"Seek Learning, Even by Study, and Also by Faith"
Elder Harold B. Lee
- Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles
📅 0
📖 general conference
Dr. Edwin D. Starbuck, a non-Church scientist, observed that great scientific discoveries come as intuitions or flashes of light to the discoverer's mind, which his students equated to inspiration.
A similar comment will illustrate the working of the Spirit of God or the light which lightens every person who comes into the worldD&C 84:46as a man of science not of the Church would define it. Some years ago in a class of seminary teachers at Brigham Young University, Dr. Edwin D. Starbuck, a University of Iowa professor, remarked that 'every great scientific discovery came as an intuition to the mind of the discoverer.' When he explained what he meant by intuition, his students said they cal ... (continued)
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"Seek Not for Riches But for Wisdom"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts advising three individuals who, despite material success, felt unhappy and confused, suggesting they change their priorities to seek wisdom over material things.
Recently, two young people and one older man have come to me and explained that, although they are successful in a material way, they are unhappy and confused. Each asked my advice as to how he could remedy his situation.
I told them that the Lord had already answered that question when he said:
"Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich."D&C 6:7
I suggested that th ... (continued)
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"Seek Not for Riches But for Wisdom"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares his experience that teaching and fellowshipping in groups, especially when they are compatible in age, education, and interests, is effective for reactivating inactive members.
In order to teach and reactivate larger numbers, I have found that teaching and fellowshipping in groups is most effective"”in cottage meetings, so to speak. I have also experienced better results when working with groups that are compatible insofar as their age, education, and interests are concerned. With a little effort it is generally possible to get them together in compatible groups.
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"Seek Not for Riches But for Wisdom"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recalls stories where giving prospective elders and new converts minor Church responsibilities led to their happiness and valuable experiences.
As a part of teaching, training, and fellowshipping prospective elders, we should involve them in Church activities, even though at first assignments may be of a minor nature. I recall listening to thrilling stories where prospective elders and new converts were assigned jobs such as to raise and lower the chapel flag each day, or to keep the songbooks in repair, or to act as an assistant secretary in the elders quorum; and in each instance, the persons involved were happy and received worthwhil ... (continued)
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"Seek Not for Riches But for Wisdom"
Elder Franklin D. Richards
- Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker's granddaughter praises the Young Adult program, noting its potential to meet various needs and its ability to change lives by helping reserved individuals become outstanding leaders.
One of my granddaughters had this to say about the Young Adult program: "The Young Adult program is perhaps the most outstanding program the Church has ever provided for its young people. Why? Because it has the potential to meet all of their needs, whether they be religious, social, educational, recreational, or individual needs. Most important of all, the Young Adult program changes lives. I have seen many quiet, reserved people, who might have otherwise gone unnoticed, accept callings of resp ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
A German newspaper representative, Mr. Walter Mallin, visited the speaker's office to study American government, education, and religion, and was particularly interested in the Latter-day Saints' emphasis on education.
Many visitors from all over the world come to ask about the real meaning of our religion. A few days ago there sat in my office a Mr. Walter Mallin, a representative of one of the surviving newspapers of Western Germany. With two other newspapermen, he had been sent to America to make a study of the government, the education, and the religion of America. He came to Salt Lake City, as this was one of the centers he had been directed to visit, for he knew that we had many German converts. It would ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker references a book, 'Education—America's Magic,' which praises Utah's education system, attributing its success to the high value placed on education by the people of Utah.
In a recent book entitledEducation—America's Magicby Raymond M. Hughes, President Emeritus, Iowa State College, and William H. Lancelot, Professor of Vocational Education, Iowa State College, we have the latest statement concerning education in America and in the respective states of America. Speaking of the place of the states of the Union in education, the authors of this book tell us that, 'Utah has first place among the states by a wide margin.' In speaking of the place of Utah, we fi ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Professor Ellsworth Huntington attributes Utah's educational success to the influence of Mormonism, which insisted on a thorough system of schools.
The general condition of education in Utah is also made by Professor Ellsworth Huntington of Yale University in his interesting book, entitledCivilization and Climate, when he writes: The proud position of Utah is presumably the result of Mormonism. The leaders of that faith have had the wisdom to insist on a thorough system of schools, and have obliged the children to attend them. The 'Gentiles' have in self-defense been forced to do equally well, and the result has been admirable.
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Count Keyserling, a philosopher, visited America and praised Joseph Smith and Brigham Young as prophets and acknowledged the Mormons' achievement in building a civilization in a desert.
Furthermore, the German correspondent was told what his compatriot, Count Keyserling, once wrote. The learned philosopher visited America a few years ago, and on his way across the continent, he stopped off in Salt Lake City. As a result of his visit, he wrote in his famous two-volume work these words: 'Undoubtedly Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were just as genuine prophets as were Moses, Luther, and Calvin; only they were exceedingly uneducated.' Then he continues: 'We Occidentals are not men ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Seventies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aspired to create a comprehensive library to support their missionary work, as evidenced by an 1845 publication in Times and Seasons.
