Questions

Hello everyone! It's Kaeli!
So I am starting the Book of Mormon again.  I read 11 chapters in an hour tonight, I can't believe how addictive it gets. So if anyone wants to join me, and read along, I am in chapter 11 and this is day 1 :) It will only take you an hour to catch up. Or less, I'm kind of a cross-reference fanatic, and I constantly read the footnotes and cross references and make notes, so really, it probably doesn't take that long to read 11 chapters.  Anyways, I just thought I'd share one of the things I learned from my reading tonight.

In 1 Nephi chapter three, Nephi is writing about going back for the plates with his brothers, Laman, Lemuel and Sam. Laban has the plates (the books of Moses and some genealogy) and the Lord tells Nephi's father that his sons need to go back for them. At this point they know that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed and that Laban is a wicked man, who will try to kill them when they go to get the plates. Those of us who have read the Book of Mormon are pretty familiar with this part, I'm sure. We sing songs about it in primary and we've been told the story over and over, and those of you who aren't so familiar, don't worry, we can all use the reminder, and it will be an exciting story for you!

So Laman and Lemuel smite their brothers with a rod and don't want to do what they are supposed to because they are afraid of being killed. An angel comes. Yes, an angel comes and tells them not to smite their brothers and to go get the plates.As soon as the angel leaves they begin to complain again:

 31 And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to ^amurmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?

But in chapter four, verse 1 we see Nephi's response:

 1 And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be ^afaithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not ^bmightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?

In the margins of my scriptures there are notes I wrote from seminary class in high school... 7 years ago. Next to verse 31 it reads "Question = first step to murmuring."  Murmuring is basically (the expression of) a doubtful and negative attitude, and is typically a symptom of a lack of faith. Which I think is why I wrote in the connection between questions and murmuring, I'm sure that there was a lesson about this at some point, although I don't really recall it.  but if we look closely at what we just read, I think we can find a different, and better connection for "questions" I think that questions simply demonstrate our faith, or our lack of faith.
Nephi didn't seem to be lacking faith, or murmuring, but he still asked questions. Look at the difference though. Laman and Lemuel ask "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands?" they believe that Laban's strength makes him more powerful than the Power of God and it is easy to see their doubt and feelings of defeat. But Nephi's question is filled with faith and conviction when he asks "The lord is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea or even his tens of thousands?" Showing that all things are possible through God.

So what?

Well, how often in life do we find ourselves asking the wrong questions? Everyone has questions. Lots of them. Sometimes we even have doubts, and that's okay, as long as we remember to ask the right questions. And sometimes we really, really want answers. Or sometimes we just ask them to complain, or sometimes we ask them to show our faith, like Nephi did. Sometimes we use questions to teach and sometimes we use them to learn. Whatever we do with them, questions are a powerful thing, and it's more than okay to  have them. I think we should be careful about the questions we ask, though.
I mean, just stop to think, how much more could we accomplish if we stopped asking questions like, "What should I do?" and started asking questions like "What can you help me to do, what would you like me to do, what would you like to help me do?" What would happen if we stopped asking for answers and started asking for opportunities? I mean, I still suggest that we constantly pray for guidance and direction in our lives, but there are other questions to be asked as well, and choices that we must make. There are certainly questions that we want answers to, need answers to and deserve answers to. And I believe that when we remain faithful, ALL of our questions will someday be answered, because after our trials, the Lord will not just give us what we deserve, he will give us more, because he loves us, and if we remain faithful he can give us blessings we never imagined.

My point is, don't give up. Ever. You will get your answers. Just keep asking the right kind of questions, the ones that help you to build your strength and bear your testimony.

No matter what your religious beliefs are, I hope that you know that the Lord loves you and that he wants to answer your questions, and your prayers, and if you have faith and try your best to live righteously, he will. I promise, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 -Kaeli

Remember to smile, because you are a child of God.