The document discusses the historical significance of education within the context of the early Church, highlighting revelations from Joseph Smith that emphasized teaching and learning for both children and adults. It details the establishment of schools and a university in Kirtland and Nauvoo, showcasing the involvement of church leaders in promoting education alongside religious teachings. Additionally, it underscores the belief that education is essential for personal and moral development, as articulated by various church presidents and leaders.

1. Importance of Education
By Jimmy Smith
Jimmy and Heather, April 2001

2. 2
• In June 1831, just a year after the
Church was organized, Joseph Smith
received a revelation instructing
William W. Phelps, a printer, to write
and publish books for children in
Church schools. “And again, you shall
be ordained to assist my servant
Oliver Cowdery to do the work of
printing, and of selecting and writing
books for schools in this church, that
little children also may receive
instruction before me as is pleasing
unto me” (D&C 55:4).
W.W. Phelps

3. 3
• In 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation concerning
the building of Zion. “And as all have not faith, 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” (D&C 88:118).

4. 4
• “Teach ye diligently and my grace
shall attend you, that you may be
instructed more perfectly in theory,
in principle, in doctrine, in the law of
the gospel, in all things that pertain
unto the kingdom of God, that are
expedient for you to understand; 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; the wars
and the perplexities of the nations,
and the judgments which are on the
land; and a knowledge also of
countries and of kingdoms.” (D&C
88:78-79)

5. 5
• The History of the Church states
that: “During the week the
Kirtland High School is taught in
the attic story [of the Kirtland
Temple].” It was a school where
“mathematics, common
arithmetic, geography, English
grammar, writing, and reading
are taught” (History of the
Church, 2:474–75).
Kirtland Temple

6. 6
• “Joseph Smith sought and obtained from the Illinois
legislature a charter authorizing the Saints to establish a city
government for Nauvoo, another charter for a university,
and a third for a city militia. … The university also supervised
public elementary schools, and became the model for the
University of Deseret (now the University of Utah).”
• https://www.lds.org/liahona/1979/04/the-gathering-to-nauvoo-183945?lang=eng

7. 7
“The pinnacle of Nauvoo’s education system
was the University of the City of Nauvoo.
…The faculty included Parley P. Pratt,
professor of English, mathematics, and
sciences; Orson Pratt, professor of English
literature and mathematics; Orson Spencer,
professor of foreign languages; Sidney
Rigdon, professor of Church history; and
Gustavus Hills, professor of music. Orson Pratt
was the most popular professor. He offered
courses in arithmetic, algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, surveying, navigation,
analytical geometry, calculus, philosophy,
astronomy, and chemistry. …An important
precedent was set for the involvement of the
Church in higher education in the future.”
• https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-
times-student-manual/chapter-nineteen-life-in-nauvoo-the-
beautiful?lang=eng
Orson Pratt

8. 8
• At the October 1845 general
conference, Elder Heber C. Kimball of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
said, “There is yet another piece of
business of great importance to all who
have families; that is, to have some
school books printed for the education
of our children.” W. W. Phelps
elaborated on what Elder Kimball said:
“We are preparing to go out from
among the people, where we can serve
God in righteousness; and the first
thing is, to teach our children.”
• https://www.lds.org/manual/by-study-and-also-by-
faith/prologue-foundations-of-education-in-the-
church-1830-1911?lang=eng#92-00334_000_prologue
Heber C. Kimball

9. 9
When the Saints were preparing to make the trek to Utah, Orson Hyde
admonished them to “lay in a stock of books, in case that when they
get to the end of their journey [to the valley of the Great Salt Lake or to
California] the books may be wanted; but to obtain them may be rather
difficult.”
• “Who Wants Books?” Frontier Guardian, Feb. 20, 1850, 2.

10. 10
• In March of 1848 the Millennial Star quoted Church leaders urging the
Saints to take “every opportunity” to obtain educational materials that
would “gain the attention of children, and cause them to love to learn to
read.” Suggested teaching aids included “every book, map, chart, or
diagram that may contain interesting, useful, and attractive matter …
and, also every historical, mathematical, philosophical, geographical,
geological, astronomical, scientific, practical, and all other variety of
useful and interesting writings, maps, etc.” (In Moffitt, The History of
Public Education in Utah, 10).

