Messages to the faculty of the College of Religion, Brigham Young University, 1966
No. 1
The following ideas are submitted in the hope that each of us can more completely fill our potential as servants of the Lord in instructing the youth of Zion.
One of the choice expressions of the task of teachers in the Church is given by Moroni:
… and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ who was the author and finisher of their salvation. (Moroni 6:4)
Let us enlarge briefly upon these concepts:
- Their names were taken: We are accountable for the influence we have wrought upon each soul who has been under our tutelage. We have their names in order to insure that to each one has been extended the love, understanding, and nourishment which is the rightful heritage of the children of God.
- That they might be remembered: This is to treat them as individuals, not as “classes” or groups. Needs are personal and particular. Optimal good is done only on a person-to-person basis.
- Nourished by the good word of God: The prime function of a teacher in the Church is not to express his or her own ideas and opinions but to lead the flock to feast upon God’s words: first the Scriptures, both canonized and those from the living prophets; then the words of God which come by the Holy Spirit to each individual.
- To keep them in the narrow way: There is only one way that is right, and it is strait and narrow. It is to hearken to the voice of God in all things, for by his Holy Spirit God will show us all things which we should do. (2 Nephi 32:3)
- To keep them continually watchful unto prayer: Since one receives the Holy Spirit through the prayer of faith, it is the opportunity of the teacher to encourage and commend prayer and meditation, that each spiritually new-born son or daughter of Christ might grow continuously to spiritual maturity, ever watchful against the sophistries of the adversary and the temptation to spiritual drowsiness.
- Relying alone upon the merits of Christ: If only we can recognize and teach that all good is of Christ, and that as intelligent beings we ought to rely solely upon Him for our nourishment, our knowledge, our health, our wealth, and our priesthood!
No. 2
The true Latter-day Saint is one who has come to terms with at least one fundamental fact: All he or she has or hopes for comes through Christ. They know that they must rely upon their Savior for every good thing –for forgiveness of sins, light to cease sinning, for knowledge of truth, for strength to do what is good, for the gifts of the Spirit to overcome all things. Such persons are humble and meek before God. They know that pride is the enemy of all righteousness. They know that but for the grace of God, they would be as the worst sinner. They know that the rewards of men are paltry compared to the peace of the Spirit. They know that the more like the Savior they become, the more they can expect to be shamed, ridiculed and despised by men. They know that acceptance by their Heavenly Father is the only real test with which they need be concerned.
How does one act in relation to his fellowmen, especially towards his brothers and sisters in the Gospel? Is one concerned to appear to be learned before his fellow man? Is one constantly concerned with one’s “image?” Does one have to be heard uttering wise sayings in all public gatherings? Does one plead and scheme for the honors of men? Does one apply all the leverage one can to up his salary? Is one offended and self-righteous and critical on the occasion of evidence of the shortcomings of his brothers or sisters or colleagues? Does one demand preferential treatment because of one’s status or callings? Does one seek the adulation of students and derogate those who disagree with him? Does one overestimate one’s ability and contribution?
All of these questions are important, and there are others even more powerful and disquieting than these. But what is needed is that everyone ask and answer each of these questions for one’s self. It will not do to fly to a loved one or friend and say, “Tell me it is not so.” These problems must be worked out in the depths of meditation, in the anguish of one’s own conscience, in the solace of one’s wilderness. The wonderful prospect is that if we can ever come to full and honest terms with ourselves, with our own conscience, then we are on that strait and narrow road to acceptance by Him who sees and knows all. If ever accepted by Him, then what of arrogance, pomposity, ego-mania, image-adoration, self-aggrandizement? All will be swallowed up in the pure love of Christ as we gain that most precious attainment. And then we can be to our fellowmen the true servants of Christ which it is our opportunity to become.
No. 3
What is our task as teachers of religion? It is to bring souls to Christ. The principal means of accomplishing that goal is to encourage everyone whom we can to do three things: (1) to have a profound respect for the Lord, (2) to hearken to the living prophets, and (3) to seek the Holy Spirit as a guide for all things in their lives. We join Isaiah and Jacob in challenging all men: “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and has no light?” And with those prophets we also add the solemn warning from the Lord to those who would substitute the reasoning of men for the revelations of God: “Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand –ye shall lie down in sorrow.” (2 Nephi 7:10-11)
What then of the mechanics of teaching? What of syllabi, curricula, facts, and programs? These are the framework of our opportunity to bring the good word of God to the children of God. Let us make no mistake: There is no salvation in these methods and tools. Only by helping people to come to a personal acceptance of the atonement of our Savior and a spiritual rebirth is there any profit.
