Master Teachers

A few months ago, I took my children on a field trip to the Monte L. Bean museum up on the north end of  BYU's campus.  They had a new display there to honor the life of President Boyd K. Packer.

 I walked alongside the glass encased memories and photographs frozen in time.  A powerful spirit filled the room.  My six-year-old daughter clung to my side and followed my steps as I occasionally lifted her so she could get a better view.  My heart was full and I was inspired as I reflected on of a life well lived and anchored in truth.  I was in awe of the numerous sculptures and paintings so skillfully made by the hands of this incredibly gifted man.  Each piece was evidence of one who truly rejoiced in the beauty and majesty of God's creations.

Then I noticed, in the center of the room, a display that illustrated President Packer's most defining and admirable gift - his deep love for the scriptures! There lay open a ragged and worn Book of Mormon from his days in the military.  It was heavily marked with red pencil and notations crammed within its margins, evidence of his love for this sacred text.

I returned to the museum yesterday with my children to look at his scriptures again.  This time I paid closer attention to what part in the Book of Mormon they were opened to.  I was excited to see that it was Alma 34 (a section of the reading my religion class is reviewing.) The word "PRAY" was written in big bold letters in the column along side verses 18-27 as if to give a hearty "amen" to Amulek's testimony.

I gazed upon the open verses and pondered on the two simple yet vital themes I had already chosen to write about.  There they were before me in this artifact like a picture that tells a thousand words - they illustrated a lifetime of "effectual prayer" and "internalizing scripture."  Tears of gratitude welled in my eyes for the truth so evidently treasured by this apostle of God.  He was undoubtedly a man of deep prayer.  He also knew what it meant to internalize the word, to have the word engraved upon his heart - and he was definitely a master at teaching it.

President Packer once taught,  “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.”  (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov 1986)

Alma was also a master teacher and understood how true doctrine changes us. He compared "the word unto a seed"¹ and promised that if we "give place”² for it in the soil of our hearts, if we "nourish it with much care³...  looking forward with an eye of faith,"⁴ it will grow into the very "Tree of Life."⁵  We will gain understanding⁶ and discernment.⁷  We will "reap the rewards of [our] faith, and [our] diligence, and patience, and long-suffering"⁸ and we will harvest the most precious and pure fruit,⁹ we will feast on "light!"¹⁰

When the word of God is internalized, when it becomes engraved upon our hearts, it changes us.  This is where conversion or transformation begins,¹¹ this leads us to Christ. All throughout Alma 30 -63 we see the evidence of the power of the word. "It had more...powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else."¹² Alma also compared it to a compass and testified that it will "show... the course which [we] should travel"¹³ in this wilderness of life.  It will lead us to peace and prosperity.¹⁴

Even and especially through times of war - What was it that was guarded so closely?  What was to be "written and sent forth among the children of men... kept sacred, and handed down from one generation to another?"¹⁵ It was scripture!

The other powerful theme emphasized in these chapters was "effectual prayer," that great eternal companion to effective scripture study and opening the windows of heaven. Amulek taught that we must "call upon [God's] holy name."¹⁶  He taught that we "must pour out [our] souls"... to have our "hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto Him continually."¹⁷  When Alma is blessing and instructing his sons, he tells Helaman, "Cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord... counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord... and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God."¹⁸  Helaman believed his father's words and followed his wise instruction.¹⁹ As a result, he went on to lead a powerful army of 2,000 warriors who were miraculously delivered because they "did pour out [their] souls in prayer to God."²⁰

Everyday we make a choice whether or not to pray sincerely and internalize God’s word in our hearts.  Life is a battle field.  We consciously decide if we are going to wield the "sword of truth." ²¹  What do we treasure?  What do we value?

President Packer wisely taught, “Our lives are made up of thousands of everyday choices. Over the years these little choices will be bundled together and show clearly what we value.”

Clearly, he was a man who greatly valued the scriptures, one whose heart was "drawn out in prayer continually."²²  He was an ordinary man called of God, transformed, changed, converted, and centered on Christ.  We can all experience this for ourselves as we let the basic, simple, and repeated doctrines “sink deep into our hearts”²³ and become one with our very souls.  I know this is true!

-Alicia

Farewell to a master teacher.

Footnotes:
1-Alma 32:28
2-Alma 32:28
3-Alma 32:37
4-Alma 32:40
5-Alma 32:40,41
6-Alma 32:28
7-Alma 32:35
8-Alma 32:41
9-Alma 32:42
10-Alma 32:35
11-Alma 53:10
12-Alma 31:5
13-Alma 37:38,39,44,45
14-Alma 49:30
15-Alma 63:12,13
16-Alma 34:17
17-Alma 34:27
18-Alma 37:37
19-Alma 45:1
20-Alma 58:10
21-Hebrews 4:12
22-Alma 34:27
23-Enos 1:3