Quote
One day while working around our home, trimming the hedges and vines, I had an interesting experience. I was at work with my electric clippers and long extension cord. I had done this often, each time reminding myself of the need to use these clippers with great care in order to avoid cutting things that I shouldn’t. Suddenly the blades became jammed. Caught between them was the power cord itself. Because I had not seen it in the thicket I was trimming, I had cut into the very line that was providing the power to work. ~President Nelson, “Protect the Spiritual Power Line, ” October, 1984, General Conference
Why is the wisdom important?
President Nelson’s story reminds us how easy it is to cut off our own source of power if we’re not careful. In the same way, wisdom helps us protect the sources of power we rely on to do good. Power here isn’t about control—it’s about influence. As a parent or guardian, the greatest sources of power is your example. It doesn’t work to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” The moment you stop living the values you teach, you lose the power to influence your children. Each of us has sources of power that help us do our work—faith, integrity, love, consistency. Wisdom is what helps us recognize and protect those sources, so we can continue to guide and bless others.
How to apply the wisdom?
- Identify the sources of power that enable you to do your work—your faith, your integrity, your example, your relationships—and then ensure you protect them.
Robert Rost 