Do we deceive ourselves by having lots of great INPUT, while not really changing our OUTPUT?

I’m a total nerd and LOVE getting “input” as much as possible. ⁣

Podcasts, books, Conference talks, articles, conversations with others…⁣

I try to fill my life with as much INPUT as I can, because I truly love learning! ⁣

I’m that slightly obnoxious friend that usually says, “Oh, I read something about that, and I learned…”

And I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.

Learning is so fun.

And a lot of learning has been essential to my growth and development.

BUT⁣

I have to evaluate myself from time to time. ⁣

Is all that INPUT actually making my OUTPUT better? ⁣

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)

Especially from a gospel standpoint. ⁣

Are all the Conference talks and scriptures and podcasts that I’m listening to actually impacting how I behave and interact with others?⁣

OR am I just tricking myself into thinking that “learning” how to be more Christlike and compassionate is the same thing as actually BECOMING more Christlike and compassionate? ⁣

I’m not knocking down learning about the gospel.

I literally love it!

Conferences, church lessons, Instagram accounts, books, scriptures…⁣

Absolutely essential and absolutely enriching.

But I can’t fool myself that I have become a better person solely because I have great INPUT. ⁣

“If you want to know anything, you will have to do something.” -Rebecca L. Craven

Did the last Conference talk I listen to actually change how I talk to my family members?

Have the scriptures actually made a difference in how I live? ⁣

Did hearing that person’s story on a podcast make me more compassionate toward someone in my own ward experiencing the same thing?

Do my sources of INPUT lead me to have greater OUTPUT, or am I being deceived into feeling content with only the first half?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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4 Responses

  1. “Is all that INPUT actually making my OUTPUT better?”

    I love scripture study in all of its forms, from books to newsletters to BYU Education week.
    BUT I often wonder if I am DOING anything different because of all that information.

    Great post.

    Hugs,
    Haze

  2. I love this! I shared it with my seminary class as we discussed the doctrinal mastery in James 2:17-18. It was a great “real” example of how we can have faith (input) but we need to make sure our works reflect our faith (output).

    And…it is also worth a deep ponder in my own life…thanks Cali!

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