Today, we're continuing our Good Word theme of "learning," and this verse highlights the value of learning vicariously through other people's mistakes and flaws.

Recently, I heard a sister say something in church that shows remarkable maturity. This sister made a lot of mistakes and engaged in quite a bit of sin before giving her life to the Lord.

She said, "I used to tell people, 'I don't regret any of the things I did back then because I learned from those mistakes.' But now, I've changed my mind. I am so, so sorry for the things that I did, and I wish I'd never done them. I could've learned to follow God without making so many mistakes. In fact, my life would've gone so much better if I'd made better choices."

Today, we're kicking off a new theme. For the next month, we're bringing you scriptures on the topic of "learning."

Education is a gift from God. And with great education comes great responsibility, whether your knowledge comes from the classroom or the classroom of life.

Sometimes, though, we learn things that are contrary to God's Word. Take a second and think of a few examples of things that the world teaches that go against what we read in scripture; it won't be difficult.

Today is our last Good Word for May and our last bit of advice for the graduating class of 2019.

The old English is thick in this verse. Stated a little more plainly, it says that a fool would rather express his own opinion than hear wise truths from someone else.

Yes, grads are smart. All that knowledge from school is fresh in their minds. They're armed with the latest information on all the latest subjects (some of which weren't even taught a mere five years ago). They're eager to share what they know. Having been lectured to for years and years, they're excited to do some lecturing of their own. They certainly feel qualified.

Many of you are in the thick of graduation season as we near the end of May. All this month, we've been offering graduates some pearls of wisdom from Proverbs to take with them as they embark on a new stage of life.

Today's verse deals with something that nobody likes: reproof. What is reproof?

It's when someone tells you what you're doing wrong. Here are some synonyms for reproof: criticism, admonishment, reprehension, reprimand, disapproval. It's when you get a rap on the knuckles.

If you picked up on the fact that we took a little liberty in the phrasing of today's verse, then well done, Bible scholar! The verse actually reads like this: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

We think that the second part of this verse is an excellent piece of advice for a new graduate. Why? Because it hits on the single-most important thing that any human needs to be successful.

Wow, what is it? What could it possibly be? How did I not know about this secret??

May is graduation month, so we're focusing our Good Word Fridays on advice for new grads. Today's verse talks about material wealth. Money is a huge thing for young people just starting out.

If you take the verse to the extreme, it's saying that it's better to be righteous and poor rather than wicked and rich.

It's May, and you know what that means. Summer vacation from school. YES! It might also mean graduation for some of you — or the youngsters in your life. So, we decided to dedicate all of the Good Word Fridays in May to the graduating class of 2019. (We're especially thinking about the high school and college graduates, as they face many course-altering decisions ahead.)

What does a grad need? Advice, of course!

Where's the best place to get advice? The Book of Proverbs. All our May scriptures are coming to you from Proverbs (a.k.a. life's little instruction manual).

Last week, we read the first part of Ether 12:27 and learned how weakness makes us humble and how humility helps us to receive Christ's saving grace, which is God's ultimate goal for our lives.

Today, we see that this verse ends on a high note: God makes weak things strong.

In context, this refers to salvation — we are too weak to save ourselves, but Christ's strength covers our weakness and gives us the opportunity for eternal life. Praise God!

Today's verse is a famous Book of Mormon scripture on the theme of weakness. The clarity almost takes your breath away.

So often, we wonder why bad things happen, why God allows certain things to affect or afflict us, and why every human yearns to be good but is held back by innate selfishness. This verse tells us that one reason for our weakness is so that we can learn humility.

Now, God doesn't want us to be the kind of people who are defeated, kicking dirt, and thinking, "Oh, I'm so weak. I'm useless. I'm garbage." That's not humility.

Today's Good Word gives us the opportunity to look at the concept of weakness from another angle than we have yet done. Let's start by placing the verse in context. Paul is writing to the Corinthian church, explaining that outsiders may look at their Christian faith as a sign of weakness.

Verse 18 says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." In other words, unbelievers will think that Christianity is silly. They'll think they know better. But believers are the ones who truly know better.

Have you ever been made to feel foolish for what you believe? Like you're somehow mentally deficient? Some people automatically think that religion is a crutch of some kind — believers are too weak to face life without faith. Christians are small-minded folks who secretly know that their faith isn't stout enough to withstand close scrutiny, so they never fully examine what they believe, afraid of what they'll find.

Today we bring you another verse on the theme of weakness. Do you remember the context of today's verse? Do you remember Paul? In this chapter, we learn that he had a "thorn in the flesh." We're not sure what kind of weakness this is, but Paul asked God three times to take it away. For whatever reason, this was not God's will. The Lord famously responds, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

How did Paul respond to this news that his prayer wouldn't be answered? Did he pout and throw a tantrum? Did he lose faith? Did he go into denial?

Paul's response is well worth reading in full:

Today, we're starting a new theme for Good Word Fridays. The next set of scriptures that we'll be sharing with you is all about weakness. Of course, this is everyone's favorite because we all just love to think about our weaknesses, right?

Today's verse reminds us that our flesh is weak. What is our "flesh"? Does this have anything to do with being physically fit? Pleeeeease don't tell me I have to start exercising.

Exercising is a great habit, but that's not what today's verse is referring to. Our flesh is our sin nature. It's the fact that we're all human — not superhuman. We're made in the image of God — but we're not gods. No matter what we do, because we're human, we're going to fall short of the mark. There will be things we cannot do, acts we can never achieve, and sins that will always beset us.

Today is our last Good Word Friday on the topic of forgiveness. Micah 7 gives us a beautiful word picture. When God forgives us, He sends our sins to the bottom of the ocean. They're about as far away from us as they can get.

Here's another picture: Someone getting baptized. The person is fully immersed in water — where the sins "melt off and drown" — and then raised up clean in spirit.

Another picture: The entire earth covered in water with all the wickedness stifled beneath the waves. Yet the righteous float above unharmed.

Today's Good Word is a simple concept that even a child can understand. Yet, it's something that we are quick to forget in day-to-day life.

Chances are good that many of us beg God for forgiveness when we fall short, which is every day. Chances are also good that many of us are also refusing to forgive someone who hurt us in the past, whether we realize what we're doing or not.

Jesus spoke very clearly about this double standard. It's not tolerated.

Today we've got another Good Word on the theme of forgiveness. (Did you catch Sister Colleen's article about forgiveness yesterday?)

God is full of mercy toward us. How do we obtain God's mercy? What does He ask us to do?

Must we walk over hot coals? Must we fast for 40 days? Must we make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem? Must we give all our money and goods to the church?

God doesn't require ONLY outward effort that can be seen with the human eye. Instead, He ALSO requires an inner effort of the heart.