I’ve had multiple personal experiences with asking and receiving, many of which are too sacred to share in this venue. What a magnificent thing it is to know that the Master of the Universe is abundantly generous for those who ask appropriately! We can also follow Alma’s counsel to the people of Gideon and ask for “ whatsoever things stand in need, both spiritual and temporal.” We can confidently follow Amulek’s counsel to the Zoramites in which he encouraged them to ask for mercy, blessings on their families, homes and households, protection from their enemies-especially Satan, blessings on their fields (gardens) and animals, and blessings for the welfare of their own souls and the souls of those around them. When we are keeping the Lord’s commandments and seeking the Holy Ghost’s guidance to know what to ask for in prayer, we can approach the throne of God with confidence, knowing that He will hear and answer our prayers according to our faith. To have the Holy Ghost, we must be, as Nephi taught, “ keeping commandments” with all diligence. In other words, the Holy Ghost can help us know which things “are expedient” for us. “Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.” This begs the question, however, “How do we know what the ‘right things’ are?” The Savior taught the following to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Witmer, as recorded in D&C 18:18: In other words, they need to be things that Heavenly Father, in His wisdom, knows are the best things for us or for others for whom we may be praying. But the things we ask for have to be the “right” things. We can ask Heavenly Father, in Christ’s name, for many things and exercise faith, and they will be given to us. This verse gives us the key to receiving what we ask for. “And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” The Lord gave the Nephites greater insight when He taught them the same principle. However, taken by itself, it could lead us to believe that if we have enough faith, the Lord will give us anything we ask for, which we know is not the case. That marvelous promise sounds wonderful and gives our hearts hope. The Savior taught His disciples in Jerusalem, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” ( Matthew 21:22). Once we’ve expressed gratitude for all our blessings, the question then is “What do we ask for?” The answer to this question is given multiple times in the scriptures. It also strengthens my faith in Him and reminds me of His boundless love for me and His eternal desire to bless and lift me in my life. Doing so makes it easy to “ confess His hand in all things” and come before Him in greater humility. I’ve found it helpful in my own life, before I ask Heavenly Father for anything, to “ count many blessings” I’ve received because of His tender mercies. Prior to discussing what we should ask God for in our prayers, it is important to note the need for expressing gratitude before asking for the things we desire. You can find my articles addressing the first and second questions here and here. What does it mean to knock and how do we go about it?.Where and how do we diligently seek Him?.This article addresses the answer to the third question in the following list:
JESUS SAID ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE SERIES
This is the third in a series of four articles. “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you seek me diligently and ye shall find me ask, and ye shall receive knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63).
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