Over the past month our ward has welcomed several newborn babies. Each baby comes to this earth curious and eager to learn. They want to taste everything, chew everything, and pull on everything. I imagine that from a baby\u2019s point of view, everything in this world is new and amazing.<\/p>\n
As we anticipated our exodus from the spirit world, we placed great trust in the plan of salvation. We trusted Heavenly Father and our Savior. In Their wisdom, They knew that our spirits would initially flourish best in the physical form of a baby. When our spirits were united with our physical bodies, we became helpless and totally dependent on our caregivers. We forgot our previous knowledge and relationships. It must have been a huge shock to have our spirit and physical body unite. But we were confident in the plan of salvation\u2014we were confident that this earthly life, including the merging of our spirit and physical body, was a necessary step in our eternal progression. Confident in our Savior\u2019s Atonement, we came to earth knowing that we could return to our heavenly home. Each of us started our life fresh and innocent, and we began to learn the many things we needed to know in order to function on this earth and continue our eternal progression.<\/p>\n
We are children of our Heavenly Father; each individual who comes to this earth is given an extraordinary capacity for learning and growth. We have opportunities in this life to learn information that would have been difficult\u2014if not impossible\u2014to learn in the spirit world. For instance, learning to ride a bicycle would be difficult to accomplish if we only observed others riding their bicycles. Even more difficult would be learning to ride a bicycle if our sole preparation was merely reading books about bicycle riding. Learning by doing is an amazing process. Most of us scraped our knees and elbows as we repeatedly tried to master cycling\u2014without the training wheels. Most of us were successful. We now ride a bicycle without much thought regarding our initial difficulties, fears, and injuries. Fortunately, as young children we were not faced with simultaneous challenges that overwhelmed our capacity to learn and progress. For example, on the same day\u2014or week\u2014that we learned to ride a bicycle, we were not faced with learning to drive a car, pilot an airplane, and fly a rocket to the moon. Typically, as Nephi described in 2 Nephi 28:30, our learning progresses \u201cline upon line, precept upon precept.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Brigham Young University, before we \u201cgo\u00a0forth to serve,\u201d we \u201center to learn.\u201d We read books, listen to lectures, discuss topics, write papers, and take tests. Many of you will complete a practicum or internship in which you will apply your academic learning to real-life situations. \u201cThe glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth\u201d (D&C 93:36).<\/p>\n
Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.<\/i><\/p>\n
And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.<\/i>\u00a0[D&C 130:18\u201319]<\/p>\n
Because attaining knowledge is such an important task\u2014and a lifelong endeavor\u2014it is important to understand the meaning and implications of being teachable. When we are teachable, the Holy Ghost bears witness of truth and we increase in knowledge and wisdom.<\/p>\n
In 2 Nephi 28, the prophet Nephi saw our day and warned us about the challenges of living and learning in these latter days. Even though Nephi offered these words approximately 2,572 years ago, his vision was inspired and crystal clear regarding these perilous times. The chapter synopsis in the Book of Mormon reads:<\/p>\n
Many false churches shall be built up in the last days\u2014They shall teach false and vain and foolish doctrines\u2014Apostasy shall abound because of false teachers\u2014The devil shall rage in the hearts of men\u2014He<\/i>\u00a0[the devil]\u00a0shall teach all manner of false doctrines.<\/i><\/p>\n
Likening the scriptures to my personal life, I\u00a0took this synopsis and placed responsibility on myself, the learner: In 2012 men and women shall join many false organizations\u2014They shall learn false and foolish doctrines\u2014Apostasy shall abound, and I will be pulled into personal apostasy if I listen to and learn from false teachers\u2014Many will allow the devil to rage in their hearts\u2014I will not allow the devil to rage in my heart. I will avoid learning all manner of false doctrines from the devil\u2019s teachings.<\/p>\n
Although the very existence of false teachings is troublesome, our eternal progression is blocked when we accommodate and assimilate these false teachings into our beliefs and way of life. The end product is misery. As Alma warned his son Corianton, \u201cWickedness never was happiness\u201d (Alma 41:10). In direct opposition to Satan\u2019s false teachings, the gospel of Jesus Christ and our obedience to God\u2019s commandments help us move forward in our eternal progression (see Mosiah 2:41). In regard to moving forward, 2 Nephi 28:30 emphasizes the importance of being teachable:<\/p>\n
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give\u00a0more.<\/i><\/p>\n
Today I am recommending four strategies to help us become more teachable and to help facilitate our eternal progression: (1) stick to the gospel\u2019s fundamental principles; (2) have a grateful heart; (3) conquer pride by choosing to be humble; and (4) recalibrate and get back on\u00a0track.<\/p>\n
<\/b>Have you ever studied for an exam without knowing the exact information that you would be required to know? The exam may have covered several textbooks, and the exam\u2019s grade may have factored heavily into your course grade. This uncertainty of not knowing what to memorize or what to study can cause great anxiety because you do not know which pieces of information are the most important\u2014or which pieces of information the professor thinks are the most important.<\/p>\n
Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available through the Internet and library resources. There are literally thousands of books available on every imaginable topic. One important lifelong skill is the ability to prioritize information, focus on the most important pieces, and know how these pieces fit into the bigger picture. During His ministry the Savior boiled down critical information and summarized key points to help us focus on fundamental principles. His words and actions provide a perfect model for us to follow. He emphasized the importance of obedience, and, in response to a lawyer\u2019s question, He identified the first and greatest commandment:<\/p>\n
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.<\/i><\/p>\n
This is the first and great commandment.<\/i><\/p>\n
