Hi Family -- This Sunday I've been asked to give a talk on the following 2 scriptures in Doctrine and Covenants...
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.
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.
So those 2 scriptures... and also learning by faith. Anyway -- I'm interested in what all you all have to say about this all... Or even any anecdotes you may have regarding learning wisdom from the best books (or blogs or even movies or whichever medium from which you may have learned).
8 comments:
I have nothing profound but my patriarchal blessing admonishes that I read good books and learn from them so I will be able to serve others with the things that I learn from them. Also, I think of all the prophets and apostles. They are constantly quoting from classics, good books. I often think I should go back over all the conference talks and make a list of all the quotes from books they have read. I think I would be safe to say that would be a pretty good book list. Good luck on Sunday. Send us a copy please. I wish we could be there. Love you so!
Read this: Sept. 2007 Ensign article, Elder Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith”
And those scriptures you are working with: You should just tell about your quest for truth Dane. I know that you look for truth wherever you find it. You have always been open to all kinds of different people and ideas. You do not seem to fear the gleaning process in your search for good learning. Truth is truth no matter where it comes from.
I will try to think of more tomorrow to add. Love you!
I remember learning mathematics. I had a big green calculcus book, it was about three inches thick. I loved it. I loved the purity of numbers, how there was only one answer, how it didn't matter how much you could cajole or persuade, or philosophize. There was one answer, right or wrong. I loved learning that process, that way or thinking. I loved the proofs, one step inevitably leading to the next.
One year I took a class on arrays, big blocks of multiple numbers. I didn't undersand any of it, I couldn't get my head around n-dimensional space. I had a friend who had a PhD in math who let me come to his house and he would try and explain things to me. It got me through the course, but I memorized problems, I didn't have a big enough mind to really understand the math.
I was grateful for the help, glad I passed the class, but so sad that I had reached the limit of my abilities in math. It was the start of my understanding that I couldn't do everything. Some things were meant to be understood and explained by someone other than me. It was the start of my trying not to do everything, but to find my role and my place, and to do that well, and to let others find their place and appreciate their contribution.
I think of heaven as being like a beehive, We find our place, and we do it for the benefit of all. We become part of a kingdom where each is appreciated for his unique gift. We learn by allowing those gifts to be used so that all might benefit, not just a few. There is nothing special about having a gift, we all have them. There is something special about the mutual exchange of gifts. Me, not just giving my gift, but accepting also the gifts of others.
I don't have the gift of math, but I so appreciate those who do. And it is exciting to me when they can pull the curtains back and let me glimpse, even from a distance, those paths they wander. I imagine a world of equations, where rules are not violated, where the future can be predicted with certainty, and where I can design away misery. Math makes me think that way.
Well I would have to say that the most powerful learning experiences for me have come as I have followed my heart, many times not understanding at all what I felt but knowing that amidst the confusing in my mind there was peace in my heart. A year ago Mark and I felt that we should forgo our plans and apply to med school a year early. Well, a year later we are in the same boat we would have been had we kept to the original plan of applying this year. It has been really difficult on both of us not getting in but looking back recently we've been able to identify many blessings and even skills we have learned this year that we wouldn't have learned otherwise without the big push we've given it. We still don't understand why things have turned out his way, but we still have never doubted that decision and the feeling we had in our hearts.
Truth is most important to me...so books I can gain truth from are the most desired. I appreciate being entertained and enlightened, uplifted, inspired and educated at the same time. Truth is what it is all about for me. That is why I love reading the scriptures. I know that sounds canned, but it is true. Good luck my precious son. I love you.
I'm sorry my brain is not coming up with any personal anecdotes. Another possible resource:
http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=12394&x=38&y=9.
Love you!
Paraphrased from Matilda - Danny Devito's character to his bookworm daughter Matilda as they're all perched in front of the TV as a family:
"Why are you always reading those books? Books will rot your brain! There is nothing you can get from a book that you can't get from the TV faster."
Can you imagine reading a book entitled "American Idol" or "The Amazing Race"...totally lame.
Thanks all for your help with this!!! It went good!
Post a Comment