Seminary
James 1

James 1

“Ask of God”

A young woman prays by her bedside.

Do you feel that you can ask God for help when you have unanswered questions or need His wisdom in making important decisions? James declared that anyone who lacks wisdom can “ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally … and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). This lesson is intended to strengthen your testimony that Heavenly Father will give you wisdom in answer to your prayers.

Teaching the scriptures and the words of prophets with conviction and purpose. “Your chief interest, your essential and all but sole duty, is to teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as that has been revealed in these latter days. You are to teach this gospel, using as your sources and authorities the standard works of the Church and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last days” (J. Reuben Clark Jr., The Charted Course of the Church in Education, rev. ed. [1994; address to Church Educational System religious educators, Aug. 8, 1938], 10, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Student preparation: Invite students to read James 1:5–6 and to think about areas in their lives in which they need wisdom or direction from God.

Possible Learning Activities

Important answers

Consider displaying the following options and questions. Allow students time to silently ponder their answers before moving on.

Look at each of the following questions and ponder these things for each one: (1) Have I received an answer from God? (2) Am I seeking for an answer from God that I have not yet received? (3) Am I not yet interested in seeking an answer?

  • Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the true Church?

  • Is Jesus Christ really my Savior?

  • What should I focus on to be a better follower of Jesus Christ?

Consider asking students to share some of the other significant questions that they and those around them may be seeking answers to.

As you study the words of the Apostle James in James 1, look for principles that can help you find answers to the significant questions in your life.

Share some background on James as well as context for his epistle. Some of the following information may be helpful. Alternatively, students could be invited to share what they may know about James and his epistle.

Read the following information about James. Think about what questions he may have sought answers to throughout his life.

  1. He was likely the half-brother of Jesus Christ (see Guide to the Scriptures, “James, Brother of the Lord,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

  2. Like the Lord’s other half-brothers, he may not have initially believed that Jesus was the Christ (see John 7:3–5).

  3. He eventually became an Apostle and, according to early Christian writers, the first bishop of the Church in Jerusalem (see Acts 12:16–17; 21:17–18; Galatians 1:18–19; 2:9).

Read James 1:1 to identify who James was writing to.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that “James addressed … people yet to be gathered, yet to receive the gospel, yet to come into the fold of Christ” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary [1973], 3:243).

  • What are some questions that people who have not yet received the gospel might have?

Read James 1:5–6, looking for truths James taught that can help us when we have important questions and can help those who are seeking gospel truths. (It may be helpful to know that upbraideth means to find fault with or to scold.)

Doctrinal Mastery icon (blue). Image is of an open book. James 1:5–6 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily.

  • What did you find?

    Listen carefully to students’ answers. It may be useful to ask students why what they found is important and how they feel about it. If they do not share something similar to the principle below, ask the following question:

  • What do you learn about Heavenly Father from this passage?

    Consider writing students’ answers on the board.

One truth found in this passage is that God will bless us with wisdom if we ask Him in faith.

  • What do you think it means to “ask in faith, nothing wavering”? (James 1:6).

  • Why do you think Heavenly Father wants you to turn to Him for answers?

As you continue your study, think about the thoughts, feelings, and experiences you have had when you have sought wisdom, or answers to your questions, from God.

Before starting the next part of the lesson, it may be helpful to know that in the upcoming lesson “Doctrinal Mastery: James 1:5–6,” students will be invited to study Joseph Smith—History 1:8–17.

Joseph Smith’s example

Joseph Smith, Jr. depicted kneeling in the Sacred Grove during the First Vision. A ray of light can be seen coming from the sky down through the trees toward Joseph.

It can be helpful to ponder an example of the principle that God will bless us with wisdom if we ask Him in faith. Seeking wisdom from God had a profound effect on Joseph Smith.

Watch the video “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration” from time code 5:07 to 8:42, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, looking for how this truth impacted Joseph’s life.

62:4

  • What particularly touched you from Joseph Smith’s experience?

  • How did God’s answer, which came in the First Vision, affect Joseph’s life? How has it affected the world? How has it affected you?

