“How Firm a Foundation” Hymn 85

            My metaphor has become a part of the way I see things and learn things. I often listen to the teachers or read articles and ask myself what is the principle being taught? And which of doctrines do I believe it supports? My Metaphor has changed since the first time I heard the Pattern. Originally I liked the Idea of Having a musical instrument for my metaphor, specifically an acoustic guitar. I thought that it was personal, it was me. It functioned as a metaphor, but too often the pattern of doctrines principles and tools felt forced into this metaphor. When using a guitar as a metaphor I often felt that rather than helping to explain the pattern of Doctrines principles and tools, it would make it less understandable. It didn’t help me to find doctrines, principles and tools around me. As I have come to understand this pattern more, I have come up with a new metaphor.

            There is actually a story that illustrates why and how I changed my metaphor and what it has changed to. I was attempting to explain the pattern of doctrines principles and tools work to a friend and I was telling him about my guitar metaphor. He continued to stare at me with a blank face, confused. I carefully defined what doctrines, principles, and tools were according to Elder Bednar in his book “Increase in Learning.” He looked at me with one eye brow raised and began to shake his head almost ready to give up. I paused for a moment and thought how I could help him understand. As I thought a new metaphor came to my mind; A house, It was simple. I explained to him that the foundation must be strong, steadfast and immoveable; as Doctrines are eternal and unchanging they form a firm foundation for our pattern. The main structure of the home is what is most visible, the principles are what we see and they are built upon our foundational doctrine. A tool then is everything that goes into a home. Some are large and fundamental in homes, some are very small, obsolete and used only upon occasion when needed. This metaphor has become a way I can explain the pattern to anyone. As I explain this to my friend, it clicked and he began to give his own examples of doctrines principles and tools immediately.

            How Firm a Foundation ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your rest in his excellent word. (Hymn 85) Through study, prayer, and pondering, I have found what doctrines I find to be Foundational in my life. This is my foundation, The doctrines of the Gospel; this is what I pattern my life after. This is the foundation of my home, this is where my principle and tools stem from. This is what defines my belief.

         In following weeks I will take time to explain About each of my doctrines, Living, Loving and Learning are all closely related to doctrine. I will also do my best to further explain the pattern of Doctrines, Principles and Tools. Comment Post Just say what you think. No judging here, only loving and learning.

Hello World

     So this is My First Blog ever. I have watched as many of my sibling and friends have had blogs, and I have seen what a great resource it can be as a way to journal and a way to share new thoughts. Personally I have wanted a way to share my thoughts that is more than just a two sentence post on facebook.
     I Titled My Blog Living, Learning, and Loving because I find these three things to be central in my life and I plan for them to stay central. These three things define how I spend my time each day and why I do what I do. Living seems pretty obvious, Of course I am alive, breathing heart beating and everything, I wouldn't be sitting here typing this if I were not. But I believe that there is much more to living than just simply Breathing. To really live means we are doing things with that breath, not just waking up and sitting around vegging out. I believe in the power of Doing, On a future and not to distant post I will talk more about the power of doing. Learning, seems again so obvious for me to say seeing as I am a college student studying to become a teacher. But again I believe that there is more to learning than just going to class. I believe in being anxiously engaged as a learner not just going to class, work, or whatever you may be doing every day. I believe that learning is a critical part of what will make someone happy. The more we learn the happier we can become. What do you think of that? How does knowledge effect happiness? Again in a future post I will be talking about this a lot more. Loving. Love is powerful. It is also a semi ambiguous term, there are many meanings that are suggested by this one word. When I say Love, I refer to love in all of its different meanings. Who we are loving what we are loving how we are loving etc. What does love mean to you? I asked a friend this over a week ago and she said that she didn't know. She told me that she would get back to me after she thought about it. And she hasn't yet... Maybe I will have to go bother her about it. In future posts I will talk more about my feelings about love.
     My goals for this blog are to share thoughts that I have about things that I am learning, to ask questions that inspire thought, and to help me to prepare to become an educator. I hope to any readers that I may have that you can have some of the same thoughts that I am having and that we can even discuss them. Eventually I might start making videos to link to this sight, we will see if I can be that technical.
Please feel free to post suggestions and thoughts.