, and still do so today. If you are serving almost anonymously, please know that so, too, did one of the best men who has ever lived on this earth.

We could remember Christ’s miracles and his teachings, his healings and his help. We could remember that he gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and motion to the lame and the maimed and the withered. Then, on those days when we feel our progress has halted or our joys and views have grown dim, we can press forward steadfastly in Christ, with unshaken faith in him and a perfect brightness of hope (see 2 Ne. 31:19–20)."

I loved the above paragraph. Not only can I think of the stories of all of Christ's teachings and miracles but I can also look into my own life and see His hand constantly in my own life. Physically, I have my vision, hearing and strength. But there have been so many times I was blind, deaf or just felt maimed and withered. Each time I know that Heavenly Father has heard my silent prayers and helped me. My Savior has healed me repeatedly because He truly is the Master Physician. 

I am so thankful for this talk. I needed the opportunity to reconnect with the sacrament. I know sometimes it's hard for one reason or another to focus during the sacrament. But I encourage each of us to find a few moments to connect with the Savior during this beautiful ordinance. 

Hugs!