Quotes on Education  --  Spiritual and Secular -- 1

President J. Reuben Clark:

        "There is spiritual learning just as there is material learning, and the one without the other is not complete; yet, speaking for myself, if I could have only one sort of learning, that which I would take would be the learning of the spirit, because in the hereafter I shall have opportunity in the eternities which are to come to get the other, and without spiritual learning here my handicaps in the hereafter would be all but overwhelming."

President Spencer W. Kimball:

        "Spiritual learning takes precedence.  The secular without the foundation of the spiritual is but like the foam upon the milk, the fleeting shadow.

        "Do not be deceived!  One need not choose between the two... for there is opportunity to get both simultaneously;...

        "Secular knowledge, important as it may be, can never save a soul nor open the celestial kingdom nor create a world nor make a man a god, but it can be most helpful to that man who placing first things first, has found the way to eternal life and who can now bring into play all knowledge to be his tool and servant."

President Spencer W. Kimball:

     "The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden ones--but hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them...Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough.  It takes persistence and dedication of one's life.  The knowledge of things in secular life are of time and are limited;  the knowledge of the infinite truths are of time and eternity.

        "Of all treasures of knowledge, the most vital is the knowledge of God:  his existence, powers, love, and promises."

        'Now the Lord would give us gifts.  He will quicken our minds.
        He will give us knowledge that will clear up all difficulties, and
        put us in harmony with the commandments that he has given
        us, and with a knowledge that will be so deeply rooted in our
        souls that the knowledge can never be rooted out, if we will
        just seek for the light and the truth and the understanding
        which is promised to us, and which we can receive if we will
        only be true and faithful to every covenant and obligation
        pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  (CR, October 1958, p. 22)

  "We are a people who believe in education.  The Lord expects us to learn.  Learning is an eternal thing."

        "Latter-day Saints have a significantly higher level of educational attainment than does the population of the United States as a whole."

      "The Church encourages its members to be learned in gospel principles and in every edifying branch of knowledge that supports a life of Christian service.  Latter-day Saints value intellectual activity because it can develop and enrich life and faith, beautify the earth and ameliorate mankind's temporal suffering, and further the growth of the kingdom of God on earth."

      "Why is it that some young folks are almost overly conscientious in their school work, even to neglecting their Church responsibilities, when the spiritual should have priority in the study time of every person if preference must be given?  However, there is time for fulfilling every need."

      "Too great care cannot be taken in educating our young ladies.  Great responsibilities will evolve upon them.  To their hands will be mainly committed the formation of the moral and the intellectual character of the young.  Let the women of our country be made intelligent, and their children will certainly be the same.  The proper education of a man decides his welfare; but the interest of a whole family are secured by the correct education of a woman."

      "You (youth) should be as earnest in enrolling in seminary and learning the scriptures as you are in working toward high school graduation...Seminary courses should be given even preferrential attention over the high school subjects."

       "Continue to invest in your personal development.  Expand your occupational horizons by constant study . . . look to your present job as a stepping-stone along your career path.  Take time to think.  The dimensions of most jobs are constrained only by the mind of the uncreative worker.  I like what one business man counseled:    If at first you do succeed, try something harder!!!"

      "Each day we are made increasingly aware of the fact that life is more than science and mathematics, more than history and literature.  There is need for another education, without which the substance of our secular learning may lead only to our destruction.  I refer to the education of the heart, of the conscience, of the character, of the spirit--these indefinable aspects of our personalities which determine so certainly what we are and what we do in our relationships one with another."

      "Get all the schooling you can.  Education is the key that unlocks the door of opportunity.  God has placed upon this people a mandate to acquire knowledge 'even by study and also by faith'."

        "Secular knowledge, important as it may be, can never save a soul, nor open the Celestial Kingdom, nor create a world, nor make a man a God….Can you see why we must let spiritual training take first place?….One need not choose between the two, but only as to the sequence, for there is opportunity for one to get both simultaneously….Seminary and Institute courses should be given preferential attention….the study of the scriptures ahead of the study of the man-written texts."

    End of first 20 quotes.  For More quotes:             Quotes  --  2