BOOK OF MORMON: DAY 164: Engage In the Wrestle -

Today’s Reading: Alma 5:40-50

46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

In last month’s BYU Idaho devotional, Sheri Dew gave one of the most brilliant and powerful talks of the year. Trust me, it’s that good. Instead of summarizing it, I feel it best to share via a small clip of that speech in hopes that something she says will tug at you and plant a little seed of desire in you to go and hear/read the rest of it.

In this speech you’ll find how we, like Alma, can come to know for ourselves answers to the questions that we have–questions about access to God’s power, who we really are, or whatever might be rocking your faith. It will require us to engage in a wrestle at times because:

None of us are entitled to revelation without effort on our part. Answers from God don’t just magically appear. If we want to grow spiritually, the Lord expects us to ask questions and seek answers. “If thou shalt ask,” He promised, “thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge….”^[x] How much clearer can it be? The Lord loves inspired questions asked in faith because they lead to knowledge, to revelation, and to greater faith.

The Lord wants us to ask every probing question we can muster because not asking questions can be far more dangerous than asking them.

We don’t have to have answers to every question in order to receive a witness, bear witness, and stand as a witness.

But questions, especially the tough ones, propel us to engage in a spiritual wrestle so that the Lord can lead us along. Without plain old spiritual work, even God can’t make us grow-or at least, He won’t.

Ask questions. Become a seeker.