Notes taken at BYU Education Week.
Robert D. Hales
Life Long Learning
Our quest for knowledge began long before we came to earth, in the pre-mortal existence. Brigham Young said: “Should our lives be extended 1,000 years, we would still continue to learn.”
Learning throughout mortality is part of our eternal plan. Learning is for the sake of learning and improving rather than to be entertained. Heavenly Father is eager to bless us with a desire to become life long learners.
Developing the desire sometimes needs a good coach.
Attributes of a life long learner:
1. Courage
a. Have the courage to overcome fear and get outside of your comfort zone. Too often we dwell in the comforts of what we know.
b. We fear ignorance, but do nothing about it.
c. Our strength (limited knowledge – comfort zone) then becomes our weakness (fear of ignorance and doing nothing about it).
2. Desire for knowledge
a. The best example is a mother whose child had a medical problem. She researches for an answer and assist the medical professionals help her child.
b. Seek ye out of the best books.
3. Humility
a. Recognize intelligence for what it is, a gift of God. LLL don’t dwell on it. They know intelligence comes from a higher source and knowledge and wisdom are given of the Lord.
b. Each person is given gifts from above.
4. Patience
a. L3 know that it takes a great deal of energy and time to obtain pure truth. Something we learn today may not be useful for years to come.
5. Curiosity
a. Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought him back.
b. Formal education is confining, L3 never lose their God-given curiosity.
c. They ask why and then search for the answer. It is exciting to find the answer, it gives great satisfaction.
d. Thomas Edison: “I have not failed to make a light bulb but found 10,000 ways it doesn’t work.”
6. Willingness to communicate knowledge with others.
a. L3 are uplifted when others understand concepts.
b. They are great listeners.
c. Great teachers do not give all the answers to their students.
Scripture study is a LLL process. Ezra Taft Benson said: “Yesterday’s meal is not enough to sustain today’s needs.” Sporadic reading of the Book of Mormon is not enough. Scripture study does not require lifelong formal education, but life long learning. Peter and John marveled the Scribes because of their learning, and they (Scribes) noted Jesus of Nazareth tutored them.
A Master’s degree in Theology is less effective than learning from the Master. All the elements of LLL have eternal consequences. It’s not about grades or degrees, but about who we become. For this reason we have prayer before and after scripture study.
The endowment is an eternal curriculum. The Temple is the Lord’s University; it is a place of learning. LLL is the past, present and future. LLL are cumulative learners. They don’t dwell on the past because they are looking forward to a new and better way or idea.
If we do not do better than our best each day, our knowledge and skills will not meet the needs of today and tomorrow. Never dwell on the past or protect your comfort zone, you will stunt your growth to the future. The end is the dawn of a new beginning.
LLL is a great defense to aging and stagnation.
