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First, I should let everyone know that while I will be updating this page regularly again, it will probably only be one or twice each month. That said, let me share with you the experiences I've had since the last time I wrote.
Institute has been a good experience so far, as has school in general. I don't really know anyone yet, but I am feeling more comfortable and able to talk to at least a few people. I've never been very good at beginning friendships, but I've met at least a few people who I think I would like to get to know better and be around outside of class. Read into that whatever you like; as for myself, I'll just wait and see how things go.
Let me again say, as I have so often before, how great it's been to learn of the wonderful power and blessings of the Lord. I can honestly say that He has been the greatest, most inspiring teacher I have ever had. He's even been tutoring me in my Calculus class. Read into that what you will.
Actually, don't read into that; rather, let me explain. It began with my second week of class, while riding home on the bus. Suddenly, ideas began springing to my mind, slowly revealing knowledge I'd forgotten. I understood once again what logarithms are, how they are notated, and their variations. I knew again what a derivative of a function was. Slowly, more information began to flow.
However, I could not have been prepared for the tremendous power that would be shown me only last week. Thursday night I went to bed with three assignments left to finish. I had tried to complete them, but could not, whether through reason or reading, determine how I was to begin to solve a final problem on each of them. All were due Friday.
As I knelt down to pray that night, I remembered a talk my mission president once gave. Quoting Job 33:15-17, he spoke of the Lord given knowledge to us as we lay down to sleep, or even while asleep. I asked if the Lord might provide such knowledge unto me, and went to sleep.
Throughout that night, I would periodically awake. As sure as if someone were sitting at the foot of my bed and speaking to me, I would begin to learn. I started with the nature of each problem, understanding what I was being asked and why. I learned of the application of the knowledge. I remembered formulas and definitions I had long forgotten, and learned how they applied to the problems I was seeking to solve. By the time I arose in the morning, I had a full understanding of how to set each problem, and how to progress to a solution for each. As if I had the solutions already written, I could see in my mind the full progression (though I did not yet know the solutions).
I finished each assignment on time, each problem with its correct solution. I now fear nothing in Calculus or in any of my classes, nor in any of the classes I may later take. The Lord is my guide and my teacher, and none has greater understanding of the subjects I may study or how to best teach them unto me.
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