Shall we relegate the mechanics of teaching to the realms of evil and disdain the obligations thereof? Certainly not. Only in the excellence of the academic framework can we obtain the spiritual objective. To be slothful academically would be sheer hypocrisy –pretending to be a university, then dishonoring the trust of those who come for learning. As we are masters of the techniques and disciplines, wise in the things of the world, apt in our scholarship, incisive in our insight, disciplines and in our procedures, faithful to our duties, – then can we in the power of truth and righteousness show to all the better way.
No. 4
The moans and groans from students upon the occasion of any examination might lead one to think that such tests are some form of cruelty. One might also be led to think that evaluation of teachers is a terrible evil as one listens to the rumblings of the faculty. But in our sober moments we know that testing and evaluation are an indispensable aspect of progress.
The hallmark of intelligence is action which is appropriate to the contextual situation. Understanding the situation comes only through constant testing and probing. We test our students to see what they know and thus what they need to be taught. We are evaluated as teachers to see where we can best serve and in what we need to improve. As the carpenter with his square and level, the plumber checking for leaks, the physician performing a thorough examination, the courts proving a will, so we must evaluate and be evaluated constantly. To do otherwise would be to settle for the blind and rigid determinacies of a machine.
In the Gospel, too, we are constantly being evaluated and are evaluating. The Lord judges our every thought, desire, word and act, and bestows or withdraws his blessings from moment to moment according to our heed and diligence. The essence of home teaching is to discern in love and spirituality the needs of the families we serve, then to administer the Gospel and its ordinances carefully and perceptively in accordance with the progress and problems that are apparent. Likewise we are testing our own hunger for righteousness constantly, deciding from moment to moment where to draw closer to the Lord or to shrink from Him, to have Him as our God or not.
Since evaluation is an unavoidable and indispensable aspect of this earthly probation, would it not be well to appreciate it and learn to profit fully both from evaluation and being evaluated? “For all who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.” (D&C 101:5)
No. 5
Time is of the essence.
The precious passing moments press upon us, then filter into the abyss of eternity, leaving only a residue of memory. But that memory can be of the brightness of accomplishment—of love, or sacrifice in service, of honor in defense of truth and principle; or it can be of the dull pain of waste, of aimlessness, of self-seeking or submission to the pressure of the moment. And that memory is part of the eternal “me.”
In our teaching, every moment should be treasured as a gem. We can focus our efforts so that the class we are conducting, the counseling we do, the evaluation of student papers,—all can be high quality, and achievement of real love to bless our students. With that in mind, let us review some of the pitfalls to avoid:
Going to class unprepared, forced to “play it by ear.”
Allowing meaningless digressions in class discussions, however pleasant.
Presenting material that is unorganized.
Dismissing class sessions at “the drop of a hat,” such as only giving an assignment then dismissing the class session on the first day of meeting the class, going early to assemblies, dismissing class for the day before vacation, etc.
Being “buffaloed” into releasing class five minutes early as the students start to stir, close books, put on coats, etc.
Finding it unimportant to start the class on time.
Taking role inefficiently.
But if one has a yearning to improve the opportunity of time, there are excellent strategies to employ:
Have a repertoire of choice answers to questions, so that the interest which provokes a student’s question also becomes the cement to fix a gospel principle in that person’s mind.
Highly integrate class sessions with outside study assignments.
Deliberately concentrate on building rapport with the class members during the first few meetings, and when it is established, communication and learning will increase many fold.
Be so filled with your subject that it cries out to be expressed, then measure it carefully to the needs and abilities of your group.
Artfully turn every digression into a novel approach to the intended subject matter.
Treasure the chance to bear your testimony in all humility and to impress each child of our Heavenly Father in your charge with the greatness of the simple fundamentals of the Gospel.
No. 6
It is good to avoid the very appearance of evil.
Priestcraft is the merchandizing of religion, representing to promote the work of God but doing it for hire and the honors of men. The Book of Mormon is particularly blunt in labeling priestcraft as one of the great evils of the latter days.
