Gospel Doctrine Lesson 23 – “Seek Learning, Even by Study and Also by Faith”

In D&C 88:122-25 the Lord gave instructions on how the meetings were to take place and how members could prepare themselves.

Why should we learn?
To behold the mysteries of God
To receive wisdom
So we can share with others
To receive the Spirit
To be prepared for when God calls us
To magnify our callings
So we can have knowledge in the next life
We cannot be saved in ignorance

D&C 11:21-22   

21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

22 But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto.

D&C 19:23         

Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.

D&C 88:76-80   

76 Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.

77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.

 D&C 88:118       

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.

D&C 90:15         

And set in order the churches, and study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people.

D&C 93:36-37   

36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words,light and truth.

37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.

D&C 93:53         

And, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should hasten to translate my scriptures, and to obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion. Amen.

D&C 130:18-19 

18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

D&C 131:6         

It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.

D&C 136:32-33 

32 Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear;

33 For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly.

• Why are we commanded to learn so many things?
  • President Hinckley gave a wonderful talk on education and how it can affect our lives.

Handout #6 –     President Gordon B. Hinckley taught young people the value of education: “It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and by faith. Education is the key which will unlock the door of opportunity for you. It is worth sacrificing for. It is worth working at, and if you educate your mind and your hands, you will be able to make a great contribution to the society of which you are a part, and you will be able to reflect honorably on the Church of which you are a member. My dear young brothers and sisters, take advantage of every educational opportunity that you can possibly afford, and you fathers and mothers, encourage your sons and daughters to gain an education which will bless their lives” (“Inspirational Thoughts,” Ensign, June 1999, 4).

 In our lives we have been giving the opportunity to receive formal education through primary school, secondary schools, trade schools, colleges and universities. These can be wonderful benefits to our lives and to the lives of others.

• How does formal education better our lives?
  • Allows us to expand our knowledge
  • Helps us better provide for ourselves and our families

Handout #7 –     President Brigham Young taught, “Our education should be such as to improve our minds and fit us for increased usefulness; to make us of greater service to the human family” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 255).

• How does our education help us serve those around us?
  • We can help teach them as they learn
  • Those in the medical field can improve the health of those under their care
  • Those in the scientific fields can come up with ways to provide life-saving necessities to those in impoverishes areas
• How can education help us in our efforts to build the Kingdom of God?
  • Learning other languages helps spread the gospel
  • Understanding different cultures can help as we try to help those with different backgrounds learn of the gospel
• As parents, it is our responsibility to educate our children. What all are we responsible for teaching to them?
  • The gospel
  • How to maintain good health
  • Personal hygiene
  • Good work ethic
  • How to get along with others
  • How to be responsible with their finances
  • The importance of education
• How can we, as parents, instill a love of learning in our children?
  • Help them learn
  • Praise them when they show a desire to know about something
  • Encourage them to read

Handout #8 –     While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley emphasized the importance of encouraging children to read: “You know that your children will read. They will read books and they will read magazines and newspapers. Cultivate within them a taste for the best. While they are very young, read to them the great stories which have become immortal because of the virtues they teach. Expose them to good books. Let there be a corner somewhere in your house, be it ever so small, where they will see at least a few books of the kind upon which great minds have been nourished” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1975, 57; or Ensign, Nov. 1975, 39).

Handout #9 –     President Thomas S. Monson reminded us that little children can understand the teachings in the scriptures: “A … hallmark of a happy home is discovered when home is a library of learning. … The Lord counseled, ‘Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith’ (D&C 88:118). The standard works offer the library of learning of which I speak. We must be careful not to underestimate the capacity of children to read and to understand the word of God” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 81–82; or Ensign, Nov. 1988, 70).

While the Lord and the prophets encourage us to read and learn, they also warn us against certain types of reading materials.

Handout #10 –   President Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve taught:  “Today, with the abundance of books available, it is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read. … Feed only on the best. As John Wesley’s mother counseled him: ‘Avoid whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, … increases the authority of the body over the mind’” (“In His Steps,” in 1979 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1980], 61).

The places for the greatest secular learning are colleges and universities. The greatest place for spiritual learning is inside the temple. The early saints showed their understanding for this by designing the cities of Zion (outside Independence, Missouri), and Salt Lake City, Utah, to have the temple as the center of each city. They took to heart completely the concept that the temple should be the center of learning for all members of the church.

               D&C 88:119 says:

D&C 88:119        Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

This describes what the temple is. The temple is the greatest house of learning we have. Elder Widtsoe explains how we can best utilize our attendance of the temple.

Handout #11 –   Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: “The temple is a place of instruction. Here the principles of the gospel are reviewed and profound truths of the kingdom of God are unfolded. If we enter the temple in the right spirit and are attentive, we go out enriched in gospel knowledge and wisdom” (“Looking toward the Temple,” Ensign, Jan. 1972, 56–57).

And Elder Packer explains the importance of repeated attendance of the temple as well as the importance of teaching our children to look towards the temple early.

Handout #12 –   Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

“The temple is a great school. It is a house of learning. In the temples the atmosphere is maintained so that it is ideal for instruction in matters that are deeply spiritual. …

“The temple ceremony will not be fully understood at first experience. It will only be partly understood. Return again and again and again. Return to learn. Things that have troubled you or things that have been puzzling or things that have been mysterious will become known to you. Many of them will be the quiet, personal things that you really cannot explain to anyone else. But to you they are things known. …

“So look toward the temple. Point your children toward the temple. From the days of their infancy, direct their attention to it, and begin their preparation for the day when they may enter the holy temple.

“In the meantime, be teachable yourself, be reverent. Drink deeply from the teachings—the symbolic, deeply spiritual teachings—available only in the temple” (The Holy Temple [pamphlet, 1982], 6–8).

                The temple is a wonderful place of learning and offers understanding for many sacred things. Because of the sacredness of what is taught in the temple, we must be careful with what we say about what is learned there. The specific ordinances, ceremonies and covenants made are only to be mentioned within the sanctified walls of the temple. Though we cannot talk about those things, we can tell others of the feelings we have while we are in the temple and the answers to prayers we receive. These can be powerful teaching tools to help lead others to the temple.

                Spiritual learning and secular learning are very important to our lives. I know that as I have learned more in my college studies and also in my studies to prepare these lessons that I feel more confident and assured that what I am doing is right. I feel more self-worth and peace knowing that I am doing what I should and that I am improving myself and my life. I am thankful that God puts such a high importance on learning and that He provides ways for us to learn. It shows how much He loves us and wants us to be happy.