"It's worth it, Oh, Katie, is it worth it."

The title of this post comes from an essay by Erika Price in the Spring 2003 issue of BYU Magazine. I have been going through my old magazines and tossing them, but keeping certain articles that may prove useful in the future (proving once again that I can never really truly throw anything away). Reading this short essay, and having listened to one of my favorited addresses by Elder Holland, Who We Are, And What God Expects Us To Do (given 22 years ago), made me reflect with gratitude on the great education I received at BYU. Was it worth it? Oh yes, it was worth it! That is why the prophets have always instructed us, and continue to instruct us, to get all the education we can.


This extends to any institution of higher education, not just BYU. I admire greatly all those who have, and are, pursuing their education "to the limit" in order to expand their ability to serve others to the greatest extent. And "getting all the education you can" extends far beyond our years in the formal system. Continuing education is a way of life for Saints, just as surely as is participating in any of the other Christ-Culture activities we focus on (pick your favorite). But there is a catch or two. Continuing education requires that: (1) We truly believe in eternal progression, which is really just another way of saying continuing education, so that we don't find ourself with a year's experience times our age (this is far easier than you may think); (2) We remain humble, because you can never teach anything to someone who already knows it; and (3) We repent, because "a lesson is never learned until it is lived".
Pursuing such a course is more difficult than we sometimes want to believe, or recognize - mainly because of perception problems brought on by our lack of proper focus. But it is critical to our eternal happiness, because it is fundamental to how we will spend that portion of eternity that succeeds our current state. So, continuing education -- is it worth it? Is it ever!