Gospel study
is the lens through which we see.
Sister Julie B.
Beck
2 Nephi 9:51
Books she is reading at any one
time.
Scriptures
Church book or Magazine
Current events
Non-fiction
Fiction (classic)
Choosing Good
Books
Tone of language elevated.
Storyline elevated.
Well written.
Increases vocabulary.
Enriches the mind.
Feeds the Spirit.
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v. 15 We can
discern between good and evil because of our gospel knowledge and through the
spirit.
v.18 We
thirst for knowledge and allow the Lord to direct our studies.
v. 30 In all
our studies and learning, don’t forget this important question.
v.36 Start
small. Line upon line. We can’t learn all things at once.
v.6,25-26,39
The Lord has a work and a purpose for us. He will use our learning to help
build His kingdom.
Remember
that all truth is connected.
The Tree of Knowledge and The Tree of Life Analogy
“The mind
has three aspects; the intellectual, which gives us truth; the ethical,
which gives us nobility; and the aesthetic, which gives us
beauty.”
The test of literature is that it
must be all three; it must bring us truth, nobility, and virtue.
(Charlotte Mason Companion p.97-98)
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Whole Books – Good is portrayed as
good. Good wins.
Bent Books – Evil is portrayed as good;
good is portrayed as evil.
Broken Books – Good is portrayed as
good; evil as evil. Evil wins.
Healing Books – Books with which one
makes a particular connection and
which are healing emotionally or spiritually.
“When you reread a
classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more
in you than there was before.”
― Cliff Fadiman |
“...by
small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” Alma 37:6
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KEYS TO LEARNING
-READ / RESEARCH
-ANNOTATE -REFLECT / PONDER -RELATE & APPLY -RECORD |
o
Choose a person you admire or would like to
emulate. Read all of his/her works.
o
Read the books you hear mentioned in General
Conference or by church authorities.
o
Choose a topic you are interested in and study
it deeply.
A short list of Good Reads.
Titles
A Little Princess
Laddie
The Secret Garden
Little Britches series
Jane Eyre
The Yearling
Lord of the Rings
Girl of the Limberlost
Carry on Mr. Bowditch
Heidi
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Hiding Place
The Other Side of Heaven
Gift From the Sea
Les Miserables
Anna Karenina
Kristen Lavransdatter
Jesus the Christ
Daughters of God
Who Shall Be Able to Stand
One Thousand Gifts
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Sense and Sensibility
Joan of Arc (Twain)
Silas Marner
Cry the Beloved Country
Middlemarch
Anne of Green Gables series
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o
Get book recommendations from a trusted friend.
Men give me some credit for genius. All the genius I have lies in
just this: When I have a subject in mind, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort which I make the people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of study and labor.” –Alexander Hamilton |
“Do not be discouraged because you cannot learn all at once; learn
one thing at a time, learn it well, and treasure it up, then learn another
truth and treasure that up, and in a few years you will have a great store
of useful knowledge which will not only be a great blessing to yourselves
and your children, but to your fellow men.” –Wilford Woodruff
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It seems perfectly clear that the quality and volume of our reading
is one of the greatest of our life’s opportunities. Certainly it is one of
our foremost responsibilities.”
-Sterling W. Sills
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We want to be ladies in very deed, not according to the
term of the word as the world judges, but fit companions of the Gods and
Holy Ones...the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to
refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to
qualify us for those responsibilities. –Eliza R. Snow
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An effort must be put forth to learn the gospel, to understand it, to
comprehend the relationship of its principles. The gospel must be studied,
otherwise no test of its truth may sanely be applied to it. That study must
be wide, for the gospel is so organized that in it is a place for every
truth, of every name and nature. That study must be constantly continued,
for the content of the gospel is illimitable. It is a paradox that men will gladly
devote time every day for many years to learn a science or an art; yet will
expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and
arts, through perfunctory glances at books or occasional listening to
gospel sermons. The gospel should be studied more intensively than any
school or college subject. They who pass opinion on the gospel without
having given it intimate and careful study are not lovers of truth, and
their opinions are worthless. To secure a testimony, then, study must
accompany desire and prayer. –John A. Widtsoe
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I also have a book recommendation on disciple scholarship
which I failed to mention or put on my handout. It's called "Learning in
the Light of Faith" by Henry B. Eyring. Just a short (less than 100 pages)
book, but full of wonderful thoughts and insights on keeping a proper
perspective in our studies. Don't know if you have a place for that. I really
meant to mention it in my class, but lots of other good things filled the
time...possibly the Lord just meant for me to read it in preparation for the
class.
-Roxane
