The Beauty of the Basics
Posted by Michelle on October 1st, 2007Have you ever heard a talk or lesson on a topic like prayer and just sort of zoned out because it’s so, well, commonplace? We sometimes joke about ‘the Sunday School answers’ — you know, “read, pray, go to church” and all that jazz. (I believe Sister Beck commented on this tendency to sometimes forget the power of the basics last night at the Relief Society General Broadcast.)
We had Stake Conference last week. Elder Eyring presided. All I can say is WOW. We were encouraged by our stake presidency to come spiritually prepared. I offered a meager sacrifice of a temple session and some extra spiritual study and focus for the few days before. The resulting blessings were abundant. The Spirit was palpable; I didn’t want to leave after the meeting because it was so strong, and I knew that once I left, the magic would dissipate.
But I’m still sort of floating from it all. I should say that it wasn’t just Elder Eyring’s talk that made the meeting (although it was amazing — there is nothing quite like hearing from an Apostle of the Lord as he teaches completely by the Spirit. Amazing!). The Spirit was there before it even started. There is power in gathering with people who are prepared to be taught, who are anxious to learn and listen and feel.
One of the most striking things about the meeting (particularly our Saturday night meeting) was that all of the speakers talked on basic topics: trusting in and feeling God’s love, feasting on the word of God, having faith (”Lord, increase my faith”), and praying. I have to say that it was one of the most significant spiritual experiences I have ever had. Symbolically at the feet of an apostle, we received counsel and direction about some of the most basic principles and practices of our religion.
There is power in the basics.
(If you want a flavor of what was discussed, read 2 Nephi 31:20 to the end of 2 Nephi 32, as well as Elder Scott’s most recent Conference talk. I believe our leaders continually show us the way we can truly come to know and understand and be more like God — by focusing on the basics. I believe we could spend a lifetime learning to understand faith, repentance, ordinances, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power of prayer, the importance of feasting on the word of Christ….)
’some extra spiritual study’. What do you mean by spiritual study?
Forgive me my yearning for sports analogies, but it is very frequent for a coach (say in football) to say that when things start going bad - go back to fundamentals. Sometimes a game like football can get overcomplicated with all kinds of strategies. But really, it is mostly throwing, catching, running, tackling, etc.
How much more might life, with all its complexity, might come down to fundamentals. At least that is what our ‘coaches’ keep telling us.
Comment # 1 left by Eric Nielson on October 1st, 2007
Eric,
I went to Institute specifically with the purpose to be spiritually focused and fed. I listened to Churchish music in the car rather than to the BYU game to and from the temple. I tried to read more in my scriptures (Conference Ensign) earlier in the day. I guess spiritual study isn’t exactly capturing what I was trying to do, but I tried to be more spiritually focused than usual. It made a difference. I want to do the same thing for General Conference this weekend.
Comment # 2 left by Michelle on October 1st, 2007
Thanks, Michelle, for this post. It’s the basics that are essential. I find we don’t understand them as well as we ought to. I’m revisiting them myself, in my Lacunae posts. I’ve learned so much since comparing the seemingly dichotomous principles.
Comment # 3 left by SilverRain on October 1st, 2007
Indeed, we must not neglect the basics. Outpourings of the spirit like the one in your Stake Conference are wonderful. Elder Eyring is my favorite speaker in the Q12; he is amazing.
Comment # 4 left by Jacob J on October 1st, 2007
SilverRain, I’ve enjoyed your exploration of faith and knowledge in your posts. Jacob, I have to agree with Elder Eyring as a favorite. I can’t say I have one favorite, but after participating in this meeting where he was so clearly directed by the Spirit, it’s hard not to include him on my favorites list. (He was already there anyway, but….)
I should add that we had two sessions on Sunday, so as to allow all stake members to be in the same building. My friend attended both sessions; she said his talk was different each time.
For a moment, I wondered tonite what it must be like to be doing a stake conference that close to General Conference — trying to prepare that many talks. But almost in the same instance, I remembered that what he did for Stake Conference was not prepare a talk — he was prepared himself so that the Spirit could give a talk! I’m sure the same thing happens as they prepare for General Conference, but it was awesome to see the revelation happening real-time.
