Boyd K. Packer wrote: It is important to be a willing learner:
The other day I received a letter of apology, as I have on many occasions. It came from someone I do not know. This letter told how resentful and angry that member had been for a long period of time toward me because of a talk I had given. It was a request for forgiveness.
I am quick to forgive. I am only an agent both in giving the talk and extending forgiveness.
The scriptures contain many references revealing how “hard”7 to bear the teachings of the prophets and apostles were for the Israelites and for the Nephites. It is so easy to resist the teaching and resent the teacher. That has been the lot of prophets and apostles from the beginning.
One of the Beatitudes teaches that: “Blessed are you when men shall revile you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”8
Typically those letters of apology say, “I could not understand why you felt the need to make me feel so uncomfortable and so guilty.” Then out of their struggle, there emerges an insight, an inspiration, an understanding of causes and effects. Finally they come to see and understand why the gospel is as it is.
I mention one among several subjects. A sister may finally come to see why we stress the importance of mothers staying at home with their children. She understands that no service equals the exalting refinement which comes through unselfish motherhood. Nor does she need to forgo intellectual or cultural or social refinement. Those things are fitted—in proper time—for they attend the everlasting virtue which comes from teaching children. Boyd K. Packer. . . see complete talk at “Teach the Children,” Ensign, February 2000 pp.10-17
