Wisdom

I was thinking this morning about wisdom. I was wondering what the differences are between knowledge and wisdom. In church on Sunday it was suggested that wisdom is learned through experience and knowledge through study. I found this distinction intriguing, but I wondered if I could find out more about it. I looked wisdom up on wikipedia and found that generally wisdom included good judgement and acting in accordance with what one knows to be true, while knowledge was more information gathering. I looked up wisdom on lds.org and found this article by Marion G Romney that was interesting. The numbered items here summarize the main points. I have included some quotes from the article that I like and the link to the article. It seems that prayer, inspiration, and reverence for God are the foundation principles of wisdom as described here.

1. Mankind’s troubles are in large measure due not so much to a lack of facts as to a want of wisdom. What we desperately need is to recognize and acquire that quality which converts knowledge into wisdom.

2. Until mankind comes to a knowledge of God, we will continue in our distraction, regardless of how much other knowledge we acquire.

3. The development of the capacity to convert knowledge into wisdom is one of the blessings that comes from receiving the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

4. Profound reverence for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

5. In soundly judging—which is a function of wisdom—the inspiration of the Lord can and often does compensate for unknown facts—that is, for lack of knowledge. Inspiration from God is an expression of total wisdom.

Our fatal weakness is, as already indicated, the inability to put to beneficial use knowledge which relates to our own personal conduct and to our dealings one with another

As I think about mankind’s great learning, our progress in material things, our unsolved problems, and our declining morality, I come to the conclusion that our troubles are in large measure due not so much to a lack of facts as to a want of wisdom. What we desperately need is to recognize and acquire that quality which converts knowledge into wisdom.

In soundly judging—which is a function of wisdom—the inspiration of the Lord can and often does compensate for unknown facts—that is, for lack of knowledge. For example, if a stranger at the crossroads, not knowing which way to turn, can receive inspiration from God, his decision will be as wise as if he had known all the facts. Why? Because God “knoweth all things.” Inspiration from him is an expression of total wisdom.

Not only does such inspiration compensate for want of facts; it also induces men, by self-discipline, to conform in their personal conduct and in their dealings one with another to the highest standards that they know. In other words, it gives men the capacity which distinguishes wisdom from knowledge.

Converting Knowledge into Wisdom - Ensign July 1983 - ensign

http://lds.org/ensign/1983/07/converting-knowledge-into-wisdom?cid=email-shared&lang=eng

28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

The great test of life is obedience to God.

The great task of life is to learn the will of the Lord and then do it.

The great commandment of life is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30).