Learning

Jacob 7:4 

And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.

This scripture is talking about Sherem. Sherem was an anti-Christ. But he was not stupid.

I feel like the prophets have told us to basic/overlying things about education. One: get as much as possible. It will rise with us in the second coming, and is extremely important. Two: don't get a big head about it.

The prophets have mentioned about how often men learn so much that they forget Who created them because, hey. They have the answers to the questions. They're smart. They've dedicated their life to being right. They already know the answers. They don't need a God. Believing in a God is pathetic. Listen to them! Don't pay attention to the religious elderly. They just aren't smart. (*creepy voice of the snake from "The Jungle Book") Trust in... me...

...Really?

I feel that one of the worst temptations in the world today is to depend on the knowledge of men. Yes, we have come a long, long, way. Science is AMAZING. Math is one of my favorite things in the world. What we can learn is overwhelming, but exciting. I've read through a couple of philosophers' writings. They are simply incredible. But we know nothing. Think about it--there is SO much out there. But we know nothing.

Isn't it interesting that the power of the devil is flattery? The adversary is a master of rhetoric. He is not stupid. He knows how to convince men that they know more than they actually do.

This is why the devil uses Sherem, a master of words to turn the people away from their God. It also makes you wonder how the adversary convinced Sherem that he was better than the prophets and even his God.

Humility is one of the hardest attributes for me. It is so hard to be humble and understand that, really, I am no more than the dust of the earth. It's hard to do well in something and then remember to kneel down and thank my Heavenly Father for that ability. I get distracted in what I accomplished and find myself praising the knowledge of men instead of remembering to praise God. It's not that I think I'm better than God, but I feel like I forget that I need to turn to Him for all things, including thanking Him for my accomplishments. I know I would nowhere without Him. (2 Nephi 32:9)