The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith a principle pertaining to our progression in mortality with these words: "Seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118).
Defintions
"Seek" is an action verb. We cannot be passive objects waiting for someone to pour knowledge into us. We must actively search it out. We must be looking for it, striving for it, working for it, choosing and deciding as agents to take the necessary actions to get what we want. In the world, few rich men got rich by waiting for riches to fall into their laps. They had to set goals, plan, and then go to work. Even those who receive riches by inheritance have to plan and prepare to make good use of them or they will squander them and end up broken failures.
"Learning" is "the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice and study". We seek to learn by organizing ways to gain experience with the knowledge or skill that we acquire. We refine knowledge and skill through deliberate practice. Successful practice is more than repeating an action. Repetition creates proficiency, but it does not alone generate improvement. Deliberate practice involves trying something, getting feedback, analyzing the mistakes, correcting the mistakes, and then trying again. It is an iterative upward spiral in which each attempt is slightly different and slightly better than the last attempt until we are not only proficient but effective. It is constantly approaching a goal or an ideal.
Apprenticeship and Discipleship
But how do we gain the knowledge that enables us to define the goal or ideal to start with? We begin with study. In our modern society, study is usually equated with reading. Reading is certainly a valuable and useful way to acquire facts. Writing and reading have greatly extended the opportunities for masters of a subject to share their knowledge and for learners to absorb that knowledge. In earlier times and in other situations, however, to study was and is more about observing than about reading the written word. Musicians study their craft by listening to other musicians and mimicking the sounds they hear and the techniques they observe. Athletes study their sport by watching other athletes. In bygone times craftsmen apprenticed with masters who showed them how to perform a task, gave them opportunities to practice, and then provided iterative correction until the students became the masters.
Thus when the Lord instructs us to learn by study, he has more in mind than merely reading the scriptures. Scripture reading is a start and a crucial step in gaining eternal knowledge. The Lord has commanded his prophets to write his words so that we might have the benefit of the revelations that have been given in the past. Great expense and sacrifice has gone into preserving and producing the scriptures for the benefit of God's children. The scriptures and other writings of prophets, apostles, and wise men are an essential jumping-off point for seeking learning by study.
Knowledge of spiritual facts, however, is in sufficient to save us. The Lord wants us to learn skills, attributes and behaviors that prepare us and qualify us to come into his presence and live with him eternally. We do not gain these skills and characteristics merely by reading about them in books, anymore than a musician learns to play an instrument by reading about it or an athlete develops exception skill on the field by reading Sports Illustrated. We learn to do by watching others do and then by doing ourselves. Watching others do things is also learning by study. Doing them ourselves is learning by faith, which we will discuss in a moment.
In spiritual things we refer to apprentices as disciples. A disciple is a student of a teacher or leader. He is one who is taught or trained. He is engaged in a course of action that brings him in closer alignment with the Master. Initially we study and observe and follow our parents. They are our first teachers. Right or wrong, good or bad, we generally want to grow up to be like Mom and Dad. Unless our parents happen to be prophets or saints whose calling and election have already been made sure - what a happy blessing for the few who are so fortunate - we eventually come to the point where we need to expand our study and discipleship to others who can teach things that our parents cannot. And so the Lord provides a church to organize his people into a living school. He ordains faithful men to the priesthood and calls leaders and teachers who provide examples for us to follow and give us assignments and challenges to stretch us and improve us. We can study closely the lives and attributes of these men and women, who themselves are disciples of other faithful leaders.
The Lord expands our opportunities for discipleship by calling a variety of leaders so that we have a variety of people to study and learn from and who can help us in various ways. He may also call us to move to new locations and new situations that bring us in contact with leaders who can teach us new things in new ways. If we are deliberate and observant, we can learn from every person we meet and every individual with whom we work and serve and interact. In all of these situations, we are learning by study.
Ultimately, however, mortal teachers are insufficient to bring us all the way to the Lord. We all have weaknesses and imperfections. No one is the perfect teacher or the perfect example. The only way to come become like Christ is to come unto Christ. Only the Holy Ghost can fully bring us unto Christ. "The Holy Ghost performs several vital roles in the plan of salvation. (1) He bears witness of the Father and the Son (1 Cor. 12:3; 3 Ne. 28:11; Ether 12:41). (2) He reveals the truth of all things (John 14:26; 16:13; Moro. 10:5; D&C 39:6). (3) He sanctifies those who have repented and become baptized (John 3:5; 3 Ne. 27:20; Moses 6:64–68). (4) He is the Holy Spirit of Promise (D&C 76:50–53; 132:7, 18–19, 26)" (The Guide to the Scriptures).
