Things You Will Learn This Week

How to overcome thinking errors
Introduction to solving for a variable
Writing Lesson review
How to write a counterargument in an essay

Things You Need to Know This Week

In your gathering you’ll be practicing the STAR method to overcome thinking errors. Please be sure to review this week’s Gathering Agenda before your gathering.

Lesson Purpose: Overcoming Thinking Errors Through Christ

“As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon (2 Nephi 2:14)" ("The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality," Ensign, April 2012).

Why is Heavenly Father so interested in us keeping and using our agency?
What do you suppose “the enabling power of the atonement” means?

Why Agency is Critical in Overcoming Thinking Errors

Last week, you explored some of the causes of ten different thinking errors and the feelings they can produce. You learned about and practiced identifying the BLAHST conditions that can create thinking errors. Before beginning this week’s lesson, take a moment to review the thinking errors below, that you learned previously.

Victimization: You feel like you are being harmed by people that have no intention of harming you.
Pride: Your perceived status in the world is based on how you compare to others.
Entitlement: You deserve this or that because of your perceived status in the world.
Powerlessness: You can’t do this. You can’t do that. You can’t even try.
Giving Up: Because you messed up, you give up and stop trying.
Justification: You can commit this transgression because it is not a big deal, or you’re being pressured into it, or you deserve a little fun, etc.
Scarcity Mentality: There is never enough (fun, food, money, opportunities, etc.).
People Pleasing: You reason that, to maintain your value as a person or to keep from being devalued as a person, you must please others or impress them.
Minimize/Catastrophize: You distort issues, events, choices, etc. to make them smaller/bigger than they really are.
Deceit: You tell yourself something is different than the way it really is.

There is an old saying that goes like this, “You can’t wake a man who is pretending to be asleep.” When people refuse to acknowledge the reality of the world around them, they are like the man pretending to be asleep. When they stop committing a thinking error, they are essentially “waking up” to things as they really are. People can use their agency to face problems instead of running from them. The result can be significant progress in overcoming their challenges. The power of the Savior’s Atonement is accessed when people become partners with the Savior. He enables them to move forward and learn along the way.

Nephi's Mindset

Read the following article excerpt from The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality (Oct. 2001) by Elder David A. Bednar and note how Nephi used his agency to access the enabling power of the Atonement when faced with tremendous difficulty and stress.

"The journey of mortality is to go from bad to good to better and to have our very natures changed. The Book of Mormon is replete with examples of disciples and prophets who knew, understood, and were transformed by the enabling power of the Atonement in making that journey. As we come to better understand this sacred power, our gospel perspective will be greatly enlarged and enriched. Such a perspective will change us in remarkable ways.

Nephi is an example of one who knew, understood, and relied upon the enabling power of the Savior. Recall that the sons of Lehi had returned to Jerusalem to enlist Ishmael and his household in their cause. Laman and others in the party traveling with Nephi from Jerusalem back to the wilderness rebelled, and Nephi exhorted his brethren to have faith in the Lord. It was at this point in their journey that Nephi’s brothers bound him with cords and planned his destruction. Please note Nephi’s prayer: “O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound” (1 Nephi 7:17; emphasis added).

Do you know what I likely would have prayed for if I had been tied up by my brothers? “Please get me out of this mess NOW!” It is especially interesting to note that Nephi did not pray to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances. And I believe he prayed in this manner precisely because he knew, understood, and had experienced the enabling power of the Atonement.

I do not think the bands with which Nephi was bound just magically fell from his hands and wrists. Rather, I suspect he was blessed with both persistence and personal strength beyond his natural capacity, that he then “in the strength of the Lord” (Mosiah 9:17) worked and twisted and tugged on the cords, and ultimately and literally was enabled to break the bands.

The implication of this episode for each of us is straightforward. As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who act rather than objects that are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:14)."

Nephi’s simultaneous choice to change his circumstances and rely upon the Lord stems from a mindset in which he essentially says, “I can do anything the Lord commands me. I may not know how, but with the power of God, I will be able to do it” (1 Ne 3:5-7). A remarkable thing happens when you choose to change your circumstances through the power of God. Not only are you successful, but, relying on the Lord’s timing and methods, you also learn along the way. You become a stronger disciple of Christ-- more faithful, wiser, and with greater capacity.

