During a particularly tense period in the history of Israel, as Jerusalem faced an attack from its northern neighbors and an even bigger threat from the Assyrian Empire, Isaiah taught the people where to go for reliable guidance. “Bind up the testimony,” he said, “seal the law among my disciples” (2 Nephi 18:16, Isaiah 8:16). He warned them to avoid easy and unreliable sources of information, like fortune tellers, psychics, and mediums. “To the law and to the testimony,” he advised, “and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (2 Nephi 18:19-20, Isaiah 8:19-20).
In the middle of this guidance, Isaiah inserts a declaration which at first glance appears to be off the subject:
And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
2 Nephi 18:17, Isaiah 8:17
Why would he emphasize his commitment to “wait upon the Lord” as part of a discussion on identifying reliable sources of information?
Our brains seem to be hard-wired to crave certainty. When something seems off or when we lack complete information, we feel restless. We are motivated to seek new information or new insight into existing information: some model that makes it all fit, some strategy that works.
This instinct is good. We make better decisions when we acquire relevant information first. But when coupled with impatience, this urge can be harmful. We don’t need to keep consuming information mindlessly when it’s clear that answers are not yet available. And we don’t need to settle for convenient answers from unreliable sources—”wizards that peep and mutter” (2 Nephi 18:9, Isaiah 8:19).
Part of a commitment to truth is a willingness to forego certainty, to live within ambiguity until further clarity comes. It’s uncomfortable. Our brains don’t like it. But the alternative is worse: simplistic strategies that are bound to fail. Faith in God includes allowing ambiguities to endure in our minds, trusting that He will eventually resolve them.
Today, I will wait upon the Lord. I will trust reliable sources of information and will keep an open mind regarding information that is not yet available. I will move forward in faith, trusting in “the wisdom of him who knoweth all things” (2 Nephi 2:24).
suppose an active Christian baptized at age 27 or 43 years ago has in the last 8 years made a habit out of a painkilling prescribed pharmaceutical that at one time was needed for pain due to a bicycle accident but now takes it because if he stops taking it he gets flu-like symptoms…is that individual in violation of the word of wisdom?
I recommend that you talk with your bishop or another church leader about your situation. They can help you work through the challenges you are facing. We all pass through different challenges at different points in our lives. God’s love for us is unchanging, and I’m sure that He will help you get through this!
Amen brothe Andersen
Thank you!