From a Symbolic Hebrew perspective, the “House” has many meanings. The main meaning is that which is within the house. Some other descriptions are a sanctuary, a temple or that which is within those places; a family that is housed within four walls, a spirit which is within a body, a place of growth in understanding the many paradoxes of life.
In an earlier Hebrew culture, it was understood, that a person’s education began with their “House of the Book,” then “House of Learning,” and eventually progressed to their “House of Study.” This beginning of education was where the first lessons of relationships, roles and order in his/her House were formulated. The ancient focus of childhood education was on following God’s Natural Laws which primarily came from the Books of Moses. Learning through these laws and principles helped them develop their first and foremost, their individual relationship with God, their Sovereign King, and helped them understand their role as His children and their role as Vassal Kings along with the responsibilities, opportunities and blessings attached to these roles.
For us today, the House is the character and well being of each individual. A House in order is built on a moral and Christ-centered character education. It is the individual’s character, paradigm and skills which brings virtuous or vicious actions such as courage, humility, civility and love vs. rashness or pride and produce the fruits of the Divine Self or one of a lesser quality.
True education is the application of knowledge to the development of a noble and Godlike character. . Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish the desired end. Character is not the result of chance work but of continuous right thinking and right acting. – David O. McKay
We can illustrate this House of learning by comparing it to a tree:
