Commenting on the importance of Latter-day Saints educating themselves and becoming informed about the theology and Scriptures of the Restored Gospel, John A. Widtsoe (1872-1952) wrote:
The Glory of God Is Intelligence
Latter-day Saints must gather knowledge. The book teaches over and over again that the only way to achieve perfection and to attain the goal of life is upon the basis of knowledge. Joseph Smith said that knowledge is the pathway up to the Gods. Knowledge is necessary. We must seek knowledge (88:78). The things we learn upon this earth have an eternal value and will remain with us in eternity. A man must secure knowledge to be saved (131:6). That is Mormon doctrine. The foundation of success, of development, of progress within the Church is knowledge. Ignorance has no place whatever in its system. Notice that theory is to be respected among Latter-day Saints. If a man sets out a theory, we ought not to be disrespectful to it. Books are spoken of highly; learning out of books is worth while (88:118). When the Kirtland Temple was built in 1835 the upper portion of the Temple was dedicated to the use of the school called the “School of the Prophets.” The young, old, and middle-aged men who had joined the Church went to school there and studied English grammar, arithmetic, Hebrew, Greek, etc. It seems to have been the beginning of adult education in the United States. It is interesting to note that the eight or ten classrooms on the top of that upper floor each had an entrance door from the central hall that there was a little opening under the eaves of each room. Those who were on time entered through the door. Those who came late had to double up and get in under the eaves.
Man was also in the begging with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. (93:29).
The Latter-day Saints distinguish clearly between knowledge and intelligence. Intelligence, according to Latter-day Saint doctrine, is the proper use of knowledge. A man who learns quickly is, in ordinary English, an intelligent man. The Mormons say that the intelligent man is the one who uses knowledge properly. The man who uses knowledge in harmony with the law of the Lord is an intelligent man. “The glory of God is intelligence,” not merely knowledge but knowledge plus the proper use of knowledge. That is wisdom. Latter-day Saints therefore who aim to become like their Father in heaven must do as he has done and be as he is, intelligent people. They must gather knowledge and they must use it properly.
Latter-day Saints are expected to give a little time every day to study, say for an hour a day regularly, not a spurt one day and then days or weeks or months and another spurt. It is easy to acquire the habit of a little study every day. I had charge of many young men in the European Missions. I observed that the ones who learned foreign languages quickly were the ones who studied a little every day. If any of you will study a foreign language one half-hour every day, except Sunday, in two years you will know the language. So we must study and obey the commandments if we really want to learn and know the Gospel. Latter-day Saints must keep all the commandments, be obedient to them and gather knowledge and use it properly. They must also be regular in their worship of God. (John A. Widtsoe, The Message of the Doctrine and Covenants, ed. G. Homer Durham [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft Inc., 1969], 138-40)
Speaking of how this principle applied to Joseph Smith’s own revelations as found in the Doctrine and Covenants, John A. Widtsoe noted:
The Church was organized upon the foundation of inquiry and resulting spiritual manifestations . . .
The Language of the Revelations
The language, with the exception of the words actually spoken by heavenly beings, is the language of the Prophet. The ideas were given to Joseph Smith. He wrote them in the best language at his command. He was inspired at times by the loftiness o the ideals so that his language or words are far above the ordinarily used by a backwoods boy of that day. (Ibid., 6, 9)