How then does a professional teacher of religion associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints avoid that evil? He is on the horns of a dilemma. He can avoid teaching the truth of the Gospel; in which case he denies the very reason for being hired and becomes a hypocrite. Or, he can teach the Gospel well, which can only be done through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But then he is selling the gift of God. How can one escape?
The professional teacher of religion, of all people, must tread the strait and narrow. No final prescription can be given that will answer all situations. But there are some guidelines. Consider these:
- He or she can humble themselves in mighty prayer to receive the Holy Spirit, then do all he or she can to follow that spirit unto doing a perfect job of teaching students.
- One can recognize that because he or she is paid to teach religion, any real good done in that capacity is simply what is expected –that which one was hired to do. To earn eternal blessings, such an one must also work out his or her heart in the Church and Kingdom of God after working hours, as a free contribution.
- He can be careful never to take money for any activity which could possibly be construed as Church work, which others would be expected to do for nothing.
- Salary should never be a principal consideration in his teaching. If what he is paid is insufficient for his needs, the Lord will show him other, more remunerative and less perilous occupations if he is faithful.
- He should assume no priesthood prerogatives because of his teaching position. One prime objective of his teaching should be to encourage strongly the support of local and general priesthood authorities.
- He can plead with the Lord to show him exactly how to escape from his dilemma, how to be a just man while teaching for hire.
What a great delight it is to teach young people the Gospel! But, oh how careful we must be.
No. 7
The typical disease of our age is materialism. Materialism is the belief that all of our important problems have a material (especially economic) causes. The changing of material (especially economic) circumstances supposedly will provide the panacea. This is the thesis of Marx. Curious, isn’t it, that western nations claim to be anti-Communist while having swallowed whole the central Communist idea. No wonder then that we only quibble with the Communists as the most efficient means to achieve the materialist utopia.
Do you lack evidence of our materialism? Consider these: Most of us live beyond our means (installment buying) in the attempt to hasten felicity. Readiness to take a handout. Concern to buy at the lowest price regardless of whom we thus support or why the price is low. (Do you support Communist governments by purchasing the products of their slave-labor?) Supposing that our problems would be solved if our income doubled. The proportion of time we spend nourishing and caring for our physical being as compared with the time we spend nourishing and caring for our spiritual being. Not to mention present political palaver.
What is the cure for materialism? It is simply to live that Gospel of Jesus Christ which we verbally and emotionally espouse. It is to heed the full message of John the Baptist. (Have you noticed how many discussions of religion are an attempt to repudiate the specifics of what John said was necessary to the repentance of his materialistic contemporaries, that they should impart of what they have to those who have less, to be honest and exact in business affairs, to be content with their wages, not to attack others nor accuse anyone falsely. Luke 3:9–14) It is to put our full trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, to be guided and instructed by Him in all things, putting first the welfare of our spirits: the purifying of our hearts, our unity with the living prophets, our service in the Kingdom; then latterly and almost incidentally seeking counsel and help for health, wealth and retirement. It is to act to show that we really believe that the best thing to do is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that all else necessary will follow. It is genuinely to seek first for a hope in Christ before we seek for riches. It is to give our wealth away as the Lord directs. It is to begin to sacrifice all we possess, as is necessary, for the sake of righteousness.
Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then you shall be made rich. (D&C 6:7)
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25: 37–40)
No. 8
Dr. Nels Ferré, eminent Protestant theologian, visited the BYU campus last week.
After being with us for nearly two days, talking with faculty and students, reading literature about “Mormonism” which was put into his hands, he finally made what to him was a startling discovery. He found out that “Mormons” are “Christians.” Isn’t it wonderful that he found out before he left?
But there is an application of all this. How long does it take our students to find out that our master is the Lord Jesus Christ? Do they wonder what the ultimate source of value and truth is to us?
Is it obvious to them that we stand as witnesses of the divinity of Jesus Christ at all times and in all things, and are delighted to be called his people? Is there any message more crucial to our task than the following:
And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if you shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31: 19-20)
No. 9
Teaching is an art. It is a “fine art” in the best sense of the term, closely related to the drama.
The teacher writes the script, selects the cast, directs the performance and evaluates the individual audience response. He writes the script as he prepares his lesson outlines, texts and objectives. He selects the cast as he himself lectures or leads a discussion, employs audio-visual aids, brings in visiting authorities, calls on students for presentations and responses. He directs the performance each day in class, suiting the action to the need, shifting the focus, tempo, devices, scenery and cast as he sees fit. And he evaluates the audience to his own satisfaction, even giving them permanent grades for their aptness or lack of attention.
