1. Wisdom

Proverbs 1:7. What Is the Theme of the Book of Proverbs?

‘The theme of the book of Proverbs is stated in verse 7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Fear as used here means reverence or deep respect for God. Though there is much in the book that does not rise above worldly wisdom, the whole serves as a reminder that to the Lord all things are spiritual (see D&C 29:34). The book underscores the idea that even in mortal life, when properly viewed, all things testify of God.’ (Institute Old Testament Manual)

Proverbs 2:4 Searchest for her as for hid treasures.

‘From the great insecurity of life and property in Eastern countries, the hiding of treasures in the earth has always been of frequent occurrence. It would often, no doubt, happen that the owner would die without disclosing the place of concealment to any one else, and the treasure thus be lost. Hunting after such hoards has in consequence been always of the keenest interest to Orientals, and as such furnishes the groundwork for one of our Lord’s parables (Matthew 13:44).’ (Ellicott’s Commentary for English readers)

Proverbs 3:18 A tree of life

‘This expression obviously refers to “the tree of life” (ets-hakayyim), which was placed in the midst of the garden of Eden, and conferred immortality on those who ate of its fruit (Genisis 2:9; 3:22). So Wisdom becomes equally life giving to those who lay hold on her, who taste of her fruit. She communicates life in its manifold fulness and richness (so the plural “lives” indicates) to those who seize her firmly. ‘ (Pulpit Commentary)

Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man

‘In the Hebrew text it is only “give to a wise man”; give him reproof, correction, chastisement, doctrine, or instruction, be it what it will, he will be the better for it.’ (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)

Proverbs 15:31 – 32 The reproof of life

“Our life style must make allowance for that need to deal with reality in our own lives. In Proverbs we read: [Proverbs 15:31–32].

“The disciple of Christ needs to expect the ‘reproof of life’—and suffering—for suffering is that sweat that comes from working out our salvation. Suffering is on the agenda for each of us.” (Freedom: a “Hard Doctrine,”Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, 12 Apr. 1972, p. 4.)

2. Trust in the Lord

Proverbs 3:5-7

‘This life is an experience in profound trust—trust in Jesus Christ, trust in His teachings, trust in our capacity as led by the Holy Spirit to obey those teachings for happiness now and for a purposeful, supremely happy eternal existence. To trust means to obey willingly without knowing the end from the beginning (see  Prov. 3:5–7) To produce fruit, your trust in the Lord must be more powerful and enduring than your confidence in your own personal feelings and experience.

To exercise faith is to trust that the Lord knows what He is doing with you and that He can accomplish it for your eternal good even though you cannot understand how He can possibly do it. We are like infants in our understanding of eternal matters and their impact on us here in mortality. Yet at times we act as if we knew it all. When you pass through trials for His purposes, as you trust Him, exercise faith in Him, He will help you. That support will generally come step by step, a portion at a time. While you are passing through each phase, the pain and difficulty that comes from being enlarged will continue. If all matters were immediately resolved at your first petition, you could not grow. Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love.’ (Richard G Scott, General Conference, October 1995)

3. The words we speak

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate

‘I read these to show you that the Lord has not left us in doubt nor in darkness as to the things, some of them that we should not do. We add these to the Ten Commandments.

Now, my brethren and sisters, salvation is ours, if we will but live for it. We shall forfeit it if we do the things which his prophets have declared unto us should not be done. ‘ J Reuben Clark Jr, General Conference, April 1952)

Proverbs 16:27 – 28  An ungodly man

‘Ungodly men bestow more pains to do mischief than would be needful to do good. The whisperer separates friends: what a hateful, but how common a character! ‘ (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer

‘The words of a deceiver, the fair-spoken, deeply-malicious man, though they appear soft and gracious, are wounds deeply injurious.’ (Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible)

Proverbs 25:18 A maul

‘A heavy sledge hammer. The word is connected with “malleus:” its diminutive “mallet” is still in use.’ (Barnes’s Notes on the Bible)

4. Pride

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil

‘Because there can never be any truce between the kingdoms of light and darkness (Matthew 6:24), so if we are the friend of one, we must be the enemy of the other.’ (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers)

Proverbs 13:10

‘When I was called as a General Authority, I was blessed to be tutored by many of the senior Brethren in the Church. One day I had the opportunity to drive President James E. Faust to a stake conference. During the hours we spent in the car, President Faust took the time to teach me some important principles about my assignment. He explained also how gracious the members of the Church are, especially to General Authorities. He said, “They will treat you very kindly. They will say nice things about you.” He laughed a little and then said, “Dieter, be thankful for this. But don’t you ever inhale it.”

That is a good lesson for us all, brethren, in any calling or life situation. We can be grateful for our health, wealth, possessions, or positions, but when we begin to inhale it—when we become obsessed with our status; when we focus on our own importance, power, or reputation; when we dwell upon our public image and believe our own press clippings—that’s when the trouble begins; that’s when pride begins to corrupt.’ (Dieter F Uchtdorf, General Conference, October 2010)

Proverbs 16:19

‘Better humble and poor than proud and rich.’ (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

5. Friendship

 Proverbs 13:20. The Value of Association

‘Here again a profound truth is caught in simple language. The people one chooses to associate with in life can have a profound effect on what one turns out to be.’ Old Testament Institute Manual)

Proverbs 22:24-25      Make no friendship with an angry man

‘Spirit has a wonderful and unaccountable influence upon spirit. From those with whom we associate we acquire habits, and learn their ways, imbibe their spirit, show their tempers and walk in their steps. We cannot be too choice of our company, for we may soon learn ways that will be a snare to our soul.’ (Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible)

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times

‘Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of “Mormonism;” [it is designed] to revolutionize and civilize the world, and cause wars and contentions to cease and men to become friends and brothers… Friendship is like Brother Turley in his blacksmith shop welding iron to iron; it unites the human family with its happy influence. ‘(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 316)

6. Raising children

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child

‘Lessons taught in the home by goodly parents are becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread. As we know, he is attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society—the family. In clever and carefully camouflaged ways, he is attacking commitment to family life throughout the world and undermining the culture and covenants of faithful Latter-day Saints. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions such as church and school can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go”  (Proverbs 22:6) this responsibility ultimately rests on the parents. According to the great plan of happiness, it is goodly parents who are entrusted with the care and development of Heavenly Father’s children.’ (L Tom Perry, General Conference, October 2012)

Proverbs 19:18     Let not thy soul spare for his crying

‘This is a hard precept for a parent. Nothing affects the heart of a parent so much as a child’s cries and tears. But it is better that the child may be caused to cry, when the correction may be healthful to his soul, than that the parent should cry afterwards, when the child is grown to man’s estate, and his evil habits are sealed for life.’ (Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible)

7. Happiness and good humour

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart

‘A wholesome sense of humor will be a safety valve that will enable you to apply the lighter touch to heavy problems and to learn some lessons in problem solving that “sweat and tears” often fail to dissolve. ‘ (Hugh B Brown, General Conference, April 1968)