Lesson 4 Preparation

I came to the library to work this afternoon since I was unable to yesterday because of Canadian Thanksgiving. I began working at 12:10 p.m.

Lesson 4 is about Career Planning and Academic Exploration and I find that very interesting. I first had to watch a testimonial video about a couple who has done Pathways, Kameron and Chad Lemon from Nampa, Idaho. I enjoyed their attitude through the video, as it was filled with humor.

I like Pathways because it adapts to your life and you don't have to adapt your life to it. Most of it, save for a weekly gathering, can be done online and you can actually set aside time for it instead of being held to an uncompromising schedule. Even if you get married, have kids, or are doing other things in your life, Pathway is very possible and it opens the door for students to pursue an online degree after the year of General Studies, English, and Math, as well as Institute classes.

This testimonial said there are physical and spiritual benefits to Pathways and even though I've only been in the program since September, I see and believe it to be true. In most secular education, there would be a conflict of beliefs because those of world religions or those of no religion often clash with those who carry LDS beliefs because both sides have a tendency not to want to understand the other side; they often want to think they are right and nothing else but their point has valid views and Pathway helps me to think of different views and that being open-minded is essential, as it invites the Spirit and the Spirit helps promote further learning.

At the end of the year in Pathway, I would love to pursue an online degree to be able to get a better job just in case marriage and a future family isn't mine to be had yet. However, I will also trust the Lord and His timing and if He wants me to do more education after this, He will open the way and give me a clear idea of what He wants me to do and how He wants me to go about it.

The second part of the lesson preparation was to explore the section discussing degree options. One can do their degree online, on campus, or take their credits to other educational institutions where the credits may transfer, as credits from BYU-Idaho can transfer to lots of other schools.

I then read an article that was called 'Job Hunting According to Nephi' that was written by Edgar Tooley and it talked about how it is necessary to be humble in order to seek the help of the Lord in whatever predicament we find ourselves in, as He knows what will be best for us and can guide us in that direction if we are willing to allow ourselves to be taught. If we are not teachable or humble enough to realize that we may not always know what is best, why would the Lord want to help us find our way? The Lord is willing to help us, but only if we want to be helped and we are humble enough to realize that we NEED His help and sometimes, the Lord will allow us to have experiences that will help us realize that we need His help and cannot do without it.

Isn't it fascinating that we are given so many opportunities to do better and we are also given the Atonement so that we can do more than just dare to dream; we can dare to act? However, with all the opportunities we are given, the Lord doesn't just hand them to us; He invites us to go out and use our agency to pursue what we want and feel would be best for us even though it might not be the best thing in reality? Our choices make our reality and reality sometimes makes our choices for us, but we always have the Atonement to come home to if we come to find that we do not know what is best.

I like the scripture that was mentioned, 1 Nephi 16:30 about heeding what we are given and though the Lord admonishes us to do that exact thing, He does not order us. The Lord teaches us, explains that choices have consequences, and then leaves us to use our agency as we will.

Principles learned from this talk:
-Personal responsibility.
-Making/Following a Plan.
-Speaking Up for Yourself: Say what you want instead of just wishing for it.
-God's/Christ's Promises are Solid.

I then turned my attentions to the O*Net Interest Online Profiler. Before I did it, however, I took a brief break for a snack. There were 60 questions on a scale from extremely dislike to extremely like and my results were very interesting indeed.

Anyway, the Sections of the O*Net are Interests, Results, Job Zones, and Careers. The careers I am best suited for is a very interesting list and I find it rather amusing to explore.

Then came the open-note quiz, which I began at 1:11 and as I was about to submit, the server went beserk and booted me off. I restarted my computer and restarted the quiz at 1:27, at which point I checked my answers over and submitted. I got 100% even though it was a short quiz.

I then went to the Discussion Board and made my initial post for Week 4. Some of it came from my notes, as I often use this as a brainstorm board, and I also added a little more.

I finally finished my Lesson 4 Preparation work at 1:43 p.m.