Besides, he was just delightful. Warm, loving, real, open. Amazing!
Comment # 5 left by Michelle on October 1st, 2007
Michelle - have you read Teaching by the Spirit by Gene R. Cook? It changed my mission and my membership.
Comment # 6 left by SilverRain on October 2nd, 2007
Michelle, your posts sounds more like a testament to the blessings of preparation and the blessing of teaching and receiving by the Spirit. I think the topic discussed could have been “Transfiguration and the Church of the Firstborn” and you’d have come home with the same feelings of awe. Do you think?
Incidentally, I heartily second SilverRain’s recommendation of Elder Cook’s book.
Comment # 7 left by Bradley Ross on October 2nd, 2007
Michelle
I enjoyed your comments, and have to agree with you that the basics are not usually comprehended. The full meaning of things can only be understood by searching and using the Holy Ghost. But I would have to pose the question, “does that then make it a fundamental, or a mystery that you have learned?” If you have gained a deeper understanding of what could be classified a basic, others could argue it to be deep doctrine.
I would also be interested in your feelings regard Paul stating that although we should never leave the basics, we must move forward to meat.
One other thought is about such things as Abraham asking God to explain himself relative to how many he would spare a city for? It seems a good question to me.
I love the basics like the sermon on the mount. It’s beautiful stuff. But if we want to become like our Father in heaven isn’t now the time we should be preparing to meet God? Shouldn’t I be SEEKING to understand all things now (I realise I won’t achieve it, I’m speaking of the search)?
I pose this purely from an explorative point of view.
Comment # 8 left by DougT on October 2nd, 2007
Bradley, you bring up a good point, and perhaps any ol’ topic might have brought the Spirit, but I am not convinced. I still find it really compelling that a stake that came prepared wasn’t taught what some would consider ‘meat’ in an intellectual sense. An apostle responded to the Spirit and taught us about prayer (so simple, so milk-like, right? NO. I really don’t think so!) Yes, he taught us things that we hear over and over again. So did Elder Scott. And I have read Elder Scott’s talk more times than any talk that I can remember, and I’m still feeling that there is SO MUCH there that could change my life completely. I feel Elder Eyring was inviting us to a higher way of living (as was Elder Scott). I think we too easily will dismiss something we have heard before and think it’s time to skip onto something new and different and ‘meaty’ — I can’t help but think there is so much meat in the basics that we could spend a lifetime on them!
Doug, in a sense, my argument is that the deep understanding, the ‘meat’ of the gospel, is to be found most readily in the basics, so in terms of learning deeper doctrine, I agree with you to a point (although clearly I know I’m just scratching the surface, but that is part of what excites me! I want to study the basics more because I can sense there is SO MUCH THERE!)
So, that was essentially the point of my post. I hear people saying that they want to move “beyond” the basics, to get to the ‘meat’ and I am suggesting that I think it’s very possible that the meat is to be found in the basics, not by moving past them. The more we seek and search and live these ‘basics’ the closer I believe we will come to God. Our leaders testify of the power and Spirit that can come into our lives if we do this, and this experience reiterated that reality to me. I don’t need to ask questions or be taught things that are outside of the basics to find depth and power, and that is exciting to me. (I had a similar experience with a significant a-ha about the temple. I wrote about that here.) I think if we approached our church classes, scripture study, General Conference, etc. with this perspective, we might find that we don’t need new manuals or advanced classes or more ‘meaty’ talks. We just need more spiritual in-tune-ness as teachers and learners to realize the power in the basics…and to realize that gaining spiritual knowledge is fundamentally about how well we understand and live the basics, not simply by what we study and learn. OF COURSE this is part of the process, but I think we seek and come to God most by seeking to be more like Him. As we do that, He can reveal more of Himself to us.
Comment # 9 left by Michelle on October 2nd, 2007
Michelle,
I like what you written.
In my experience, all roads that are worth traveling lead to faith.
