And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Moroni’s invitation to ask God for confirmation of Truth is a bedrock of our faith. We believe in being seekers after Truth. We believe that as God’s children, we are entitled to His divine help in finding Truth.
From the very beginning of the restoration of the gospel, disciples of Christ have been encouraged to turn to God for answers. In the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, it says, “These sacred revelations were received in answer to prayer, in times of need, and came out of real-life situations involving real people.”
Real, flawed and floundering people seeking to understand what God wants them to do in their everyday circumstances. You and I are in the exact same situation: we seek God’s guidance. We want Him to answer our prayers and guide us to Truth.
Yet, I have watched people I love question some aspect of the gospel or life and those questions have led them to not just leave the faith I love, but also to even deny the existence of God.
How does a sincere question become a doubt?
I think a great deal has to do with the process used to answer the question. Are you turning to God or to Google?
Let me share an example. Over fifteen years ago, when our family moved here, we met a couple about ten years older than us. We became friends—visiting each other’s homes and getting to know one another. The husband and wife were very intellectually stimulating and conversations would last for hours as we discussed various aspects of the gospel and life in general.
Discussions about whether or not women would hold the priesthood were an especially hot topic. While I didn’t embrace all of their concerns, I shared a couple of them myself. During one visit, I was struck by the examples both of them were using—all of them were from various online blogs. This made me step back and do a quick self-evaluation. Where was I turning to for my own answers? Was I spending at least equal time with the Lord’s scriptures as I was in researching online for understanding?
When we want to know Truth, we need to seek it from the author of Truth: God.
Prayer and scripture study.
These sacred revelations were received in answer to prayer, in times of need, and came out of real-life situations involving real people.
To read more of Emlee Taylor’s Missionary Mom moments, click here.
Honestly, I still don’t have a firm, full understanding of why the Lord’s kingdom works the way that it does; however, I do now have a firm faith that it is His kingdom and is being run His way. And, for now, that’s enough for me.
How grateful I am that I can ask my questions and that God doesn’t punish those who ask questions—rather, He encourages us to ask!
Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.
Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Growing up all over the world gave Emlee Taylor an opportunity to see the incredible differences the Lord created in humanity; and even better, the passions we all share as members of the human race: love for family, faith, & a desire to make a difference.
Emlee lives life with passion—focusing her time now on raising four children and teaching them to recognize truth and to live true to that truth, regardless of others’ expectations. Emlee is passionately in love with her bestest friend and husband of more than 20 years.
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