December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

22
ASK
LET US OF GOD
BY S. MICHAEL WILCOX
It has always brought a sense of
wonder and comfort to me to realize
that the Restoration of the
gospel of Jesus Christ began with a
boy’s private prayer. Perhaps one of
the most powerful lessons the
Prophet Joseph Smith taught the
world is contained in five simple
words he spoke to his mother after
his experience in a grove of trees: “I
have learned for myself . . .” (Joseph
Smith—History 1:20). His whole life was an illustration of
the truthfulness of those five words, and we all continue
to benefit from the answers he received. I believe, however,
that this first profound experience given to him was
also meant as an assurance to all of us that we also “might
ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided” (Joseph
Smith—History 1:26).
As a teacher in the Church, I have been asked these
questions more frequently than any other: “How do I get
answers to prayers? How can I strengthen my relationship
with my Father in Heaven?” It is evident that there is a natural
hunger in the souls of God’s children to commune
privately with their Heavenly Father. All of our lives we can
be learning how to do this more effectively. I have found it
beneficial to take a close look at the First Vision.
Searching for Answers
So many of our experiences are echoes of the Prophet
Joseph Smith’s search for truth. His words may be similar
to our own: “If any person needed wisdom from God, I
did; for how to act I did not know” (Joseph Smith—
The experience of a
young boy in a grove
of trees teaches that
our Father blesses
each of us generously
as we humbly seek
Him through
personal prayer.
History 1:12). He wanted a “certain
conclusion” and was concerned about
“settling the question” (Joseph Smith—
History 1:8, 12). To whom may we turn
when we need conclusions, wisdom, or
settled questions? Perhaps the first step
in obtaining wisdom is to understand
the character of God as it is implied in
James 1:5. The key words in that scripture
are “giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not.”
When I was younger, I often read Jesus’ promise regarding
prayer: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark
11:24). I thought this meant I would get what I wanted if I
simply believed strongly enough. But there was always a
doubt in my mind, and I felt the doubt showed lack of faith.
I knew the Lord could grant my requests, but would He? I
was trying to manufacture faith in a request instead of in
the grantor of the request. While our requests of God may
be righteous, our faith must be in a being, and that being is
merciful and kind and delights in the happiness of His children.
We have the assurance that the Father we address in
prayer “giveth liberally.” But there are also times when all
we desire is not granted. Knowing the character of our
Father in Heaven, we can be assured in these cases that His
wisdom is best, and we demonstrate our continued faith in
Him by accepting His answers.
Sometimes we come close to Him at moments that are
painful. Two summers ago in a moment of inattention, my
14-year-old son got his foot caught in the blade of the lawn
mower. In a second, his toes were severed. While he lay on
PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHARLES M. BAIRD