Our first priority should go to spiritual learning. For us, reading the scriptures would come before reading history books. Prayer would come before memorizing those Spanish verbs. A temple recommend would be worth more than standing first in our graduating class. But it is also clear that spiritual learning would not replace our drive for secular learning. - Henry B. Eyring, “Real-Life Education,” Ensign, April 2009
Tag Archives: learning
Mastering the Scriptures
There is so much we can learn from the example of the young Prophet Joseph Smith, whose persistent, prayerful study of the Holy Bible compelled him to seek the God of Heaven for divine guidance. This brought him to the threshold of the greatest revelation ever given to man since the mortal ministry of the Savior Himself. Throughout the Prophet’s life, he continued to probe and ponder until he gained a mastery of the scriptures. - J. Richard Clarke, “My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures“, Ensign (CR), November 1982, p.13
Service to Others (Kimball)
First, service to others deepens and sweetens this life while we are preparing to live in a better world. It is by serving that we learn how to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the miracle of serving, there is the promise of Jesus that by losing our selves, we find ourselves!
Not only do we "find" ourselves in terms of acknowledging divine guidance in our lives, but the more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. Indeed, it is easier to "find" ourselves because there is so much more of us to find.” - Spencer W. Kimball, “The Abundant Life,” Liahona, June 1979
Revelation and History
Always the thoughtful mind discerns the need for revelation and divine guidance. All that we see about us in science, technology, architecture, agriculture--civlization in general--can be truly said to be the fruit of history in the broadest sense. Where revelation and divine guidance have been absent, or ignored, we see the stark contrasts in history. - G. Homer Durham, “Why Study History?” Ensign, September 1978
Growing Our Faith (Bednar)
These three elements of faith--assurance, action, and evidence--are not separate and discrete; rather, they are interrelated and continuous and cycle upward. And the faith that fuels this ongoing process develops, evolves, and changes. As we again turn and face forward toward an uncertain future, assurance leads to action and produces evidence, which further increases assurance. Our confidence waxes stronger, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. - David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning By Faith,” Liahona, September 2007
Temporal and Spiritual Nourishment
The spiritual body and the mind, like the physical body, are made up of what they feed upon. On a trip some years ago, my wife and I drank some water that we were unused to, and we were sick for several weeks. The mind is like that. It, too, is made up of what it feeds upon. The spirit is influenced by what the body and the mind feed upon. - James M. Paramore, “Hold On!” Ensign, February 2002
Spiritual Jogging
Scripture study strengthens us in several ways. First, information contained in the scriptures deepens and reinforces our knowledge and commitment to truth. Regular scripture study is as beneficial to our spiritual strength as regular exercise is to our physical strength. It is similar to "spiritual jogging." - Jack H. Goaslind, “Look to the Future with Optimism,” Ensign, April 1997
Draw Near to The Lord – (Uchtdorf)
In some ways our world today is similar to Kirtland of the 1830s. We too live in times of financial distress. There are those who persecute and rail against the Church and its members. Individual and collective trials may sometimes seem overwhelming.That is when we need, more than ever, to draw near unto the Lord. As we do, we will come to know what it means to have the Lord draw near unto us. As we seek Him ever more diligently, we will surely find Him. We will see clearly that the Lord does not abandon His Church or His faithful Saints. Our eyes will be opened, and we will see Him open the windows of heaven and shower us with more of His light. We will find the spiritual strength to survive even during the darkest night. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Hold On a Little Longer,” Liahona, January 2010
Learning to Tithe
I remember as a youth walking with my mother up the dusty road to the bishop's house in a day when we often paid tithing from our animals and produce. As we walked, I said, "Why do we take the eggs to the bishop?" She answered, "Because they are tithing eggs and the bishop receives the tithing for Heavenly Father." My mother then recounted how each evening when the eggs were brought in, the first one went into a small basket and the next nine went into a large basket. I first learned the law of tithing from my beloved mother. - Spencer W. Kimball, “Will A Man Rob God?” New Era, March 2002
Transforming Man – Kimball
There are those today who say that man is the result of his environment and cannot rise above it. Those who justify mediocrity, failure, and even weakness and criminality are certainly misguided. Surely the environmental conditions found in childhood and youth are an influence of power. But the fact remains that every normal soul has its free agency and the power to row against the current and to lift himself to new planes of activity and thought and development, Man can transform himself. Man must transform himself. - Spencer W. Kimball, “The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,” edited by Edward L. Kimball, p.169