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.<\/i><\/p>\n
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.<\/i>[Matthew 22:37\u201340]<\/p>\n
His teachings identified the gospel\u2019s fundamental principles\u2014the very most important things we need to know and do.<\/p>\n
In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and recorded in section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord said, \u201cIf thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments\u201d (D&C 42:29). Obedience is important, and\u2014interestingly\u2014love and obedience are paired together. This will not change: we are expected to keep the commandments\u2014to show our love for God we must keep His commandments. This principle is important and is reiterated by every prophet. Contrary to Satan\u2019s teachings, being obedient is not restrictive; in fact, obedience keeps us free from spiritual bondage. Obedience allows us to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and keeps our minds open to learning and feeling the love of our Savior and our Heavenly Father. We must stick to the fundamental principle of being obedient because obedience helps us become more teachable and facilitates our eternal progression.<\/p>\n
The gospel\u2019s fundamental principles\u2014such as faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance and turning from sin, obedience to the Ten Commandments, and avoidance of pride\u2014are repeated throughout the Book of Mormon by the prophet Abinadi, King Benjamin, Alma, and Moroni. In the scriptures several prophets and righteous men closed their earthly lives with a \u201cparting message\u201d\u2014final words of wisdom that clarified the fundamental principles of the gospel. In the movies, dying individuals also give their parting messages as a nice way to emotionally emphasize critical information and manipulate the audience\u2019s emotions, often with dramatic music to draw some tears. However, the scriptural accounts of parting messages are accompanied by the witness of the Holy Ghost. These messages contain the gospel\u2019s fundamental teachings. These teachings are real, not imaginary, and in no way are these messages intended to manipulate or control the listener.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, those who were there to hear firsthand the passionate message of a dying prophet may or may not have benefited\u2014everything depending on\u00a0if\u00a0<\/i>the individual was teachable. Those leaving their final parting messages most often desired that the younger generation and future generations might avoid common pitfalls and carnal behavior that stunt the ability to learn and halt eternal progression. These righteous men passed the spiritual baton on to the next generation. It is important to note these repeated messages\u2014the fundamentals\u2014all of which are intended to help us prepare for our eternal exam, often referred to in the scriptures as the final judgment. When reading the scriptures, we must listen carefully and learn fundamental lessons as if we were sitting at the prophet\u2019s knee, witnessing his final urgent message. These parting messages place an emphasis on fundamentals that are repeated by our modern-day prophets.<\/p>\n
Listen to, learn, and stick to the gospel\u2019s fundamental principles.<\/p>\n
<\/b>The Lord loves a grateful heart<\/a>. In November 2000 President Gordon B. Hinckley urged the youth to \u201cbe grateful\u201d\u2014the first of six Bs he counseled the youth to follow. He urged them to walk with gratitude in their hearts and to express gratitude to their parents, friends, and teachers. He also counseled the youth to \u201cthank the Lord for His goodness to you\u201d (\u201cFirst Presidency Message: A Prophet\u2019s Counsel and Prayer for Youth<\/a>,\u201d\u00a0Ensign<\/i>, January 2001, 4). This inspired advice applies to individuals of all ages, including university students, staff, and faculty.<\/p>\n A grateful heart is an important ingredient in becoming more teachable. When I came to BYU in 1999, I was awestruck by the incredible beauty of the mountains, particularly Mount Timpanogos and the way morning\u2019s light struck the edges and angles of the rocky cliffs. Each day as I drove to campus I breathed in a deep, satisfied breath and said a prayer of gratitude for the beauty of these mountains. One day I said to myself, \u201cI will say a prayer of gratitude each day as I soak in the earth\u2019s beauty.\u201d Several months later I became preoccupied with my to-do list and my responsibilities. As I hurriedly pulled into BYU\u2019s parking lot one day and gathered my things, I had a moment of clarity: It had been several days since I had even noticed the mountains, let alone said my prayer of gratitude for the beauty of those mountains. I had developed a spiritual callus. The mountains were still there, but, sadly, and to my detriment, other things clouded my attention. I resolved to daily take time to enjoy the beauty around me and to express my gratitude to Heavenly Father. Feelings of gratitude soften our hearts and open our minds to learning.<\/p>\n The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke frequently of the importance of expressing gratitude to the Lord. Though facing challenging situations, persecution, and the task of carrying the responsibility of opening this dispensation, Joseph Smith was inspired to share these words:<\/p>\n And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.<\/i>\u00a0[D&C 46:32]<\/p>\n And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.<\/i>\u00a0[D&C 78:19]<\/p>\n Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks.<\/i>[D&C 98:1]<\/p>\n In his recent April general conference address titled \u201cThanks Be to God<\/a>,\u201d Elder Russell M. Nelson commented, \u201cHow much better it would be if all could be more aware of God\u2019s providence and love and express that gratitude to Him. . . . Our degree of gratitude is a measure of our love for Him.\u201d He also quoted Ammon\u2019s teaching from Alma 26:8: \u201cLet us give thanks to [God], for he doth work righteousness forever\u201d (Ensign,\u00a0<\/i>May 2012,\u00a0<\/i>77).<\/p>\n Choosing to have a grateful heart is an important strategy in becoming more teachable because it prepares our hearts to be humble and open to the promptings of the Spirit.<\/p>\n <\/b>In his November 2000 address President Hinckley also urged the youth to \u201cbe humble<\/a>\u201d\u2014the fifth of the six Bs. He identified the meek and the humble as \u201cthose who are teachable\u201d (\u201cProphet\u2019s Counsel,\u201d 10). In Doctrine and Covenants 112:10, the Lord counseled Thomas B. Marsh to \u201cbe thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.\u201d<\/p>\nConquer Pride by Choosing to Be Humble<\/b><\/h2>\n