The temple has always been very important to me in my life. When I was a child, I looked forward to my twelfth birthday. For, on that day, I would be old enough to go into the Temples of God and begin to do a most holy work. For the next ten years I sought to go to the temple often to do, baptisms and confirmations, for those beyond the grave who had not the opportunity to do so for themselves while living.

Ten years later, in preparation for serving a mission, on my twenty-second birthday I was able to go through the Temple to receive higher saving ordinances for myself and make sacred covenants with the
Lord. On that day I promised myself that up until I left for my mission, and then once I returned home, that I would go often to do this much needed work for my ancestors.

For the next five ½ weeks till I left, and for the first two months after I returned from my mission I was good on my promise. Then I went back to school. That last year at college for me was a crazy time for me. I was living in Cedar City, attending a small classical liberal arts college. I had no car for money was tight and I did not wish to get in debt, so I walked everywhere. It wasn't so bad, for I only lived 2 miles from the college.

Trying to make up for last time, I took upon myself 27 credit hours the first semester, and 23 the next, while taking on the responsibilities of a student ambassador for my school as well. I had so much on my plate between college and my church callings that I found certain things began to fall through the cracks. Among which was my temple attendance. At first I did not realize this was happening. Yet, when I did, I did not know how I could do anything about it. The nearest Temple was in St. George a 50 minute drive away. And the fact was that I just didn't have the time, or means of transportation.

Then one day I was reading in my scriptures, and I read,

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

Here Nephi and his brothers were asked what seemed to be an impossible task. They were commanded to go back to the great city of Jerusalem to retrieve the plates of brass. They tried and seemingly failed many times. Nephi's older brothers looked at the obstacles in their way of accomplishing God's task for them, and justified themselves in their inaction. Nephi however looked to the Lord, and held in his heart God's promise to prepare a way. Because of his faith in the Lord, Nephi was able to overcome all that stood in his way and accomplished what the Lord commanded.

When I realized that I was thinking and acting like Nephi's older brothers, instead of my hero, Nephi, I knelt down and poured my heart out to the Lord. I told him of the desire of my heart to be able to attend the temple. I then told Him all the obstacles in my way. I finished by placing it in His hands. I promised the Lord that if He would provide a way that I would attend the temple every week for the rest of my school year.

That very next day a friend approached me and told me that she was getting together, a group of friends to attend the temple with every Tuesday, and wanted to know if I was interested in going. She had a car, and if we could fill it then it would only cost $2 a trip.

I made the commitment to obey the Lord's will and attend the temple, and He made it possible. My week wasn't any less busy. My many responsibilities didn't just go away. Yet, when I put the Lord first, I still managed to do everything else that mattered. It wasn't always easy, but it was possible.

As a further blessing, I found that there was an added measure of the spirit in my life. I was closer to the Lord, and I had a greater sense of peace and direction while in the midst of my crazy life. Looking back now, I know that I only made it through that time in my life because of those blessing from attending the temple. That and I relearned a most important lesson in my life. If we wait to do the things of the Lord till they are convenient, then we will never do them, for they will rarely be convenient. Yet if we put the things of the Lord first, the Lord will make a way for us to accomplish them as well as those other important things in our life that we put on the side to do his will first.

"I too believe that God will always make a way where there is no way. I believe that if we will walk in obedience to the commandments of God, if we will follow the counsel of the priesthood, he will open a way even where there appears to be no way." If Ye Be Willing and Obedient, President Gordon B Hinckley

As some people see things, we are living in the Information Age. That is, the dominating and distinguishing attribute of our era is information. Earlier eras were known as the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. The distinguishing characteristic was the materials the used. But our age is different. It is not so much the materials or tools we use, but how we use them. It is the guiding information that sets us apart from previous ages.

Even though information is a blessing—after all, the Internet is also known as the Information Superhighway for a reason—there are some drawbacks associated with the process. I see three critical aspects of information: accessibility, accuracy, and utility. These are some of the basic questions of informatics.

ACCESSIBILITY

One of foremost problems with information was noted by Thomas Sowell. Although he was speaking as an economist, his point applies generally:

“Knowledge is one of the most scarce of all resources.” (Basic Economics, 14)

The book of Job asks, “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12) Of course we can partially answer Job by saying that wisdom can be found in public libraries, the Internet (with a grain of salt), and at learning establishments, among other places.

That is why this era of human history is so prosperous—we have all of this readily accessible information. Instead of being locked-up in royal archives, or sequestered in remote monasteries, our information is superabundant.

Even so, books go out of print, are lost and damaged, and Internet links sometimes go dead. The question “where is wisdom?” in part still remains.

