Receiving The Gift Of Wisdom

"Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also; For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power." (D&C 71:5-6). This is a pretty good definition of wisdom. Wisdom isn't just about reading, whether that be reading books or reading the world around us. As we examine our lives and our place in the world, we can understand it better. But this understanding comes not just through greater effort on our part, not just through a greater application of logic and reasoning, nor through rigorous experimentation alone. In short, understanding and wisdom are not arrived at solely through our own effort and abilities. Wisdom is a gift from God and is freely available if we have but the courage and humility to receive it. If we can accept that our own reading of the situation is going to be incomplete without the divine wisdom that can open our minds and our hearts, then we can let go of our pride and make room to receive God's wisdom. And the more and more we become willing to receive, the more God bestows upon us. And understanding begets wisdom and wisdom begets power. The more we understand God, the more we become like God, the more we have the power to carry out God's vision and His work. We can continue to rely upon our own knowledge and powers of observation, or we can gain wisdom and hidden treasures of knowledge by letting go of our own understanding to receive all that the Lord has in store for us.