Teach A Friend Activity & Learning Report

I taught my mom this week's lesson while we were doing laundry at the laundromat, as it provides time for us to be together without distractions around us. I began with a scripture concerning intelligence, Doctrine and Covenants 130:18 and talked about how God gives us different degrees of intelligence, which are different levels of knowledge. He does this when we make ourselves open and take enough courage into ourselves to act in faith, thereby letting ourselves be ready for new experiences that come as a result of applying knowledge to agency.

I then went on to explain that lifelong learning is not limited to this life, but we need to practice our knowledge of the next life that we get now through temple ordinances and through other experiences so that we can be prepared to enter the next life when it comes our time to leave mortality. I went on to say that if we believe we can learn, we will want to and that if we put effort into learning, we will find things that interest us and interest in a particular facet of knowledge can serve as motivation for us to keep learning.

From there, I went on to explain that there are two reasons a person does something; desire to do it or the demand from someone else that it be done. We may not like heeding another person's request that something be done, such as learning, but if we accept the responsibility that comes with acquiescing to the demand, we will most likely learn much depending on the attitude we take into it and we could end up desiring to learn even more hereafter.

We then went on to discuss digital media and after reading a quote from the Strength of Youth booklet about how we live in a day of technology that can be both a help and a harm to us depending on how and how much they are used, I explained that in terms of digital media, time involved in it should be allocated wisely. I said that people often become absorbed by what appears appealing and is not really there instead of focusing on the things that are going on around them. Because of their misguided focus on technological fascinations, I explained, people can often miss out on opportunities to interact with others, learning opportunities, and opportunities to do good things with and for others around them.

When Mom and I were discussing lifelong learning, she said that she is surprised about how much she has learned through her life, but she also wishes that she had known in her 20's what she knows now, as the knowledge would have helped her to avoid making so many mistakes.

We then went on to the topic of being willing to not only learn, but practice what we learn so that we can be ready for eternity when it is our time to leave mortality and that got me thinking about the struggle my father had when he was dying. He had not made the best choices during his time in mortality, so he fought very hard to keep from dying because he was not ready to die and he knew it so much that he tried to stop it.

Because of seeing what limited learning and a barrage of poor choices did to my father, who was a very brilliant, yet misunderstood man, I have made the effort to be very selective in my learning and in my associations as I have continued to grow over the years. Not long before he was diagnosed with cancer through the very unfortunate incident of weed-whipping his leg and finding that it would not heal, my dad was set to go to a job interview that would most likely result in a return to work after an accident and a short time time in a rehabilitation facility for his alcoholism. However, he ended up in the hospital for his leg and circumstances ended up being such that he could not go to the interview and although it was hard for him, I sensed that God was effectively stopping him from returning to trucking. If Dad were to return to trucking, I felt that God knew that he would return to being a drinker and the abusive personality that came with it would also return. Instead, God gave us tender mercies through my dad's illness that allowed us all to connect in ways that had never been possible before.

Hence, because of that negative example, I am very selective in not only my learning, but who I associate with. I feel strongly that the type of people you associate yourself with is the type of people you eventually emulate and the type of spirit you will come to adapt. Mom said that she feels like associating with the right people might become more difficult after she is finished school, as she wants to work in an office job that surrounds her with predominantly LDS people, but that it may or may not happen.

We concluded our discussion by discussing that by being absorbed in media and forgetting the world around you can, as it said in the lesson material, cause a person to miss out on academic opportunities, vocational opportunities, and cherished human relationships. My brother currently teaches Accounting courses at a local vocational school and after work, he goes home and becomes absorbed in different technologies, forgetting to socialize like a young man of his age should. My mother and I are both concerned about this, but all we can do is spend time with him, love him, and trust that he will come out of his shell when he feels ready to.

 Ever since I started Pathway, I find myself enjoying learning different things about how I can be and how much better I am becoming because I don't look at myself so critically, as the Savior would not want me to do that. I used to be so critical of myself and therefore, it was really easy for me to just let others be critical of me even though I knew deep down I was a child of God, but I didn't have the courage to stand up for myself.

