Why You Should Learn Something New Today
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” —John 10:10
As we go throughout our lives, it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day tasks, especially as we juggle family, work, and other priorities. Stressful worldwide and local events only bog us down more. However, God wants us to have an abundant life. He wants us to have joy (see 2 Nephi 2:25). One way that we can live abundantly, or richly, is to expand our perspective by continually taking opportunities to learn.
When we further our education, in any subject and by any means, our lives will be greatly blessed. Learning leads to joy, which makes our lives fuller and richer. As we develop new skills and expand our knowledge, we will become more self-reliant and more able to lift others.
Additionally, God is omniscient, meaning His knowledge is infinite. When we deepen our knowledge of a subject or learn something new, we move closer to our divine potential of becoming like Him.
Opportunities Surround Us
We’re surrounded by opportunities to learn. We have unprecedented access to technology that allows us to find almost any information instantaneously. We can learn through books, podcasts, documentaries, news outlets, and tutorial videos.
We can also learn through experiences by spending time in nature, trying a new recipe, learning to build something, visiting a museum, or simply having a thoughtful conversation with someone whose experiences or perspectives are different from ours.
Most importantly, we can expand our knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ through scripture study, gospel conversations, and the words of modern prophets and apostles.
Anything we learn that is useful or uplifting will help us to lead an abundant life. You can follow your interests and find joy in learning.
God Will Help You
Of course, even if we want to spend time learning, we still have responsibilities. We still need to do the dishes and finish that project for work, and we shouldn’t neglect gospel study or relationships with those we love.
Even with a packed schedule, we can find small moments to increase our knowledge, like sneaking in a few pages of a book before bed or listening to something educational while we work on household chores or exercise. As we remember that God wants us to have an abundant life, we can have confidence in the Savior’s enabling power and know that He can help us manage our time for our benefit.
God has a plan for each of our lives, and we can follow His Spirit to know where to focus our efforts. President Henry B. Eyring said: “Your life is carefully watched over. … The Lord knows both what He will need you to do and what you will need to know. He is kind and He is all-knowing. So you can with confidence expect that He has prepared opportunities for you to learn in preparation for the service you will give” (“Education for Real Life,” Ensign, Oct. 2002, 18).