Fitness Quote by Joseph Fielding Smith
““We should spend our time and give diligent attention to the training of members of the Church. Teachers who are filled with the spirit of the Lord and who are tried and true, should be called to act in this capacity, and those who are not so tried and proved, should not be called to instruct the members. What do we accomplish if we spend our time and means preaching in the world to make converts to the gospel, if we place instructors before the youth in the stakes and wards who destroy the faith in the hearts of the young people in the divine message intrusted to our care?””
About This Quote
Emphasizes prioritizing rigorous, spiritually grounded instruction for church members over merely expanding numbers through preaching, warning that unqualified teachers can erode youthful faith.
In simple terms: Prioritize qualified spiritual teaching over conversion numbers.
Key Takeaway
Qualified teachers preserve faith.
Themes
spiritual education
leadership integrity
youth formation
mission strategy
faith preservation
Mood
concerned
determined
hopeful
Type
advice
doctrine
mission
When to use this quote
- training church teachers
- selecting youth leaders
- evaluating instructional suitability
- preventing doctrinal drift
Key Concepts
teacher qualification
spiritual mentorship
community health
faith transmission
Practical Applications
- designing teacher certification programs
- creating mentorship frameworks
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we assess spiritual maturity in teachers?
- What safeguards protect youth from doctrinal errors?
