Sunday, June 30, 2013. Ward Conference

Stake Leaders will give the gospel doctrine lesson on Sunday, June 30, 2013

23: Seek Learning by Study and Faith Throughout Our Lives

Reading Assignment for Sunday, June 23, 2013.

Class Member Study Guide: Lesson 23


THE BLESSINGS OF LEARNING ALL OF OUR LIVES

The School of the Prophets: Learning Pattern for Us to Follow

The Lord instructed the Prophet Joseph to begin a School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio.  The School of the Prophets began meeting in January 1833 in a small room above the Newel K. Whitney Store in Kirtland.  In this school, the leaders of the Church were instructed in gospel doctrine, the affairs of the Church, and other matters. They were to prepare for Church leadership and missionary service. 

Doctrine & Covenants 88:77-80 

Doctrine & Covenants 88:122-25

We Should Learn by Study and By Faith

Doctrine & Covenants 88:118

We Should Continue to Learn Throughout Our Lives

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

 “Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. … Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 5; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 6).

The original manuscript for Section 88 did not survive. Williams copied the revelation into Revelation Book 2, probably between late January and late February 1833. This revelation was first published in its entirety on a broadside in late 1833 or early 1834.

D&C 6:7

 7 ^aSeek not for ^briches but for ^cwisdom, and behold, the ^dmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made ^erich. Behold, he that hath ^feternal life is rich.

D&C 11:21–22

 21 Seek not to ^adeclare my word, but first seek to ^bobtain my ^cword, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my ^dSpirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the ^econvincing of men.

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

D&C 19:23

 23 ^aLearn of me, and listen to my words; ^bwalk in the ^cmeekness of my Spirit, and you shall have ^dpeace in me.

D&C 88:76–80, 118

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

 77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall ^ateach one another the ^bdoctrine of the kingdom.

 78 Teach ye diligently and my ^agrace shall attend you, that you may be ^binstructed 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 ^aheaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must ^bshortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the ^cnations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a ^dknowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

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

D&C 90:15

 15 And set in order the churches, and ^astudy and ^blearn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with ^clanguages, tongues, and people.

D&C 93:36–37, 53

 36 The ^aglory of God is ^bintelligence, or, in other words, ^clight and truth.

 37 Light and truth forsake that ^aevil one.

D&C 130:18–19

 18 Whatever principle of ^aintelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the ^bresurrection.

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

D&C 131:6

 6 It is impossible for a man to be ^asaved in ^bignorance.

D&C 136:32–33

 32 Let him that is ^aignorant ^blearn ^cwisdom by ^dhumbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his ^eeyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear;

 33 For my ^aSpirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the ^bhumble and contrite, and to the ^ccondemnation of the ungodly.

Gordon B. Hinckley: 

"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).

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)

In the Temple We Gain an Education for Eternity

In late June 1833, the Prophet Joseph Smith sent a plat for the construction of the city of Zion to the Saints in Independence, Missouri which was never realized. A similar plan was used to lay out the streets of Salt Lake City and site the Salt Lake Temple.

 

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.

Parting Thoughts: Learn Without Being Overwhelmed

President Wilford Woodruff counseled,

Do not be discouraged because you cannot learn all at once; learn one thing at a time, learn it well, and treasure it up, then learn another truth and treasure that up, and in a few years you will have a great store of useful knowledge which will not only be a great blessing to yourselves and your children, but to your fellow men” (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 269).

Keep All Learning in Harmony with the Teachings for the Savior

While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley gave an address in which he quoted the Savior’s injunction “Learn of me” (Matthew 11:29).

Then he said: “I should like to suggest that you follow that injunction given by the Son of God. With all of your learning, learn of him. With all of your study, seek knowledge of the Master. That knowledge will complement in a wonderful way the secular training you receive and give a fulness to your life and character that can come in no other way” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 118; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1964, 1092).