CHAPTER 20
Wisdom is not just to have knowledge; it is to recognize and accept
truth, and then to apply it to that which needs it.
1 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of
understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and
judgment, and equity; to give subtilty to the simple, to the young man
knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase
learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
2 The sons of Mosiah were committed to learning about the things of
God. There are probably no people today who have made stronger
commitments to learning than have the Latter-day Saints. Our
commitments are sustained by the fact that the Lord has told us to
�gstudy and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with
languages, tongues, and people.�h (D&C 90:15.) For, said he, �gIt is
impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance�h (D&C 131:6)--that is,
in ignorance of the truth. �gA man is saved no faster than he gets
knowledge,�h added the Prophet Joseph Smith. (History of the Church)
3 The glory of God is intelligence; in other words, light and truth.
All intelligence comes from God, and anyone whose mind is opened to
the development of inventions for the benefit and blessing of mankind
receives that light and truth through study, through research, through
inspiration and guidance from the Spirit of the Lord, whether that
individual be a Morse, an Edison, an Alexander Graham Bell, an Orville
or Wilbur Wright, or whoever he may be.
4 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and
blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.
5 That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than
it does as a sound. Pure intelligence can be spoken into the mind. The
Holy Ghost communicates with our spirits through the mind more than
through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as
feelings through promptings and impressions. We may feel the words of
spiritual communication more than hear them and see with spiritual
rather than with mortal eyes.
6 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in
before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so
great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and
thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine
enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and
knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I
have made thee king:
7 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than
choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that
may be desired are not to be compared to it.
8 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted
the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye
must needs know that the seed is good. And now, behold, is your
knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and
your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the
word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted
up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your
mind doth begin to expand.
9 You need never fear, my brethren and sisters, if you do not receive
any very great or marvelous manifestation, or if you do not receive
any very wonderful revelations from heaven, if you will only live so
that God can reveal Himself to you if He will. You will be all right,
you will have nothing to fear, you will have nothing lacking, so far
as you are concerned, if you are in a position to receive the will of
God whenever He is ready or desires to make it manifest to you. That
is enough. And then God will only reveal to you that which is
necessary for your development, for your growth and advancement in the
knowledge of the truth.
10 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and
as they are to come;
11 If you love the truth, if you have received the gospel in your
hearts and love it, your intelligence will be added upon; your
understanding of truth will be expanded, larger than in any other way.
Truth is the thing, above all other things in the world, that makes
men free--free from indolence and carelessness, free from the fearful
consequences of neglect, for it will be a fearful consequence, if we
neglect our duty before the living God. If you will learn the truth
and walk in the light of truth you shall be made free from the errors
of men �c ; you will be above suspicion and above wrong-doing of every
description. God will approve of you and bless you and your
inheritances, and make you prosper and flourish like a green bay tree.
12 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it
will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more
knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and
obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the
world to come.
13 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
14 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation,
knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and
peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life
eternal.
15 Ignorance is expensive; in fact, it is the most expensive commodity
we know anything about. Certainly we make many mistakes through
ignorance. If it is a violation of a commandment of God which we have
never received and thus do not know, then the Lord does not hold us
guilty of the sin. �g�c to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it
not, to him it is sin.�h (James 4:17.) And in Paul�fs words, �g�c
where no law is, there is no transgression.�h (Rom. 4:15.) But even
though we may not be guilty of the sin because of our ignorance,
neither can we receive the blessing, which is predicated on obedience,
without rendering obedience to that law. Therefore, we are denied the
blessing through our ignorance. If it is a traffic law we have
violated through ignorance, the penalty assessed us is exactly the
same as if we had known. Also, if we stick a finger in an electric
light socket, we will receive the same shock, irrespective of our
knowledge of electricity. I repeat, ignorance is expensive.
Particularly is this true since the Lord has decreed, �gIt is
impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.�h (D&C 131:6.) For
surely no man is truly enlightened unless he knows the Lord.
16 It is by loving these truths with all of our heart that an affinity
develops between us and the Source of truth itself, �gfor intelligence
cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth
truth; [and] virtue loveth virtue.�h Hence, we shall discover that the
things we value and appreciate the most are those that we personally
learned from the Lord.
17 Each of us must stay in condition to respond to inspiration and the
promptings of the Holy Ghost. The Lord has a way of pouring pure
intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us,
and to warn us. Each son or daughter of God can know the things they
need to know instantly. Learn to receive and act on inspiration and
revelation.
18 I offer you my personal witness that spiritual truth will fill your
heart and bring light to your spirit. It will reveal to you pure
intelligence with wonderful joy and heavenly peace. I have experienced
this for myself by the power of the Holy Ghost.
19 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love,
and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the
acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of
Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Younger Elder Brooksby
1-Proverbs 1:2-5
2-Commitment and Dedication by Marion G. Romney, July 1983 Liahona
3-Light and Knowledge to the World by Joseph Anderson, October 1972
General Conference
4-D&C 1:28
5-Prayer and Promptings by Boyd K. Packer, October 2009 General Conference
6-2 Chronicles 1:10-11
7-Proverbs 8:10-11
8-Alma 32:33-34
9-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith-Chapter 30: Yield to the
Promptings of the Spirit
10-D&C 93:24
11-Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith-Chapter 35: Seek to Be
Educated in the Truth
12-D&C 130:18-19
13-D&C 93:36
14-D&C 42:61
15-Ignorance Is Expensive by Hartman Rector, Jr., April 1971 General Conference
16-Being Teachable by Robert R. Steuer, April 2002 General Conference
17-These Things I Know by Boyd K. Packer, April 2013 General Conference
18-Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth by Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
October 2014 General Conference
19-Colossians 2:2-3
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