"Have ye inquired of the Lord?"

To advance spirituality and temporally we need to inquire of the Lord. Pray! There is a great example of how we need to inquire of the Lord in The Book of Mormon. (1 Nephi 15)  Nephi's brothers were gathered around talking with one another about their fathers vision. Nephi's older brother's didn't understand what their father had taught them concerning the gathering of Israel. Nephi walks up to them while their talking and says, "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" (see 1 Nephi 15:7) In order for Nephi's brothers to progress in understanding they needed to ask God in prayer. "knock and it shall be opened unto you." (see 3 Nephi 14:7) Prayer opens that door for revelation (see link for understanding revelation). When we receive revelation we can better understand our question to God. No matter what question we have we need to inquire to someone who knows more then us. I have an experience when I inquired to my boxing coach, who had more knowledge then me, for an answer to my question.

There was a time in my life when I was focused on improving my skills as a boxer. I would constantly push myself to improve by training and sparring with boxers who were better and more experienced then me. I remember a specific sparring session that helped me improve dramatically. I was sparring with a southpaw. A southpaw is a boxing term that designates the stance where the boxer has his right hand and right foot forward, leading with right jabs, and following with a left cross. It was my first time fighting up against a southpaw so I was not use to reacting to the acquired punches he threw. My opponent was punching me with a left cross. This punch I caught with my face. I didn't see the punch coming and it landed on my nose and knocked me backwards onto my back. With my stubbornness and competitive nature I would quickly get back up on my feet and continue fighting. And again he would hit me with the same punch landing me on my back. This continued three times in a row. My face was looking beat up with black and blue bruises surfacing on my cheek. After the third time I realized I could not beat him without some further guidance and instruction from my trainer. I inquired of my trainer. He gave me some coaching on how to counter my attacker. I returned to the sparring session with confidence and hope knowing I had a plan of attack. My opponent sticking with what was working threw the same left cross. I duct under the punch and countered with a punch of my own. My punch landed right on the side of his ear causing him to fall to the canvas. 
           

Nephi prays for guidance.
(see 1 Nephi 16:23  )

In my experience, I inquired of someone who knew more then me to help me improve in my boxing technique. Its a basic principal that if we ask someone who knows more then us we will learn from them. "O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it." (see 2 Nephi 9:20) God knows and understands everything. Imagine how much we can learn if we continually ask God for understanding. God can help us through anything. All we need to do is "knock". We all go through trials in life and God can help us but its our job to ask. Satan has "left crosses" that he throws at us causing us pain and affliction. We may have limitations like an illness that limits us from doing normal activities, the loss of a loved one, the burden of sin or any other trial we're going through. Sometimes we are in the mitts of a trial and don't have answers or understanding on how to over come it. There is always hope. If we ask God in humble prayer with all the sincerity and energy of our heart the Holy Ghost can provide coaching and guidance during our trials. Giving us strength to help us endure and answers to help us over come. With the Holy Ghost as our coach we can learn how to counter our opponent.

How do I recognize answers to my prayers? (see link below)

The Voice of the Lord
By: President Henery B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency

Thank you for Reading,

Elder Guzik

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