One of the marks of Jewish society and teaching was an ability to ask the right question, so that questions were as much a mark of enlightenment as they were a step and progress relating to spiritual growth.
However, we need to not make the mistake of you young rich man who asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, and then "how readest thou" was the response, which he answered that he read all the scriptures and knew and kept the commandments, and then was told "This do, and thou shalt live."
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| Jesus Teaching as a Young Boy in the Temple |
The Jews today still maintain this tradition of learning and questioning today.
There isn't a soul alive who hasn't asked heaven a question if they've been alive long enough. At some point we all have questions, and we will all say prayers. But, as most of us have found the heavens may be quiet silent on about any topic we might ask - from "What is the meaning of life" to "Please help me pass this test." It seems much of humanity stops at this point when no outpouring of wisdom is showered down with the resultant conclusion is that there is no God, or he doesn't answer questions.
I have learned that heaven progresses on "Line upon line, precept on precept."
Meaning, most of us aren't ready for what heaven has to show us, and the nature and laws of God regarding our progression and purpose are such that they can't show us, until we are ready.
So what's the catch?
As we learn in Doctrine and Covenants 9, when attempting to exercise the gift of seership, Oliver Cowdery was taught: 7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
The Lord further instructed him: 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right...
The Lord did not say he would not give him, but the works of God - His mysteries and truths - aren't just to be for the asking, they carry weight, responsibility, require insight and effort because as was noted in the Garden of Eden, such wisdom and knowledge had an eternal effect: 22 ¶ And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil (Genesis 3).
The requirement is: You must ask the right question. It does not good to ask questions about calculus when we haven't even understood algebra.
Now, we need not lose hope when we do not feel we know the right answer, because we can also ask for that as well just as James 1:5 teaches us, that if you lack wisdom, ask of God.
We can even ask what question to ask so that we might ask and enlightened, purposeful question.
But we also have to learn to listen. The Lord starts us off with a beginner concept of a type of 20 questions, where you ask a yes/no type question and the Lord will let you know if it is right.
However, asking the question and getting an answer alone is not enough.
We are required to live the knowledge gained: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine (John 7:16).
We cannot simply ask God a question and consume the answer upon our lusts, knowledge and wisdom are precious gifts from heaven, we have to demonstrate our gratitude for those things by living them when receiving them, and seeking to become like God - not using him to simply navigate our way through a bunch of problems we cause ourselves and others while regarding the Lord's truths for personal gain and convenience. They are given to help us become like Them.
So the key is not only asking the right question, but for the right purpose. And when you have honed your spiritual abilities to where you can not only ask but also recognize, receive, and apply it, then, you can become as the young boy Jesus and progress back to Heavenly Father coming to know what they do.
