Praying to know knowledge

There are 3 examples from the scriptures that I want to talk about that prayed to know knowledge.

Lehi

Nephi

Joseph Smith

These 3 men knew the source of all truth.  Lehi, was a prophet who desired to know the will of God.  He was instructed to leave Jerusalem and go to the "promise land."  He was very close to the Lord and asked in prayer which way to lead his family.  What to do when they got to the Americas.  His prayers and obedience allowed him to see a vision called the "tree of life" vision.  This vision he saw different people in life, some trying to be obedient and others not so much.  But it gives us great knowledge to learn from.  Lehi seeing this vision led Nephi, his son, to pray and to ask God to see the vision and the interpretation of the vision.  He had 3 qualities that allowed him to receive an answer to his prayer. 

1 Nephi 11:1

"For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord..."

When we have desire to know specific knowledge, faith that God will give it to us, and ponder it out in our minds, GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS.  The answer most likely won't be a vision, but will come in the form of peace, joy or happiness with the decision.  Your mind can become enlightened on a subject you are struggling to understand.  If the answer is not necessary for you right now, he grants peace and patience until the time is right. 

Joseph Smith is another example of this.  He had desire.  He wanted to know what church to join.  He wanted to be obedient and follow God with exactness.  He had Faith. He knew that after he read James 1:5 that "if any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God."  Joseph Smith knew if he followed this scripture, that God would answer him.  Then he pondered it.  I use to think that Joseph Smith woke up one morning, debated which church to go to.  Read the scriptures and BAM- James 1:5 was read.  And the rest was history.  That is far from the truth.  Joseph Smith debated this out in his mind.  He records in the Joseph Smith History 1:8 "I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit."  1:13 "At LENGTH I came to the conclusion..."  This was not an overnight decision.  Joseph allowed it to stew in his mind.  he pondered it and wanted to learn truth and asked in faith, knowing that God would answer his prayer.

Sometimes our questions are answered the day of.  Sometimes we are allowed more time to ponder and pray about a question so that when we are prepared most, we will receive the answer.  Some times answers take time and effort to show God our faith, patience, and dedication to know the answer.  Think of how much more you appreciate anything you get if you worked for it versus when you just receive it.  Our appreciation grows.  We cherish the answer or gift we receive. 

I know that God will answer our prayers.  If he doesn't answer with the answer we want, he has something better in store for us!

Favorite memories from Middletown

I wanted to share some fun moments that I have had here in Lake County.  As well as share some things that I have learned over the last 6 weeks!

First off, I was officially welcomed into Lake County!!  Here we go!

We went to Bro. van der Boon's home and he plays accordion.  If any of you are wondering, it's a lot harder than it looks!  D&C 60:13 "...Neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known."

I got a new bed!!!!  It is a small thing, but made a huge impact on my rest!  

1 Nephi 16:29 "...And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."

Sometimes you don't know what to expect.  We found a frog on the toilet seat in our church!!!  "The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed with compassion on perishing souls.  We feel we want to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our backs."  Joseph Smith

There were many, many funny signs found throughout our area, but this one is pretty funny.  We didn't realize until later that it is a code message from Hank to Don...  

Alma 32:21 "And not as I said concerning faith- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

 Christmas was a lot of fun here.  A member of our ward gave us a 7 ft tree to decorate to have the Christmas spirit in our apartment.
Luke 2:10-11 " And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

 This is Clearlake, the largest lake in California!!            This is Hidden Valley Lake and the
                                                                         view of the valley.

  Alma 30:44 "...And all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

We decorated a gingerbread house with 2 of the girls from our ward.  We had a blast!!!!

3 Nephi 14:24-25 "Therfore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock- And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock."

We opened presents, and discovered Silly string in our stockings.  We decided to have a little fun with it and decorated the Elders Christmas Eve.

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind."

 We got the chance to go to the Oakland, California temple together!
                                        Psalms 122:1 "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."

I found my MAN!!! haha, just kiddin'! 

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, 

and shall cleave unto his wife [companion]: and they shall be one flesh."

We may have gotten turned around a few times here and there...

Matthew 10:39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Our district is the best!!!  The elders even made us pancakes for our last district meeting!  YUMMY

Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

We celebrated New Year's Eve with a member and roasted hot dogs and s'mores!!  

3 Nephi 12:47-48 "Old things are done away, and all things have become new.  Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

We went to this County jail in Lower lake... It was the first jail in Lower lake.  By reading the bottom sign, the  first inmates and escapees were the men that built it!  Yes! 

Jacob 6:12 "O be wise; what can I say more?"

We were on Cobb mountain and it was so pretty with the fog.            And of course the beautiful mountains.  It is very pretty up here!

And in all, I learn everyday that "He that loveth not knoweth not God; GOD IS LOVE.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son... If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."  1 John 4: 8,10-11