DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS LESSON 23, 2005

"Seek Learning By Study And Also By Faith."

Objective: To encourage class members learn 'by study and also by faith’

THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS & THE OTHER CHURCH SPONSORED SCHOOLS
History- Part I

The Lord instructed Joseph to begin a 'School of the Prophets' while in Kirtland, Ohio during the winter of 1832 and 1833.

"And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
"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 88:77-80)

The school of the prophets began meeting in January 1833 in a small room above the Newel K Whitney Store in Kirtland.
It was opened with fourteen high priests and two elders. Orson Pratt was admitted to the school a few weeks later. The
school continued for about three months.

The School of the Elders was organized in November 1834. It replaced the School of the Prophets and was sometimes
referred to as the same. This school was held during the winter months when there was less farm work to be done. A
second session was held during the winter of 1835-36.

"Those who attended the school studied such subjects as English grammar, writing, philosophy,
government, literature, geography, and ancient and modern history. Among the texts they used were Richard
Watson's Theological Institutes or a View of the Evidences, Doctrines, Morals, and Institutions of Christianity
(1834) and Royal Robbins's The World Developed in Its History and Geography Embracing a History of the
World (1832). Although the students explored a variety of disciplines, religious topics received the main
emphasis."

The Lectures on Faith were first delivered to this school during the winter of 1834-35.

After the Kirtland Temple was completed (1836) the School for the Elders was reorganized under the name School of the
Prophets. This school was conducted in the temple and included the administration of the sacrament, the ordinance of
washing of feet, and obtained a special endowment or gift of knowledge and power.

A Day in “The School of the Prophets”

The students frequently gathered at sunrise in the spirit of fasting and prayer. The teacher would precede the students
into the classroom and offer a personal prayer.

"And when he cometh into the house of God, for he should be first in the house—behold, this is beautiful,
that he may be an example—Let him offer himself in prayer upon his knees before God, in token or
remembrance of the everlasting covenant."
(D&C 88:130-131)

Once the students had gathered, the instructor saluted them with uplifted hands. He would then recite an oath which the
students would repeat.

"And when any shall come in after him, let the teacher arise, and, with uplifted hands to heaven, yea,
even directly, salute his brother or brethren with these words:
"Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or
remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a
 determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother
through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God
blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.”
"And he that cometh in and is faithful before me, and is a brother, or if they be brethren, they shall salute the
president or teacher with uplifted hands to heaven, with this same prayer and covenant, or by saying Amen,
in token of the same."
(D&C 88:132-133, 135)

“Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesman at once; but let one speak at a time
and let all listen to his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man
may have an equal privilege.”
(D&C 88:122)

The classes often continued until 4:00 PM. They often fasted all day, breaking the fast by partaking of the sacrament
together before returning home.

Members were admitted only after participating in the ordinance of washing of feet.

History- Part II

In January 1836 a new class or school was created, called the Hebrew School. This class was also held in the temple.
The brethren had engaged a Hebrew professor by the name of Joshua Seixas. He did not arrive in time for the opening of
the school, so the Prophet began the course. Progress was slow.

"Their studies were also interrupted one day when class members spent their time discussing some
powerful spiritual manifestations in the temple. The students were more interested in discussing the visions
they had witnessed than trying to learn to read Hebrew."

Professor Seixas arrived in Kirtland late in January 1836. Forty students were enrolled in the class, but interest was so
great additional classes were organized. They studied from a Hebrew Bible and other textbooks on Hebrew. The school
continued for about three months.

After three weeks, those that were excelling in the school were separated out for advanced training. These students
included Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, William W. Phelps, William E. McLellin,
Edward Partridge, and Sylvester Smith. Orson Pratt eventually received a certificate from Professor Seixas stating he
was capable of teaching the language.

Although women were not enrolled in the school, many of them studied with their husbands in the evening.

"My soul delights in reading the word of the Lord in the original. I am determined to pursue the study of
the languages, until I shall become master of them, if I am permitted to live long enough."
-Joseph Smith

The Kirtland School was more of a traditional school. It was attended by old and young, male and female. In February
1835, one hundred students attended with William E. McLellin as instructor.

"They studied geography, writing (penmanship), arithmetic, and English grammar. In addition to using
Noah Webster's dictionary as a text, they studied Samuel Kirkham's Grammar, J. Olney's Geography, and T.
Burdick's Arithmetic."

The school moved to the Kirtland Temple for the term beginning in November 1836. During the Kirtland era, other schools
were established. Several taught elementary subjects. Home schooling was popular during this period. Eliza R. Snow
taught the Prophet's family at home in 1837.

"In addition to the formally organized schools in Kirtland, the Saints had various other opportunities to
learn. Benjamin F. Johnson recalled attending a geography class one evening. William W. Phelps wrote to
his wife that he had attended a writing school. Eliza R. Snow stated that during the spring of 1836 she 'taught
a select school' for young ladies in Kirtland."

The University of Deseret (now the University of Utah) was established by Brigham Young in Salt Lake City in 1850, just
three years after the arrival of the Saints. In 1876, Brigham Young appointed Karl G. Maeser, a German immigrant, to be
the principle of the Brigham Young Academy in Provo. Over time, the Brigham Young Academy evolved into Brigham
Young University, one of the foremost religious universities in the world.

As publicly supported schools became more fully established in Utah, the Church began to close its academies. To
supplement secular education with religious teaching, the Church established the seminary program. The first seminary
was opened in 1912, adjacent to Granite High School in Salt Lake City. Students were release from school classes for one
period each day to attend religious instruction.