Through this course, I am learning that I am very loved by Christ and that the Atonement is there to help me not only stand up for what I believe in, but to also assert myself as a child of God to both myself and those who try to say I am not. I may have a disability, but Christ looks beyond those and sees that my heart is full of love for others and that I am capable of sharing that with others. I am but a weak and simple minded person, but I can become strong and steady with the help of my Savior.

Post Lesson # 3 Work

I started working on the post gathering work at 12:45 today and I did it from home because Mom was too sick to go to school and I should be here if she needs something.

The application activity, or reflection time, was first on the agenda. It talked about what we want to learn and when, but there is not a start date or finish date for such learning, as it is LIFELONG.

I really want to learn how to socialize better in group settings, as that is a weakness of mine with the disability that I have, because I need to learn social skills in order to successfully navigate friendships and any potential relationships that might come to pass. Pathway gatherings and the institute class beforehand, plus attending church and any church-related activities, are helping to become more comfortable in social settings and the group activities are helping me to become more comfortable with talking to people. However, I still need to keep putting myself in social situations so I can develop deeper interpersonal relationships and it does not hurt for me to read books or utilize social media in order to develop and practice skills that I need to develop personal relationships necessary to my eternal progress. I do not think there is a specific start date for when I want to initiate or stop learning better social/communication skills, as it is something I am continually working on and my goal is to keep working on it, as I will always need to be able to communicate with others around me.

In terms of media use, I work very hard to try and watch programs that invite the Spirit and also educate me to what kind of person I want to become. If I have the Spirit, I know it is easier for me to work on becoming a better person, so I try to watch things on TV or engage in Internet activities that will help the Spirit feel safe in my environment. If I am engaging in good TV or internet activities, I feel more compelled to want to take anything I may learn from either source, as you can learn very valuable things through media sources, and apply it to situations where I can be of help to others and try to make whatever they are going through less burdensome on them.

If I have the Spirit with me as a result of utilizing good media, I will be able to be more aware of the needs of those around me and be able to perhaps make their burdens lighter as the Savior wants me to and thus, I try very hard to do things that would allow the Spirit to stay with me at all times. If there is something that does not invite the Spirit, I evaluate what kind of content I am viewing and change to some other activity that I know will make the Spirit feel safe and welcome.

My short-term goal concerning the use of media is to continually evaluate what I watch or view on the Internet and how it makes me feel. If I can feel the Spirit and I feel motivated to do good or engage in pleasant activities, I will know what I am doing is right and will probably keep engaging in it. If what I am engaging in makes me feel uneasy and negative, however, I will stop what I am doing and ask myself if what I am doing is helping or harming me and if I feel like it is harmful, I will switch over to an activity that will invite the Spirit and any accompanying promptings.

I then had to practice the online communication principles by writing a practice email.

I began my email with a proper introduction and a clear explanation as to the purpose of my email. I then followed that explanation with a summary of my skills and strengths so to provide the recipient with opportunities that might be useful in their effort to provide me with sufficient help. I was very clear and to the point with what I wanted and also in that I knew that the recipient could potentially provide assistance based on what I had heard from others, thereby complimenting and acknowledging their strengths and/or abilities, as people always welcome comments on what they do well. I ended the communication by expressing gratitude to them for taking time out of their busy day to acknowledge that I had written to them and expressed the desire to hear some sort of reply when they had the time to do so.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has been one of the very few constants in my life and growing up within a family in which my father struggled with alcohol and nicotine addiction and brought forth a great deal of unpredictability as a result, I was very grateful for any constant I could get my hands on. After spending 10 years in High River where there is at least a ward and somewhat of a good influence to be found among people, my family moved to Nanton, Alberta for nearly two years. Nanton had few members and very terrible influences that could and would change a good person into something unrecognizable unless they were strong and bravely stayed away from the influence. was young and easily impressionable, wanting anyone as a friend who would take the time to overlook my disability and that worried my mother to no end and so because of a spiritual prompting, we ended up moving away from that place and to a place called Raymond.

