Teachers Must Be Students

“In order to teach, the Church must first be taught. Writers must be readers. ‘A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself’ (Prov. 18:2). The Church will never have a shortage of people who want to ‘say a few words.’ But mere talk, or writing, or publishing, is worthless. Teachers must be teachable themselves, and should have demonstrated that teachable spirit in their willingness to sit at the feet of others — older teachers, both deceased and living. As they study, they should be seeking to understand their teachers and to compare what they are saying to the Scripture. If the student has chosen his teachers wisely, he will acquire much that is precious and will be equipped to remove what is dross. And even where he differs with his teachers, he will be humbled through his contact with them” (Mother Kirk, pp. 256-257).