11. 11
• President Harold B. Lee said this about
the origins of the Seminary and
Institute program, “The beginnings of
the weekday religious education
actually commenced with religion
classes. … The Brethren, in setting up
religion classes on a weekday basis,
said their purpose was to offset the
godless education so common in
secular schools” (Objectives of Church
Education, June 17, 1970).
Harold B. Lee

12. 12
• President Spencer W. Kimball said:
“In proper sequence comes first the
knowledge of God and his program,
which is the way to eternal life, and
secondly comes the knowledge of
the secular things, also very
important.”
• https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-
student-manual/enrichments/enrichment-k-seek-learning-
even-by-study-and-also-by-faith?lang=eng
Spencer W. Kimball

13. 13
• Reed Benson, the son of Church
President Ezra Taft Benson, said his
father often taught that …
•Educating people without
moral values does
nothing more than make
them clever devils.
• Which is why, at BYU and other Church
schools, religious education and moral
character are taught along side other
subjects.
Ezra Taft Benson

14. 14
• “The mission of Brigham Young University is to
assist individuals in their quest for perfection
and eternal life. That assistance should provide
a period of intensive learning in a stimulating
setting where a commitment to excellence is
expected and the full realization of human
potential is pursued. …To succeed in this
mission the university must provide an
environment enlightened by living prophets
and sustained by those moral virtues which
characterize the life and teachings of the Son of
God.”
• http://aims.byu.edu/mission_statement

15. 15
• “Education is the key which will unlock the
door of opportunity for you. It is worth
sacrificing for. It is worth working at, and if
you educate your mind and your hands,
you will be able to make a great
contribution to the society of which you
are a part, and you will be able to reflect
honorably on the Church of which you are
a member. My dear young brothers and
sisters, take advantage of every
educational opportunity that you can
possibly afford, and you fathers and
mothers, encourage your sons and
daughters to gain an education which will
bless their lives.”
• President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Inspirational
Thoughts,” Ensign, June 1999, 4.
Gordon B. Hinckley

16. 16
• “You are moving into a
world of fierce competition.
You must get all of the
education you can. The Lord
has instructed us concerning
the importance of
education. It will qualify you
for greater opportunities. It
will equip you to do
something worthwhile in the
great world of opportunity
that lies ahead.”
• Gordon B. Hinckley, “Converts and
Young Men,” Ensign, May 1997, 49–50.

17. 17
• “Loans will be made to ambitious young men
and women, for the most part returned
missionaries, so that they may borrow money to
attend school. …They will better provide for
their families. They will serve in the Church and
grow in leadership and responsibility. They will
repay their loans to make it possible for others
to be blessed as they have been blessed. It will
become a revolving fund. As faithful members of
the Church, they will pay their tithes and
offerings, and the Church will be much the
stronger for their presence in the areas where
they live.”
• https://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/05/the-perpetual-education-fund?lang=eng
Introduction of the
Perpetual Education
Fund by President
Gordon B. Hinckley

18. 18
• “Be smart. The Lord wants you to educate your minds and hands,
whatever your chosen field. Whether it be repairing refrigerators, or
the work of a skilled surgeon, you must train yourselves. Seek for the
best schooling available. Become a workman of integrity in the world
that lies ahead of you. I repeat, you will bring honor to the Church
and you will be generously blessed because of that training.”
• https://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/01/a-prophets-counsel-and-prayer-for-youth?lang=eng

19. 19
• “The doctrine of revelation far
transcends the doctrine of no
revelation; for one truth revealed
from heaven is worth all the
sectarian notions in existence.”
• Wilford Woodruff Journal, 10 March 1844
Joseph Smith

20. 20
• “O that cunning plan of the evil one!
O the vainness, and the frailties, and
the foolishness of men! When they
are learned they think they are wise,
and they hearken not unto the
counsel of God, for they set it aside,
supposing they know of themselves,
wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness
and it profiteth them not. And they
shall perish.”
• 2 Nephi 9:28

21. 21
Back Up Slides

22. 22
• “The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things
denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things
that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and
also all the planets which move in their regular form do
witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”
• Alma 30:44

23. 23
• Pleased with the Saints’ early efforts, the First Presidency wrote to
the Church on April 7, 1851, “School houses have been built in most
of the wards, both in the city and country, and schools have been
sustained therein the past winter, and we joyfully anticipate that the
time has arrived when our children may be partakers of the blessings
of constantly continued schools in their several wards.”
• https://www.lds.org/manual/by-study-and-also-by-faith/prologue-
foundations-of-education-in-the-church-1830-1911?lang=eng#36-
00334_000_prologue

24. 24
• “The interest in education that had been manifest in Kirtland was
expanded in Nauvoo. Private schools preceded the more extensive
public efforts that resulted from the passage of the Nauvoo Charter.
At least eighty-one people—forty-eight men and thirty-three
women—made part of their living teaching in Nauvoo. Over eighteen
hundred students were enrolled in school.”
• https://www.lds.org/manual/church-history-in-the-fulness-of-times-student-
manual/chapter-nineteen-life-in-nauvoo-the-beautiful?lang=eng

25. 25
• A Church publication in 1838 said: “As intelligence is the great object
of our holy religion, it is of all things important, that we should place
ourselves in the best situation possible to obtain it. And … to obtain
all the knowledge which the circumstances of man will admit of, is
one of the principle objects the saints have in gathering together.
Intelligence is the result of education, and education can only be
obtained by living in compact society.”
• “To the Saints Abroad,” Elders’ Journal, vol. 1, no. 4 (Aug. 1838), 53.