Hello Brothers and Sisters. My name is Kiernan. I am
12 years old, and this is my first talk in sacrament meeting.
I was asked to speak about the talk from Sister Tracy Browning
at the last General Conference called, “Seeking Answers to Spiritual Questions”.
In this talk Sister Browning taught us that asking questions
to our Heavenly Father is an important part of our spiritual progression.
We believe that we can receive personal answers directly
from God. We believe that we should come to Him with our hopes, with the things
we are grateful for, as well as our doubts and our questions. In fact, the
church in this dispensation all started with the questions of a 14-year boy who
had the faith to ask God. In our faith we definitely believe in asking questions!
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught that “asking
questions isn’t a sign of weakness,” but rather “it’s a precursor of growth.”
Sometimes when we ask questions, we receive an answer right
away. A year ago, I started to read the Book of Mormon on my own. Right away I
felt a warm and comforting feeling that I should pray about whether the
scriptures were true or not. Before I even finished my prayer, I felt the very
clear, but quiet answer, “YES!” When I remember that experience the answer seemed
as if someone was talking to me in the same room. This is my example of an
answer coming strong and immediately.
But sometimes answers take a very long time. Often, we have
to wait on the Lord. Sister Browning said in her talk that there is a space in
between when we ask God our question and when we receive an answer. When we
learn to fill that space with obedience then waiting on the Lord becomes a
sacred space.
In the scriptures we can see many examples of people waiting
for answers from God. One example is Adam and Eve: After the Lord gave Adam and
Eve “commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should
offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord,” the
scriptures say that “Adam was obedient unto the commandments
of the Lord.” We go on to read that “after many days an angel of the Lord
appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And
Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.”
Sister Browning says, “Adam’s obedience preceded his
understanding and prepared him to receive the sacred
knowledge that he was participating in a sacred symbol of
the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our humble obedience will, likewise, pave the
way for our spiritual discernment of God’s ways and His divine purpose for each
of us.”
I am grateful for prayer and for my Heavenly Father and the
spiritual experiences that I have had. I am grateful that I can go to Him with
my question and that I know I can get answers. I know that some answers will
come quickly, and others will not. I know that when we wait for Him in
obedience that is how we can grow spiritually. I say these things in the name
of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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