ACCURACY

Nowadays it has become proverbial to respond to ridiculous ideas by saying, “Oh? I bet you read that on the Internet!” This sarcasm underscores the point that it is one thing to know a fact, and the another matter entirely to know if said fact is true. The questions we ask are: Is our information accurate? Is it reliable? And how can we verify the information?

The problem is further compounded because even good people make mistakes. The Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ comparable to the Bible, has a passage that strikes me as relevant. In it, an ancient prophet describes the word’s infosphere in the last days:

“They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.” (2 Nephi 28:14)

In a revelation given to Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Mormon Church, the same point is affirmed:

“And my vineyard has become corrupted every whit; and there is none which doeth good save it be a few; and they err in many instances because of priestcrafts … ”(D&C 33:4)

And another revelation speaks of people who are:

“ … honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.”(D&C 76:75)

So good people can make mistakes, and there are sometimes shady people who are less than honorable. And these character flaws and the occasional bald-faced mischief can hamper the information we receive. Information thereby becomes disinformation, or even worse: noninformation.

UTILITY

The last aspect of information is utility. Joseph Smith once spoke of “correct (though useless) knowledge” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 287). After accessing the information, and verifying it, the question remains as to how to put it to good use.

With some backwoods imagery, Joseph Smith observed:

“A man never has half so much fuss to unlock a door, if he has a key, as though he had not, and had to cut it open with his jack-knife.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 307)

We’ve all done this—used a butter knife as a screwdriver. It works, but it is not as effective as using the proper tool the right way. The same holds true for information. At one meeting I attended, one of the people kept offering solutions to non-existent problems. As the proverb goes, “To a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail.”

It’s that tool imagery again. But information is not so much a tool as a guide for how to use the tools we have. Sometimes we use the wrong tool, or more commonly, we use the right tool the wrong way. Information helps sort out these types of practical questions.

JOSEPH SMITH’S INSIGHT

I am impressed how Joseph Smith handled these three problems of information—accessibility, accuracy, and utility. The amazing thing about this is that he was born in 1805. So not only was he pre-Information Age, he was also pre-Industrial Age. Although the Industrial Age had its beginnings in the late 1700s, this was primarily in England. Joseph Smith lived far outside of the pale of its potency.

Also, by his own admission Joseph Smith was more of a backwater hillbilly than intellectual titan. Describing himself at fourteen years, he said that he was:

“ … an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor.”(JS-History 1:23)

And his poverty limited his education:

"And being in indigent circumstances, were obliged to labor hard for the support of a large family, having nine children. And as it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the family, therefore, we were deprived of the benefit of an education. Suffice it to say, I was merely instructed in reading and writing and the ground rules of arithmetic, which constituted my whole literary acquirements.” (1832 History, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 10. Standardized.)

And I love the letter to his wife that he wrote from New York City. It reminds me of the fable of the City Mouse and the Country Mouse. As a wide-eyed country yokel, he was over-awed by the big city:

“This day I have been walking through the most splendid part of the City of New York. The buildings are truly great and wonderful to the astonishing of every beholder.”

“And the language of my heart is like this: Can the great God of all the Earth maker of all things magnificent and splendid be displeased with man for all these great inventions sought out by them? My answer is no, it cannot be, seeing these works are calculated to make men comfortable wise and happy.” (Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 277ff. Standardized)

So his insights (and foresight) into informatics are uncanny. They certainly were not part of his intellectual environment and upbringing.

ACCESSIBILITY

Joseph Smith was a champion of transparency. In 1830 he published the Book of Mormon. Then in 1835, he published a book of his revelations the Doctrine and Covenants. He also set the pattern for regular church periodicals that lasts to this day. He also pioneered adult high education with the School of the Prophets and the University of Nauvoo.

In our day, the Mormon Church has added radio, television, satellite, cable, and internet media for distributing information.

Joseph Smith also utilized church conferences. There were both local and general conferences of the church, which now happen semi-annually. The point of all of this it to keep the information flowing. There was never a policy of “need to know.”

Joseph Smith taught:

"God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least [Mormon] may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know Him . . . from the least to the greatest [see Jeremiah 31:34]." (“Chapter 22: Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 261–270.)

ACCURACY

The Mormon Church’s information oversight is meticulous. The Correlation Department oversees the publication of church materials, lesson plans, magazines, and web content. This certifies that the information is trustworthy. This overseership began with Joseph Smith proofreading and editing the early church periodicals and the scriptures.

