Let Him Ask of God

Google, just about anyone who has used the Internet has used Google. Whenever I needed information, I would google it; almost instantly, thousands of pages appear each with their relative relevance to my actual search. With such an easy way to get information, Google has become a vital part in the life of many.


Google is extremely helpful, but it links us to websites written by humans. They have biases, incorrect information and ultimately google doesn't have the answers to everything; it is limited to what we as humans understand. Despite our lack, we can turn to God for answers, because all truths emanate from him. The scriptures teach:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6

God wants us to gain wisdom, and, to help us, He will give us the wisdom or knowledge we need if we ask in faith, not only that, but he will give it and not withhold what we need to know. For many, faith is a belief, but it is more, it requires us to put forth action. When talking to Oliver Cowdery, God told him, he had to "study it out in his mind; then you must ask me if it be right." (Doctrine and Covenants 9:8) God wants to learn for ourselves, though He will answer our questions, we need to be seeking the answers through our own study before He will give them, just as a parent will ask one of their children to try for themselves before offering help.

Within this scripture is another promise, that God will not upbraid, which in today's language means he will not scold us for asking a question. Life is about gaining intelligence, why would God punish our humble inquiries as we seek understanding from Him, the source of all truths? Throughout the scriptures the promise is given "ask and ye shall receive" (3 Nephi 27:29 see Matthew 21:22 for a similar promise).

This scripture has led to one of the greatest miracles of modern history. In the year 1820, a young boy, by the name of Joseph Smith Junior, was seeking to know which church was the church of God. The more he searched, the more confused he became, until he read James 1:5, and in his own words:

Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture. Joseph Smith History 1:12-13 see the verses following for the answer to the prayer.

 Because of a humble boy following the counsel of the scriptures, the true church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. Just as Joseph Smith asked of God, we too can ask and learn for ourselves that God's church has been restored. Not only that but we know that God will answer the pray of anyone and knows each one of us by name, we just need to ask in faith, believing we will receive. God loves each one of us, and because so, He does not want us to remain in darkness and confusion, He wants each of us to have the light of truth shining in each of our lives. God will give us answers to our prayers as we are ready to receive them.