W05 Writing Practice: Concluding Paragraph

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Overview
In your Writing Lesson this week, you learned that the Concluding Paragraph serves two
main purposes:
● To revisit the themes and ideas of the essay
● To provide closure
In preparation for submitting your essay at the end of this week, your Writing Practice for
this lesson will focus on helping you narrow the focus of your concluding paragraph based
on the parts of your essay you already created.

Instruction
To start, please insert the following information in the space below:
Prompt Question: What is one thing you can change in your life in order to allow the
Holy Ghost to be a more central part of your learning?

Thesis Statement: One Change I can make in my life in order to allow the Holy Ghost to be
a more central part of my learning is to learn and study by faith.

Body Paragraph Topic Sentence: Modern day leaders and personal experience have
taught me how to learn and study by faith.
Supporting Detail #1: Modern day leaders have testified of the Holy Ghost in helping us in
learning and studying. Elder David A. Bednar taught when they exercise faith and teach one
another, students invite the Holy Ghost to become the true teacher, and they learn at an
accelerated pace. Elder Ronald A. Rasband told us that our daily academic pursuits,
temporal and spiritual requirements are inseparable and need to be Spirit-influenced
through the Holy Ghost.

Supporting Detail #2: My personal experiences has grown my testimony regarding

studying with the Spirit. A while back when I was studying math in college I learnt that the
Holy Ghost can open my mind and direct me. I struggled learning and understanding but
once I prayed and pondered the Spirit enlightened my mind and helped me resolve
problems which seemed impossible for me to answer, without the help and guidance of the
Holy Ghost.
Concluding/Transition Sentence: I came to understand the Holy Ghost is not just our
guide when it comes to spiritual studies but also academic studies and will enlighten my
mind.

“Truth reflects upon our senses; Gospel light reveals to some.” The aforementioned
quote comes from the opening lines of Hymn 273 by Sister Eliza R. Snow. It is both touching
and thought-provoking and the word some can cut asunder like a double-edged sword.
Truth is eternal but the light of truth will only be revealed to ‘some’. I dread the thought of
myself not heeding to the enlightenment of the Holy Ghost in my daily day academic
pursuits. One way I can make the Holy Ghost a more central part of my learning is to
strengthen my faith by bearing my testimony to family and friends regarding my personal
experiences with my studies.

The faith required to receive enlightenment from the Holy Ghost in our learning and
studying is a test on our character and gospel knowledge. As we do our personal daily
scripture study and prayers we will enhance our learning. Elder David A. Bednar testified
that when we exercise this faith and teach one another we invite the Holy Ghost to edify
one another. D&C 50:21-22 says when we speak to each other with the ‘Spirit of Truth’ and
we understand one another, we are both are edified and we rejoice together. I learned this
on mission in the biblical sense but now I am learning this truth anew in my academic
studies. During our weekly ‘Gatherings’ we understand and teach one another and grow
through the Holy Ghost even though we are all from different nationalities and cultures. It
is amazing how we can connect and understand one another during our ‘Gathering’. Elder
Ronald A. Rasband taught us that our academic pursuits need to be Spirit influenced for us
to succeed. I can resolve problems in my studies through the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
These prophetic words hold even more truth as I am witnessing this first hand through the
Pathway Connect program.
We have the testimonies and promises from modern-day prophets and church
leaders to assist us like a sextant in the storm. We are not alone in our pursuit of academic
excellence as the Lord himself has spoken to us through his mouthpieces here on earth. The
Holy Ghost is our scepter of truth in not only our temporal and spiritual life but also in our
academic pursuits. The gospel of Christ our Savior is all-encompassing and does not just
end with the way we live our lives in the spiritual sense of the word, it is also integral in our
temporal well-being and everyday studies. Can you imagine if you were one of the
individuals who do not have this guiding light in their academic studies?