Raymond was overly strong in the Church until the summer before I entered seventh grade and being around so many members and spiritually positive influences pretty much saved me from going down a very dark path. Because of my disability, it took me time to adjust to the strong spiritual influence and although it was very socially difficult at times, I eventually developed a love and appreciation for God, Jesus Christ, and the everlasting gospel as I grew older and it was a wonderful blessing to have that constant in a part-member family where all was not peaceful most of the time.

As I grew older and began to absorb more knowledge of the gospel, I came to appreciate the Atonement and how it could not only help me turn my weaknesses into strengths, but it could also help me to forgive my father of the problems he had caused our family with his addictions and when I did forgive him, I felt free. Having the Spirit help me be able to forgive my father when I did was a very fortunate thing, as he became sick with a very rare and untreatable cancer at the end of July 2014 and as he neared death, I did not have to focus on what I had already forgiven and could instead focus on being there for both my mother and him as he went through the agony of what closing in on death is. My dad passed away on October 26, 2014 and because of being there for his death, his final blessing from our bishop, and for the majority of the process, I came to have an appreciation for the Plan of Salvation and how the Atonement can help those on the other side of the veil who could not grow anymore in mortality.

The whole experience with my dad taught me that God does care about what happens to people and that Christ died so that He could be the Lord of both the living and the dead, thereby offering the dead a chance to have what they could not have in mortality for whatever reason. In my father's final blessing, there was mention of rose colored glasses soon being removed and I know that because of the Atonement, all of us can have our rose colored glasses removed and I am grateful that I can see the gospel for what it really is and what it can do and be for us because the Atonement helped me to overcome myself.

Discussion Post Replies:
You are right in that we are the ones who are the barriers to our own success simply because we allow fear to overrule our faith and the faith that the Lord has in us to accomplish something He asks us to do. If The Lord has faith in us, we need to stop lacking faith in ourselves and know that the Lord will provide us a way to accomplish what He asks of us.

I find it rather amusing that people doubt each other and themselves all the time when we are given both knowledge and opportunities to help us learn and grow. People automatically think they will screw up, so they do not even bother to try and end up surrendering any opportunities to learn simply because they were scared of failure. It is better to fail having tried your best than to having never tried and cheated yourself out of an opportunity. Am I right?

Is it not the nature of the Holy Spirit of God to go only where it feels safe going and to whom it feels safe dwelling with? If we make a safe environment for the Spirit by engaging in positive and uplifting activities that motivate us to do good and live well, the Spirit will want to be with us so we can become even better at living well. If we engage in activities that do not motivate us to do anything good or wholesome, however, why would the Spirit want to stay with us when we have clearly asked it to go away by engaging in immoral or other negative pursuits? Negativity makes the Spirit feel unsafe.

Took a break at 2:00 p.m.

Pathway Gathering # 5

I began with a scripture concerning intelligence, Doctrine and Covenants 130:18 and talked about how God gives us different degrees of intelligence, which are different levels of knowledge. He does this when we make ourselves open and take enough courage into ourselves to act in faith, thereby letting ourselves be ready for new experiences that come as a result of applying knowledge to agency.

I then went on to write that lifelong learning is not limited to this life, but we need to practice our knowledge of the next life that we get now through temple ordinances and through other experiences so that we can be prepared to enter the next life when it comes our time to leave mortality. I went on to say that if we believe we can learn, we will want to and that if we put effort into learning, we will find things that interest us and interest in a particular facet of knowledge can serve as motivation for us to keep learning.

From there, I went on to write that there are two reasons a person does something; desire to do it or the demand from someone else that it be done. We may not like heeding another person's request that something be done, such as learning, but if we accept the responsibility that comes with acquiescing to the demand, we will most likely learn much depending on the attitude we take into it and we could end up desiring to learn even more hereafter.

