Reverence for God Is the Beginning of Wisdom

 

The Psalmist said, 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” 

(Psalm 111:10). 

What the scripture means is that a 

“profound reverence”⁵ for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 

That profound reverence comes because our Heavenly Father 

“has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth” 

(Mosiah 4:9). 

His wisdom is perfect. 

It is pure. 

It is unselfish.

This wisdom, at times, will be opposite the wisdom of the world, 

meaning the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world 

will come in direct conflict one with another.

Remember the words of the Lord in Isaiah?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” 

(Isaiah 55:8–9).

The wisdom of God will not come to us by entitlement; 

we must be willing to seek after it. 

“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; emphasis added).

The wisdom of God is a spiritual gift. 

“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” 

(D&C 6:7; emphasis added).

Seeking for the wisdom of God is always accompanied by 

obedience to the commandments.

Generally, the spiritual gift of wisdom comes step by step 

as we honestly and diligently seek it. 

“I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, 

… and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, 

… for they shall learn wisdom; 

for unto him that receiveth I will give more” 

(2 Nephi 28:30; emphasis added).

Joseph Smith said this: 

“The things of God are of deep import; 

and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts 

can only find them out.”⁶ 

There is no instant gratification 

in seeking for the wisdom of God.

Finally, the source of the wisdom of God is different from that of the world. 

The wisdom of God is found in the scriptures, 

in the teachings of the prophets (such as during general conference), 

and, of course, in our prayers 

(see D&C 8:1–2). 

And always, always this wisdom distills upon us 

with the power of the Holy Ghost. 

The Apostle Paul said:

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, 

save the spirit of man which is in him? 

even so the things of God knoweth no man, 

but the Spirit of God. …

“Which things also we speak, 

not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, 

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth” 

(1 Corinthians 2:11, 13; emphasis added).

With the wisdom of God, 

we see beyond our current circumstances because, 

as the scripture says, 

“the Spirit … speaketh of things as they really are, 

and of things as they really will be” 

(Jacob 4:13).

The wisdom of God

 is wisdom worthy 

of our devoted attention.

Excerpts Taken from the talk:

Reverence for God Is the Beginning of Wisdom

By Elder Neil L. Andersen

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles