Keep on Learning

We had a great Relief Society activity tonight. Thanks to all who came! 

Here is the video that Mandi made honoring our graduates. 

And here is the quiz that we used for the networking activity. See how well you do ... email me (katybknight@gmail.com) if want to know the answers. Corinne Merzlock earned the high score with 55 correct answers.

Most importantly, below are the resources that Carla Zollinger shared with us available for free to Provo residents at the Provo Library. I for one am going to take advantage of this amazing resource just a couple of blocks away from my home! I heard rumors of a book club starting up .. wink wink Janet Lawrence.

At Your Library www.provolibrary.com

·         Learning Express Library - http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=2018:Learning-Express-Library  – This is a tool that provides a wide range of tutorials for learners of all ages.

o   Software tutorials – includes MS software as well as basic computer skills, Illustrator and Photoshop.

o   Practice tests for graduate entrance exams, career exams, etc.

o   Improve math, writing, & reading skills – Tutorials, practice sets, and ebooks.

·         Lynda.com (Coming soon!!) 

o   1030 courses on business, leadership, marketing, and project management

o   2,326 courses on audio and music production, CAD, design, and photography

o   1,284 courses on big data, developer, IT, and web. 

·         Mango Languages (Orem Library lib.orem.org) https://connect.mangolanguages.com/orem/login?u=547170

o   Over 70 languages available!

·         Learn It Programs - http://www.provolibrary.com/learn-it

o   Upcoming programs:

§  In May: Healthy Habits & Yoga for Writers

§  In June: Bee Keeping & Zumba

·         Book Club Sets - http://www.provolibrary.com/book-club-sets

o   We support local book clubs by lending out 15 copies of a book and a discussion guide.

·         Project Read (Adult Literacy) - www.projectreadutah.org  Volunteers and students needed!

·         The Attic Exhibits - http://www.provolibrary.com/the-attic

o   All sorts of interesting exhibits.  Later this year, a Pearl Harbor exhibit is coming.

·         Books (in a variety of formats) - https://provo.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/pl/

Community Opportunities (more at http://www.provolibrary.com/educational-resources) 

·         UVU Community & Continuing Education (www.evu.edu/ce) 

·         Utah State Extension Services (http://extension.usu.edu/) 

Online Opportunities

·         Distance Education Courses

·         Open Courses

Other Useful Library Tools:

·         Auto Repair Reference Center (http://www.provolibrary.com/a-z-resources-list?pid=1897&sid=2006:Auto-Repair-Reference-Center) - Repair instructions, wiring diagrams, labor time estimates, and an Auto IQ feature.

·         Consumer Health Information (http://www.provolibrary.com/a-z-resources-list?pid=1897&sid=2008:Consumer-Health-Info)  - Please don’t only rely on medical information from the Internet.

·         Freegal (http://provo.freegalmusic.com/index) - Download and keep 3 songs every week and stream 3 hours of music each day.

·         Global Road Warrior (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=2014:Global-Road-Warrior) - Helps travelers (both passport and armchair varieties) learn more about countries around the world.

·         Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=10624:Hobbies-and-Crafts-Reference-Center) - Arts, needlecrafts, outdoor recreation, astronomy, scrapbooking, model building, etc.

·         Home Improvement Reference Center (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=10624:Hobbies-and-Crafts-Reference-Center) - Decorating, plumbing, remodeling, woodworking, electrical, etc.

·         Legal Reference Center (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=10626:Legal-Reference-Center) - Includes some online forms and legal advice.

·         Morningstar Investment Research Center (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=2023:Morningstar-Investment-Research-Center) - Kind of intense, but great if you want to learn more about investing.

·         Novelist Plus (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=2025:NoveList-Plus) - Readers advisory tool.  Think Goodreads only it’s moderated by librarians.

·         One Click Digital (http://provout.oneclickdigital.com/) - Downloadable audiobooks.

·         Overdrive (http://pioneerutah.lib.overdrive.com) - Downloadable ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and magazines.

·         ReferenceUSA (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=2030:ReferenceUSA) - Nationwide white and yellow pages with some amazing features.  Also some job searching tools.

·         Small Business Reference Center (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=10628:Small-Business-Reference-Center) - Start-up kit, business plans, business basics, etc.

·         Summer Reading Program (http://www.provolibrary.com/teen-adult-srp) - Read and win!

·         World Book Online (http://www.provolibrary.com/research-subjects?pid=1896&sid=2037:World-Book-Online) - Online encyclopedia from your childhood...in case you don’t trust Wikipedia.

·         Zinio (https://www.rbdigital.com/uplc/service/zinio/landing)  Orem Library - Downloadable magazine.

A Life of Learning

This week was the BYU’s graduation and I am getting flashbacks of my own graduation. Congratulations to everyone that is graduating. This is not a small accomplishment. I remember when I started school and graduation looked like something that would happen in the very far, far and away future. Where did the time go? Wait, there are many theories that attempt to answer that question, but the last time I tried to read a book about this topic, my mind was blown away by the amount of information that I needed to know before I could understand this book! There is so much that we can learn. I think that this is why Jacob said “O be wise; what can I say more?” (Jacob 6:12) I can hear Jacob say “Be wise and choose carefully what you do with this opportunity you have to learn. Be wise on where you spend your time. Be wise on how you use the knowledge you gain. Be wise, there is no more to say, but to say ‘be wise.’”

Recently, I learned something about my own family history related to education that I want to share with you. My grandpa only finished 2nd grade and my grandma had a few more years but didn’t finish elementary school. When their oldest child showed interest in studying more than elementary school, they couldn’t offer her the opportunity to continue. After thinking about their situation and knowing that their other children were not going to have a formal education either, they decided that the only way to give them an opportunity to study was to move to the city. So they moved to a city they didn’t know, finding odd jobs here and there to be able to provide for their children. I remember my grandpa worked as a gardener at the place where now the Mexico City MTC is located. Anyone that talks about him always says that he was a hard worker. I was very small to know this quality about him. In my mind, he was the grandpa that had candy on the Christmas tree and I think that he knew me as the the grandchild that organized night operations to obtain that candy.

My mom told me that when we were little she heard a talk in conference about the importance for children to have an education to prepare them for the future. She worried so much about our future. My parents designed a plan to help us learn anything that they thought we needed to know. Many of you probably experienced something like this, parents that had similar educational aspirations for their children, in many cases here is where school, sports, musical instruments, and many other things come into play. I have tried to find this talk and I have not found it. This might be a case where the spirit speaks and gives personal inspiration. My parents had a bulletproof plan, and it was implemented! My mom probably didn’t take into account how her example was part of that education. To this day, I see her studying the scriptures along with the institute manuals every single day, over and over again.

I like reading. I have to thank my dad for all the books that he made available for me to read. I am also very thankful for the Provo City Library, it keeps my mind and my wallet in check. One of my favorite series is Harry Potter. When some of the books came out, I was one of those that read the book the minute I got the copy. I would go into the many forums to read about the theories and I would re-read the books to make sure that I didn’t miss any detail. R.A.B. Who was it? Mind blowing! It is good! I sometimes question my judgment, especially when I watch some of the scenes in the movies. Scary!!

One day at church, we had a lesson about learning. The scripture in D&C 109:7 hit me like a spike from a BYU men’s volleyball player, “And as all have not faith, 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.” I think that I felt like Scott Sterling (Studio C). 

I know we need to learn many different topics to have a good understanding of how God works. I believe that the reason why this scripture made a face impact is because I was putting more effort in one area, Harry Potter, than in the scriptures. I thought about a future meeting with God and about how I could answer any question about the Harry Potter books but that I didn’t want to face God without knowing Him. The only way to know Him is by studying His words and applying His teachings in my life. I still have a long way to go, but I am glad that the spirit is there to help us know what things we need to improve or change in our lives.

Like I mentioned before, I didn’t find the talk my mom heard, but I found other talks that could help you and me to find what God wants us to do now. Here are the links:

Seek Ye Out of the Best Books

Seek Learning by Faith 

and pretty much anything by Elder Bednar

I think about the example that my grandparents gave me of doing something that would bring blessings to their children, and my own parents planning a way for my siblings and I to receive many words and examples of wisdom. The Book of Mormon most common word is “Remember.” This life is given to us to help us learn and to help us apply what we learn, and I am told that if I don’t learn chemistry in this life, I will have to take it in the eternities. God is giving us the opportunity to learn, and in many situations we have learned beyond what we originally planned. I believe there is a reason why we have this opportunity.

“O be wise; what can I say more?”

Doralia Serrano, Relief Society secretary