Now some observations on this situation:
- As drama is the most powerful form of art for most people, so teaching is an opportunity to wield great power.
- The teacher is not only powerful, but very powerful; the greater his skill, the more power he has over his students.
- The power of teaching can be used either for great good or for great evil.
- Some disdain to teach well, thinking it beneath their dignity to communicate effectively or consistently. They limit their role to that of being the “great authority.”
- Some confuse effective teaching with entertainment; they “ham” it up or titillate their students by name dropping, or make obscure references, or digress exasperatingly.
- The good teacher has a nigh absolute mastery of the subject matter to start with. His principal concern in class work is to lead and guide the individual students in that field,—enthusing, correcting, enriching, nourishing, as his perception of student needs shows opportunity.
- Of all subjects, the Gospel of Jesus Christ ought to be taught well.
- The real test is the active response of the audience. Does the Holy Spirit operate through us as teachers to make of the students godly men and women, examples of righteousness to all the world?
No. 10
What is our task as teachers of religion?
Our task is to witness of Jesus as the Christ and to point everyone to the straight and narrow gate of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance of all sin, sincere taking of the covenant of baptism, and seeking and living by the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Everything else is ancillary.
It is not our task to teach the errors of the world. Satan is highly efficient, and none of us need to be advocatus diabolic, though we may compare truth with error to highlight the truth.
It is not our task to be “objective scholars” in the manner of the world. There is no such thing as attaining real truth through scholarship alone. But we must be as fair and objective in our scholarship as we can be.
It is not our position to cower before the onslaughts of modern science. Science today is a powerful pragmatic tool for subduing the earth, but most of its proponents make of it a pious and dedicated atheism. We can give science its due without letting it become Lord and Master.
It is not our task to disabuse people of all their false and naïve notions. It is sufficient to teach the truth in humility and to let the Holy Spirit guide them to see the error of their ways.
It is not our task to call anyone to repentance. That function is reserved to those who preside in priesthood authority. But we can show that repentance through Christ is a thing most desirable, the hope of all mankind.
It is our task to create an atmosphere of light and warmth where the tender plant of faith can take root and grow against the day of trial.
No. 11
Suppose evidence comes to my attention that I am not highly rated as a teacher. What should I do? I could deny that the rating has any validity. I could assess the raters evil persons who are “out to get me.” I could insist that I am really an excellent teacher but that there are few who can appreciate my talents. In short, one alternative is to become exceedingly defensive and to attempt to preserve my self-confidence and my self-image by counterattack.
But another alternative is open to me. I could set my goal to become perfect, even as my Savior is perfect. I could recognize that only as I present myself as a humble little child before my Savior can I truly progress towards perfection. I could take the specific evidence that my teaching leaves something to be desired as a stimulus for thought, meditation, and prayer –for chance to do a better and better job in all things, including my profession. I could refuse to identify the real “me” with the habits and patterns of my fallen nature. I could work to be spiritually alive and to “grow up” in the Lord, to strive for spiritual maturity. I could see spiritual maturity as the goal in which every evil thought, every untoward desire, every petty selfishness would be replaced in my new creation in Christ wherein I would become a more powerful and more humble exponent of the Kingdom of God.
I could not only teach people to have faith in Christ and to repent. I could show them the way.
Perhaps I had better do this even if I am highly rated already.
No. 12
We cannot see many important things in the universe. We cannot see God, tomorrow, yesterday, or the spiritual order of existence. We cannot tell by seeing or reasoning what true righteousness is. For a knowledge of all these things we must depend on someone other than ourselves. If we believe the Holy Ghost when it whispers to us of these things, we are beginning to exercise the kind of faith that will save us.
Everyone has faith in something or someone. Sometimes we believe other people. Sometimes we trust our own thinking. Sometimes we expect our strength or our money to save us. But the only faith that leads men to righteousness or salvation is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
For us to have faith in Jesus Christ, three things must happen:
- We must receive the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit witnessing that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and telling us what to do.
- We must believe the witness and instructions of the Holy Spirit. This takes courage to be true to what we know within ourselves.
- We must act in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Spirit. If we can repent and become a disciple of Christ through obedience to the Holy Spirit, we then have faith in Jesus Christ.
