My Foundation: Seek Learning—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

Ponder:How does learning create opportunity?

Watch:“Education for a Better Life,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 61.)

Education for a Better Life

If you are unable to watch the video, read this script.

Elder Joseph W. Sitati: At 13 I lived in a very rural part of Kenya. People had very little. But those who seemed to afford the things that others admired were those who had a good education. I came to see that education was a key to a better life.

The thought kept coming to me to go and speak to the principal of one of the schools that I really desired to attend. I needed my father’s bicycle to make this journey that took half a day. I had never been out of my village. I did not know how to speak English very well, and this principal was a white man. I had never before met or spoken directly to a white man, so this was an intimidating thought.

Something inside me kept pushing me along and telling me that I should do this, so I set off to visit the principal. As I looked at him I could see that he was quite surprised to see this young boy standing like a soldier in front of him. He had kind eyes, so that gave me courage. I told him that I really wanted to join his school and I would be very happy if he could take me. Then he said, “Well, we’ll see when the test results are out.” I said, “Thank you, sir.” In less than four minutes I was out of the office.

Those four minutes I spent in that office really were the defining moments in my life. I was the only student from my primary school who was selected to one of the best schools in our area. The fact that this good man had given me this opportunity made me grateful, and it inspired me to strive to be the best student in my class.

That opened new opportunities for me to go to another good school and then to prepare for university. My education enabled me to find my wife at university. It enabled me to find a job in the city. While living in Nairobi, we came across a missionary couple that invited us to their home, where they were having meetings with those who are members of the Church. If I had not been in Nairobi at that time, I would never have found the gospel. The fact that I was in a secure job enabled me to serve in the Church.

I testify that education is a key to self-reliance. It will open many avenues for you to be able to provide for yourself temporally and to become spiritually self-reliant as well.

Back to page 58.

Discuss:What did Elder Joseph W. Sitati want when he was 13? What did he do about it?

Read:Doctrine and Covenants 88:118–19 and the quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley (on the right)

“Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. … Establish a house … of learning.”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:118–19

“We have a responsibility and a challenge to take our places in the world of business, science, government, medicine, education, and every other worthwhile and constructive vocation. We have an obligation to train our hands and minds to excel in the work of the world for the blessing of all mankind.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, “A City upon a Hill,” Ensign, July 1990, 5

Ponder:What thoughts and impressions have you had from the Holy Ghost about improving your life?

Activity—Creating a “Life’s Mission”

Step 1: Read the quote by President Henry B. Eyring (on page 59). The Lord has a plan for you. He has blessed you with special gifts and talents that will allow you to become anything He desires you to become. You can fulfill your mission here on earth if you are diligent in seeking to understand and obey His will for you.

“Plead that the Spirit will show you what the Lord wants you to do. Plan to do it. Promise Him to obey. Act with determination until you have done what He asked. And then pray … to know what you might do next.”

Henry B. Eyring, “Act in All Diligence,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 63

Step 2: Answer the questions below to start creating your vision or “life’s mission.”

Commit:Commit to do the following actions during this week. Check the box when you complete each action.

• Complete the following goals and mentor activities.

• Finish writing your “life’s mission” plan and discuss it with your family.

• Ask someone to be your mentor and set a time to meet.

Activity—Creating Goals

Step 1: Read the quote from President Howard W. Hunter (on the right). Through goals, our hopes are transformed into action.

“This is a gospel of repentance, and we need to be repenting and resolving. Indeed, the process of repenting, making commitments, and setting goals should be a continuous one. … I commend the practice to you.”

Howard W. Hunter, “The Dauntless Spirit of Resolution” (Brigham Young University devotional, Jan. 5, 1992), 2, speeches.byu.edu

Goals should:

1. Be specific and measurable.

2. Be written down and placed where you can see them at least daily.

3. Have set completion times.

4. Have specific actions to take to accomplish the goal.

5. Be constantly reviewed, reported, and updated.

Step 2: On a separate sheet of paper, write two or three goals that will help you achieve your life’s mission. Follow the example below. Place the paper where you can see it daily.

Activity—Finding a Mentor

Step 1: Read the quote from Elder Robert D. Hales (on the right). There are different kinds of mentors. You may need someone with a lot of experience to answer your questions—someone who has done what you want to do. Other mentors can be righteous friends or family members. These are people willing to spend more time encouraging you to make changes in your life and holding you accountable to progress.

“In my young adult years, I sought counsel from my parents and from faithful, trusted advisers. One was a priesthood leader; another was a teacher who believed in me. … Prayerfully select mentors who have your spiritual well-being at heart.”

Robert D. Hales, “Meeting the Challenges of Today’s World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 46

Step 2: Think about the kind of help you need. Write a list of people who could be your mentors. Ponder and pray about your list of names.

Step 3: Answer the questions below to start a mentor relationship. To invite someone to be your mentor, you could simply ask, “I’m trying to make a change in my life. Would you be willing to help me?”

Step 4: Remember that you are responsible for your “life’s mission.” When you meet with your mentor:

• Review your progress.

• Review the roadblocks to your progress and what you are doing to overcome them.

• Review specifically what you plan to do before you meet with your mentor again.