Study AND Prayer

Did you know that Joseph Smith studied Egyptian? Apparently, some friends of his bought four mummies and their scrolls from a man named Michael Chandler in the Summer of 1835. So, according to the Primary lesson manual, "Joseph Smith studied the letters and grammar of the Egyptian language and then, with the help of the Holy Ghost, he translated the writings on the papyrus rolls." The funny thing is that, before taking the mummies to Kirtland, Ohio, he had tried to get the scrolls translated by educated men in Pennsylvania, "but even the most educated of these men were only able to understand a little of the writings." Clearly, education alone was not enough to translate those scrolls. One also needed inspiration. Even so, I think a little bit of education may have been necessary.

This story reminds me of Sydney Rigdon, who, if I recall correctly, attempted to do almost the exact opposite of what the educated men Chandler had spoken to had done. Rigdon had once attempted to translate part of a sacred record by revelation alone, perhaps thinking that the right words would just flow through him, if he had enough faith. As the story goes, he failed because he "took no thought save is was to ask" (D&C 9:6).

Thus we see that one needs to both study and pray to receive some revelations. God rarely speaks to educated atheists, and He rarely gives answers to those who don't look for them. Thus, if we want answers, we have to look for them and have faith that God can help us find them. Doing only either is rarely enough. Joseph Smith was able to translate the scrolls because he had studied some Egyptian and done some praying, and that is what we also need to do. If we want guidance or answers or inspiration from God, we have to seek it through study AND prayer, or we probably aren't going to get it.