From “An Evening with a General Authority” address to CES religious educators on February 26, 2016, in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“By learning doctrinal or historical content and context by study and faith accompanied by pure testimony [we] can experience a mature and lasting conversion to the gospel and a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ.”
1. Study by faith.
The Lord provided this timely and timeless counsel to you: “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” (D&C 88:118).
2. Use authoritative resources.
Many are more familiar with Google than they are with the gospel, more attuned to the Internet than to inspiration, and more involved with Facebook than with faith. Study from the “best books,” as the Lord directed. The “best books” include:
- The scriptures
- The teachings of modern prophets and apostles
- The best LDS scholarship available
Don’t rely upon the Internet to answer questions of eternal significance. Remember, James did not say, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him Google!”
3. Understand gospel topics.
Read the 11 Gospel Topics essayson ChurchofJesusChrist.org for balanced and reliable interpretations of facts about controversial and unfamiliar Church-related subjects. Become familiar with theJoseph Smith Papers website and the Church history sectionon ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
4. Stay updated.
It is always wise to make it a practice to keep updated on current Church issues, policies, and statements through mormonnewsroom.org and News.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
5. Allow the Holy Spirit to work within you. Do those things in your personal life that bring the Spirit. Such things include:
- Sincere daily prayer
- Faithful fasting
- Regular study and pondering of the scriptures and the words of the living prophets
- Making the Sabbath day a delight
- Partaking of the sacrament with humility
- Always remembering the Savior
- Worshipping in the temple as often as possible
- Reaching out to the needy, poor, and lonely
6. Know and love the plan of salvation.
Know, understand, embrace, and participate in God’s plan of salvation. Understanding the plan will give you the divine insight through which to view yourself as a son or daughter of God, which provides a lens to understand almost every doctrine, practice, and policy of the Church.
“The fulness of the gospel is in our hands. We must get it into our minds and into our hearts and teach it with power.”
Learn more