No. 13 Conference Weekend
The Lord has told us that whenever:
- His ordained servants
- Speak for or to their stewardship
- By the power of the Holy Ghost,
the result is scripture. It is the mind if the Lord, the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. (D&C 68:2–4)
While some wonder why the Doctrine and Covenants ends with the Manifesto [1966], true servants of God recognize that the Lord gives additional scriptures daily, through his living prophets. The true servants recognize that the words of the living prophets are as important and binding as anything in the standard works.
If there is anything more important that we as teachers of religion could do than to encourage all of our students to pay close attention to Conference, and to instill in them a desire to support and sustain the living prophets? To bring souls to Christ is to bring them first of all to accept His chosen servants. Whosoever receives them receives also the Savior and the Father.
May we all do our best to make this Conference (April 1966) and its messages the highlight of our teaching this semester.
No. 14 Repentance
The man who loves righteousness but finds himself doing evil in spite of himself knows he needs to change. But how can he change if he doesn’t know how to do so? The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the message to all men to tell them how to change to become righteous.
Men must first recognize that thoughts are the basis for all feelings and actions. “As a man thinketh, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7) To repent, men must change their thinking. First, they must believe in Jesus Christ, that He lives and is the Savior of the world. Then they must be willing to obey the Savior in all things which he commands them, The voice of the Savior through the Holy Spirit will lead them to as much truth and righteousness as they are willing to receive and live.
As men obey the Savior, they will confess their evil ways and forsake them. They will do whatever they can to right the wrongs they have done and will implore the Savior to right those things they are powerless to correct.
But the Savior will not continue to guide men nor will he right their wrongdoings unless they formally pledge to accept his atoning blood and covenant to obey His voice in all things. That formal pledge can only be made in the ordinance of baptism. Thus it is that making the covenant of baptism is the most essential aspect of repentance in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Moro. 8:25)
This then is the agency of man: to remain captive to the adversary, confirming the Fall, or to take upon us the mind of Christ, to hearken to the voice of the Lord. Every man must choose. To choose the latter is the true metanoesis.
Can we teach this so plainly to our students that they can put on the whole armor of God and effectively quench the fiery darts of the adversary?
No. 15 Book of Mormon Week
One way of looking at the Book of Mormon is to see it as the special instrument which God has given for the perfecting of the souls of men in these latter days. If a man will read, study, pray, meditate about this book, then reform his life to accord with the intelligence thereby received, he will be able to draw nearer to God and the reality of being redeemed than he can by using any other book. The Book of Mormon is the stone which whets, shapes and sharpens the mind, heart, and life of every person worthy to be called a “Latter-day Saint.”
Nothing we can do for our students can compare with leading them to Christ and to support the authorities of the Church who the Savior has sent to us than championing to them the Book of Mormon. That book is the priceless antidote for intellectual pride, for dependence on the arm of flesh, for self-centeredness, for carnality, for indifference, ignorance, poverty, tyranny—for any and all of the ills that beset mankind. Since this is Book of Mormon week on campus, we have a wonderful opportunity to bear witness and to encourage our students to appreciate this great gift from our Lord.
No. 16
One of the serious faults of our educational process is the oppression of authoritarianism. Professors act often as if they know for sure what they are talking about. Students are pressured into memorization of the opinions of the “authorities” rather than being taught to think for themselves. Non-conformists fare badly, both as students and as faculty. The hallmark of erudition for most academic matters is the paraphernalia of quoting someone.
One gem of truth which we can crystalize out of the scriptures is that no one knows for sure anything of importance unless it is through personal revelation. Science is an impressive practical tool, but singularly lacking in demonstrable truth, especially as to causation. Scholarship mines opinion, not reality. Reason reinforces prejudice, but never vouchsafes the nature of existence. Only from the Lord, who is The Truth, does one obtain knowledge of things as they are and were and will be: The Truth.
So when we teach, let us remember certain fundamentals:
- If we teach the truth, it is by revelation. (Ye receive the spirit by the prayer of faith, and if ye receive not the spirit, ye shall not teach. D&C 42:14)
- If our students understand the truth as we teach, it is by the Spirit. (Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know that he that receiveth the word of truth by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth? Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. D&C 50:21–22)
- Therefore, we are not authorities, or even teachers, in our own right. We are but messengers, bearing humble testimony to that which we have received, hoping that our hearers will believe not what we say but that they will believe the voice of the Lord.
Could we ever achieve a university which operates on these ideas, what wonders of learning, ability and technology could we attain?