Question: What is one thing we can take with us after we leave this earth? Answer: Knowledge. It is one of the few things on the list we can take with us to heaven. (ok, the other things are developed virtues and family/friend relationships).
As the Chinese proverb says: “You give a poor man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime.”
Just recently I was discussing the topic of thirsting after knowledge with a friend and we came up with several conclusions. Thirsting after knowledge has two main areas: secular knowledge and spiritual knowledge.
A wonderful announcement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) came a few days ago of their creation of a global higher-education program. The BYU-Pathways program was always available for those in the United States, but now it will be worldwide which is very exciting. This “institution” as it is called will “have responsibility for all online certificate and degree programs offered by the (LDS Church) Church Educational System (CES).” It will officially start May 1st 2017 under the direction of Clark G. Gilbert the current president of BYU-Idaho campus.
This is such an exciting announcement as those seeking knowledge anytime, anywhere all over the world will be able to participate in learning whatever they thirst after for employment or self-improvement. It is incredible to think that anyone can learn what they need or want.
I read an incredible story of what one man has done to move this ideal forward right in his own backyard, literally. Babar Ali is an East Indian Student and teacher from Murshibadad, West Bengal. At the young age of 9-years-old he started his own school called Ananada Siksha Niketan which means Home of Joyful Learning, in his backyard.
It is an outdoor school and now has over 300 regular students with a total of 10 teaching and non-teaching staff who are providing this service voluntarily as there are no tuition fees. With no cost to others, it makes learning affordable for the poor in this economically deprived area which helps increase the literacy rate. It’s an incredible story of one boy with a thirst for knowledge sharing his inspiration with others. He gives two wonderful TED talks about this topic. (http://inktalks.com/discover/19/thirst-for-knowledge; http://inktalks.com/discover/836/babar-ali-the-joy-of-learning
It is so incredible to hear about others who have that thirst for knowledge and accomplish their goal in helping others to learn. Now anyone can participate through BYU-Pathways program and accomplish what they set out to do.
The other area of knowledge is spiritual knowledge which feeds the soul. Do we thirst for spiritual knowledge? It takes time and preparation. It might help to think of our spirit selves sitting down to a four course meal or like what we would eat at Thanksgiving after fasting for 24 hours and just feasting. It’s a challenge to most people in our hurried, impatient society but it does our soul good to have a daily spiritual feast in the scriptures.
James E. Foust’s wise words help us to understand. “Our relationship with Deity is something we need to work on constantly. President Spencer W. Kimball once observed: ‘I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns’”.
To read more of Valerie’s articles, click here.
We feel the spiritual distance when we run off track in our scripture studies. Getting off track comes in waves sometimes as we experience life, but if we can persistently and consistently read and study each day, we will reap the benefits of spiritual nourishment and draw closer to God. We will know Him and want to be like Him.
Quenching both types of knowledge makes us a whole person. As the apostle Paul says in Romans 12:2: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.
Valerie Steimle has been writing as a family advocate for over 25 years. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she promotes Christian living in her writings and is the mother of nine children and grandmother to twelve. Mrs. Steimle authored six books and is a contributing writer to several online websites. To her, time is the most precious commodity we have and knows we should spend it wisely.
To read more of Valerie's work, visit her at her website, The Blessings of Family Life.
