Pearls of My Mind
Things that I have been learning this week.
Monticello College Motto:
To build men and women of Virtue, Wisdom, Diplomacy, and Courage
Who inspire greatness in others and move the cause of Liberty.
Our search for the meaning of Virtue continues with Aristotle's Nicomachean (pronounced nickomakeen) Ethics. “With those who identify happiness with virtue or some one our account is in harmony; for to Virtue belongs virtuose activity.” To me this passage means Happiness can only come from pure and right actions. Which we would call a virtue. Virtue means also to function in the capacity in which you were created to be. I would also venture to say that Virtue is the power of true freedom, the catalyst of liberty and true happiness.
I have been thinking a lot about what it means to have freedom. True freedom, I have grown up knowing it is important. But when Dr. Brooks mentioned in passing that freedom is what we fought for in the premortal life it really hit home to me that Freedom is the same as having agency to choose, and is the most important thing that we can fought for. I know I taught that for 18 months. But sometimes it takes someone else saying it to really help it sink in. I cannot really describe how much of an ah ha moment it was.
So in celebration of Earth day (or just because that is the weekend the trees were ready to be planted.) This weekend we planted an Apple Orchard of about 60 trees some pear and nut trees. The best part though is that we will only need to water them once a week at first and then they will be self sustaining!
We are using a method that is called Permaculture, which is pretty much helping nature do what is does best naturally. This diagram explains it much better than I can. The water will collect in the trench be stopped by the berm it will stop the water and soak into the ground. We will fill the holes with organic matter. Aka Leaves, sticks and stuff like that. They will soak up the water, the water will help break down the nutrients into the ground, so then the trees that we planted, will be able to use the nutrients for the food that they will be growing for us. 
The Allegory of the Cave
by: Plato
Plato writes a story of these slaves that are chained up all of their lives facing a wall. They cannot move their heads to look around behind them. The only interaction with the world outside comes from shadows cast upon the wall in front of them by a fire that is behind them. Things and people would pass between them and the fire casting moving figures before them. They try to guess what the objects are from the limited knowledge and perspective they have in only seeing moving shadows.
Eventually one man is released and brought out into the light to see the perspective of the real world. He sees those things in reality, that he had only seen in shadow before and is dazzled by what he sees. He eventually comes out of the cave into the sun light that blinds him. Once he has acclimated to his new environment, he learns many things and his perspective changes about what the world really is like. When he thinks of his friends that are still tied up down in the cave. He feels bad that they do not know what he has learned. He goes back and tries to tell them what he has seen and learned. When he goes back he finds that his 
friends are engaged in their old game of who can guess the shape the fastest. His eyes are not as yet adjusted to the darkness so he is very poor at the game, he used to be proficient at. His friends ridicule and mock him. From their perspective they think it was better for him that he has not gone out of the cave in the first place. He tries to tell them of what it is that he has seen and they laugh him to scorn. He thinks. “Better to be the poor servant of a poor master and the endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner.“
friends are engaged in their old game of who can guess the shape the fastest. His eyes are not as yet adjusted to the darkness so he is very poor at the game, he used to be proficient at. His friends ridicule and mock him. From their perspective they think it was better for him that he has not gone out of the cave in the first place. He tries to tell them of what it is that he has seen and they laugh him to scorn. He thinks. “Better to be the poor servant of a poor master and the endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner.“ - This week has been intense as usual. One thing that I have learned from Plato’s allegory of the cave, this is my responsibility as someone who seeks knowledge and learning. To help others come to the light of knowledge that I have gained. Even if they laugh me to scorn. Also, to not let my pride get in the way when others try to help me out of the cave as in one area or another.
So our school is an old dance studio, Check it out!


This week I have been increasingly thinking of a parable and a poem that was quoted by Elder Packer from April conference of 2000.
The parable: A merchant man seeking precious jewels found at last the perfect pearl. He had the finest craftsman carve a superb jewel box and line it with blue velvet. He put his pearl of great price on display so others could share his treasure. He watched as people came to see it. Soon he turned away in sorrow. It was the box they admired, not the pearl.
The poem:
We are all blind, until we see
That in the [universal] plan
Nothing is worth the making if
It does not make the man.
Why build these [buildings] glorious,
If man unbuilded goes?
In vain we build the [world], unless
The builder also grows.
We are all blind, until we see
That in the [universal] plan
Nothing is worth the making if
It does not make the man.
Why build these [buildings] glorious,
If man unbuilded goes?
In vain we build the [world], unless
The builder also grows.
I was thinking it does not matter where we study or live what really matters is how our mind is being cultivated. I know that when we “seek learning but study and faith” the Lord no matter what will help us. In Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 it says “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
Love you all,
Miss Dani Nieman