Your experience

Give students time to complete the following in their study journal:

Write the thoughts, feelings, and experiences you have had while seeking wisdom from God. Consider including some of the following:

  • Your thoughts and feelings about God’s willingness to answer your questions (see James 1:5–6).

  • Your thoughts and feelings about Joseph Smith’s experience with asking God for wisdom.

  • Experiences you have had or are now having with seeking wisdom from God and receiving answers. (These experiences could involve seeking answers to the questions at the beginning of the lesson.)

  • Ways you would like to seek wisdom from God now or in the future.

  • Impressions you have received from the Holy Ghost during this lesson that may help you.

Invite several students to share their thoughts. Strive to be open and listen to what they would like to share. Thank them for their answers. The following are some possible follow-up questions:

  • What difference have these thoughts, feelings, or experiences made in your life?

  • Could someone else in the class share a similar experience?

If students have questions about seeking wisdom from God, they can remember those questions for the next lesson, “Doctrinal Mastery: James 1:5–6,” which considers how the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge may help with seeking wisdom.

To help prepare students for the following invitation, consider showing the video “Origin” (4:57) as suggested in the “Commentary and Background Information” section.

Think about your personal habits of praying and asking for wisdom and answers from God. When was the last time you asked your Heavenly Father for wisdom or for answers to your questions? What can you do today to begin asking more sincerely and more frequently? Record in your journal what you feel Heavenly Father would like you to do because of what you have studied today.

It may help students to know that in a future lesson (“Assess Your Learning 11”), students will have an opportunity to reflect back on what they decided to do because of this lesson on James 1.

Testify of God’s love for each student and His desire to bless each one with wisdom. Testify that their lives will be blessed by seeking wisdom from Him.

Commentary and Background Information

Why is it important to receive wisdom from God and gain my own testimony from Him?

Think about the preceding question as you watch the video “Origin” (4:57), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

4:57

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

Official portrait of President Russell M. Nelson taken January 2018

Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! …

You don’t have to wonder about what is true [see Moroni 10:5]. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true. …

We are followers of Jesus Christ. The most important truth the Holy Ghost will ever witness to you is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He lives!

(Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95–96)

James 1:6. What does it mean to “ask in faith”?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles referred to James 1:5–6 and explained:

Elder David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles official portrait. 2020.

Notice the requirement to ask in faith, which I understand to mean the necessity to not only express but to do, the dual obligation to both plead and to perform, the requirement to communicate and to act. …

Joseph’s questions focused not just on what he needed to know but also on what was to be done! His prayer was not simply, “Which church is right?” His question was, “Which church should I join?” Joseph went to the grove to ask in faith, and he was determined to act.

True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous action. … We press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of prayer, after we say “amen,” by acting upon the things we have expressed to Heavenly Father.

Asking in faith requires honesty, effort, commitment, and persistence.

(David A. Bednar, “Ask in Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 94–95)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Testimonies of parents

To strengthen students’ testimonies of prayer, consider asking some of their parents or Church leaders a day or two before class to write down experiences they have had with receiving wisdom from God in answer to prayer. Read each account to the class. In some cases, it may be beneficial to give a copy of the account to the students if it is their parent or Church leader.

Prophetic counsel about seeking wisdom from God

If it would be useful for students to study additional prophetic counsel about seeking wisdom from God, invite them to take a few minutes to search available resources. They might search for terms like “Prayer,” “Revelation,” or “Testimony” in the Guide to the Scriptures, Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, or Gospel Library App. The following are some doctrinal mastery passages they might choose as part of their study: Proverbs 3:5–6; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 2 Nephi 28:30; Mosiah 4:9; Moroni 10:4–5; Doctrine and Covenants 1:37–38; 8:2–3.

Resisting temptation

The following idea could be useful for a future lesson:

Consider inviting students to list on the board common temptations that youth face.

Invite students to read James 1:12–16 to find truths James taught about temptation. It may be helpful to point out that the Joseph Smith Translation of James 1:12 changes “endureth temptation” to “resisteth temptation” (see James 1:12, footnote b).

Consider asking questions such as the following:

  • Why is it important to know that God is never the source of temptation?

  • What has helped you resist temptation?

  • How can we turn to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to help us overcome our temptations?