Ponder and Record

As you review the material above, please consider the following questions and record your thoughts in your Learning Journal:

Do you think you have same right to ask Heavenly Father for help like Nephi did?
Nephi knew exactly what was holding him back, and so his prayer was specific, “...give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.” As you ask for Heavenly Father’s help with your stress and thinking errors, He will be better able to help you if you are specific.

Education and the Struggle for Perfection

You already read this article in Week 2, but it is so important, that it is included again here. In this article, Clark G. Gilbert, former President of BYU Pathway Worldwide, discusses four student types. As you read it, consider how each student type exemplifies one or more of the ten thinking errors from this unit. Then watch for counsel on how to overcome those thinking errors.

"All over the world, there are students struggling with their education. They struggle to know who they are; they struggle to know what is expected of them. However, they may not realize that they are also struggling to have a true conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

President Henry B. Eyring taught that "conversion brings a drive to learn." As such, education is an important part of our spiritual progression — it is a “[mighty] struggle for perfection” that allows us to improve our lives, provide for our families, and serve those around us.

The adversary tries to prevent and corrupt the sacred opportunities we have to get an education. I would like to share five types of students who struggle in their academic path and some ways they can overcome their challenges to achieve a deeper conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Doubter

Doubters understand the value and blessings of education, but do not think those blessings apply to them. They are the students who say, “I can’t do that,” or “I’m just not a math person.” Perhaps because of past educational struggles, or the negativity and criticism of others, these students feel incapable of learning and improving. While these challenges are real and difficult, students can learn to resist and overcome these feelings of self-doubt.

Part of overcoming doubt is learning who you are and understanding your potential. Gordon B. Hinckley once said, “You have the potential to become anything you set your mind to.” It often requires you to surround yourself with people who will believe in you. Another way to overcome doubt is to not be paralyzed by the risk of failure -- if you try your best, I promise the Lord will make up the difference.

If you struggle with doubt, I invite you to believe in yourself, do your best, and never give up when you struggle.

The Student with Misplaced Zeal

Students with misplaced zeal do not see the connection between getting a formal education and other righteous endeavors in life. This can be found in women who don’t view education as important as their future roles as mothers. It can be found in men who do not see their educations as a purposeful work compared to Church callings or other priesthood responsibilities.

These students need to know that although Church service and parenting are two very important roles, the Lord still expects more from them. Education can be meaningful and spiritually uplifting -- but only if you know that what you are studying conforms to the will of the Lord, and if you consecrate your educational efforts to Him. If you do this, your education will prepare you to excel in all your roles -- whether in the workplace, at home, or in Church callings.

While contemplating your goals for the future, please ponder how you can consecrate your knowledge, skills, and educational experiences to God.

The Student Who Is Going It Alone

These students tend to walk the path of education slowly, with little commitment or direction. They view their academic experience with some indifference and are happy simply to just get by. Oftentimes, these students do not understand that although earning a degree is a great accomplishment, the Lord will still require their work and effort for many years after school.

Getting an education is just one step in the larger plan our Father in Heaven has prepared for His children. By committing themselves more to their education, these students will be able to grow in their studies, families, and service to God.

The Basic Survivor

Students in this category work very hard -- perhaps 60, 70, or even 80 hours a week. They are so busy, they convince themselves they cannot pursue an education. “I can’t work on my education right now,” they say. “I’ve got too much going on. I’m working too much.”

The problem for these students is that they will be stuck working that same job, and making the same amount of money, forever. For these students, there is no future. It reminds me of a story Elder Savin told about a boy who never unrolled his sleeping bag because he didn’t want to roll it up again in the morning. All night long, the boy froze in his tent simply because he was trying to save himself 5 minutes of work.

To these students, I promise that if you will spend the time now to educate yourself, to develop your mind, to get a credential, or to acquire a skill, it will bless you for the rest of your life. Those blessings are worth the time.

Conclusion

It is possible that many students see part of themselves in one or more of the examples I have given. I hope they see those challenges as wonderful opportunities to deepen their conversion and commitment to the Lord.

Although it may seem difficult, I am confident that students can do it. They can press forward in their struggle for perfection, and as they do, they will lay down a foundation of improvement, growth, and development that will bring many blessings to them and their families for many years to come."

Ponder and Record

As you review the material above, please consider the following questions and record some of your thoughts in your Learning Journal:

What types of thinking errors do you see in “The Doubter”?
What about in the “The Student with Misplaced Zeal”?
How about “The Student Who is Going it Alone”?
What thinking errors do you see in “The Basic Survivor”?
What student do you most identify with?
Pick one of the four student types. Imagine you are sitting in front of one of those students. How would you teach them about one of their thinking errors?

STAR

STAR, is a method for recognizing and overcoming thinking errors. Like BLAHST, STAR is an acronym. It stands for Stop, Think, Act, and Reflect. Use this method to stop thinking errors in progress and find a different outcome. Below are the steps in more detail.

Stop	Realize you are committing a thinking error and do your best to stop it right now.
Think	Trace the thinking error back to one or more sources. You may need to look a few hours, a few days, or even a few or many years back. Try to find the source or sources. Look for primary emotions and stressful circumstances. Are you experiencing any BLAHST conditions? (Bored, Lonely, Angry, Hungry, Stressed, Tired) Which ones?
Act	Immediately do something to change your physical and mental state to help you stop the thinking error. This means addressing the primary emotion, stressful circumstances, or BLAHST conditions in a healthy way. Some people take deep breaths and give themselves positive affirmations like “You can do this.” Some may ask themselves a question like, “What if it didn’t matter so much?” Others sing a hymn to themselves, gaining strength from the music and lyrics. This is also a great time to say a prayer and ask for Heavenly Father’s assistance. Like Nephi, you can ask for power to act.
Reflect	Reflect on your effort and evaluate how well you were able to stop the thinking error and respond to its source in a healthy way. What went well? Why? What didn’t go well? Why? What can you do the next time you are tempted to commit the thinking error? Reflecting and improving the next time is the key to turning this exercise from mere repetition to a steady upward climb. Involve Heavenly Father in your reflection as you pray and seek for specific guidance and power. With each successive use of STAR, through the power of God, you will become better and better at fighting thinking errors.

Read the following story about David, who struggles with a specific set of thinking errors. As you read, see if you can identify what his main thinking errors are and begin to brainstorm ways he can correct them using the STAR method above.

David Scenario

A man talking on a cell phone.

David has struggled in school for as long as he can remember. As far back as third grade, he remembers being pulled from the mainstream classroom for extra practice and instruction based on some low test scores he was receiving. Being taken out of class always made him feel embarrassed and even angry. He could not stand the thought that other people saw his weakness in learning and he felt much less important and valuable than his peers as a result.

Time went on and before too long, David found himself striving to cover up the areas he struggled in. While he continued to try his best in school, when he would receive a poor test score, he would try to cover it up so his friends wouldn’t see instead of seeking help and guidance from them or others. When they would all be sharing scores with one another after class, David would pretend he scored similarly well on his test for fear that his friends might judge him or make fun of him if they knew the truth.

By the time David reached high school, he decided it was easier and more painless to simply not try on schoolwork anymore. Tired of receiving mediocre scores with extensive studying, David opted for even worse scores with little to no studying. He figured he would fail regardless, so really, what was the point in trying.

By the time David finally graduated high school, he realized that he had actually lived up to the low expectations he had set for himself. As a result, David now feels worthless and as if he has no educational or professional future. He feels like giving up.

Ponder and Record

As you review the scenario above, please consider the following questions and record your thoughts in your Learning Journal:

What were some of David’s most common thinking errors?
What were some negative outcomes of those thinking errors?
David’s thinking errors start almost instantly in this story. In your learning journal, write how he could have used STAR to stop the thinking error and find a different outcome.
Read Alma 62:41. There was a long war, and people suffered. Some of the people became hardened and wicked because of it, and some became softened and humbled. Why the difference?

Mark as done once you have completed all the reading and ponder activities on this page.