Keywords

BYU Latter-day Saint Educators Society, teaching, Latter-day Saint educator

Document Type

Article

Abstract

I am honored to address you women and men who take teaching seriously, not just because of your vocation, but because of your Latter-day Saint heritage of education and your eternal identity as daughters and sons of God. Teaching is part of our spiritual DNA. The oft-used phrase “Education for Eternity” reflects the Latter-day Saint view of the importance of teaching and learning. But it is much more than a maxim, it is indeed our theology, as evidenced by numerous scriptural injunctions and examples of the importance of education for this life and eternity. Teaching is in our souls—part of our divine nature. We are all teachers, whether or not we are employed professionally as such. We are teachers as parents and children, sisters and brothers, friends and colleagues, Church leaders and ward members, neighbors and citizens. As human beings—daughters and sons of God—we are teachers—all the time—in all we do. President Thomas S. Monson often reminded us that “we are all teachers. We should ever remember that we not only teach with words; we teach also by who we are and how we live our lives.” So it is in this context that I address you today—not in an academic or professional way as one would do in other settings and at other conferences, but rather as a fellow Latter-day Saint educator with all that title entails.