Joseph Smith affirmed that Mormonism embraces all truth:

“Mormonism is truth, in other words the doctrine of the Latter-day Saints, is truth. . . . The first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is, that we believe that we have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth, without limitation or without being circumscribed or prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions of men, or by the dominations of one another, when that truth is clearly demonstrated to our minds, and we have the highest degree of evidence of the same." (Ibid.)

However, this does not mean that Mormons believe every idea. There must be a testing process to verify that the idea in question is true: “clearly demonstrated to our minds … and we have the highest degree of evidence of the same.” That is why there is oversight.

Mormons also have their own personal “Oversight Committee” with the scriptures, the monthly periodicals, the church leaders, and prayer.

UTILITY

The first two aspects, accessibility and accuracy, are a corporate church responsibility. Utility is an individual responsibility.

A revelation explains:

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.”

“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;”

“For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.” (D&C 58:26-28)

Joseph Smith pioneered what we now call “empowerment.” He said that there must be “a balance or equilibrium of power” between leadership and flock, so that “harmony and good-will may be preserved ...” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 23). The free-flowing information empowers people to act on their own, and to act intelligently. The goal was to work harder, work smarter, and to work autonomously.

CONTENT

Joseph Smith’s reason for setting such a system has to do with the content of his message. He was a religious leader, so his message was of capital importance and eternal consequence. His message can be seen as having three main divisions: Absolute Truth, The Atonement, and the Principles of the Gospel.

Absolute Truth. Any discussion of Joseph Smith and information must begin with his belief in absolute truth. In one of his revelations, truth is defined this way:

“And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.” (D&C 93:24)

This definition embraces both the correspondence and the coherence theories of truth. It also bridges the objective and the subjective gap by emphasizing both the “things as they really are” and our knowledge of said things. Something can be true, but we can also be ignorant of the truth. We need to have both.

Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth president of Mormon Church taught:

"There are absolute truths and relative truths. The rules concerning what a person should eat have changed many times in my lifetime. Many scientific findings have changed from year to year. The scientists taught for decades that the world was once a nebulous, molten mass cast off from the sun, and later many scientists said it once was a whirl of dust which solidified. There are many ideas advanced to the world that have been changed to meet the needs of the truth as it has been discovered.”

“There are relative truths, and there are also absolute truths which are the same yesterday, today, and forever—never changing. These absolute truths are not altered by the opinions of men. As science has expanded our understanding of the physical world, certain accepted ideas of science have had to be abandoned because new truths have been discovered. Some of these seeming truths were stoutly maintained for centuries.”

“The sincere searching of science often rests only on the threshold of truth, whereas revealed facts give us certain absolute truths as a beginning point so we may come to understand the nature of man and the purpose of his life." (Spencer W. Kimball, “Absolute Truth,” Ensign, Sep 1978, 3)

Mormonism deals with fixed and eternal principles, not with fuzzy ideas or shifting values.

The Atonement. When asked about the bare essentials of his faith, Joseph Smith replied:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56.)

Joseph Smith’s focus was Christ. As Howard W. Hunter, the fourteenth president of the Mormon Church taught:

“The doctrine of the Resurrection is the single most fundamental and crucial doctrine in the Christian religion. It cannot be overemphasized, nor can it be disregarded. Without the Resurrection, the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a litany of wise sayings and seemingly unexplainable miracles—but sayings and miracles with no ultimate triumph.” (Howard W. Hunter, “An Apostle’s Witness of the Resurrection,” Ensign, May 1986, 15)

That is why there is so much precision in overseeing the flow of information. If the Atonement can neither be overemphasized nor disregarded, then it also cannot be taught in a slipshod or an inaccurate way. We must have our facts straight and the doctrine pure. There is no salvation in believing a lie; there is no use in believing error.

Principles of the Gospel. Mormonism has thirteen Articles of Faith. The third and fourth focus on the core message:

“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”

“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Articles of Faith 1:3-4)

In addition to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Mormonism has specific ordinances (sacraments), specific covenants, and specific rules of membership. These also need to be transmitted and taught with utmost care.

That is why Joseph Smith was cautious about going off on bizarre tangents and low-brow speculation. When counseling missionaries, he said:

“Declare the first principles, and let mysteries alone, lest ye be overthrown.” (“Chapter 28: Missionary Service: A Holy Calling, a Glorious Work,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 327–38)

The point is to accurately have the right content readily accessible for personal use.

CONCLUSION

When I began writing this blog, I had a sense of Joseph Smith’s uncanny insight into informatics. But after seeing the nuts and bolts of his informatics matrix, and that coming from a self-proclaimed poorly educated country boy, I am dumbfounded. He was operating way beyond his environmental and educational capacities.

