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Written by Jim Harris
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The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch has become the most famous contemporary Authentic Last Lecture. It is wonderfully practical while being an example of a life well lived. May we all do so well. I love this lecture because it is so practical and sincere. No pulling punches. No flattery. Just hard hitting, touching, and raw human emotion presented in a clearly understandable way. Filled with axioms for life please enjoy and be touched by Randy Pausch's Last Lecture.  Make me earn it. When there is an elephant in the room introduce them. We cannot change the cards we are dealt; just the way we play the hand. It is important to have specific dreams. Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things. You get more from some dreams and not accomplishing them than reaching others. It is all about fundamentals. You've got to get the fundamentals down. When you're screwed up and nobody is sayin' anything anymore that's a bad thing. It means they gave up... Your critics are the ones telling you they love you and still care. Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. Most of what we learn we learn indirectly (or by "headfake"). Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you.
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Written by Jim Harris
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Lehi, an ancient American prophet, gave his last lecture around 580 BC. It was recorded by Nephi, his son, in the 2nd book of Nephi in the Book Of Mormon. Lehi calls each of his children up and directs to each family member very specific advice. And like Randy Pausch's last lecture his focus is not on personal accomplishments but instead on lessons learned while living and how those lessons can benefit the lives of his children. Here are several key life lessons from Lehi's "Last Lecure". - "Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence." (2 Nephi 4:4)
- "And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil." (2 Nephi 2:5)
- "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so,...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neiter good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one" (2 Nephi 2:11)
- "I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be actd upon" (2 Nephi 2:14)
- "And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishement of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given." (2 Nephi 2:26)
- "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediator of all men or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit." (2 Nephi 2:27)
We know it is his last lecure because it ends this way: "after my father, Lehi, had spoken unto all his household, according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, he waxed old. And it came to pass that he died, and was buried." (2 Nephi 4:12)
There are also several clues in what he says to his children let us know it was his "Last Lecure". |
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