We teach new members of the church that faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel, and then we learn from the Prophet Joseph Smith– God works by faith. Thus faith is the beginning and the end of our spiritual journey.
We’re all some where on the continuum of faith and hopefully we’re moving steadily in the direction of increasing our ability to exercise faith.
From what I’ve learned the greatest gift in this life (not the next) is the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This in my estimation is where we should focus our faith. As we diligently seek to acquire the gift of the Holy ghost we’re exercising our faith and as we have experiences with the Holy Ghost our faith increases.
I also like Gene R. Cook. His book, Receiving Answers to our Prayer is one of my favorites.
Comment # 10 left by Jared on October 3rd, 2007
Michelle
You are an enigma to me. On the one hand I completely agree with what you say. I feel your spirit. I share the love and joy of learning that you express. The life the gospel brings to our hearts. We definately find more inspiration when trying to understand our Heavenly Father, as you say. And I TOTALLY agree with you that so few ever find the truth staring at us from the basics.
But on the other hand I find truth also comes to me from inspiration while exploring what others may term “obscure doctrines taught by past GAs”. I seek to learn about truth from whatever source I can lay my hands on.
Comment # 11 left by DougT on October 4th, 2007
Doug, it’s not that I never have those experiences…it’s just that there is so much to be found without having to go digging that I usually don’t find much use/time/need for such study.
I also just believe what the scriptures teach about learning the mysteries, and they say nothing about digging in the past. They talk an awful lot about how we live our lives according to the basics.
Comment # 12 left by Michelle on October 4th, 2007
Doug,
You brought up a point I’d like to touch on.
Regarding the study of obscure doctrines taught by past GAs. If the Lord is part of the study then things will be fine. If not, then problems can develop. Over the years I observed that those who study these things, and are not careful, will be tempted to be elitist.
After studying these doctrines extensively, I asked myself a question, “if what I am studying can’t be talked about at church then what value is it?” I pondered this question and decided to put them on a shelf and concentrate my efforts in prayerful study of the scripture–feasting on the words of Christ. This proved to be the best way to obtain the spirit of the Lord and resulted in some wonderful experiences that changed my life.
Comment # 13 left by Jared on October 6th, 2007
Michelle
I do believe that there is a degree of church doctrine having gone backward for the church to spread more successfully throughout the earth, and due to failure of Saints to comply with the type of lifestyle necessary to live these commandments. I think D&C 119 heading quotes one such occurrance. So I look back to find what has been lost.
Being extremely keen to obtain eternal life (which we all should be) I want to understand things as soon as possible. But this also requires the living of basics (as you and Jared point out). And racing ahead without the living of the basics will only get a person confused.
Jared
Thanks for your input. I do agree that studying doctrines with no real direction or purpose in the study would lead to useless or distorted ideas. And can make an academic rather than spiritual person, that will always be looking beyond the mark. But it is amazing how things become interlocked. What appears to be a side issue suddenly becomes highly important in understanding Heavenly Father.
“if what I am studying can’t be talked about at church then what value is it?”
I would pose the question of how well do you believe Heavenly Father would get on in a gospel doctrine class with his doctrines? I think that if he answered (in spite of his knowledge) he would keep it simple and to a level just slightly above the class. Yet the knowledge he has beyond that is still of great value.
I would get the opinion from D&C 89 that the church gets doctrine designed for new members and the weekest of Saints. We need to step well beyond that and use the Spirit to direct our lives and actions, is my feeling. And I would agree that this should be coupled with “prayerful study and the scripture - feasting on the words of Christ,” as you put it.
Comment # 14 left by DougT on October 8th, 2007
Doug,
Haven’t you ever had the Spirit teach you something in Gospel Doctrine that went beyond what the class was focusing on? I think to assert that what we get at church is only for the weakest really, really undermines the power of the basics. That became sooo clear to me during conference, especially during Elder Hales and Elder Scott’s talk. What they are describing is so basic and yet so deep.
