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Role of the Learner

Lesson Quotes:

Elder David A. Bednar:
“Learning by faith requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception. …

 “… A student must exercise faith and act in order to obtain the knowledge for himself or herself” (“Seek Learning by Faith” [address to CES religious educators, Feb. 3, 2006]).
Elder David A. Bednar:
“A teacher can explain, demonstrate, persuade, and testify, and do so with great spiritual power and effectiveness. Ultimately, however, the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter. Learning by faith opens the pathway into the heart” (“Seek Learning by Faith,” Ensign, Sept. 2007, 61).


Elder Richard G. Scott:
“[A learner’s] decision to participate is an exercise in agency that permits the Holy Ghost to communicate a personalized message suited to [his or her] individual needs. Creating an atmosphere of participation enhances the probability that the Spirit will teach more important lessons than [the teacher] can communicate… Participation allows individuals to experience being led by the Spirit. They learn to recognize and feel what spiritual guidance is” (“To Learn and to Teach More Effectively” [BYU Campus Education Week devotional, Aug. 21, 2007], 4–5).

Elder Gene R. Cook:
“President Kimball one time was asked, ‘Elder Kimball, what do you do when you’re in a boring sacrament meeting?’  President Kimball thought a minute and then he gave a very profound answer.  He said, ‘I don’t know, I’ve never been in one.’  What he was really teaching, brothers and sisters, was about another meeting.  If you’re just in this meeting with me—this one we physically see—you’re not in the meeting yet.  The real meeting is the meeting between you and the Lord.  And if you want to really get in the meeting and have the Lord work upon your heart, that will be up to you.” (CES Mtg., June 30, 1989)

Elder Loren C. Dunn
“The person at the pulpit’s most important purpose is to teach by the Spirit.  Those in attendance must hear by the Spirit.  The best way to hear by the Spirit that I have found is simply to have in your heart a prayer for the person who is speaking.  If you will pray for the person who is speaking you will hear things you would not otherwise hear.  The Spirit will say things that He might not otherwise say.” (Priesthood training meeting as quoted by Kelly Haws)

President Henry B. Eyring: 
“Years ago I was sitting in a sacrament meeting with my father, whose name is the same as my own, Henry Eyring. He seemed to be enjoying what I thought was a terrible talk. I watched my father, and to my amazement, his face was beaming as the speaker droned on. I kept stealing looks back at him, and sure enough, through the whole thing he had this beatific smile.  

“Our home was near enough to the ward that we walked home. I remember walking with my father on the shoulder of the road that wasn’t paved. I kicked a stone ahead of me as I plotted what I would do next. I finally got up enough courage to ask him what he thought of the meeting. He said it was wonderful.

"Now I really had a problem. My father had a wonderful sense of humor, but you didn’t want to push it too far. I was puzzled. I was trying to summon up enough courage to ask him how I could have such a different opinion of that meeting and that speaker.

“Like all good fathers, he must have read my mind because he started to laugh. He said: “Hal, let me tell you something. Since I was a very young man, I have taught myself to do something in a church meeting. When the speaker begins, I listen carefully and ask myself what is it he is trying to say. Then once I think I know what he is trying to accomplish, I give myself a sermon on that subject.” He let that sink in for a moment as we walked along. Then, with that special self-deprecating chuckle of his, he said, “Hal, since then I have never been to a bad meeting.”

“I don’t suppose he used all of the steps I have described to you. He may very well have prayed for that speaker. Over a lifetime he had studied. When he knew what the speaker was trying to say, he had a deep well to go to so he could give himself that sermon.”  (BYU Speeches, “Listen Together,” 4 Sept. 1988)

President Spencer W. Kimball:
“Because the speaker is local, or dry, is a poor excuse for not attending meetings, though it is often given. How very weak! If you sing and pray and partake of the sacrament worthily, you could sit through the next hour in worshipful contemplation with profit even if the speaker is poor.  It is your responsibility to make the meeting worthwhile by your individual contribution.” (TSWK p. 514)

Elder Richard G. Scott:
“As we have talked, some of you have been prompted by the Spirit about private things the Lord wants you to do something about.  You have been impressed to know what to do.  Those feelings are the very most important part of our time together.  They are a personal message of the Lord to you.  Remember that message.  Follow it precisely, now, for your happiness.” (“Trust in the Lord”, CR April 1989)

Extra Study Tool:

Roles of the Holy Ghost
Where it is taught in the scriptures……
Gives feelings of love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, gentleness, faith, and hope
DC 6:23; 11:12-14; Romans 5:13; Galatians 5:22-23
Gives ideas in the mind, feelings in the heart
DC 8:2-3
Occupies the mind and presses on the feelings
DC 128:1
Helps scriptures have strong effect
Joseph Smith-History 1:11-12
Gives good feelings to teach if something is true
DC 9:8-9
Enlightens the mind
Alma 32:28; DC 6:14-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-11
Replaces darkness with light
Alma 19:6
Strengthens the desire to avoid evil and obey the commandments
Mosiah 5:2-5
Teaches truth and brings it to remembrance
John 14:26
Gives feelings of peace and comfort
John 14:27
Guides to truth and shows things to come
John 16:13
Reveals truth
Moroni 10:5
Guides and protects from deception
DC 45:57
Glorifies and bears record of God the Father and Jesus Christ
2 Nephi 31:18; DC 20:27, John 16:14
Guides the words of humble teachers
DC 42:16; 84:85; 100:5-8; Luke 12:11-12
Recognizes and corrects sin.
John 16:8
Gives gifts of the Spirit
Moroni 10:8-17; DC 46:8-26; 1 Corinthians 12
Helps to perceive or discern the thoughts of others
Alma 10:17; 12:3; 18:16, 20, 32, 35; DC 63:41
Tells what to pray for
DC 46:30; 50: 29-30
Tells what to do
2 Nephi 32:1-5; Doctrine and Covenants 28:15
Helps the righteous speak with power and authority
1 Nephi 10:22; Alma 18:35
Testifies of the truth
DC 21:9; 100:8; John 15:26
Sanctifies and brings remission of sins
2 Nephi 31:17; Alma 13:12; 3 Nephi 27:20
Carries truth to the heart of the listener
1 Nephi 2:16-17; 2 Nephi 33:1; Alma 24:8
Enhances skills and abilities
1 Nephi 1:1-13; Exodus 31:3-5
Constrains (impels forward) or restrains (holds back)
1 Nephi 7:15; 2 Nephi 28:1; 32:7; Alma 14:11; Mormon 3:16; Ether 12:2
Edifies both teacher and students
DC 50:13-22
Gives comfort
DC 88:3; John 14:26



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