Study by the Spirit
The Holy Ghost is the ultimate teacher in mortality. We can learn many wonderful and ennobling things from our parents, teachers and leaders, but there are some things that only the Spirit can teach us. It is the Holy Ghost who inspires us and motivates us to keep the commandments (Ezek. 36:27). The mysteries of God are unfolded to us through the power of the Holy Ghost (1 Ne. 10:17–19). The Holy Ghost can tell us to do things that otherwise would not have occurred to us (2 Ne. 32:5). In particular, the Holy Ghost prompts us to do good works (D&C 11:12). The Holy Ghost confirms to us when we have the truth and are on the right path (D&C 100:8). And unlike all other earthly teachers, the Holy Ghost can be our constant companion (D&C 121:45–46). We do not have to make an appointment or wait for a class or hope he is available to pick up the phone. He can be ever with us to teach us and direct us and correct us and reward us.
Finally, it is the Holy Ghost who bears testimony of the Father and the Son (D&C 121:45–46) and makes it possible for us to know that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer (D&C 46:13). In his supernal role as the Holy Spirit of Promise, this counselor in the Godhead can seal us up unto eternal life and testify to the Father that our righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants are valid and acceptable (D&C 76:51–60). Despite all that man can do and all that we can learn from men and angels, it is the Holy Ghost who brings us to the Father and the Son.
Thus we learn by study. But what of learning by faith?
Learn by Doing
If we are wise, we start to emulate the behaviors and characteristics that we see in others. As we observe parents, friends, teachers and leaders keeping the commandments, serving their fellowmen, sacrificing, humbling themselves, studying, praying, pondering, and earnestly seeking after righteousness, we do the same. Just as an apprenticed sculptor watches his master carve a beautiful statue, we watch those around us whose lives - or at least aspects thereof - are worthy of emulation. At first the master sculptor assigns small tasks for his apprentice to try. The apprentice attempts to carve a simple geometric shape from soft clay. The master evaluates his work, provides correction, shows him techniques. The master hands him another piece of clay, and the apprentice tries again. As his skill increases, the apprentice receives more challenging assignments. Each time, the master corrects and reproves, and the apprentice becomes more expert. Eventually the blossoming apprentice graduates from clay to sandstone and then to granite and eventually to marble. His objects become more intricate, more delicate, more polished and beautiful. When he his ready, he receives the commission to work on a major piece that will be sold in the market.
This progress occurs, however, because the apprentice has practiced. He has not only watched and studied, but he has tried what he has learned. It is in the trying that true growth and progress is made. Without practice, knowledge has no power to change us. When we put knowledge into practice, it can transform us.
Faith Is Action
One definition of faith is the application of knowledge to achieve an expected or promised outcome without a sure knowledge that the result is achievable. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews tells us that all of the prophets performed their mighty works by faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1). We learn that Abel offered his sacrifice in faith. He did not know that it would be acceptable to God, but he knew what the Lord had instructed him to do, and he did it. Noah built the Ark based on faith that God's flood would come. Abraham left his home to travel to a "promised land" without knowing what he would find when he got there. Later Abraham placed his only son on an altar and raised the knife to take his life with faith that somehow God would still provide him with a limitless posterity. Faith enabled the children of Israel to pass through the Red Sea on dry ground. And on and on. Each received information from God and then acted on it. Had they not acted, the knowledge would have been useless. When they acted, they learned about God and his abilities. They learned how to exercise faith and how to perform great miracles. They learned by faith.
As disciples, we learn by faith when we act on principles. Initially we learn to do the things our parents teach us. We not only learn temporal skills, but we also learn to pray, to read the scriptures, to attend our church meetings, and so forth. As we progress, we learn to keep the commandments that are communicated to us by the scriptures and by the prophets. As we work and serve with great leaders and priesthood holders, we learn to lead and counsel and teach by observing others and then trying it ourselves as we are called. We learn to use the marvelous gift of the Holy Ghost, and we begin to receive instruction from the Spirit. As we follow the promptings we receive, the Spirit gives us more and more. When we do well, the Spirit confirms to us that we have performed in a pleasing way. When we do poorly, the Spirit chastens and reproves us. Thus we practice and grow and improve, approaching the ideal of "the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph 4:13). Now we are learning by faith.
Conclusion
To seek learning by study and faith, then, is to acquire knowledge about how to act and then acting in accordance with that knowledge. The two must be inseparably connected. If we gain knowledge and fail to act or act contrary to that knowledge, the knowledge will condemn us. If we try to act without knowledge or ignore the correction of others when our actions are incomplete or imperfect, we are merely flailing about ineffectively. When we combine study with faith - observation and counsel with deliberate practice - we grow in Christ-like attributes until we please God and he eventually says to us "Well done, though good and faithful servant... enter into the joy of thy Lord" (Matt 25:21).