I then wrote some notes on digital media and after reading a quote from the Strength of Youth booklet about how we live in a day of technology that can be both a help and a harm to us depending on how and how much they are used, I wrote that in terms of digital media, time involved in it should be allocated wisely. I wrote that people often become absorbed by what appears appealing and is not really there instead of focusing on the things that are going on around them. Because of their misguided focus on technological fascinations, I explained in my writing, people can often miss out on opportunities to interact with others, learning opportunities, and opportunities to do good things with and for others around them.

I then went on to the topic of being willing to not only learn, but practice what we learn so that we can be ready for eternity when it is our time to leave mortality. I am very selective in not only my learning, but who I associate with. I feel strongly that the type of people you associate yourself with is the type of people you eventually emulate and the type of spirit you will come to adapt.

By being absorbed in media and forgetting the world around you can, as it said in the lesson material, cause a person to miss out on academic opportunities, vocational opportunities, and cherished human relationships.

The gathering was very good, as was the Institute class beforehand.

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.

Post Lesson 2 Activity

The Learning Activity for Lesson 2 was to take notes about meaningful things from a video and then from another transcript or video, practice the Cornell Note Taking Method.

After that, there were questions about the advantages and disadvantages of the learning model and I put a lot of thought into those answers, as I LIKE getting good grades on the assignments.

An advantage to using the Cornell note-taking system are being able to pick out what is important to us in each thing we learn, simplify it enough so that we can have a way to retain the information. By using simple words or phrases to help us remember what we have learned, we can also use those phrases to help us remember why those things are important.

 

Another advantage to using the Cornell system is being able to use simplified versions of learned information to help me remember greater amounts of information, as using single word or phrase to define something can help us remember a larger definition and also help us figure out how to apply the information in our lives.

 

The disadvantages of the Cornell note-taking system are having to simplify the notes that are taken from what is being taught, as it is sometimes very hard to simplify pieces of information simply because they are so profound.

 

Another disadvantage is trying to remember all of the steps in the method when it may be easier to just take notes, simplify for easier retention, and reflect on what was learned and I am not saying the extra steps are a bad thing, but they can be easily forgotten if the method is not practiced a lot.

 

An advantage of using the Cornell note-taking system are being able to simplify information that was learned so that the brain does not become overwhelmed, as if the brain is presented with too much information, it will become overwhelmed and forget everything that was learned. Being able to simplify recorded information allows the brain to have smaller bits and pieces to process and allows for greater retention.

 

Another advantage of the system is being able to take time away from the information and not only think about how the information makes you feel, but also be able to record your opinions and feelings on what you have learned, as having emotions about information helps you to better retain the information.

 

A disadvantage of the system is having to go through the recorded notes and not only decide what is important enough to simplify, but how to go about simplifying things in a way that will still allow for retaining of the information.

 

Another disadvantage of the Cornell system is with a large amount of information to record and simplify, important information may be lost in the process of simplifying recorded information. Everyone has different definitions of what information is important and when it is and if important information is lost in the process of simplification, people's reaction to the loss of information also varies. I get nervous about having to simplify recorded information because sometimes what I might think important might not be and what turns to be important I might not think it to be and not include it in the simplifying process.

 

In terms of what note-taking method I prefer, it honestly depends on the information that is being learned and how much needs to be retained for examination purposes and/or the purpose of applying it to life in general. Even in the Pathway program, there are some pieces of information like definitions and talks in which the Cornell method would be better, but with other pieces of information like scriptures and being taught by peers, it is better to use a more detailed method of note taking because you might miss something if you don't record enough detail.

 

I spent about 40 minutes on work in the morning, maybe more, and didn't even finish.

I borrowed my mom as a student for the 'Teach a Friend' portion of the exercise and I taught her about Disciple Learning and about the Cornell note taking system while we were at the nearby laundromat doing our laundry. It took 20 minutes or more to do the teaching exercise.

