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
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
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.
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:
Parting Thoughts: Learn Without Being Overwhelmed“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.
President Wilford Woodruff counseled,
Keep All Learning in Harmony with the Teachings for the SaviorDo 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).
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).
