The most stirring manifesto on the importance of education in Latter-day Saint scripture is found in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118).
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were commanded to study a wide range of “things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:79).
As Joseph Smith’s biographer Richard L. Bushman put it in "Rough Stone Rolling," “learning and sanctification went together” for the Prophet Joseph.
More than 180 years later, education remains an important priority for the church. As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, observed in his October 2009 general conference address, “For members of the church, education is not merely a good idea — it’s a commandment.”
He added that church members can obey that commandment in a variety of ways.
“If formal education is not available, do not allow that to prevent you from acquiring all the knowledge you can. ... The best books, in a sense, can become your ‘university’ — a classroom that is always open and admits all who apply.”
I don’t mean to overlook the obstacles that still prevent some people from receiving quality education. If we take Doctrine and Covenants 88 seriously, we’ll strive to improve educational opportunities wherever possible. But in this digital age, many of us face a different challenge: information overload.
Suppose you could miraculously read one book per day. It would take you over 60,000 years to read the books currently cataloged in the Library of Congress alone.
Fortunately, not every book in the Library of Congress is worth spending a day with, but it can still be tedious to sift through the countless books on offer — not to mention all of the blog posts and news outlets and Facebook statuses and tweets — to find the “best” ones. We seem fated to be “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).
This column, “Seek ye out of the best books,” is intended to help negotiate what Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, referred to in April 2001 as “avalanches of information” and introduce you to virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy books of good report (see Articles of Faith 1:13). Though you may not have the time or inclination to read every suggested book, I hope to give you something worthwhile to ponder either way by “likening” best books to things that might concern you (1 Nephi 19:23).
Here are a few guiding principles for this column that may also help you build your personal library of best books.
First, LDS readers take it for granted that the best books include our scriptures. Therefore, some columns will offer new insights and fresh approaches to the scriptures, or highlight commentaries and aids that can enhance scripture study.
Second, the Book of Mormon suggests that books from other religious traditions have much to offer us: “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written” (2 Nephi 29:10–11). This excerpt suggests the gathering of Israel includes more than all people. It also includes all truths. Joseph Smith was adamant: “We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up,” be they from Presbyterians, Baptists or anyone else, “or we shall not come out true ‘Mormons’” ("Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith"). Some columns will draw inspiration from religious texts of other traditions.
Third, LDS apostle Orson F. Whitney wrote in "Saturday Night Thoughts" that although there “is only one way into the kingdom of heaven” there are nevertheless “many ways into the human heart.” In its mission to promulgate truth, the LDS Church “has legitimate use for every avenue to that heart. Poetry, music, art in general, as well as science and philosophy — all these can be utilized as auxiliaries in the carrying on of the Lord's manifold work.”
In other words, best books — books which lead us to God and draw our hearts out to others — need not be explicitly “religious” but can include fictional, scientific, philosophical, humorous and many other elements.
Finally, best books don’t need to be perfect books. They can (and perhaps should) include things we disagree with. Reading a variety of perspectives gives us a better grasp on other viewpoints, empowering us to exercise Christlike empathy and to engage in civil dialogue. Sometimes we may even change our minds based on new information we “never had supposed” (Moses 1:10). As the Apostle Paul instructed, “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Fortunately, we don’t have to reach the same conclusions about the best books in order to remain united in faith (John 13:34). I hope to introduce you to some of the valuable things I’ve discovered “by study and also by faith” in my own imperfect way.
Hopefully, we will become more discriminating readers together as we seek words of wisdom from an ever-growing list.
Being guided to the best books is good. Becoming your own guide is even better.
Blair Dee Hodges is the public communications specialist for the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University and host of the Maxwell Institute Podcast. Contact him at blairhodges@byu.edu.