Excuse Me, I Have A Question

Nephi was obedient, Laman and Lemuel were unhappily obedient. That's usually the conclusion we get to at the end of Nephi and his brothers' trips back and forth to Jerusalem and across the ocean. (If you don't know who those people are, or what story I'm talking about, click here.) Moral of the story? It's not enough to just obey, we have to happily obey. 


That's a good conclusion, and it's true. Nephi was happy to do what he was asked (side-plug for Sam, he was pretty great too), while his two oldest brothers whined. So we know what they did--I would like to delve a little bit into the "why" of this story. Knowing the "why" behind the two patterns of behavior will also define the "why" of our patterns of behavior. The difference is not just in Laman and Lemuel's unwilling hearts or Nephi's mind-boggling positivity. I think it all comes down to how they chose to react to questions. 

As we can see in 1 Nephi 2:11-16 when Lehi had just taken his family out of Jerusalem, L&L (Laman and Lemuel... they might as well be the same person) react with whining. Why??? Why do they whine?? It's because they "knew not the dealings of God." Why??? Why didn't they know his dealings? Well, because they didn't ask. They didn't have the faith to ask. They let their questions turn to questioning, and their questioning into doubt. All they had to do was ask. All we have to do is ask. It's like the verses in 1 Nephi 15:7-8 when L&L are once again whining, and Nephi asks, “have ye inquired of the Lord?” No, of course they hadn't. Did they ever? They even say so themselves, "The Lord maketh no such thing known unto us." I wonder why!

It's ok to have questions. Questions are good, it's how we learn. (See this amazing talk, "Come, Join with Us," by President Uchtdorf or this amazing talk, "Lord, I Believe," by Elder Holland). But we must "fan our faith" and "doubt our doubts." (See both talks for those quotes). Having faith is our quest, and questions will lead us to have more faith. 

If you're stuck in the middle of doubts, ok. Take a look at them, turn them into positive, hopeful, faithful questions, and soldier on. "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you" (1 Nephi 15:11). There's your formula: have FAITH, believe, and be obedient. I promise you that the Lord makes things known to us in our obedience. 

It makes me really sad when I know people who have doubts, and that somehow makes them feel that they should stop "[experimenting upon the] word" (Alma 32:27). They stop doing the very things that help faith grow. Is it enough to "just" be obedient? No. You have to do it with purpose. You have to do it with a searching heart, a growing, learning heart.

A reprise of our beloved "go and do" scripture (1 Nephi 3:7) is found in 1 Nephi 17:3, "And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them." He will help you if you're willing to help yourself by having the faith to hold on and keep trying. He will help you understand. 

Instead of searching out more doubt, like finding all the reasons to be miserable, allow spiritual teaching and healing to occur. It's so easy to blame, e.g. "we might have been happy," (um... you still can be) "our father hath judged them" (1 Nephi 17:21-22, italics added). "Judged" is becoming a dangerously misinterpreted word; if we do not judge, we will not choose. We have to make judgement calls and "judge righteously" all the time (See John 7:24). Blaming others and sowing regrets is a fool-proof formula to plant doubts; Elder Oaks addressed the topic beautifully in "Judge Not" and Judging.

Look at how Nephi reacts: In that same chapter 2 situation, Nephi also has a question. He doesn't get everything that his father is saying or asking either. So what does he do? Imagine! He asks! He recognizes his honest questions, and turns to the true source for answers. He has faith that someone will answer him instead of doubting that anyone is even there. That's why Nephi said to his brothers (L&L, once again, we still love Sam too), "Wherefore can ye doubt?" (1 Nephi 4:3). 

Let me recap. Questions are good. Have them, ask them. I realize that answers may be a long time coming. But many times not! I promise you, that the Lord has prepared a way for us to be healed from everything (1 Nephi 17:41) if we will but look to Him. The best part? Even if we have to wait to understand "the mysteries of God" sometimes, through our patience and obedience the Holy Spirit can still bless us with "a great calm" (1 Nephi 18:21) while we wait. So keep searching, keep looking, keep asking, keep smiling, keep believing, keep obeying, and keep loving.

Remember, “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power” (President Ezra Taft Benson). I'm willing to bet that part of that "endowment" or "gift" will be understanding and wisdom.

--------------

Note: I didn't hyperlink the scripture references, so hopefully that will be cause for some personal scripture searching by not having them "a click away." All other resources are included in parentheses next to the citation.