Gathering # 1

Tonight, I attended the first Institute class of the three semesters worth of classes that are required as part of the Pathway Program and I was horrified to discover that I couldn't connect to the building's internet connection on my laptop, but I didn't end up needing the laptop this week anyway.

The teacher for the Institute class is Brother Gold and the topic is 'Foundations of the Restoration' with the first lessons being 'A Marvelous Work and a Wonder' and 'The First Vision.' I took a copious amount of notes, which I will add later on. Needless to say, the class was very insightful.

After the class, which lasted from 6 to 7:30, the Pathway missionaries and the.  students gathered for the Pathway gathering. Elder Gilmour explained about the lead students and how they facilitate weekly gatherings every week and he also compared Pathway groups to family groups, as the group will eventually become a family. Sister Gilmour then invited us to give our names, unique facts about ourselves, and how we ended up coming into the Pathway program.

I said, "My name is Heather Cameron, three unique things about myself are that I served a mission at the Bishop's Storehouse for a year, I play clarinet, and I helped with proxy sealings at the temple. I don't know what brought me to Pathway, but I know I am supposed to be here."

There were subsequent discussions about how to be a lead student and how that there are both lead students and observing students, who will be the lead students for the next gathering. After each gathering, the lead students, the observing student, and the missionaries meet to discuss the evening's teaching in an encouraging manner.

The Gilmours then said that the Lord makes a way for us and we don't have to be a great speaker, but do our best and follow the Spirit. Sister Gilmour emphasized that we would all become a family.

The evening's spiritual thought was given by Sister Gilmour and it talked about caterpillars; it talked about how they are and how, like caterpillars, we will eventually realize that we are meant for something important, but we need to put forth work and effort in order to become better.

We are currently caterpillars in Pathway, but we will come out of it radiant and majestic.

In 2nd Corinthians 5:17, it says that through Christ, all can become new.