Learning from the Spirit in an Online Environment

(Published via Facebook September 3, 2020.)

With the start of a new school year, I have been thinking a lot about the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge and wisdom. Each year, I find new avenues of knowledge to explore; I truly love my university and the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth that it has initiated in my life!

But this year has been a little different. To my disappointment, only two of my classes will be in-person, and they will only occur every two weeks. And like many others, I find myself easily distracted in Zoom classes. It’s a lot harder to stay engaged and take good notes when you’re staring at a screen. (But I appreciate and understand BYU’s desire to be considerate of the pandemic’s effects!)

I’ll be blunt: online learning is not my ideal situation. In the past, any online educational efforts I have participated in were confusing and dissatisfying. I draw so much inspiration, energy, and creativity from in-person connection and interaction with my professors and peers. Thus, being at home for work and school is often artistically, spiritually, mentally, and motivationally stagnating for me.

However, as I studied the Doctrine and Covenants a few days ago, I found some verses that reminded me of our all-powerful God who, through revelation and the Spirit, can reveal anything unto us.

But before sharing those verses, I’d like to establish some context. The section which I will be mentioning is based on a vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon (though I will only focus on Joseph). Joseph Smith was an uneducated man. He was taught the basics of arithmetic, reading, and writing at home but only received three years of formal education. While he grew up reading the Bible, he was not a scriptorian. (His wife, Emma Smith, once stated that Joseph was unaware of the walls around Jerusalem; an important historical fact in the Bible.) This, and many other reasons, must have made restoring the gospel to this dispensation incredibly difficult! With his uneducated background and the immense studying and pondering, writing, and preaching that was required, Joseph had a lot to learn.

Therefore, I’m sure Joseph frequently felt overwhelmed. But despite his flaws and probable fears, he was able to accomplish the Lord’s will. (And this section is a great example of learning by the Spirit and having our efforts magnified!)

The first thing that stood out to me in D&C 76 was its chapter summary. It states: "it appeared self-evident from what truths were left [in the Bible], that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body, the term 'Heaven'… must include more kingdoms than one". To me, this statement is incredibly significant. Despite his limited theological background, Joseph was able to notice gaps in doctrine. That would require an incredibly deep understanding of the doctrine of Christ and the Plan of Salvation--doctrines he (previously) knew very little about, and was still learning to understand!

Furthermore, this realization would’ve required him to understand the argumentative structure of salvation and exaltation. He would’ve had to break down each piece of doctrine and understand how they supported and interacted with each other to recognize that something was missing. And that would take serious mental effort! But because of his sincere effort to understand (and probably through the guidance of the Spirit), he noticed holes, and called upon God for answers. And those answers resulted in the insightful section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This chapter reveals incredibly significant information about salvation and exaltation, but also about the accessibility of revelation (which the rest of my thoughts will focus on).

Now, to elaborate upon the verses that talk about receiving knowledge, answers, and overall revelation:

v2: "Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out." I’ve recently grown to appreciate music/scripture that praises and glorifies the power of God, so that aspect of this verse resonated with me. But I also like that it says “and the extent of his doings none can find out.” I don't see this as hopeless or confusing. It makes me appreciate how complex, intricate, and perfect His plans are. No finite and imperfect human mind can formulate, guess, or replicate them. Furthermore, His plans are not secret, they are sacred. His plans, pathways, and understandings are only revealed to those who seek to take up “his cross and follow”(Matt. 16:24) Him.

Later verses reaffirm that we can access revelation on every matter: "Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come"(v8). "And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven"(v9). "For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will-- yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man."(v10)

These verses are filled with hope, power, and promise! I love that by the power of God and the Spirit we can receive guidance and inspiration catered to our individual situation.

This is one of the main reasons I love my university. At it, I have the freedom and opportunity to learn by the Spirit. Furthermore, I have colleagues, peers, and professors who are actively seeking to learn by the Spirit and promote situations where others can do the same. (Obviously, spiritual experience is not limited to my university! I just think its unique standards and classes enhance my testimony.)

These verses were a powerful reminder for me. While I am not in my ideal learning situation, I can still engage in and enjoy the learning process if I involve the Spirit! I can experience the same mental expansion and upliftment that I have in the past because the Spirit can provide anyone with the knowledge, perspective, and thoughts they need to understand anything. I have a very firm testimony of it because I have seen it in my life many times, and am already noticing it as I begin this next year of school.

Men are that they might have joy-- and learning brings us so much joy! I encourage everyone to try to develop a relationship with their Heavenly Father so that they can receive His Spirit, as well as the peace and clarity that His revelations can provide. Impossible situations, like Joseph’s, become possible when we believe in God, actively repent, and seek to do His will!