Taking a moment to step back and think of why we pursue intelligence, and do we use that intelligence virtuously is a highly valuable exercise. What a wonderful way to frame our goals, mission, and what we believe God wants us to know and why, as Julie recommends, at the beginning of each new school year. Erskine's essay was and is deeply beneficial in helping us see the connection between what we have been given from our heritage, from our literature, from the world around us everyday, and asking ourselves, "Is that what I believe? Is that true? Have I been acting on age old assumptions without even knowing it?" Whatever one believes or decides, the value of reading this article helps one become aware of influencing factors and then make a purposeful plan in pursuing the intelligence that we were before the world was and balancing that with morality and goodness.
Virtue will lead to intelligence, but intelligence will not necessarily lead to virtue. Intelligence is a virtue, true intelligence is seeking after light, and light comes from God. We have our agency, to ignore the true source and seek worldly knowledge is an option. To be learned is good if you hearken unto the counsel of God--to be learned otherwise is to subscribe to that evil one who uses his intelligence for all that is miserable and dark. Something can look completely different in the light than in the dark. All light is from God, but there are some who take the truth and twist it in the darkness. Also, our focus and vision is a main factor, as in what the Savior taught the rich young ruler, and what the scriptures teach us about prosperity and idols. When our focus disengages from God and the Savior, things that are good with Him, become unvirtuous and lead to ends other than what would make us most happy and ultimately to God.
These ideas help in my family's education because it tunes me in to what the focus and the balance should be. This article, whether written or not, teaches me to look for God and refocus our efforts to what he would have us do, to keep all of our endeavors virtuous. This reminds me to work toward not only developing competence, but also character. Both are essential in a person seeking to be truly intelligent. I want my children to be courageous and also considerate. One with out the other is incomplete and will not have the power it could and should. Erskine challenges me to look inside and not be content with others' definition of intelligence, but to truly seek the Source.
Virtue will lead to intelligence, but intelligence will not necessarily lead to virtue. Intelligence is a virtue, true intelligence is seeking after light, and light comes from God. We have our agency, to ignore the true source and seek worldly knowledge is an option. To be learned is good if you hearken unto the counsel of God--to be learned otherwise is to subscribe to that evil one who uses his intelligence for all that is miserable and dark. Something can look completely different in the light than in the dark. All light is from God, but there are some who take the truth and twist it in the darkness. Also, our focus and vision is a main factor, as in what the Savior taught the rich young ruler, and what the scriptures teach us about prosperity and idols. When our focus disengages from God and the Savior, things that are good with Him, become unvirtuous and lead to ends other than what would make us most happy and ultimately to God.
These ideas help in my family's education because it tunes me in to what the focus and the balance should be. This article, whether written or not, teaches me to look for God and refocus our efforts to what he would have us do, to keep all of our endeavors virtuous. This reminds me to work toward not only developing competence, but also character. Both are essential in a person seeking to be truly intelligent. I want my children to be courageous and also considerate. One with out the other is incomplete and will not have the power it could and should. Erskine challenges me to look inside and not be content with others' definition of intelligence, but to truly seek the Source.