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Be seekers of truth, Elder Steven E. Snow counseled during the campus devotional Tuesday, Aug. 17, in the Marriott Center in conjunction with BYU's Campus Education Week. It is an individual's responsibility to identify opportunities to learn and teach, he said.
Drawing from the conference's theme, "Teach one another Words of Wisdom," Elder Snow of the Presidency of the Seventy taught of ways specific individuals continued to learn, despite limitations and harsh living conditions.
"Sometimes, life's greatest lessons come to us at the most dreadful times of our lives," he said. "How we respond at such times of crisis determines if such challenges will be times for progression or merely times of suffering."
Looking at examples of leaders who have left their mark on modern times, both in the world and in Church history, Elder Snow spoke of the need to learn and progress no matter what circumstance an individual might be experiencing.
"The Lord expects us to learn and progress during this mortal experience," he said. "Sometimes our learning comes from our everyday experiences. It is important we learn from life's experiences, even those which seem mundane. … Clearly, our time here on earth can be a rich time of learning, simply by taking advantage of and learning from life's experiences.
Although life experiences can sometimes be a cruel and difficult teacher, Elder Snow said trials and challenges that individuals do not expect can be opportunities to learn.
"Much of the success in life comes from simply showing up, working hard and paying attention. Invariably, what we learn in school or on the job can assist us later, sometimes in circumstances we do not expect," he said. "But the 'school of hard knocks' will not teach us all we need to know to return back to the presence of the Father. The Lord does not desire we simply be acted upon in order to learn. We are taught to seek wisdom from the scriptures, to build our faith through study and prayer, to seek and rely upon the Holy Spirit, to serve others and to endure to the end."
Elder Snow shared three ways individuals can become seekers of truth as they learn from life's experiences.
Never stop learning
"You, alone, are responsible for your spiritual growth and accumulation of worldly knowledge," he said. "The prophets of old and those of today constantly remind us of the importance of reading and studying God's word in the Holy Scriptures. Such study is essential for our spiritual growth. If you do not now have a study program, set reasonable, attainable goals regarding your study of the standard works."
Individuals can enhance their scripture study and spiritual growth through prayer, service and Church attendance, Elder Snow said. But the studying shouldn't stop with the scriptures, he said. Education comes as individuals seek to understand all points of view and study out of all of the 'best books.'
"The Lord does not want the members of His Church to be ignorant and uninformed. We have a responsibility to know what is going on in our world. We cannot be experts in all things, but an expanded general knowledge will help us to be better parents, citizens, teachers and members of the Church."
Take opportunities to teach your children
"In order to help our children grow up in righteousness, prophets of this dispensation have counseled to pray with our children, to hold family home evening, study the gospel together and to have wholesome family activities," he said. "The spiritual growth of our children is directly dependent on our efforts to teach them truth and to stand as an example to them."
Saying it is not only spiritual learning that is important, Elder Snow spoke of the responsibility parents have to teach their children to become responsible citizens and parents.
"We do our children no favors by neglecting their secular education and development. We must encourage them in their school studies and … take an interest in their schooling and do our best to support and strengthen our local schools.
"Well-informed, well-educated children are more likely to grow up successful in their own homes and careers. This success then provides opportunities for them to give meaningful service to others in the Church and the community."
Participate in class discussions in Sunday School, Priesthood and Relief Society
The Spirit comes in greater abundance when class members come prepared to act, not just be acted upon, Elder Snow said. By participating in class discussions during Sunday worship, individuals fulfill the charge in the Doctrine and Covenants to "teach one another."
"Read the lessons beforehand, and come prepared to share your insights in the class discussion," he said. "Participation in a gospel-teaching setting provides added opportunities for the Holy Ghost to act upon those in attendance."
He said that a question or comment expressed during a class discussion can many times be more effective than the best and most well-prepared gospel lecture. "We cannot afford to come to gospel classes simply expecting to be entertained. Real learning occurs if we come prepared and then to participate in the gospel discussion."
As individuals implement these suggestions as they continue seeking truth in their personal and spiritual lives, they are able to become more like the Savior, Elder Snow said.
"The business the Savior was about was that of learning and teaching — a fitting example to all of us," he said. "The Lord has promised us that which we learn in this world will be a benefit to us in the worlds to come."