We can all be ‘talking about the basics’ and each be learning completely different things, at different ‘levels’ because of the Spirit. It’s one of the true wonders of the gospel to me, and one of the absolute evidences to me that it is true. Milk and meat are enjoyed together in the same room. It all depends on how receptive we are to the Spirit, and how humble and desirous we are to learn.
I don’t disregard all that can happen at a personal level, in a personal life. But I really, really disagree with anyone who wants to suggest that church is somehow remedial learning. I just don’t believe it. It can appear that way, but learning through the Spirit is not about books and words. Brother Judd got to that in his talk…focus on the basics and the Spirit will be there. There is little more that we need in the end to learn the mysteries of God if the desire and open heart are there. The Spirit is the key! I am not suggesting that I think the time we spend in Church is sufficient to open up the heavens to our view, but I don’t think it’s as minimalistic as you seem to suggest. But I could be misunderstanding you, and it could also be that you and I learn in different ways and that’s ok, too.
It’s an onion, the gospel is.
Comment # 15 left by Michelle on October 8th, 2007
Baptism is the first ordinance we experience as members of the Saviors church, and that is followed by confirmation, the second ordinance. The purpose of confirmation is to confirm our right and responsibility to receive the gift Holy Ghost. Right from the get-go we know what needs to be done, what the first order of business is—receive the Holy Ghost.
How do we receive the Holy Ghost?
How do we know when we have fulfilled the purpose of our baptism and confirmation— and received the gift of the Holy Ghost?
How do the gifts of the spirit tie into all of this as outlined in D&C 46?
What is the meaning for me of the terms: fire and the Holy Ghost?
The Savior taught that all of us need to be “born again”. What does this mean for me?
What does it mean to offer up the sacrifice of a “broken heart and a contrite spirit”?
How does one experience “mighty prayer”?
In my opinion, these kind of questions are the real “meat” of the gospel and should be the focus of our best thinking.
Comment # 16 left by Jared on October 9th, 2007
Yep, Jared, that is the kind of stuff I’m talking about. Awesome.
Comment # 17 left by Michelle on October 10th, 2007
Michelle and Jared
I don’t disagree with anything you have both said. But I’m greedy. It is more often not so much what the lesson manual may say, but the level of conversation in the class. My class has many converts. Perhaps yours are full of lifetime members. Whatever it may be I find that the Spirit has led me to some of these “obscure statements” where I have had questions that they have answered. - How can two parents made of physical matter have children made of spirit matter? - answered by Brigham Young. That sort of thing. It is all good learning.
Comment # 18 left by DougT on October 15th, 2007
“if what I am studying can’t be talked about at church then what value is it?”
I find that Church meetings seem to cover mostly very basic topics - milk, if you will. However, there comes a time in everyone’s life (hopefully at least) when we will graduate to meat. I think the apostle Paul mentioned this topic.
Faith is important, but it is not an end in itself. Prophets are wonderful, but they are not an end in themselves. There must come a time when we will both know for ourselves and be a prophet for our own lives and stewardships.
To learn these things generally requires much deeper seeking and understanding than what we are likely to pick up in Sunday School class.
Steve
Comment # 19 left by Steve on November 8th, 2007
Steve
“if what I am studying can’t be talked about at church then what value is it?”
As I read your comment I felt total agreement.
Read my comment above #16. From what you said I think you would agree with it.
As members of the Lord’s church we have the right, even the obligation, to seek after the 1st and 2nd Comforters. Anything that helps us accomplish this is worth while.
And in my opinion, much of what needs to be done to accomplish this is beyond the scope of Sunday School class.
Mighty prayer, for example, is not experienced at church, at least not in my experience.
Comment # 20 left by Jared on November 9th, 2007
Some would equate the laying on of hands after baptism with the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. To me, nothing could be further from the truth. The 2nd baptism is where the Spirit burns the dross from your soul and you are cleansed, as in the experience of Enos or the Lamanites in the time of Nephi and Lehi. It is as expressed in the following verse from 2 Ne 31:
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.
In both cases listed this came after mighty prayer.
Steve
Comment # 21 left by Steve on November 9th, 2007
Steve,
I agree with you.
Comment # 22 left by Jared on November 14th, 2007