Taking their name from a number of our Lord's disciples, the 'Seventies' of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints form the central council of the missionary activity of the organization. As early as the Nauvoo period of Mormon history, the need for a fine library was keenly felt, for the seventies must then as now be eagerly reading and searching for the truths of the gospel. InTimes and Seasons, January 1, 1845, the following item was published: 'Among the improvements going forward i ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Despite the destruction of Nauvoo and the migration to the west, the Saints' dream of a library persisted, leading to a plan for the 'Seventies' Hall of Science' in Salt Lake City, though it was never built due to financial constraints.
Nauvoo was destroyed while the Saints were marching to their new home in the far west. But the dreams of the people were never lost, and on July 15, 1851, we read in the Fifth General Epistle of the Church, describing Salt Lake City, the following: 'On November 27th, the quorum of Seventies in conference assembled, agreed to erect an extensive rotunda in Great Salt Lake City, to be called the 'Seventies' Hall of Science,' and Joseph Young, their President, was appointed trustee and superintenden ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The Seventies continued to collect books and became well-read in literature, and libraries were established in many wards of Utah, contributing to the intellectual growth of the Mormon people.
The seventies continued collecting books however, and they soon had a fine library of the modern and ancient classics. From the time of the organization of the First Quorum of Seventy in Kirtland, their duties were pointed out by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and they came to realize that they were to be the teachers, the missionaries of the Church. Sensitive to the words as found in the 109th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: . . . Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker discusses the importance of religion and the love of God and neighbor with the German visitor, quoting Adolf Harnack, a German scholar, to emphasize the meaning of life beyond knowledge.
The subject of education was just one phase of the conversation with our German visitor. The most important subject was that of religion and our sacred books: the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, which took up many hours of the three days our friend was here. I called his attention to the scholarly statement made by the famous German scholar, Adolf Harnack, rector of, and professor of church history in the university, and member of the Royal Prussian ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Diligently"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker concludes the conversation with the German visitor by discussing George Santayana's work and the Book of Mormon's prophecy regarding Columbus, emphasizing the role of faith in discovery and life.
To close our conversation, mention was made of the life and work of George Santayana who was once professor of philosophy at Harvard University and one of the greatest philosophers of our day. We had read the thirteenth chapter of 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon and quoted the reference to a man who was called from among the Gentiles. 'And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came do ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Knowledge"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
Visitors from Australia and Denmark attended the conference, with the superintendent of schools of Copenhagen being present, reminding the speaker of a visit to the university in Copenhagen where a bronze eagle sculpture is located.
President McKay; brethren and sisters: We have had a number of visitors today, many of whom were Methodists who came from Australia. They seemed to be pleased with their visit to this building and what they heard. There is now in the congregation the superintendent of schools of Copenhagen, Denmark. With him are others from that country. We remember well of being in our city and visiting the university that you represent. You graduated from there, you tell me, and we recall that above the gates ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Knowledge"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the role of mothers in the history of the Church and references the Seagull Monument, a sculpture by Mahonri Young, which symbolizes the dignity, energy, tenderness, and endurance of pioneer mothers.
When the general conference comes around, we note that the Relief Society of the Church has its meetings with the sisters who come from all parts of the world where there are members, most of whom are mothers in this great organization. The mothers have played a great part in our history, for they have given birth and reared men who have been honored by the priesthood of God. How the have preserved the sacredness of family life! You recall with proud appreciation the pioneer mother on the Seagul ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Knowledge"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker recounts the history of the Seventies' Library in Nauvoo and the planned but never realized Seventies' Hall of Science in Salt Lake City, highlighting the importance of knowledge and literature to the seventies and the Church.
Though I speak to the seventies during the few minutes I have to give a message, I realize that whatever truth is uttered is a lesson to all the brethren holding the priesthood of God. The seventies have a specific calling which none of us can forget. Taking their name from the number of our Lord's disciples, the seventies form the central council for the missionary activity of the Church. From the be inning of their organization in 1835, the seventies have felt the need for a complete reference ... (continued)
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"Seek Ye Wisdom"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker plans to share what books the pioneer fathers brought to the valley and notes that the founding fathers read the best books of their time in many languages, implying their education and wisdom.
Our pioneer fathers read the best books. Sometime I shall tell you what books they brought to this valley with them. The founding fathers read most of the best books of their time and in many languages. They were educated and wise men.
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"Seek Ye Wisdom"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker shares an insight on moral individuals who live without self-righteousness, influencing the world positively through their example rather than ostentation.
There are thousands of men in the world who live on a high moral plane and are not thought self-righteous. If we have any insight into the deeper springs of human nature, we will meet them constantly in the journey of life. If we have not the insight, we will not see them, for they do not make a show of virtue. But they have upheld it in others by their example, and make the world better by their presence.
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"Seek Ye Wisdom"
Elder Levi Edgar Young
- Of the First Council of the Seventy
📅 0
📖 general conference
The speaker reflects on the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with a man until dawn and not letting go until he receives a blessing, drawing a parallel to the need for endurance and wisdom.
To leaders and workers I say ponder on these words in Genesis, "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. "And he said, Let me go for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me"Gen. 32:24,26
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