Learner Enabling and Learning by Doing

I read a quote today that really struck me as something to ponder as we strive to become master teachers and fulfill our role in helping the missionaries.  "By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." -Confucius At first when I read this it surprised me that bitter is how Confucius chose to describe experience. I imagine struggle but also immense joy. But then I remembered that this was the word that Christ himself chose to describe the cup that he was required to drink in order to take upon him our "experiences".  I decided to study a bit about the word "bitter" in the scriptures. One scripture that stood out to me was:  Proverbs 27:7"The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet."   A verse I found that talked about the opposite of bitterness - the sweet. Psalms 119:103"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" So for those who are not seeking, it doesn't matter what joy is presented to them. In contrast, those who are "hungering and thirsting after righteousness" take in every experience good and bad and they use them to come unto Christ. Just as Nephi expressed that he experienced many afflictions but did so in a way that showed they were blessings and gifts from God to allow him to know he was highly favored of the Lord. Just as Nephi and many others who have set the example of serving the Lord we too can have the opportunity to have experiences that then lead us to the sweet, the Savior and the blessings of His Atonement.  Alma 32:42 " And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst." I know that as we allow those we teach to have experiences, even ones that may be difficult and bitter to the taste, and we turn them to the Savior as we do so - they will find the sweetness that comes from His love.