Wisdom and Understanding of Christ by Rachelle Dotson

Understanding breeds wisdom. To understand is not only to know, but to empathize: such is the makeup of wisdom. As Latter-day Saints we have entered into the gate of baptism and are climbing the ladder of ordinances to exaltation. We are a peculiar people, we are chosen to spread the word of Christ. And we are asked by that same Redeemer to understand, not only to know our religion but to know Him. That is wisdom, to understand godly things. Our ears must be opened to understand, we must be anxiously listening as little children. When I read the scriptures and see the thousands who were lead away, it was because they did not understand. I cry at such misunderstandings. And I strive to understand, to gain the wisdom that leads me ever to Christ.
The great prophet Isaiah continually speaks of the scattering and gathering of the house of Israel and God's children. But in chapter 27 verse 11 he speaks of those who will not be gathered with the rest of Israel, "for [they are] a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them". This is not just a matter of not knowing, of not hearing the gospel. These are those who heard the words of the prophets and understood not, who saw the prophets and did not perceive (Isaiah 6:9). Isaiah also reveals to us where understanding comes from. I comes from the heart (2Ne.16:10). It is not just a matter of knowledge, but of sympathy and an enlarging of the heart where the Spirit can dwell. Why could the people not understand? Beacuse their hearts were hard. Because their hearts were set upon the things of the world. To prepare ourselves for understanding we must first prepare our hearts.
A perfect example is Christ's mortal ministry to the Jews and his resurrected ministry to the Nephites. As a son of God Christ walked among his people and they understood him not. They heard but did not understand, they saw and did not perceive. Then the Savior came as a resurrected being, as a God, to the Nephites at the temple. As Mormon was editing Nephi's account, the prophet interjects to address his latter day audience, to speak to us. He admonishes us, those "whoso readeth [this record], let him understand" (3Ne.10:14). What touches me is that not only is a prophet of God speaking directly to me, but he is pleading for us to not make the same mistake those in Jerusalem did. They did not understand and they crucified the Holy One of Israel. If we do not understand we may trample Him under our feet as a thing of naught. They did not understand. But we are to understand and to receive him, to grasp the arm that is stretched out all the day long.
Job defines understanding as "depart[ing] from evil" and wisdom as "the fear of the Lord" (28:28). To depart from evil means that we are headed for good, which is Christ. To have wisdom enough to fear the Lord is the knowledge of who the Lord is and why we should reverence him. But more important than that, Job asks "where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?", for it is not "found in the land of the living" (Job 28:12,13). We know that intelligence and all good things come from God. For wisdom to be found means that we must actively be seeking it. The great exemplar of this is Joseph Smith, who in reading James invitation to seek wisdom from God (James 1:5) "reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know" (JS-H 1:12). If we are given wisdom it is because we sought it, we sought for God, we sought for righteousness. If we are given knowledge then it comes from the Spirit, from the presence of God.
Yet, for all the wisdom we seek, and all the understanding we gain, we still do not know the meaning of all things. But we do know that the Lord loves us, and that is enough to usher in all faith and all things (1Ne. 11:17). For eventually the wisdom we gain will testify of the love of Christ, and with understanding we shall see the love of Christ-thus is all one eternal round. To gain such we must become as little children, foolish in the ways of the world. This is the wisdom of the Father, to testify of His Son, and His "wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil" (D&C10:43). Now in 2 Nephi 9:28 Jacob reveals the "cunning plan of the evil one": "when they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not[...]wherefore their wisdom is foolishness". We we seek wisdom, we must remember that it comes not from here, but from God. The devil would have wisdom harden our hearts that we understand not.
Howard W. Hunter once said at a General Conference "But Jesus was not spared grief and pain and anguish and buffeting. No tongue can speak the unutterable burden he carried, nor have we the wisdom to understand the prophet Isaiah’s description of him as “a man of sorrows.” (Isa. 53:3.)" (1984, Master, the Tempest is Raging"). We cannot understand what Christ went through in the garden, nor have we the wisdom for what Christ did for us. But as we soften our hearts and as we actively seek, we will come to understand that Christ loves us and we will have the wisdom to see what He did for that love. I join with Mormon in saying that as you learn of Christ- as you seek to be like Him, and as you read of Him- understand. Let us gain the wisdom to understand.
Works Cited
Isaiah 6:9,10
3Nephi10:14
JS-H1:12
Howard W. Hunter, Ensign 1984, Master, the Tempest is Raging