Richard L. Bushman wrote:

“[Joseph Smith’s] natural bent was charismatic, not bureaucratic. His influence had come through his visionary gifts, not by appointing officers and assigning duties. Yet he formed institutions almost intuitively, showing a surprising aptitude for one with limited experience.” (Rough Stone Rolling, 111.)

Exactly. But the question remains, where did all of this come from? How do we explain this gap of experience when contrasted with the sound informatics he designed?

That is where faith in him as a prophet comes in. For me, the gap is too big to be ignored, bushed aside, or explained away. As I see it, there is only one possible explanation: he was a prophet.

I am also grateful that the promise of Isaiah may be fulfilled:

“They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.” (2 Nephi 27:35)

That is the point of a pure information flow: to make us better people.

What is the best way for a disciple to develop a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father? We learn who They are through following the commandments. We learn what we mean to Them through prayer.

Prayer is an open line of communication between us and the heavens. It can, and should be, a conversation with a dear friend. It is talking out your joys, your worries, your fears and ambitions with the Lord through prayer that allows Him into our lives. Inviting Him in invites his blessings and guidance.

How do we build this type of relationship? Part of it is remembering that prayer is an active connection with deity. As a result, our prayers need to be active as well.

Because prayer should become a part of our daily lives, it runs the risk of becoming so routine that we forget its true purpose. We go through the motions, but our prayers become repetitive, wandering and empty. A disciple of Christ is trying to focus his life around the Savior in every way possible. Perhaps one of the most important ways is to maintain that focus during our prayers. A disciple’s prayers are prayers of action.

What do I mean by action? I mean taking an active roll in all the aspects of our lives that we include in our prayers: thankfulness, forgiveness, and pleadings.

Here’s a simple example. A typical prayer before a meal includes a thanks for the food and maybe a request to bless it for our nourishment. What difference would it make if we made this prayer a little more active? Perhaps it might include a request for us to express love and gratitude for the hands that prepared the meal. Perhaps it’s a greater appreciation for the blessings of bounty. It might even include a discussion about your health and the blessings of a physical body, a request to help you be more mindful of your physical needs, or support for changes to your diet that you are trying to make. The result is an active conversation and a commitment to action on your part.

The same principle applies to all aspects of prayer. When we pray for forgiveness, are we asking for guidance and strength to do our part in making things right? Are we praying for those involved in our error, or only ourselves? Are we acknowledging the great gift of the atonement that makes our repentance possible? Or are we simply stating a closed request for mercy and grace.

Prayers for our needs and concerns can include requests for specific help and guidance. Including our thoughts and ideas about the situation and what we think we can do to help Him, helps us show a commitment to seek His will. We need to really talk to Him, tell Him every aspect of our fears and concerns, and tell Him our desires— though He knows our hearts already. When we do this we are actively opening our heart and mind, humbling ourselves before Him, and asking for the faith and courage to do His will.

Prayers for others carry the same responsibility. Pray for them with sincere intent. Rather than a trite “Please bless” talk to your Heavenly Father about your concerns for them. Imagine what they must be feeling. Ask Him to provide them with comfort and peace. Ask Him what you can do to be an instrument in that peace. Listen to the Spirit, then obey.

Prayers of action require action. Not only do they require us to approach the prayer itself with focus and purpose, but they also commit us to following through with those things we have brought before the Lord. Prayers of action are conversations with an Elder Brother, a loving Father, an understanding friend. We talk, He listens. He talks, we listen. Prayers of action touch heaven and return with blessings of joy.

I just love hearing other people's conversion stories. Here is a sweet one that was written shortly before President Hinckley's death. It was shared with me by Linda Champion:

My conversion story starts about 4 years ago. My daughter, Sister Crystal Champion, was investigating this church as well as one other, while singing at the Catholic church in town. One day she told me that she had decided to get baptized and asked me to attend the baptism. I was very supportive of her decision to join although I had not heard of any of the beliefs. Crystal took a strong interest in the Sister missionaries serving in the ward. We had them over for lunch and dinners and she drove them to appointments. We live in Upstate New York.

One day Crystal told me that she had decided to move to Logan, Utah with one of the returned missionaries who encouraged her to move there. To say the least, I was very sad but also knew that it was best for her to continue in her faith. After all she was the first to join the church in our family. Before she left for Utah she did have the sisters and elders here talk to me about the plan of salvation. Although I have a very strong faith in God, I was not ready to really accept the truth. Deep down I was scared what my family and friends would say if they knew I converted to be a Mormon.

