“For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit” (Moroni 10:9-10). Give a person a lesson, and they will learn for a day, but teach a person to teach, and they will learn for the rest of their life. We have all been sent to this Earth to receive an education. But some of the greatest learning that we do is when we are in the process of trying to figure out how to teach others. We can only really consider ourselves to have mastered a certain topic when we have the ability to successfully explain and demonstrate it to someone who does not understand the concept at all. But the gift of teaching is more than merely the ability to explain difficult concepts with a clarity of thought and fluency of speech. The gift of teaching is a restless and insatiable urge to bring light to the darkness. “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it— Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven— These should then be attended to with great earnestness. Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.” (D&C 123:12-15). In the parable of the ten virgins, if the wise had looked on the lack of preparation among the foolish not with indifference or self-righteousness, but were instead filled with compassion and a love of teaching, and had shown the foolish virgins how to fill their lamps with oil, then there would have been ten wise virgins with lamps all shining brightly to meet the bridegroom at his coming. Knowledge and wisdom are not meant to be hoarded by the elite few. Every time that a teacher and a student come together, both are edified and enriched together. To be constantly absorbed in learning and teaching and sharing and receiving and growing is a gift indeed.
