We have all wondered whether or not what people say is actually true. Often we just take that information for granted, without testing it ourselves. On numerous occasions in our lives, we leave the decisions of what is correct and incorrect in any situation to authority figures. While reading from the pages of the Book of Mormon, a book of Holy Scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was captivated by the story of Nephi, that as he heard his father Lehi’s witness of his vision, he wanted to know if it was true for himself, and humbly asked the Lord for confirmation. If we ask the Lord for a confirmation of the validity of something, with humility and real intent to receive the answer, I promise that you will receive an answer.
Lehi’s dream of the tree of life
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi, an ancient prophet of the Lord, has a dream depicting a “Tree of Life”. In this vision, Lehi sees symbolism for every human being’s journey through life. The rocky path, those who wish to lead us astray, and, ultimately, the sweet reward of heaven at the end. When Lehi told his family of his dream, half of his family believed him, as an authority figure, and half did not. While Nephi, Lehi’s third son, believed every word his father said he still wanted to know and see for himself the things that his father saw and heard.
When Nephi heard the things of his father and obtained a desire to know the things that his father did for himself, he planted a strong seed of intent to inquire of the Lord. Belief in something is the first step to receiving a witness that something is true. Belief leads to consistent pondering of the truthfulness of what is either seen or heard from an external source. Nephi deeply pondered the things that his father said to his family, and he went and prayed to request that the Lord give him an opportunity to see all that his father did.
What Nephi received as a response from the Lord was astonishing. Not only did he receive an exact visual confirmation of the things that his father saw, but he also saw many other things tailored to him and his desire for knowledge. The Lord knows the desires of our hearts, and wishes to give us more knowledge so that we may progress in this life, to be more prepared for the life to come. All we have to do to receive this knowledge is to ask.
Matthew 7:7 states: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you…” If we ask to know the things that our hearts deeply desire to know, and remain worthy to receive it, then the Lord will grant it unto us. We all have things in our lives that we may not know for sure are true. I challenge all to inquire of the Lord of the validity of these things, and I give a solemn witness that He will answer, and you will know for yourself the things that you wish to know.
Article written by Keegan M
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