Crystal moved to Utah in July 2004. As we said good bye, I could see the excitement in her eyes and the faith she had that everything was going to be okay. I guess that is something youth can do better than adults. Here she was with limited funds, no job and moving half way across the country! She found employment rather quickly and never once asked for money, although I did send her some once in a while. She absolutely loved Utah and had several opportunities to visit Temple Square. With each visit she would ask them to call me, which they did, and Elders were at my door to teach me. I just wasn't ready to accept the truth. I could see the changes that were taking place in my daughter's life but still was reluctant to accept the reasons.

Each time Crystal came home to visit she would spend time with the sister missionaries. She would ask me to go to church with her, which I did, but still I was not ready to be baptized. The elders continued to teach me and spend lots of time in my home. In 2006 Crystal felt that Heavenly Father wanted her to go on a mission so she began the process of completing the paperwork. She was home for a visit for Thanksgiving last year and was hopeful that she would get her call while home. (She planned it that way and asked that her call be sent to our address.) Needless to say, it did not arrive before she left. She so much wanted us to be with her when she opened the letter.

Shortly after she arrived home, she received her letter. She was at work and her roommate brought it up to her! She immediately called me because she wanted me "to be there" when she opened it. I happened to be driving home so I told her to call me back, which she did, just as I was pulling into my drive way! She read the letter and told me she was going to the Alabama Birmingham mission and she would report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on March 14, 2007. Her excitement was unbelievable! And of course I cried - she was coming to the East Coast (although I knew I couldn't visit her while she was on her mission).

I made plans to visit her in Utah for 10 days prior to her going to the MTC. We stayed with a friend and were treated especially nice. I had the opportunity/privilege of "spoiling" her before she went on her mission. I attended the church service where she gave her going away talk. There were several members that came up to me and said how nice it was that I came to be with Crystal before she went on her mission. Somehow they knew I was not a member.

The night we went to the stake to have her setting apart is a night I will never forget. The Spirit was so real to me. I knew that this is what Heavenly Father wanted for my daughter. I was being selfish thinking how could I survive without her for 18 months! After my conversion I was soon reminded that she was just on loan from Heavenly Father. Her father's friend also gave her a blessing and I cried like a baby. I started to think what a special person she was to be able to serve the Lord and how proud I was to be her mom.

We went to the MTC that Wednesday morning and it was the strangest feeling. I was crying but couldn't help but see the excitement on her face! I left there with such a warm feeling. Although I was sad I knew that Heavenly Father would take care of her. She is truly an amazing child who has faith that would move a mountain! Life was not always easy for her but she moved past that and had something very special in her life.

I returned home the following day both happy and sad. While in Utah at Temple Square I had purchased a quad (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants bound together in the same book) and said to myself "Linda, you are going to read the Book of Mormon and understand and find the truth." The elders once again started to teach me. I was on fire and couldn't read the Book of Mormon fast enough.

I had to work on some Word of Wisdom issues and the elders called me every night to check on my progress. I was finally ready to get baptized! And yes, I was baptized on Crystal's 23rd birthday - June 23, 2007!

Since that time our family has received many blessings. People have asked if I did it for Crystal and my answer is no, I did it because of Crystal. Her faith in Heavenly Father and the spirit I felt while in Utah made me feel that there really is something to this. I am continuing to learn so much and am truly a happier person because of my choice. I have been able to understand why Crystal is on a mission. Not only is she learning to be obedient to Heavenly Father, so am I. Her emails mean so much more to me now when I can see her testimony of the truth of this church grow stronger. I can't wait to give her a great big hug and kiss and to see her face when she sees me finally as a member of the Church.

I know that this Church is the restored gospel and that Heavenly Father lives and as does my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and I am so thankful that I have joined the church. The Book of Mormon is true.

Sister Linda Champion

How important did you consider education before you joined the church? As you begin to work towards an LDS-mindset to life, think about your education. The church encourages its youth, and in fact, all its members, to get as much education as possible, both formally, and through personal learning.

The responsibility for getting an education begins with you. While it’s easier to be well-educated if you were raised in a home that values it or if you’re a naturally good student, in the end, you’re the one who is affected, and so it’s your responsibility, regardless of what you’re learning about education at home or how good you are at school.

“Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. Yet opportunities and abilities differ. I believe that in the pursuit of education, individual desire is more influential than institution, and personal faith more forceful than faculty.

"Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves. He issued a commandment: “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.” (D&C 88:118.) And He assures us that knowledge acquired here will be ours forever. (See D&C 130:18–19.)”-- Russell M. Nelson, “Where Is Wisdom?,” Ensign, Nov 1992, 6

This means that going to a bad school or having an uneducational home isn’t an excuse. We have to take responsibility for educating ourselves. If your school is poor, you can find ways to make the curriculum harder. I once took a class on current events. I love current events and didn’t realize it was a fluff class designed for people who aren’t going to graduate unless they pass a social studies class. When I learned that we’d be doing nothing but rewriting a newspaper article in our own words each day, I went to the teacher. I was unable to change classes, but we decided I could instead choose an important long-running current event, research it, analyze it, and write a paper on it. In this way, I was able to get a good education in that class, even though the class itself was silly. When I had teachers who were unwilling to work with me, I assigned myself research projects. I tried to read extra books on the subject and talk to people who knew more about it. I also studied subjects my school didn’t offer by visiting museums or talking with my parents. When I struggled, I sought help in prayer and from others.

Doing well in school, and learning on our own, are spiritual accomplishments, even when we’re learning history or math. God is the author of all good knowledge. Of course, we must not let our academic life destroy our spiritual one. It’s important to use the same prayerful judgment in deciding what to believe academically as we did in deciding what church to join. Spiritual learning is also a priority.

Have you, since beginning to learn about the church, visited a long-time member and stared in awe at her food storage? Does it seem impossible to you that you could reach that level of readiness? You needn’t build your entire food storage in a few days. You can gradually build it over time, buying a little extra each time you shop and storing it away. You can also save to make a few bulk purchases each year.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. As all of you recognize, this counsel is not new. But I fear that so many feel that a long–term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. Begin in a small way, my brethren, and gradually build toward a reasonable objective" He warned people not to panic, but simply to get started.

The church has a wonderful website that guides you through the process of building a beginning food storage. The Provident Living site offers lessons you can use to get your family interested in helping you with this project. It explains how long food can be kept and how much you need to survive. This won’t let you eat as you always do, but it will keep you alive and healthy.

The commandment to keep food storage isn’t a doomsday commandment. Most people who store food use it as a part of the surviving the challenges of everyday life. Unemployment is easier to survive if you have plenty of food and don’t have to shop. Illness or weather might make it hard to go to a store, but having food stored up can get you through a few difficult weeks. A local disaster, of course, makes food storage essential. Food storage also reduces the cost of feeding your family. Having all you need already on hand allows you to shop sales or a variety of stores, one each week, buying only that which is less expensive at that store. It also allows you to buy in bulk.

If you have a small home, you may have to be creative in your storage. Your new LDS friends won’t blink an eye if food storage is part of your décor. When we moved to a small cottage, I placed a large number of cartons under the edge of a counter facing the living room. If members even comment on it, they say, “Oh, that’s where you keep some of your food storage.” Non-members might ask, but that only opens up conversational opportunities. Search out odd corners and inconvenient closets, under the bed space, and even cartons-as-furniture to find a spot for all you want to store. Grow at least a little food, even if it’s in a flower pot, to provide living food storage.

Start small, and keep building, a little at a time. You’ll soon have your full supply.

There was a lot of reminiscing when political commentator William F. Buckley passed on. I read and saw several of the “last interviews” various people had with him.

One interview caught my eye. In it, Buckley discussed his experience at Yale as an undergraduate, and the relationship universities have to God:

“Well, what happened there was that as a student at Yale in my junior and senior year, certain paradoxes sort of crystallized. One of them had to do with Christianity. Although Yale was at least ostensibly a Christian-oriented college having been founded as such 200 years earlier, there was a kind of nagging inattention and sometimes hostility to religion in the classrooms, and then it was—I’m talking about 1945, '46, '47, '48. There was a great infatuation with postwar socialism, so that the socialist government in Great Britain was spoken about here and there as sort of a high point of political sophistication.”

“So when I pulled out, I thought that these paradoxes should be examined in the framework of a book that said, ‘What is a college supposed to do by way of furthering missions?’ and who is entitled to vote on what should be in that mission, my point being that the alumni who sustain a college should have a significant voice in it.”

I chuckled. I’m a graduate of Brigham Young University (BYU), and we constantly had these discussions about God, Man, and the Academy.

For example, Merrill J. Bateman, the eleventh president of BYU and a general authority in the Mormon Church, observed:

“Is the university apart from or a part of the Church? Following the announcement of my appointment as president of Brigham Young University, the Salt Lake Tribune carried an article on what it means to have a General Authority as the school's leader. The major point of the article concerned the university's relationship to the Church. The news reporter suggested that although some might have assumed prior to the announcement that the university was a secular institution distinct from but reporting to the Church, the call clearly indicates that the university is an integral part of the kingdom.”

