Provident Living - Education

Last week my dear friend remembered the 3rd anniversary of her husband's death.  At the time of his death, she was about 4 months pregnant with their first child and would soon find herself in a very unique situation she never dreamed would be her own.  While in college, she got an education in a field that she felt prompted to follow, one that would think would not be marketable.  Yet, in her new life as a single working mother she found herself able to provide for her son and work online so she could stay at home with him. 

In the 2009 Worldwide Leadership Training, Juile B. Beck said, "So what skills do we need to help us become self- reliant? It was important for my grandmother to know how to kill and pluck a chicken. I have not yet had the necessity to kill and pluck a chicken.  However, even in the early days of the Church, Brigham Young pled with the sisters to learn to prevent illness in families, establish home industries, and learn accounting and bookkeeping and other practical skills.  Those principles still apply today.  Education continues to be vitally important.  Each of us is a teacher and a learner, and literacy, technical, and reasoning skills are a daily requirement.  There is also a great need for better communication skills in marriages and families, and good parenting skills have never been more important.  We also see an increase of debt and consumerism in the world."

To echo Sister Beck, the skills needed today to be self-reliant are very different than those of our mothers, grandmothers and even great grandmothers.  Today, education is becoming more and more important. Gordon B. Hinckley said, "In this day and time, a girl needs an education.  She needs the means and skills by which to earn a living should she find herself in a situation where it becomes necessary to do so... Set your priorities in terms of marriage and family, but also pursue educational programs which will lead to satisfying work and productive employment in case you do not marry, or to a sense of security and fulfillment in the event you do marry.  Education will increase your appreciation and refine your talent." (Words of the Prophet: Seek Learning Sept 2007)

Sisters, continue to be educated, even if you currently find yourself in a situation where you do not need to use a formal education, it is important to be prepared.  If formal education is not possible at this time in your life, find other ways to be educated.  If you have already achieved your highest desired degree of education, seek for ways to maintain that education by reading good books, attending classes, or joining clubs in the field of your interest.  There are some continuing education courses offered here: http://sdce.edu/, http://www.ucsd.edu/learn/continuing-education/index.html, http://www.sandiego.edu/ce/.

If any of you have ideas or ways you have found to educate yourself, please share them by commenting below.