5 Principles of Gospel Learning

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles teaches five basic principles that should guide Latter-day Saints in their pursuit of gospel knowledge.

1. Vital instruction is not hidden, but repeated. “Instruction vital to our salvation is not hidden in an obscure verse or phrase in the scriptures. To the contrary, essential truths are repeated over and over again.”
2. Knowledge should be balanced. “Every verse, whether oft-quoted or obscure, must be measured against other verses. There are complementary and tempering teachings in the scriptures which bring a balanced knowledge of truth.”
3. The Lord is consistent. “There is a consistency in what the Lord says and what He does, that is evident in all creation. Nature can teach valuable lessons about spiritual and doctrinal matters. The Lord drew lessons from flowers and foxes, from seeds and salt, and sparrows and sunsets.”
4. The scriptures sustain each other. “Not all that God has said is in the Bible. Other scriptures—the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—have equal validity, and they sustain one another.”
5. The Holy Ghost can make things plain. “While much must be taken on faith alone, there is individual revelation through which we may know the truth. ‘There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding’ (Job 32:8). What may be obscure in the scriptures can be made plain through the gift of the Holy Ghost. We can have as full an understanding of spiritual things as we are willing to earn.”