Who's your teacher?

This week's assigned reading from the mouth of a prophet:
Mosiah 23:13-14

13 And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds; yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you.
14 And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.
The phrase "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" comes to mind. In a more cynical, but perhaps not unwarrented, vein, I have heard my father adapt the phrase to leave the absolute off the beginning: "Power corrupts absolutely." This calls to mind a scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants -- Section 121:39:
We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
There are implications for both instructor and learner -- and even the instructional designer. The role of teacher must be undertaken with respect and uprightness. A teacher who leans to his or her own understanding and does not acknowledge God in all things only hits on truth accidentally. You can't trust them. They are blind guides.

A wise teacher acknowledges the limits of his or her understanding. The foolish guide scoffs at meekness and humility and will laugh until the sand washes out from underneath his or her feet.

But, that being said, I don't think it hurts to listen to new ideas or points of view from those who have not  been specifically inspired by deity. I just don't trust them. Not automatically. That must be earned.

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