Ask Questions! God Will Answer

8 hours ago5 min read

Written by April T Giauque

Sister Tracy Y Browning General Conference Oct 2024

When I have a moment and look up into the night sky, my mind fills with the wonder of God’s creations and beauty that shines through the darkness: the stars, planets, comets, and the vastness of space. My mind thinks about our eight known planets and our small but important neighbor, Pluto. Many scientists believed that beyond that edge, the outer solar system consisted of empty black space.

Pinpoints!

Why is this little dwarf planet there? Is it to tease us to ask questions, desire more exploration, or stir up our curiosity? Sister Browning said, “However, a lingering question remained within the scientific community regarding the origin of a particular type of comet that astronomers regularly tracked. And that question persisted for decades before the discovery of another distant region of our solar system.”

As the scientists studied and researched, they were given insight into an eventual breakthrough that reconfigured our planetary zone, which resulted in Pluto being rehomed to this new region of space and our solar system consisting of eight planets.

I think, as does Sister Browning that we are left with these unknowns to push our minds to ask questions. After all, asking questions will lead you to an adventure of discovery that will change your life. If we apply this questioning and thought process to our spiritual life, the possibilities are that we not only find God, but we can form a relationship with the very creator of the universe!

Sister Browning said, “We, as children of God, undertake to seek answers to our spiritual questions. Specifically, how we can respond to the limits of our spiritual understanding and prepare ourselves for the next stage of personal growth—and where we can turn for help.” We are led to knowledge in a “pinpoint of light” at a time because one thing will lead to another.

Ask Questions

What is so interesting is that so many of our questions that start out as a natural curiosity can lead us directly back to asking about God. One powerful central point is that “God’s plan is merciful toward the limitations of our humanity; provides us with our Savior, Jesus Christ, to be our Good Shepherd; and inspires us to use our agency to choose Him.”

Sister Browning then shared from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf what he has taught: “asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness,” but rather, “it’s a precursor of growth.”

President Russell M. Nelson, has taught that we must have “a deep desire” and “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ.” He has further taught that “‘real intent’ means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.” How did we do this? By studying holy scripture and seeking for latter-day revealed truth for our day and our time, imparted by modern-day prophets and apostles.

The prophets and apostles “entreat us to spend regular, worshipful time in the house of the Lord and to take to our knees in prayer ‘to access information from heaven.’”

One fourteen-year-old boy read in the passage in James chapter 5 that asking God questions can give him answers, and our Savior assures that “your Father which is in heaven give[s] good things to them that ask him.”

Line Upon Line

The Lord’s teaching method is “line upon line, precept upon precept.” We need time to understand, stretch, and accept without being so overwhelmed that we stop. We may think we want it all right now, but really that would disrupt life. We need to take our minute-by-minute, day-by-day approach to the rhythm of life so that we can understand, and so the Lord can “stretch us” by “waiting upon the Lord” in the space between our current line of understanding and the next yet-to-be delivered.

Obedience

When we obey, God smiles. We are not dumb sheep when we obey. We are exercising faith because we don’t know the answer or have ending knowledge. Still, we have hope and take action that in that obedience, we will receive continual spiritual guidance and direction.

Sister Browning said, “Your willing obedience to God’s commands, despite not having a complete knowledge of His reasons, places you in the company of His prophets.”

Wait…I ask questions just like all of God’s children—even the prophets. YES!

Sister Browning shares about the prophet Adam and his willingnes to obey and make sacrifices even though he did not know the full understanding. “Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”

Adam’s obedience preceded his understanding and prepared him to receive the sacred knowledge.

What Sister Browning said next was powerful.

“Our humble obedience will, likewise, pave the way for our spiritual discernment of God’s ways and His divine purpose for each of us. Reaching to elevate our obedience brings us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, because obedience to His laws and commandments is effectually reaching out to Him.”

TRUST

What does it mean to trust? It means to obey willingly without knowing the end from the beginning. Sister Browning said, “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 know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the source of all truth! They share their wisdom liberally (James 5). This helps us to build trust with Them. Sister Browning spoke about an Old Testament story of Naaman. Naaman was told to wash, and he was skeptical of the Prophet Elisha’s words. How many of us are wary when the Prophet speaks to us? Why? Are we sinning, and we don’t want to change our ways?

It took trusting in a prophet whose words came from God and that he would be clean.

God, who “has all power” and “all wisdom, and all understanding,” who “comprehendeth all things” in His mercy, provides enlightenment through our belief on His name.

In obedience and trust, Naaman finally washed to wash in the river Jordan and was cleansed.

We must ask questions, then take action in trust and obedience that God will deliver because he “has all power” and “all wisdom, and all understanding,” who “comprehendeth all things” in His mercy, provides enlightenment through our belief on His name.

Testimony

Lastly, Sister Browning shared her testimony: I testify that placing your trust in Heavenly Father and in His prophets, whom He has sent, will help you to spiritually elevate and push you forward toward God’s expanded horizon. Your vantage will change because you will change. God knows that the higher you are, the farther you can see. Our Savior invites you to make that climb. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.