Similar to the seminary program, the Church established the Institute of Religion, giving university students an opportunity
to advance their religious education. The first institute was established adjacent to the University of Idaho in Moscow,
Idaho, in 1926.

In 1935, Elder John A. Widtsoe spoke about the purpose of the Institute program:

"During University years students meeting much new knowledge frequently have difficulty, unaided, in
reconciling their religious beliefs…with their academic studies…. LDS Institutes have been established to
meet this situation. They offer studies in religion on the college level, in college terms, dealing with the
profound questions which every thinking individual has a right to ask. At the Institute students discuss these
questions freely and frankly with the Institute Directors, either in classes or in private consultation."

Goal of the Church Education Program in the 1830s

These meetings provided the setting for spiritual experiences and in-depth discussions of gospel principles. John Taylor
said that Joseph Smith counseled the elders not to hesitate in expressing their thoughts, for, the Prophet said,

"it was very common for the Holy Spirit to reveal some things to obscure individuals that were not known
to others. Consequently, an exchange of ideas and reflections was considered profitable to all."

As with the School of the Prophets, the School of Elders had the purpose of training men to be more effective
missionaries and ministers of the gospel. It also prepared the elders to receive an endowment in the Kirtland Temple after
its completion.

Applicability to our Lives

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."
(D&C 93:36)

"It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance."

(D&C 131:6)

"A man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge."

-Joseph Smith (TPJS, p217)

“See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.
Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is
needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be
invigorated.
“And above all things, clothe yourself with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of
perfectness and peace. Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly,
and receive you unto myself. Amen.”
(D&C 88:123-126)

Are our church meetings an equivalent to the school of the prophets? Why or why not? Should we have something like
the school of the prophets? What can you do to include this doctrine in your life?
BY STUDY AND ALSO BY FAITH

"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)

• Study and(/or?) faith are the means to gaining knowledge.

LEARNING THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES

Why? What? How?

What good is an education anyway? Why have we been advised to seek even more education after we graduate from
high school? Is college the only place we can learn after high school? Is it the best place? What resources should we
use to learn from? Reading is good for you… does it matter what you read? What sort of books are beneficial to read?
What sort of books are detrimental? What sort of books don’t do anything for you at all? Should you avoid them?

If it is God who wishes us to study and to learn, should we only learn religious subjects? How do other topics help us to
understand the gospel better? What kind of knowledge is of most worth, Spiritual or Temporal? Should one serve the
other, or are they both the same?

“For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal—First spiritual,
secondly temporal, which is the beginning of my work; and again, first temporal and secondly spiritual, which is
the last of my work—Speaking unto you that you may naturally understand; but unto myself my works have no
end, neither beginning; but it is given unto you that that ye may understand, because ye have asked it of me an
are agreed. Wherefore, I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual …”
(D&C 29:31-34)

"...become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people"
(D&C 90:15).

"...obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man"
(D&C 93:53).

"We ought to foster education and intelligence of every kind; cultivate literary tastes, and men of literary
and scientific talent should improve that talent; and all should magnify the gifts which God has given unto
them. ... If there is anything good and praiseworthy in morals, religion, science, or anything calculated to
exalt and ennoble man, we are after it. But with all our getting, we want to get understanding, and that
understanding which flows from God"
-John Taylor

"The mere stuffing of the mind with a knowledge of facts is not education. The mind must not only
possess a knowledge of the truth, but the soul must revere it, cherish it, love it as a priceless gem; and this
human life must be guided and shaped by it in order to fulfill its destiny. The mind should not only be charged
with intelligence, but the soul should be filled with admiration and desire for pure intelligence which comes of
a knowledge of the truth. The truth can only make him free who hath it and will continue in it. And the word of
God is truth, and it will endure forever."
-Joseph F Smith

"Only as we see the world as it really is can we hope to solve its problems. Only by knowledge can we
banish ignorance, superstition, prejudice, fear, and hatred, the evils from which spring most of our world's
problems. Therefore it is imperative that you continue to seek knowledge."
-Howard W Hunter
GAINING AN EDUCATION FOR THE ETERNITIES

"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. 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."
(D&C 130:18-19)

Everything we learn in this life will be carried with us after we die. Do you think that include skills such as riding a bike, or
drawing? What benefit would it be to have skills and knowledge in the next life?

“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a
house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of GOD.”
(D&C 88:119, emphasis added)

Temples are not simplistic in nature, they contain complex ideas and symbolism. If you are not prepared, you will not be
able to understand what you are being taught. All things must be done “Line upon line, precept upon precept” If you are
not properly prepared, the only thing you will gain from the temple is a feeling of the spirit. And, while that is nice, it is in
no way fulfilling the potential that the temple has to offer us.

SUGGESTED READING AND REFERENCE

Education means study, study means taking the time to pursue your subject further than your teachers have time to spend
with you. Below is a list of books covering the same topics that we have covered today. You can borrow them, or get
them at the library or buy them if you have lots of money that you like to spend. They are also on the internet at:
www.lds-light.net/dc-lesson23 if you don’t have access to the internet, go to the Roseburg Public Library where you can
get on the internet for an hour at a time.

School of the Prophets

History of the Church Volume 1, Chapter 24

Lectures on Faith, Joseph Smith

Education

The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Volume 9: Approaching Zion, Hugh Nibley

Temples

The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Volume 12: Temple and Cosmos, Hugh Nibley
The Sanctuary Service, M. L. Andreason
Exodus
Leviticus
Amram and The Sanctuary,
The Forst Book of Adam and Eve, from the Forgotten Books of Eden
A Restless Exegesis
The Wizard of OZ, Frank L Baum
The Princess Bride (the Movie)
Star Wars – Episodes IV, V & VI