For the Strength of Youth
Many Ways to Learn
January 2024

“Many Ways to Learn,” For the Strength of Youth, Jan. 2024.

Many Ways to Learn

By David Dickson

Church Magazines

Want to make the world a little bit better? It all starts by learning how.

Image
young woman looking in mirror

Illustration by Dean Macadam

What does learning how to cut hair have to do with setting up stage lights?

“It’s all part of my plan,” says Lisa, a young adult now in her first year of college.

Lisa started cosmetology school at age 16. She even found a program that let her attend shorter days at high school so she could train at cosmetology school in the afternoons. The fact that she’s now at college studying theater tech doesn’t mean that the whole salon thing didn’t work out, either. In fact, everything is unfolding exactly how she’d hoped.

“I wanted to have a skill I could use to help pay for college,” Lisa says. “Plus, it lets me serve other people and save money on family haircuts for the rest of my life!”

Why We Learn

“Heavenly Father wants His daughters and sons to always be learning.”1 Here are just a few of the many ways that lifelong learning is a huge blessing:

  • You can better help and teach your friends, family, and others.

  • You can better serve in the Church and in your community.

  • You’ll have more marketable skills for self-reliance.

  • You will be able to take your knowledge with you after you die.

  • As you actively exercise and work your brain, it can stay healthier.

How We Learn

Through the scriptures we learn that we should “Seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118; see also 130:18). Today there are more opportunities for learning than ever before, such as:

  • Formal schooling, including college, university, and trade schools.

  • Seeking knowledge “out of the best books” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118). You might also add, “the best digital sources.”

  • Learning directly from friends and family members.

    Activity idea! Set up a “skill swap” teaching activity in your branch or ward. Everybody shows up ready to teach something they know how to do.

  • Prayer and scripture study.

  • Faithfully living to be worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, who “shall teach you all things” (John 14:26).

  • Experimentation, creative thinking, and effort. The great thing about knowledge is that more is being learned every day. You can add to the world’s store of knowledge.

When We Learn

Ultimately, whether you’re learning how to cut hair like Lisa or learning how to develop next-generation energy technology, President Nelson reminds us that there is always a best time to be about such tasks:

“Yes, we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future,” he taught. “But only now can we do. Now is the time we can learn. … Now is the time we can bless others.”2

Now, then. What do you want to learn today?