Educated From On High

By Emily Turano

Educated From On High

As we witness the perfect teacher Jesus Christ educating His prophets as recorded in the scriptures, we come to know what it means to become truly educated. Witnessing God’s perfect patterns of teaching we learn that to be educated is the ability to internalize information, make individual conclusions, and take life changing actions.

            One reason why Neal A. Maxwell may have reminded us that “God does not send thunder, if a prophet or a priest can do the job,” is because of the truth that sending a sign does not allow internalization. This important step of internalizing can only come by choice,as Nephi explains that it is the Holy Ghost which operates only when the agent allows it and, “carrieth the message unto the hearts of the children of men.” (2 Nephi 33:1emphases added). In the Book of Mormon, Laman and Lemuel are continually given direction by angels to quit abusing their brother Nephi. Clearly, they had not internalized the messages that the Lord was trying to teach them. Thomas G. Plummer explained in the “Ophelia Syndrome” that one student equated the effort of obtaining an education to being a dog that jumps through a hoop. This statement is an indication that the information being taught is not being internalized.

            The process of coming to our own conclusions is a step to becoming educated. Consider the way the Lord taught the brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon.

Even though the Lord gave the brother of Jared specific instructions at times, He also taught him to make conclusions for himself. The Lord’s response to the challenge of darkness in the barges was, “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?” (Ether 2:23). The Lord knew how He could light the barges but He was teaching the brother of Jared to arrive at his own conclusions, which in turn grew his faith. In David A. Bednar’s address titled “Seek Learning by Faith”, Elder Bednar explains that “the Savior preserved moral agency through the Atonement and made it possible for us to act and learn by faith.” Elder Bednar explains that vital to our happiness is our ability to individually choose for ourselves. As the Brother of Jared made his own decision and chose to bring rocks unto the Savior that He might touch them with His finger and cause them to produce light, his faith then grew; which faith then allowed truth to internalize in his heart; and ultimately have sufficient faith to see the finger of the Lord.

            Lastly, the confirming witness of educated individuals is made manifest through action. The Lord knew that Oliver Cowdery had not internalized the information taught to him in regards to translating the Book of Mormon. He stated to Oliver, “And behold it is because you did not continue as you commenced when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you.”(D&C 9:5) Thus we see that commencing, following through, or in other words acting with lifelong commitment, will only take place as we become educated. President Gordon B. Hinckley stated in his address “Out of your Experience Here”, “Upon leaving, a student can expect to be better qualified to take place in the society.” As we become educated by first internalizing information and making individual conclusions, the natural result will show through action. As the Lord states, “For behold it is not meet that I should command in all things...” (D&C 58:26)

Education from on high changes wondering into knowing, considering into doing, and doing into becoming.