I taught my mother about Disciple Leadership and also about the Cornell note-taking system while we were doing our laundry at the nearby Laundromat. I started the lesson by sharing about what being a disciple means and to me, being a disciple means being someone who commits to a cause they feel is worthwhile, such as one serving in Christ's name, and doing so for the purpose of learning and growing. I also explained that Matthew 6:33 states that a commitment to God will bring forth more blessings once we show that our commitment is firm.

My mom said that serving is not about the person doing it, but about their serving God and she also added that such a commitment should be done in a puffed up manner.

When I taught Mom that leadership with a small l means loving and serving as the Savior did, she said that people should lead and serve humbly.

We also discussed that all sacred buildings are disciple preparation centers, as they have the Lord's Spirit and the Spirit is waiting there to teach those who are willing to learn. I further explained that through using our agency properly, we can be in a spiritual position to learn faith in Christ, that faith is a gift from God, and that faith and preparation dispels fear as President Uchtdorf taught in the lesson materials.

I also taught the steps and reasoning of Cornell note taking to Mom and she found my explanation very easy to understand, had no questions, and indicated that she might use the same method at some point, as she will be starting a three month course at a local vocational school on Monday.

In teaching lessons about leadership and organization via note taking to a friend, I feel like I am also teaching myself about why these qualities are important to learn and practice. I confess that I am not the most organized person or one who finds leading easy, but I have a lot of faith that the Lord told me to take this program so that I could learn organization skills and lessons on how to lead so that I would be able to serve as a leader in various situations both now and in the future.

I also have shaky self-confidence and through learning about how I can be better, I can actually take what I learn and put it into practice. I also find that praying for the Spirit to be with me each and every day so that I can make correct decisions and be proud of the time used definitely helps me to keep calm and do well in the face of difficult situations.

 

I focused on learning and applying the principle that leadership with a small l is loving and serving as the Savior did by reaching out and assisting others when they did not know something that I did. I was able to not only practice confidence by utilizing opportunities to be of service of others and to God, but I was also able to practice develop my confidence in communicating with others.

 

My confidence is shaky when it comes to communicating with other people effectively and I practiced trying to become better at it simply by talking to others and being a help when there were things that people needed help with. Each time I get the chance to practice talking to people and working within a group, my confidence becomes stronger with the Spirit helping me be able to do what I need to do in order to get the most out of learning.

 

 I have to confess that even with the aid of the Spirit, I find communicating effectively with people is still difficult because sometimes I explain things in a way that people do not quite understand. When that happens, I try to explain it in a different way or break it down into bits that people may not fully understand, but might comprehend enough to know what I am trying to communicate.

I spent about half an hour finishing the rest of the work and finished at about 8:05 p.m.

Lesson 2 - Pathway Gathering # 3 - October 1, 2015

Institute itself was very interesting and I am grateful that I have to take it as part of Pathways, as I am learning new things about every aspect of the gospel that I didn't know before. I will post more later.

For the Pathway gathering, we discussed Disciple Leadership and also the steps of the Cornell Note Taking Method. A disciple is someone who commits to serving Christ and actually does it, as a commitment requires action before it can be considered an actual commitment.

We also learned about leadership with a small l and it is serving and loving as Christ did.

Three specific things we can learn from disciple preparation, according to President Uchtdorf, are:
1) Faith in Christ.
2) Faith is a gift from God.
3) Faith and preparation dispels fear.

There are three reasons why BYU-Idaho is a strong place to learn and grow, but I'm sure there are more..
1)It is a temple of learning.
2) It is next to the temple.
3) It is surrounded by strong stakes.

We then learned about the five steps involved in Cornell Note Taking which are 1) Record, 2) Reduce, 3) Recite, 4)Reflect, and 5) Review. The student who was teaching them had us practice these steps by telling us a story about Nelson Mandela, having us take notes according to the method, and then quizzing us according to the notes we had taken.

There are many purposes and reasons to use effective note taking skills, but the thing to remember is that one should always pray before studying in order to have the help of the Spirit.