“Introduction,” Seeking Answers to Your Questions (2022)
“Introduction,” Seeking Answers to Your Questions
Introduction
Long before Joseph Smith knelt to pray out loud for the first time, he had laid the foundation for his spiritual growth. He spent years visiting worship services, reading the Bible, participating in family prayers, speaking to religious people around him, and evaluating what he learned. He talked to his family members, several of whom were skeptical of organized religion. Joseph had to work to find answers to his questions. Ultimately, God answered Joseph’s prayer and began the Restoration of His Church. But the First Vision did not answer all Joseph’s questions. For Joseph, seeking answers was a lifelong pursuit.
Today, information about the Church and its history is more accessible than ever before. This can be a great blessing, but it isn’t always easy to know which sources are trustworthy. And some of the things we learn may raise difficult questions. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf noted that “some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they needn’t feel that way.” He taught, “Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a precursor of growth.”1
The following guiding principles offer suggestions that can help you find peace as you continue to seek answers to your questions:
Center your life on Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ knows perfectly what you are experiencing and has power to bring you peace. You can fully trust Him, even when you are struggling with other aspects of your faith. Focusing on Christ can help us place our questions in perspective.
Work to understand the past. It takes work to make sense of our questions about history. The past was very different from the present. Take time to learn about the context for historical events. Our knowledge of parts of our history can be quite limited. Remembering this can help us stay humble in our conclusions and keep us alert to the strengths and weaknesses of our sources.
Consult reliable sources. The world is full of information that we can easily access. But it can be challenging to know what information to trust. It is important to evaluate sources carefully. Seek the best sources for your specific questions. Become familiar with the resources the Church has published, and be open to the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Be patient with yourself and with others. Seeking answers to our questions often requires patience. Give yourself time to ponder and recognize that we may not find answers to some of our questions in this life. Remember that other Church members and leaders are on their own mortal journeys and just like you, they are seeking to learn. Be patient with their sincere but imperfect efforts.
Recognize that revelation is a process. God teaches us “line upon line.” Revelation to prophets and to each of us comes most often in response to sincere questions. As the challenges we face change over time, continuing revelation helps us find our way forward.