remembering the purpose of learning.

"Seek learning, even by study and also by faith." -D&C 88:118

noticing each other.

I recently read this article by Clayton Christensen, "The Burden of Our Beliefs." It is a blog post in the Washington Post, specifically focusing on "faith." I was really impressed by what he had to say and thought I would share it.

His point is all of us being human have things that would make us feel like a minority or that we don't fit in or for some reason don't belong. But in seeking to fit in and find peace and justification in our differences we should be careful and notice what our actions do to others who might also feel left out and alone.

He talks about this painting by Normal Rockwell and comments, "embedded within the faces and clothing of those in the collage is the message to look beyond ourselves--our rights, our hurts, our pain--[and let us remember to] 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'"

In this article he is specifically addressing the role of religion in relating to same-sex attraction. He explains, "often in the pain and desire to have what everyone else has, and be treated like everyone else is treated, we do exactly the opposite of the Golden Rule. Because we so desperately want to be 'normal' and feel the right to be treated 'normal,' we aggressively lobby for laws that specifically guarantee what we want for ourselves but ignore, in our selfishness, that many other minorities around us have the same desires, needs, and pains--simply manifested in different ways."

"Because we are truly all in this together, we all must succeed together. If there is a win for one minority we must not allow the natural course dictate that another will lose. When one loses, society loses."

"We are facing some difficult questions and decisions in our world and society. I simply hope that each of us will look to our left and right and see more of what others are carrying."

Read full article.

a wonderful example.

I just saw this video and really liked it. I am so amazed by the power of love and forgiveness!

Watch here.

the internet and multi-taskers.

I watched this video a little while ago and SO interesting.. definitely made me think.

What do YOU think? :)

watch here.

from what I remember they filmed a documentary at MIT about students who are expert multi-taskers. but they're finding that actually multi-tasking has some trade-offs, namely can't focus and don't retain a lot of information. that's probably why studying for the lsat was SO hard!.. distractions. inability to focus. trying to do too many things at once. oh my!

a new thought about legal work.

i love judge thomas b. griffith!!! he spoke to us yesterday and wanted to share 2 things that really stuck out.

1. he quoted jacob 2..

"think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you."

2. he was talking about public defenders and prosecutors..

"there is something about standing in a courtroom.. defending someone who is about to lose their liberty."

insight from my property book.

wow i really would have never guessed i would enjoy property so much! but it is so Fascinating! and i really liked this quote and think it applies to so many different things.

by margaret j. radin..

"If there is a traditional understanding that a well developed person must invest himself to some extent in external objects, there is no less a traditional understanding that one should not invest oneself in the wrong way or too great an extent in external objects. property is damnation as well as salvation."

insights from Abe.

yesterday at orientation Dean Rasband shared a great quote by Abraham Lincoln.

"Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but to test a man's character give him power."