Where is the Wisdom?

T.S. Eliot once questioned, “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” In the age of ChatGPT, Alexa, and endless amounts of information on the internet, surely we are losing wisdom and knowledge as we let technology think and remember and reason for us. The scriptures, on the other hand, invite us to seek for wisdom. Job taught, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). Alma encouraged his son Helaman, “Learn wisdom in thy youth” (Alma 37:35). The writer of Proverbs asserted, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13). He also taught, “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” In our dispensation the Lord similarly encouraged us, “Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:7). The Lord also invited us to “treasure up wisdom in [our] bosoms” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30).  

                So how do we gain true wisdom? The Lord taught, “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118). So first of all we must seek it through study and through faith. To study means that we must put in effort on our own; we will never gain wisdom if we simply expect all answers to be given to us by someone or something. To seek it through faith is to turn to God who ultimately is the source of all wisdom. The scriptures teach that “the Lord giveth wisdom” and we must turn first and foremost to Him instead of turning to Google or some other secular source (Proverbs 2:6). James taught us very simply: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). True wisdom, the knowledge of God’s plan and our purpose on life in earth, an understanding of how to live and who God is, can only come from Him. He put it this way to Nephi: “For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have” (2 Nephi 28:30). Only as we hearken to Him and His counsels will we, little by little, gain true wisdom. All the science and secular knowledge in the world cannot give us wisdom around the most important questions in life. Einstein is purported to have said this: “I once thought that if I could ask God one question, I would ask how the universe began, because once I knew that, all the rest is simply equations. But as I got older I became less concerned with how the universe began. Rather, I would want to know why he started the universe. For once I knew that answer, then I would know the purpose of my own life.” To know the purpose of our lives, to know what God would have us do, that is true wisdom, and it can only come from Him. We must seek the wisdom of God and then seek that “she should rule over [us]” so that we can ultimately return to Him who “has all wisdom” (Mosiah 4:9, 8:20).