There are some important statements and pieces of information in the Doctrine and Covenants that help us to understand the God wants us to learn:
DC 93:36-37
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.It is obvious today that there is much to learn and our society places heavy emphasis and much value on educating ourselves and our children in order to be successful. We can learn from all sorts of resources, using all sorts of tools. But, the Lord in the above verses makes a distinction between learning and learning from God. What God teaches is light and truth. Not just any retained information or experience (good or bad), but information that God gives, or is the author and creator of, which is everything. But the antagonist of God, Satan, would love nothing more that to give information that would confuse the pure light and truth that God gives. So, we need to learn to distinguish between learning information and learning information from God.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.
DC 130:18-19
18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.The more light and truth one can gain in this life, the better the advantage in the world to come. But the knowledge gained in this verse is through diligence and obedience. There are many people who are diligent in gaining their education, but fewer who can be obedient to God at the same time and therefore fewer who receive light and truth given by God.
19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
DC 136:32-33
32 Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear;How do we gain light and truth from God? And how do we differentiate it from information given by Satan? These verses say, we need to humble ourselves and actually ask the Lord, then the Holy Spirit will enlighten us and condemn the ungodly. The phrase,"easier said than done" is a glaring understatement regarding learning real truth and real light from God. However, the more we try and practice, the easier it becomes to discern truth from falsehoods and light from darkness.
33 For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly.
In order to differentiate between God's light and knowledge and other knowledge, we must come to know God. Where do you go to get to know God, what do you do? To begin with, the authoritative resource is the Bible, the book that the Lord wrote through his prophets. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ and his words. These two are proclaimed the word of God, by God and his Son Jesus Christ, so as far as authoritative resources go in getting to know God, the Father and Jesus Christ, these are a sure bet. There are other resources that have been sanctioned by God and Jesus Christ as well: The Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, literature given by Jesus Christ through ancient and modern prophets, there are also words given through modern prophets and apostles we have today. All of these resources actually quote one another because God is unchangeable and so are his truths, but each book gives a different perspective on His truths. By learning His word from His source and asking questions or asking for a confirmation from the Holy Spirit about what we read and study, we can be assured we are learning divine truth.
Another way to learn truth is to teach it, which sounds backwards. But the Lord tells us in the scripture below that we are to teach what we know, then we will be instructed more perfectly (emphasis added):
DC 88:76-80
76 Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.
77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—
80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
This is one of the ways that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is different than many churches. It has lay clergy, leaders who have other jobs to earn their living, and people of the congregation are the speakers for the congregations and sunday school learning. Some people may not feel comfortable listening to a speaker who does not profess an authoritative knowledge of the truths of God. However, if the speaker is speaking or teaching by the spirit, quoting scripture from God and applying it to life, and the learner or listener is listening by the spirit, there is no higher authoritative learning. Learning by the Holy Spirit is the key!
Regarding secular learning, society places high value on learning more for greater success. This is very clear. As indicated is the previous scripture passage, we are to learn about everything we can - things abroad, about wars and perplexities of nations, and all things. All knowledge will help us to progress, if we apply it or discard it appropriately. But if the purpose of is purely to become wealthy, and the knowledge of God is disregarded, in the end, you will perish. Jacob, a prophet from The Book of Mormon said that doing so is part of the plan of "the evil one":
2 Nephi 9:28-29
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
The Lord tells us in the beginning of the Doctrine and Covanents (similar words are found in the Bible and The Book of Mormon):
DC 6:7
7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
I the end, it is not the wealth that your knowledge brings you that will be of value, but the wisdom you gained from that knowledge and how you applied it. Because you can be a very knowledgable and informed person, but still be ignorant in the things that matter eternally.
DC 131:6
6 It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.
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