"The glory of God is intelligence." This cannonized scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church" or "Mormon Church") is found in the Doctrine and Covenants 93:36. Here, we come to understand that God's glory is found in His perfect knowledge of things as they really are. As His children, we should seek knowledge and intelligence through education, study, reading, and hard work.The LDS Church encourages its members (who are sometimes referred to as "Latter-day Saints" or "Mormons") to seek education throughout their lives. Young members of the Church are counseled to excel in school and to obtain higher education. Recently, President Gordon B. Hinckley, the President of the Church from 1995-2008 taught young people, "You must get all of the education that you possibly can. Life has become so complex and competitive. You cannot assume that you have entitlements due you. You will be expected to put forth great effort and to use your best talents to make your way to the most wonderful future of which you are capable. Sacrifice a car; sacrifice anything that is needed to be sacrificed to qualify yourselves to do the work of the world. That world will in large measure pay you what it thinks you are worth, and your worth will increase as you gain education and proficiency in your chosen field."
He further counseled, "You have a mandate from the Lord to educate your minds and your hearts and your hands . . . The Lord wants you to train your minds and hands to become an influence for good as you go forward with your lives. And as you do so and as you perform honorably and with excellence, you will bring honor to the Church, for you will be regarded as a man or woman of integrity and ability and conscientious workmanship."
Our educational efforts should focus on a broad array of subjects. Proficiency in mathematics, the sciences, the arts, music, sports, government, and technical skills should all be sought after. As we learn and develop critical thinking and reasoning skills, we will be able to better serve our fellow men.
Unfortunately, not all individuals (and members of the Church) have the same access to education. Many members of the Church in third-world countries do not have the means to obtain higher education. Therefore, in 2001 the Church unveiled a new program whereby members in less-affluent countries could take out small loans to fund their higher education. This program was called the Perpetual Education Fund ("PEF"). When the students finish their studies and begin working, they pay back their educational loans through PEF. To date, the PEF has helped tens of thousands of young LDS Church members obtain their dream of higher education and gainful employment. With those dreams fulfilled comes a higher self-esteem and fiscal independence.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also operates institutions of higher education such as Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah), Brigham Young University-Idaho, formerly Ricks College (Rexburg, Idaho), Brigham Young University-Hawaii (Laie, Hawaii), and LDS Business College (Salt Lake City, Utah). Faithful members of the Church can enroll in these private universities to obtain excellent educations at lower costs since the Church heavily subsidizes the education.
Even church meetings on Sundays for men, women, and youth are education based. Together, members of the Church study, ready and discuss gospel-centered topics. Altogether, the Church places a heavy emphasis on both religious and secular education for all men and women. In becoming more knowledgeable and intelligent about the world around us, we become more like God--whose glory is intelligence.
President Hinckley's quotations were taken from an article in the New Era magazine entitled, "Words of the Prophet: Seek Learning" from the September 2007 issue.
