Includes education

      - Is taught in scriptures

      - Involves obedience

      In his Saturday morning address, Elder Russell M. Nelson posed a question asked by Job, "Where shall wisdom be found?" (Job 28:12), and urged education balanced by proper application of gospel principles.

      "Leaders of this Church have repeatedly emphasized the importance of education," observed Elder Nelson of the Council of the Twelve. "It is a vital component of wisdom."

      Opportunities and abilities differ, Elder Nelson said, adding: "I believe that in the pursuit of education, individual desire is more influential than institution, and personal faith more than faculty. Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves."

      Emphasizing the importance of spiritual development along with secular learning, Elder Nelson said ignorance of the scriptures has in times past brought suffering to many people.

      To illustrate, he said that not until a century ago was it recognized that infection could be caused by contaminated body fluids passed from one individual to another. He then quoted Lev. 15:1-7 and 13, which contains regulations designed to prevent such infection in Israelite society.

      "Thus, our loving Heavenly Father had clearly revealed principles of clean technique in the handling of infected patients more than 3,000 years ago!" he remarked. "Those scriptures are in complete harmony with modern medical guidelines."

      Quoting Paul's words in 2 Tim. 3:1-5,7, he commented: "Paul's warnings describe apostasy and other dangers of our day. Some of those perils are contrary to God's purposes and championed by persuasive people possessing more ability than morality, more knowledge than wisdom. Their rationalization breeds justification. The Bible affirms that the `way of the fool is right in his own eyes' (Prov. 12:15)."

      "To build a house straight and strong," Elder Nelson continued, "you do not choose crooked boards. So to build your eternal destiny, you cannot not - you must not - limit lessons only to those warped to exclude revelation from God."

      A heart surgeon by profession, Elder Nelson cited the increasing incidence of AIDS in society. "An epidemic has been forecast - a plague fueled by a vocal few who exhibit greater concern for civil rights than for public health - a plague abetted by the immoral. Some live in lust as though God's commandment to be chaste was written with an asterisk, exempting them from obeying. And regrettably, as in previous plagues, many innocent victims are doomed to suffer."

      Avoidable deaths and financial burdens are also caused by ignorance of God's commandments against tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse, gambling, civil strife and erosion of family stability, he said.

      "Again I ask, where is wisdom?" Answering the question, he said wisdom is found in pure intelligence, the fulness of the gospel.