Bruce R. McConkie
We are to teach the
principles of the gospel as they are found in the standard works. “And let them [the elders of the kingdom]
journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying none other things
than that which the prophets and apostles have written, and that which is
taught them by the Comforter through the prayer of faith” (D&C 52:9).
We have a multitude
of passages that talk about searching the scriptures, about searching “these
commandments.” We have counsel to “ponder” the things of the Lord, to “treasure
up” the words of truth. He told the Nephites, “Great are the words of Isaiah”
(3 Nephi 23:l). He said to them, “Search the prophets” (3 Nephi 23:5).
These and other
passages show we should study the standard works of the Church. The scriptures
themselves present the gospel in the way that the Lord wants it presented to us
in our day. I do not say that it is always presented to men in the same way.
There have been civilizations of a higher spiritual standing than ours. I think
He did some different kind of teaching among the people in Enoch’s day and in
that golden Nephite era when for two hundred years everyone was conforming to
principles of light and truth and had the Holy Spirit for a guide. We know
perfectly well that during the Millennium the teaching processes will change.
One of the revelations says of that day: “And they shall teach no more every
man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they
shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them” (Jeremiah
31:34).
But for our day
and our time and our hour, the time of our
mortal probation, we are to teach in the way things are recorded in the
standard works that we have. And if you want to know what emphasis should be
given to gospel principles, you simply teach the whole standard works and,
automatically, in the process, you will have given the Lord’s emphasis to every
doctrine and every principle. As far as learning the gospel and teaching the
gospel is concerned, the Book of Mormon, by all odds, is the most important of
the standard works—because in simplicity and in plainness it sets forth in a
definitive manner the doctrines of the gospel. If you would like to test that
sort of thing, just arbitrarily choose a hundred or so gospel subjects and then
put in parallel columns what the Bible says about them and what the Book of
Mormon says about them. In about 95 percent of the cases, the clarity and
perfection and superlative nature of the Book of Mormon teaching will be so
evident that it will be perfectly clear that that is the place to learn the
gospel.
I think, in many respects,
the literature and the language and the power of expression that is in Paul’s
writings and Isaiah’s writings is superior to what is in the Book of Mormon.
But we understand the Bible because we have the knowledge gained out of the
Book of Mormon. The epistles of Paul, for instance, were written to members of
the Church. I do not think he has any epistles that are intended to be
definitive explanations of gospel doctrines. He was writing the portion of the
Lord’s word that the Corinthians or the Hebrews or the Romans needed, he being
aware of the problems and questions and difficulties that confronted them. In
effect, he is writing to people who already had the knowledge that is in the
Book of Mormon. That means, obviously, that there are no people on earth who
can understand the epistles of Paul and the other brethren in the New Testament
until they first get the knowledge that we as Latter-day Saints have.
The Book of Mormon
is a definitive, all-embracing, comprehensive account. Our scripture says it
contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. What that means is that it is a
record of God’s dealings with a people who had the fulness of the gospel. It
means that in it are recorded the basic principles which men must believe to
work out their salvation. After we accept and believe and comprehend the
principles therein recorded, we are qualified and prepared to take another step
and to begin to acquire a knowledge of the mysteries of godliness.
After somebody gets
the basic understanding that is in the Book of Mormon—about salvation, for
instance—then he is in a position to envision and comprehend what section 76 is
all about. When that section was first given in our dispensation, the Prophet
forbade the missionaries to talk about it when they went out into the world and
told them that if they did they would heap persecution upon-their heads because
it was something that was beyond the spiritual capacity of those to whom they
were sent. We do not have that type of religious climate today, but it was one
that prevailed in that day.
I think this
language in the Psalms is about as good as anything that has been written about
the scriptures: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord
are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are
they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there
is great reward” (Psalm 19:7–11).
I love these words
also that Paul wrote to Timothy: “And that from a child thou hast known the
holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works” (2 Timothy 3:15–17).
President Clark
said on this point:
You
do have an interest in matters purely cultural and in matters of purely secular
knowledge; but, I repeat again for emphasis, your chief interest, your
essential and all but sole duty, is to teach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ as that has been revealed in these latter days. You are to teach this
Gospel using as your sources and authorities the Standard Works of the Church,
and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last
days. You are not, whether high or low, to intrude into your work your own
peculiar philosophy, no matter what its source or how pleasing or rational it
seems to you to be. To do so would be to have as many different churches as we
have seminaries—and that is chaos.
(J. Reuben Clark Jr., The Charted Course of the Church in Education
[Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1980], 10-11).
(Bruce R.
McConkie, "The
Foolishness of Teaching," in Scott C. Esplin and Richard Neitzel
Holzapfel, eds., The Voice of My Servants: Apostolic Messages on Teaching,
Learning, and Scripture [Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham
Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010], 79-82, emphasis in bold added)
Boyd K. Packer
The Power of Scriptures
Paul prophesied, also, that things will not get better. “Evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
Fortunately, he told us what to do about it: “But continue thou in the
things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou
hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:14–16). In His supernal prayer for the Apostles, the
Lord said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John
17:15–17). (Boyd K. Packer, “The
One Pure Defense,” in Ibid., 106)