Working on Lesson Three

I decided to go to the local library today and try working there for a change.

Work commenced at 11:10 and after I read through a reminder concerning late work, which has not been a problem for me thus far anyway, I dove into studying the information.

I read quotes from Doctrine and Covenants 130:18 and from Elder Dallin H. Oaks concerning about how to choose our learning with great care and discernment, to which I agree. Negative sources or inspirations of learning can only lead to negative choices if there is no opportunity to learn anything different. Positive sources of learning, however, can lead to positive choices, but there needs to be opposition in all things because how else would we learn to use our agency otherwise?

There was then a talk about learning by then Bishop Henry B. Eyring about beating the odds and expectations that others have of you in order to do what you not only desire to do, but that which you feel is right. It's not always easy to do what you feel is right when others speak against you, is it?

Bishop Eyring mentioned three keys to lifelong learning: 1) We are children of God, 2) Be teachable because there is something to learn no matter how old or wise you may think you are, and 3) If we are clean and strive to stay that way, the Holy Ghost can teach us.

 I then was asked by the instructions to read Chapter One, which concerns finding education in the gospel, of President Eyring's book, 'Major Decisions' and I am floored about how many books this man has had time to write with all the service he willingly has given to the Lord all of his life.

A statement about all true things rising with us in the Resurrection is very intriguing, as that refers to the solid knowledge of both temporal and spiritual matters that we gain by both lifelong schooling and the choices we make that affect our eternity. True things include eternal spouses, children, and all that is good and that warms my heart that all true things will remain with us in the eternities.

God truly knows us and will guide us to where and to whom He wants us to involve in our lives.

I took a break around 11:35 for lunch and got a Bento box of sushi and other stuff from the sushi/hot dog vendor in the library. I resumed work at 12:10 p.m.

I started by watching a video called 'Things As They Really Are' and it was about how people access inappropriate digital media and often shut out the world around them by becoming absorbed and deadened by that which repels or deadens the ability to feel the Spirit. People invest time in things that have little or no actual purpose to the grand scheme of things and that's not a bad thing if the use is tempered and the type of media motivates you to learn or to do good.

In the video, Elder Bednar asks if the use of media invites or impedes the Holy Ghost and does the use of media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve?

I then read a sheet of Guidelines of Online Communication and it lists how to not only communicate properly; it also tells how to get messages across effectively and in a manner that is seen as kind.

An article called 'Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet' by Elder M. Russell Ballard followed and it is true that we can use the internet to share the gospel, but many people don't and I am at a loss as to why they don't? As Elder Ballard says, we have ample opportunity to help the world change for the better by being a good example and also show that we are not afraid to show where we stand by sharing our beliefs through the increasing advancements in technology. However, beware Satan because as technology advances, so does his desire to destroy our spirits through increasingly subtle means that appear to be safe, but will deaden our spiritual defenses in reality. Technology continually evolves as does Satan's attempt to try and pull the children of God away from their Heavenly Father.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan used simple fruit disguised as disobedience to bring sin upon the people of God and now, Satan uses media to try and entice people towards disobedience by offering us pieces of fruit that look seemingly innocent.

My studying then took me to the LDS volunteer website where I studied opportunities of volunteering through the Church that could be available to me if I chose to ever pursue that. There are missionary, welfare/humanitarian, media, family history, technology, and other opportunities.

I started the quiz at 12:45 and finished at 1:03 - I ended up getting 100% (20/20) on the first try.

For this week's discussion post, I shared what I would tell someone about the Mormon Message, 'Things As They Really Are.'

I watched the Mormon Message 'Things As They Really Are' and what came to mind is how people value time and the use of it differently than others. If I had the opportunity to talk to someone about this Mormon Message, I would first ask them how they see time and what they spend their time on. Once I had a knowledge of their view and spending habits concerning time, I would ask them what satisfaction or lessons they got from spending their time in such a fashion and if they ever wished they could see or use their time differently than they do?

People invest time in things that have little or no actual purpose to the grand scheme of things and that's not a bad thing if the use is tempered and the type of media motivates you to learn or to do good. In my opportunity to teach people about seeing the value of time and the importance in spending it wisely, I would make sure that they knew that each activity that brings them a feeling of happiness is worth doing, but it is also important to temper the happiness as spending time excessively happy is like eating dessert all of the time; it doesn't leave room for quiet contemplation nor does it bring any opportunity for growth. Growth comes from more than just excessive happiness and though there may be hard times, not all times are hard and we are never alone in any time of our lives that involve growth!

Different things in life happen that cause different emotions and it is important for us to experience, not necessarily dwell in, all these different emotions that come as a result of experiences so that we can come to appreciate the Atonement and the ability Christ has to pull us from the sorrow of sins or weaknesses into moments that will bring us safety and security. I would tell people that seeing things as they really are instead of just focusing on the tunnel vision that excessive focus on technology provides doesn't necessarily protect us from life, but it allows us to seek the divine help we need to endure life as it happens. I think of the saying "come what may and love it," when I think of seeing things as they really are, but the Savior won't leave us alone to endure what comes, for He loves us unconditionally.

 I finished everything at 1:20 p.m. and had a lunch break being from 11:35 to 12:10. Having started at 11:10 a.m., I think I have spent a good deal of time working on my assignments today.