How do you handle this? When kind, sincere church members don’t want to hear anything new? It’s like they say, “we have a bible we have a bible, we don’t need anything more.” Do you sit quietly in class and avoid contention by saying nothing? Do you try to share and enlighten? What if you really believe they have said something incorrect?
My husband thinks it’s important to share and bring people greater insight, but most of the time I think people at church just get offended and think you are some kind of wacko. I tell him it might be better to remain quiet. Be nice, serve, but avoid conflict. And I’m not talking controversial doctrine. For example:
We were driving over to the college and I asked my son about his classes at church on Sunday.  He related that Brother —— said something interesting. At this point I’m thinking, oh, is this going to be uplifting or another one of those times some good-hearted member teacher is slightly off-base. It was the latter.
My son had shared, in Sunday school, something to the effect that it’s good to become knowledgeable. The teacher responded, with that old unwise Mormon myth (that is traceable to no where) — “remember the learned man is an enemy to god — the learned leave the church.”  This teacher told my son that it is not good to learn too much.

At this point my son brought up — what about Hugh Nibley?  And the teacher responded, “wasn’t he excommunicated?” my son said no.  I guess Brother Unlearned would be appalled to see my book shelves of scholarly  writers. And my Hugh Nibley audio files on this site.

I’m sitting and thinking what do members like you and me do? I don’t try to change their minds, as that has met with failure. (My husband tries and usually it’s met with failure.) Instead I try to say little. That’s why I blog, I find a space to share with others who believe in seeking greater light and knowledge. And we share insights within our family. There’s nothing to fear, because all truth can be circumscribed into one great whole.

Mormons are a varied bunch, and the gospel net brings in all kinds of fish. Come to think of it, this is the same brother that my husband had a similar experience with in Quorum. It’s a delicate balance at church, not to offend and not to be offended. To lift others, to care and share. To build Zion. I bring a book to read when I’m having a hard time sitting in church (currently “The God Who Weeps”).  I listen and stop reading when I hear something great. Like the second speaker in sacrament meeting — a new member — Wolfgang, who shared a dream he had after his friend was killed in Iraq and who then visited him in a dream urging Wolfgang that this was the time. I was touched by this man’s testimony and followed along. But on other occasions it is hard to sit, listen and know that if you contribute you will be told — the learned man is an enemy to god.

I searched for that scripture about the learned man — I didn’t find it as such. But instead found this passage, which might be misconstrued to mean that all learned men and women shun God, but that’s not true as you read the verse that follows —

O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God. (2 Nephi 9: 29)

I get it, there are some intellectuals who do not hearken to God. But that’s not the majority of faithful latter day saints. We should not avoid learning, we came to an earth that’s full of mischief and evil to experience the contrasts — we chose to partake of the tree of knowledge. It’s good to look for our beginnings, our home, and our true divine nature. God’s life is one of learning, always learning and — lifting others. But, learning alone is not a Godly life, to hide away in a monastery is not what Zion is all about.

Some how we must try to help others by sharing some things, and holding back on occasion. But there will always be members who don’t want to hear more, and we must love them still. They don’t recognize that they have ears that do not hear, and yet we must bring them along and hope… as God continually hopes for our progress.

There’s a faithful LDS website called Mormon Scholars Testify. You’ll see that it’s possible to be learned and righteous and lift others. To be learned is good when we team that with faith.

One of those scholars shared his concern when members are “afraid of the intellect” 

Isn’t this the great lesson that was learned by Oliver Cowdery, when he tried his hand at translation? 

“Behold, ye have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it to you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore you shall feel that it is right” (ref, Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-8, emphasis added).

And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. (DC 88:118 and 109:7).