False Educational Ideas

President Ezra Taft Benson, Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus, Ensign (CR), May 1982, p.62 President Joseph F. Smith said, "There are at least three dangers that threaten the Church within, they are flattery of prominent men in the world, false educational ideas, and sexual impurity." (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, pp. 312-13.) These three dangers are of greater concern today than when they were identified by President Smith.

Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1969, First Day-Morning Meeting, p.13 The world worships the learning of man. They trust in the arm of flesh. To them, men's reasoning is greater than God's revelations. The precepts of man have gone so far in subverting our educational system that in many cases a higher degree today, in the so-called social sciences, can be tantamount to a major investment in error. Very few men build firmly enough on the rock of revelation to go through this kind of an indoctrination and come out untainted. Unfortunately, of those who succumb, some use their higher degree to get teaching positions even in our Church educational system, where they spread the falsehoods they have been taught. President Joseph F. Smith was right when he said that false educational ideas would be one of the three threats to the Church within. (Gospel Doctrine, pp. 312-13.)

Elder Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1963, Third Day-Morning Meeting, p.110 I became alarmed as I reviewed what has happened in our schools under so-called "progressive education." What about the loss of patriotism, faith in God, and the teachings of character building principles once so much a part of our education? We have all but "forced Americanism out of the classroom to make way for temporary trivialities." (DeLove.) I remembered President Joseph F. Smith's warning of the three dangers to the Church from within, viz., the flattery of prominent men sexual impurity, and false educational ideas. (Gospel Doctrine, p. 312.)

Harold B. Lee, The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, edited by Clyde J. Williams, p.624 The gospel is the most powerful weapon against evil. The most powerful of all the weapons against all the unrighteousness, the evil philosophies, false educational ideas, communistic doctrine, or whatever you have-there is no more powerful organization, no more powerful weapons that can be forged than the powerful teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (72-21)

Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., p.45,271 To the extent that worldliness false doctrine, and iniquity are found among the saints, they too partake of the spirit of the great apostasy. Speaking of men in the last days Nephi said: "They have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2 Ne. 28:14.) It follows that if members of the Church believe false doctrines; if they accept false educational theories; if they fall into the practices and abominations of the sectarians; if they use tea, coffee, tobacco or liquor; if they fail to pay an honest tithing; if they find fault with the Lord's anointed; if they play cards; if they do anything contrary to the standards of personal righteousness required by the gospel - then to that extent they are in personal apostasy and need to repent.