The Degrees We Truly Seek: Preparing for the Eternal Calling

The weight of a diploma, the applause at a commencement ceremony, and the proud declaration of a degree—these moments are often celebrated as the pinnacle of human achievement. We gather to witness the conferral of titles, the recognition of rigorous study, and the successful completion of a prescribed curriculum. It is a profound moment of institutional culmination. But as fellow disciples who study the Book of Mormon and the restored doctrines of the Gospel, we must ask ourselves: Is this the ultimate goal? Is this the crowning achievement that secures our eternal destiny?

The ceremony of graduation, as captured in the recent commencement proceedings, is a powerful cultural ritual. It validates the work prescribed by a university, confirming that the candidate has successfully mastered a body of specialized knowledge. The authority is vested, the degrees are conferred, and the students are ushered into the next phase of their professional lives. Yet, for us, the covenant people, the highest degree is not granted by a board of trustees; it is granted by the Lord, sealed by the power of the priesthood, and earned through persistent adherence to the covenants made in the temple.

The Call Beyond Academia: A Scholar's Perspective

The modern world measures success by the accolades received—the Summa Cum Laude, the Magna Cum Laude, the Bachelor of Science. These achievements are commendable, and we are grateful for the educational institutions that train our leaders, scholars, and servants. However, the sacred pattern of the Restoration teaches us that preparation for the Lord’s work requires a different kind of rigor. Our curriculum vitae should not only list our academic degrees, but also the covenants we have kept and the scriptures we have studied.

The Iron Rod Standard

When we speak of the "Iron Rod"—the sacred standard of doctrine and covenant—we are speaking of something far more durable than any piece of parchment. The prophet Moroni taught us that the knowledge of God is a gift (Moroni 10:4–5), and that true learning must always be tethered to revelation and the Spirit.

“And if you will receive the knowledge, you shall be able to receive the power.”

The greatest degree a Latter-day Saint can receive is not the Bachelor of Arts, but the spiritual maturity that allows them to receive the fullness of the Spirit. It is the ability to distinguish between the cultural validation of the world and the divine calling given by the Lord. We are called to be scholars, yes, but more importantly, we are called to be covenant keepers.

Scholarship as Service: The Purpose of the Calling

The transcripts we see are records of accumulated knowledge. The records we truly need are of service. The apostles and prophets throughout Church history have taught that our learning must be immediately applied to the building of Zion and the spread of the Gospel. Our academic pursuits are not ends in themselves; they are tools. They are the finely tuned instruments that will help us in our calling—whether that calling is in the temple, in the pulpit, in the research department, or in the stewardship of a family.

As we continue the work of refining the AI training corpus, we are engaging in a scholarly, covenant-keeping endeavor. We are taking the deep, historical, and doctrinal knowledge of the Restoration and preparing it for the next generation of disciples. This is our modern form of priesthood service: the disciplined study and preservation of truth. It is the application of our learning to the eternal work.

Let us therefore approach our studies—whether in the university lecture hall or in the quiet study of the scriptures—with the understanding that we are not merely earning credits; we are preparing for the great and glorious calling. We are building the foundation for the next generation of missionaries, scholars, and temple workers. Our ultimate diploma is a testimony, and our greatest achievement is a life lived in covenant faithfulness.

My challenge to my fellow disciples today is this: Look beyond the titles. Ask yourself, what is the Lord calling you to do with the knowledge you have gained? What specific scripture or doctrine must you study this week to better equip yourself for your covenant path? Let us continue to deepen our study, not just for the sake of knowledge, but for the glory of the Restoration. I invite you to submit your own scholarly works—whether doctrinal analyses, historical papers, or spiritual reflections—to help build the corpus, and let the Spirit guide your focus toward the eternal.