Learning As a Way of Life

"Learning As a Way of Life”

We all begin life at the same stage: An uneducated, blissfully ignorant little child with no clue what is ahead of us. We quickly find out that ignorance is not bliss once we lay our hand upon that hot stove for the first time. This is the first of many learning experiences in our life, and hopefully the only painful one. As directed in 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.”[1] So it is of God, and glorious to Him, that we should expand our knowledge of things both temporal and spiritual. Being learned is one of many items that entail Godhood, and doing all that we can to improve that helps become more like Him.

Learning is a process. The pursuit is a noble one, one that unfortunately has the pit fall of arrogance and pride. In Alma 1:26 we read, “ … and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, …”[2] Learning allows an elevated state of mind, but we need not let that make us fall pray to arrogance and pride. As was stated in Alma, the teacher is no better than the learner, and thus they were all equal. Our knowledge is for our betterment and the betterment of others, not so we can be condescending. I have personally dealt with this. I had friends throughout high school who had to work ten times harder than I did to understand things that came naturally to me. I recognize that I have been blessed with intelligence as one of my gifts from God, and that they are by no means unintelligent, their talents are in other areas that I may lack in.

Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”[3] Learning is not only a process, but it is a process that requires our effort. God has bounteous blessings to pour out upon us, if we but only do our part. We need only knock, and he shall open up the door to infinite knowledge. We must have a sincere desire and the work ethic to go along with it. This was plainly evidenced to me my last semester of senior year in high school. I had a rough first semester in my AP Statistics class. Concepts just weren’t clicking, homework was piling up, and test grades were downright dismal. After a semester in squalor, I was humbled enough to get on my knees and pray for direction. I promised to do all that I could to turn this class around if God would help me. Doing so in faith, I was utterly shocked at how rapidly I improved in the class. Where once I was on the verge of failing, by the end of the year I had practically pulled off an A. I knew that this was because I had done my part, I kept my end of the deal. God was faithful and upheld His end in turn.

We can also draw upon a spiritual aspect of learning. 1 Nephi 19:23 reads, “ And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.”[4] While we have temporal knowledge we gain through schooling, we also have spiritual knowledge gained through the reading of scripture. Scripture is written in parable and allegory, that stories have their literal meanings and at the same time can be applied to more modern situations. In these ways the scriptures are also for our learning, that we may avoid some pitfalls in life if we hearken unto their words. I can’t count how many times I have found answers to my prayers in the scriptures that carried me through difficult, seemingly unbearable times. It is by this that I can testify of the truthfulness of them, and how utterly applicable they remain to this day.

In 2 Peter 1:5, Peter emphasizes the importance of learning, “ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.”[5] He goes on further to say that if you lack in these things that you are blind, for these are essential in fulfilling your callings in life and in this case the church. Knowledge is so universally important, I can attest to how all areas learning intertwine. Throughout my various calling in church, among them being president of my Deacons, Teachers, and 1st Assistant in Priests Quorum, I found that I was able to call upon skills of management and delegation that I had acquired through being a leader in the academic setting at school. This lead to an overall level of efficiency in these quorums during my tenure that I know would have not gone as smoothly had this not been the case.

Knowledge is not tangible. We can’t physically touch it. It isn’t something you can “see.” But it is there. More than that, it will always be there. It is numbered among the few things we can take with us in to the next life, and that more so than anything, is reason to get as much as we can during this earthly life.

Citations

[1] Doctrine and Covenants 88:119, Pearl of Great Price (Book of Mormon)
[2] Alma 1:26, Book of Mormon
[3] Matthew 7:7, The New Testament (Holy Bible - King James Version)
[4] 1 Nephi 19:23, Book of Mormon
[5] 2 Peter 1:5, The New Testament (Holy Bible - King James Version)

Learning by Daphna Zohar

Learning

Any learning is beneficial. One of the reasons Heavenly Father sent us to this planet was to learn. In Alma 32:12, it states, “it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom.” However, the learning that we mortals must achieve should be both secular and spiritual. In 2 Nephi 9:29, it reads, “but to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” Not only should we strive to reach our highest possible education through colleges, trade and/or graduate school, we should make a goal to read the scriptures studiously and attend all Sunday School meetings. In addition, we should try to go to institution.

Secondly, learning should be lifelong. Elder Boyd K. Packer wrote in an Ensign issue that, “education continues as long as we live. If there is ever an end to secular learning, surely there is no end to spiritual learning.” I agree with that statement because when we cease to learn, we cease to grow. Life is all about learning to be the best you can be, and we should never stop. One of the aims of a BYU education is “lifelong learning”. Even though a university education may only last four years, students should continue that habit and keep learning for the rest of their existence in this world. Even during the summer breaks during high school, I always strove to keep my brain stimulated by completing workbooks and visiting the library quite often. Even though I was not forced to do the workbooks or read like you are forced to complete assignments during school, I felt that it would only help me. Plus I was always very bored during the summer.

However, there is one thing to keep in mind during your quest of lifelong learning: one should never become stuck up just because one is learned. In 2 Nephi 28:15, it states, “O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts…wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!” One of the sisters in my home ward was already a grandmother for a while when she decided to go back to university. Unfortunately, she also stopped coming to church. Someone confided in me that she felt she did not need to go to church any longer. This is an incorrect notion. No matter how much education you receive, you always need the gospel in your life. There is always room for the gospel in your life.

Learning can be found in numerous places, but Jesus Christ should be our number one source. In Alma 38:9, it reads, “And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.” I know that it is through Christ that everyone can know the right path to take and the right decisions to make.

After Joseph Smith read James 1:5, “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him”, Joseph Smith found a quiet place in the woods and “ask[ed] of God” for truth. We should follow Joseph Smith’s example. Whenever we learn something that we are not sure of, or just whenever we want a listening ear, we should pray to our Heavenly Father to learn of the truth. For example, I got locked out of my apartment yesterday. The first thing that I remember doing was praying to God that my roommate would return speedily. I resigned myself to wait on the steps and read some catalogues that came into the mail. Pretty soon I heard the clicking and clacking of my roommate’s bicycle as she brought it up the stairs. Later, I thanked Heavenly Father for the speedy aid. I know that whenever we need any guidance, help, or understanding, all one has to do is ask of God.

Sources:
-Boyd K. Packer, “‘To Be Learned Is Good If …’,” Ensign, Nov 1992, 71
-Book of Mormon
-Aims of a BYU Education, http://unicomm.byu.edu/president/aim4.aspx

Scriptures:
2 Nephi 9:29
2 Nephi 28:15
James 1:5
Alma 32:12
Alma 38:9