We believe the Holy Ghost is the greatest teacher and that we learn best and most effectively when we invite Him into our learning, regardless of the subject.

Some ways we can invite the Holy Ghost into our lives and learning are:

1. Heartfelt Prayer
2. Daily Scripture Study
3. Making and Keeping Covenants
4. Attending the Temple
5. Seeking Places of Solitude
6. Having Real Intent (see Principle 4)

Some of the ways we specifically invite the Holy Ghost into our learning at Latter-day Learner:

Doctrines, principles, and scriptures of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are incorporated freely into each of the lessons for all subjects.

Each lesson has a specific “Liken” section, which is a chance to liken the lesson content to a Gospel principle and then liken that Gospel principle to our own lives.

Each week begins with a Gospel Foundations lesson (in the same format as other subjects) where we focus specifically on studying basic doctrines, principles, and scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We believe that we learn best when we “seek learning… by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118, emphasis added).

Faith “is a principle of action and power” (Preach My Gospel (2023), Chapter 3, Lesson 3, emphasis added). Thus, we learn best when we not only study a topic, but act to apply (or “go and do”, see 1 Nephi 3:7) what we have studied.

We are told that “whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection” (D&C 130:18), and that “intelligence [is] light (action) and truth” (D&C 93:36). Likewise, we gain knowledge and intelligence through “diligence and obedience” (see D&C 130:19). In other words, we best retain knowledge that is acted upon and applied.

We apply these principles at Latter-day Learner by structuring each lesson and the learning platform itself using (what we call) “the 5 Pillars of Learning”:

5 Pillars of Learning

1. Explore
2. Study
3. Liken
4. Act
5. Share

We believe that when we have obtained knowledge and learning, we will want to share that “sweet fruit” with others, just as Lehi desired to share the fruit of the Tree of Life (see 1 Nephi 8:10-16). Thus, sharing (with our family, our fellow students, the teacher, and others) is an important part of the learning process.

At Latter-day Learning, we are big fans (and students) of (Mister) Fred Rogers and his colleagues' work! Our programs have dozens of principles we have learned from studying his work woven into them.

One of our favorites is his 6 Fundamentals of Learning Readiness (see below), which we strive to incorporate into all of our lessons, including our 5 Pillars of Learning above.

“When I think of what ‘readiness [to learn]’ means, there are six fundamentals that come immediately to my mind:

1. a sense of self-worth
2. a sense of trust
3. curiosity
4. the capacity to look and listen carefully
5. the capacity to play
6. times of solitude [and reflection]

To what extent is [what we are producing] likely to help or hinder a child in acquiring these learning tools?”
— Fred Rogers
(Mister Rogers Talks with Parents (1983), p. 170)

Another principle from Fred Rogers that we strive to follow is “a great gift [from] any adult to a child… is to love what you do in front of the child” (source).

In Gospel vocabulary, this might be called “real intent” or teaching from the heart. Our teachers are all heavily involved with the writing of the lessons they teach and strive to “love” what they are teaching “in front of the child” in each lesson, to foster a love of learning that subject in each viewing student.

Our teachers also strive to interact with the students (virtually) on a regular basis, so they can actually know, as far as is possible within logistical and technological limitations, the students they are teaching.

Why is “real intent” so important in teaching and learning?

For one, we believe that, as Fred Rogers said, “children can spot a phony a mile a way!” Part of building that “sense of trust” for real learning to be able to take place is being honest with the viewing children, and a big part of that is teaching with real intent and actually caring about what you are teaching.

And most importantly: The Spirit testifies of truth—of things that are real (see Moroni 10:3-5). So when we both teach and learn with real intent, it is a very important way to invite the Spirit to be part of our teaching and learning. He “carrieth [the truth] unto the hearts of the children of men” (2 Nephi 33:1) and “bring[s] all things to [our] remembrance [that the Lord has] said unto [us]” (John 14:26).

On the night of His atoning sacrifice, Jesus taught, “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3)

Thus, one definition of eternal life is having a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

In the Lectures on Faith, it says that:

“Three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation:

1. The idea that He actually exists.
2. A correct idea of His character, perfections and attributes.
3. An actual knowledge that the course of life which [they are] pursuing is according to His will.”

In our lessons, we strive to focus on basic principles of the Gospel, scriptures, and quotes from living prophets and general authorities/officers of the Church that will engender this kind of faith in the children we serve, and help them “know… God [the Father] and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.”

Our primary goal is to help nourish budding disciples, as they engage in learning a variety of subjects ☺.