"Happy is the man... that getteth understanding" McKenna Weir

I am always amazed at the new insight and understanding I gain as I learn. Ordinary things take on new meaning as my focus shifts according to my experience. This semester I have gained particular understanding of certain principles. I've found these lessons to be true through my experiences at school, in my calling and extracurricular activities. I've been reminded again in church meetings, my personal reading or through conversation. This is a pattern I find to be true for any principle. Often I see this repetition most in lessons that are important for me to understand at particular points in my life. I know that our Heavenly Father uses this pattern for understanding to help us develop and reach our greatest capacities.
The scriptures teach repeatedly that the Lord desires us to gain understanding. The scriptures compare understanding as more valuable than sliver (1) and counsels us to make understanding such a part of our life that we can call it our sister (2). What is it that makes understanding of such importance and what is it that we are to understand? President Hinckely offers an answer. He says, “Understanding of what? Understanding of ourselves, of the purposes of life, of our relationship to God who is our Father, of the great divinely given principles that for centuries have provided the sinew of man’s real progress!” (3) The importance of understanding these principles is just what President Hinckley said, it is the source of our progress. It is our purpose here on Earth and even more importantly in our day when the source of true understanding has been restored in its fullness. The restored truth teaches us of our Savior who is the greatest example of understanding. His example also teaches us that our purpose is to gain understanding and even more that understanding yields a pure love. This is a lesson that has been made clear to me as I left home. Being separated from my parents helped me to understand their love for me. I saw more clearly all they had done to help me succeed. I think it is a similar situation with our Heavenly parents. We are given the opportunity to understand our Heavenly Father's love for us in our time of separation. We also see more clearly everything He has provided for us to succeed.
Our understanding would not be complete if it was only of spiritual matters. True understanding implies the ability to use knowledge in all facets. Such an understanding is a sign of true development of character. President Hinckley often advocated the combination of temporal and spiritual knowledge. He said, “Each day we are made increasingly aware of the fact that life is more than science and mathematics, more than history and literature. There is need for another education... I refer to the education of the heart, of the conscience, of the character, of the spirit—these indefinable aspects of our personalities which determine so certainly what we are and what we do in our relationships one with another.” (3) Understanding develops character and we act according to our character. Nephi teaches that how we choose to act according to our complete understanding is what we will be judged by (4). So we see the importance of building a righteous character through understanding so that we can stand confident before the Lord and fulfill our greatest capabilities.
As the power of understanding helps us develop our personal character, we see more clearly the worth of others and we are inspired to act on our understanding. M. Russell Ballard said, “Consider for a moment the word understanding. It’s a simple word, really... but it means something that is quite remarkable. With understanding we can strengthen relationships, revitalize neighborhoods, unify nations, and even bring peace to a troubled world. Without it chaos, intolerance, hate, and war are often the result”. (5) I have observed this principle as I study the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Each testify of the Savior Jesus Christ. Both are accounts of a peoples understanding of the gospel. The major difference lies in the authors. The Bible is an account of the people in the Middle Eastern portion of the world. The Book of Mormon is an account of the people in the Americas. The power of these testaments is that understanding of gospel principles, more specifically understanding of the Savior, can unite cultures. Although the books are written from the perspective of different peoples they testify of the same principles. This is because we have a common heritage as children of God. Understanding this common heritage motivates us to act for the betterment of our community bringing about a unifying power.
Christ's example of understanding also teaches that through the power of the Atonement we choose whether we are made free by seeking understanding or brought into bondage by a lack of understanding. Understanding of truth teaches us to “depart from evil” (6). Psalms 32:8-9 illustrates this principle through the imagery of a mule. A mule does not have the capability to understand and so it will only come if it lead with a “bit and bridle” (7). In this parable, the Lord promises that if we come to Him of our own free will He will teach us in the way we should go and our understanding will increase to our benefit. 2 Nephi 9:46 teaches us that when we resist truth our understanding will work to our disadvantage. We will experience a perfect understanding of our guilt that will bring torment to our souls at the last day (8). I learned this personally when school began this year. This is my first year at Brigham Young University and like most freshman I was lost and confused for the first weeks of school. I did not understand yet what it was like to live on my own, to balance a college schedule or even the layout of the campus. I wanted understanding, but could only gain it simply through my own experience. I felt captive in those first days to my lack of understanding, but I am becoming more and more confident in my abilities as time goes on. Although I was not threatened by the eternal torment Nephi explains, my simple example helped me see the power of freedom that understanding brings.
Nephi exclaims that “men are that they might have joy”. (9) We joy in freedom. Freedom that comes from our confidence in our understanding of our worth and purpose. Freedom that comes from the redeeming power of the Savior's Atonement. Freedom to give others freedom through an understanding heart. I have felt these joys of freedom in my life. I know that my freedom is increased because I have turned to the Lord for understanding and I have felt His spirit testify of the truth of my understanding. I know there is much more for me to understand, but trust that the peace of God, which even “surpasses understanding” will help me to remain faithful. My testimony is the evidence of my understanding. I rejoice in this knowledge and affirm the Proverb, “Happy is the man... that getteth understanding” (10).
1.Proverbs 16:16
2.Proverbs 7:4
3.Gordon B. Hinckley, “‘With All Thy Getting Get Understanding’,” Ensign, Aug 1988, 2–5
4.2 Nephi 29:11
5.M. Russell Ballard, “Building Bridges of Understanding,” Ensign, Jun 1998, 62
6.Job 28:28
7.Psalms 32:8-9
8.2 Nephi 9:46
9.2 Nephi 2:25
10.Proverbs 3:13