“The article surprised me in that I had never thought of Brigham Young University separate from the Church. Prophet after prophet has stated clearly that Brigham Young University is a religious institution with a divine mission, even though secular education is a key part of its purpose. Given the organizational structure by which the university is governed, it seems paradoxical that some might think that Brigham Young University is not an integral part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church itself is an educational institution, and Brigham Young University is one of its key components.”

“Thus, one might say that this institution is not only a university in Zion but is in the process of becoming a ‘Zion university.’” (A Zion University)

So, yes, the student body has everything to do with the body of Christ. They should be one and the same.

The Mormon Church has no professional clergy. Day-to-day management of the church is done on a voluntary basis. When I was an undergraduate student at BYU, I served in the Sunday School as a teacher, as the president of the ward Sunday school (the local congregation), and as Stake Sunday School president. This involved visiting the classes in our stake (akin to a diocese), and reporting back to the stake president. And all that while being a student full-time and working part-time. On top of that, many BYU students are married, with children.

Then there is missionary work. Like me, a majority of the students at BYU have served missions for the Mormon Church. The same can also be said for the professors. In fact the Missionary Training Center for North America is located between the BYU campus and the Provo, Utah Temple. Of course there is some symbolism with this location. The motto of BYU is taken from Mormon scripture: “The glory of God is intelligence.” (D&C 93:36)

The Mormon view of higher education goes back to its first prophet Joseph Smith. In March 1832, almost two and a half years after the organization of the church, Joseph Smith received this revelation from God that endorsed education.

In part it reads:

“Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;”

“Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—“

“That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.” (D&C 88:78-80)

The practical result of this was the creation of the School of the Prophets. This group met in the Kirtland Temple, and the curriculum covered both spiritual and secular topics.

Richard L. Bushman observed:

“The school has been represented as an early adult education effort, but the name ‘the School of the Prophets’ indicated a higher purpose. By alluding to the band of prophets who received instruction under Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha, it implied preparation for a holy work. Missionaries had been going into the field without instruction; in the school, they were to teach one another ‘the doctrines of the kingdom,’ and virtually everything else … There seems to have been no limit on the knowledge needed to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.” (Rough Stone Rolling, 210-211)

Joseph Smith loved these classes, and personal study as well. Two journal entries highlight this:

"Spent this day at home, endeavoring to treasure up knowledge for the benefit of my calling." (21 December 1835, History of the Church, 2:344)

"Spent the day at school. The Lord blessed us in our studies. This day we commenced reading in our Hebrew Bibles with much success. It seems as if the Lord opens our minds in a marvelous manner, to understand His word in the original language; and my prayer is that God will speedily endow us with a knowledge of all languages and tongues, that His servants may go forth for the last time the better prepared to bind up the law, and seal up the testimony." (19 January 1836, History of the Church, 2:376)

The same pattern used in Kirtland was followed in Nauvoo, Illinois with the founding of the University of Nauvoo. A proclamation explained the aims of the university:

“The ‘University of the City of Nauvoo will enable us to teach our children wisdom, to instruct them in all the knowledge and learning, in the arts, sciences, and learned professions. We hope to make this institution one of the great lights of the world, and by and through it to diffuse that kind of knowledge which will be of practicable utility, and for the public good, and also for private and individual happiness. The Regents of the University will take the general supervision of all matters appertaining to education, from common schools up to the highest branches of a most liberal collegiate course. They will establish a regular system of education, and hand over the pupil from teacher to professor, until the regular gradation is consummated and the education finished.” (History of the Church, 4:269)

Brigham Young University is the third incarnation of the School of the Prophets. The university mission statement explains:

“The mission of Brigham Young University—founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life. That assistance should provide a period of intensive learning in a stimulating setting where a commitment to excellence is expected and the full realization of human potential is pursued.”

“All instruction, programs, and services at BYU, including a wide variety of extracurricular experiences, should make their own contribution toward the balanced development of the total person. Such a broadly prepared individual will not only be capable of meeting personal challenge and change but will also bring strength to others in the tasks of home and family life, social relationships, civic duty, and service to mankind.” (Mission Statement)

I am not sure of William F. Buckley ever visited BYU, to see this marriage of the secular and the spiritual at work. Even if you disagree with his politics, you must agree with his thoughts on tearing down the wall of separation between Church and Academy. Buckley was a practicing Catholic and worked within the tradition of John Duns Scotus, Albertus Magnus, and Thomas Aquinas. He believed that the secular academy needed to work with the spiritual academy.

So do I. After all, Christ is the Truth.

As a Mormon working within the tradition of Joseph Smith, I also agree that there needs to be an intellectual union of the secular and the spiritual. And I am glad that the Mormon Church actually puts this ideal into practice. Trust me—it works!

William Moore Allred had this charming recollection about Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Mormon Church:

“[Joseph Smith] said it tried some of the pious folks to see him play ball with the boys. He then related a story of a certain prophet who was sitting under the shade of a tree amusing himself in some way, when a hunter came along with his bow and arrow, and reproved him. The prophet asked him if he kept his bow strung up all the time. The hunter answered that he did not. The prophet asked why, and he said it would lose its elasticity if he did. The prophet said it was just so with his mind, he did not want it strung up all the time.” (Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings, 395)

In our age of over-programming, this is a needed reminder. All too often we try to wedge more and more into the crannies of our schedule. Of course we want to make the most of every day, but we can go overboard. Our time management permutates into time micromanagement. And, as the Law of Diminishing Returns reminds us, the more we try to micromanage our time, the less effective our efforts become.

Indeed, Aristotle said that a well-rounded life includes relaxation as well as activity (Ethics IV.8). We forget that we are both spiritual and temporal beings (D&C 29:35). This temporal aspect requires maintenance, just as much as our spiritual sides need attention. Even God Himself rested after the days of creation, something which workaholics seem to forget.

The same need for rest and relaxation applies to families as well. In 1995 the Mormon Church issued a declaration called “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” This document contains both doctrine and counsel on how to overpower the corrosions that are eating at the family.

One paragraph contains this sentence:

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

We all understand the importance of faith, prayer, compassion, and so forth, in rearing families, but wholesome recreation activities? And that listed right after a reaffirmation of the gospel of work?

As I see it, this is not just another platitude about “taking time to smell the roses.” The roots run deeper. As I mentioned earlier, rest, or to be true to the Hebrew, cessation is a divine activity. Our present-day work week is based upon God’s creative week: six days on, one day off. The weekdays are used for our “day jobs.” Saturday is a special day where we take care of odd jobs around the house, and we use it to prepare for the new week. Sunday is a holy day, set apart from the commonplace days. On that day we are to offer our “oblations and [our] sacraments unto the Most High, confessing [our] sins unto [our] brethren, and before the Lord.” (D&C 59:12)

But never forget that rest is a divine activity. God preformed specific tasks on each of the days of creation, culminating with the creation of Adam and Eve. Then He rested. This rest was as much a part of creation as were the six other days. Of course I am not implying that God needed rest in the way we do. But He clearly stopped working for some reason. It is imperative that we follow this pattern in our lives, even if we do not fully understand the whys and wherefores.

We need to rest because we have to make room in our schedules for God. Sunday allows for proper worship. Instead of focusing on our bills to merchants, we can focus on the debt of the Atonement. This great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is the hinge of all history, should also be the hinge of our own personal histories and life plans. Recreation, in effect, allows us to get our bearings, to jump out of our intellectual and behavioral ruts, and to switch focus from our daily anxieties to the peaceable things of eternity. Once we are refocused, we in turn become reinvigorated for the upcoming battle next week.

Gordon B. Hinckley, the fifteenth president of the Mormon Church shared this story about how his father engaged in rest and relaxation:

"Will you pardon me if I tell you about my father? When he was about the age that I am now [87 years], he was fully retired. But he was active. He lived in a rather simple but comfortable home in a rural area. He had an orchard around him and enjoyed giving away the fruit. The yard of his home included lawns and shrubs and trees. It had a rock wall about two feet high separating one level from another. Whenever the weather was good he would sit on the wall, an old hat on his head to shade his eyes from the summer sun. ...”

“I discovered that when he sat on the wall, hours at a time on a warm day, he would reflect on the things he had read from his library.”

“I think he grew old gracefully and wonderfully. He had his books with the precious treasures they contained of the thoughts of great men and women of all the ages of time. He never ceased to learn. As he sat on the wall he thought deeply of what he had read the night before. He acquired the habit as a student here under Dr. Maeser. It was part of his BYU experience.”

“At times I almost envy him: time to read and time to ponder. What a blessing. He reminded me of leaves on the trees. When autumn comes with killing frost, the leaves change their color, and they give off a new beauty until they eventually drop to form a carpet on the ground.”

“Now, you are young, and why am I telling you of an old man and the wall on which he sat? I am telling you because I think it has a lesson for each of us. We must never cease to learn. We believe in eternal progression and that this life is a part of eternity to be profitably lived until the very end.” (The BYU Experience)

In addition to learning, we also need to take time to rest. We set down our tools, shut off the computers and other gizmos, retire to our rooms, and pray. We need to make time for unstringing the bow. We need time for God.