Asking the Hard Questions

When we read upon the words of Christ, we can know for ourselves what the Lord wants us to do. When we study the scriptures and their experiences, we can learn to liken them to our own situations of today. The General Conference talks are modern-day revelation to us as Latter-Day Saints in helping with the problems we have now.

Today I read out of a October 2015 General Conference talk What Lack I Yet? by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. This talk is full of nuggets of knowledge!

Our purpose here on earth is to learn and improve until we are perfected in Christ. He said our "journey in discipleship" is "a course of steady improvement." If we are to improve ourselves, we need to know what it is we need to improve. Sometimes we can unaware of these things. So we then need to ask. Elder Lawrence says we need to be humble and teachable as we ask questions like--

What do I need to change?
How can I improve?
What weakness needs strengthening?
What lack I yet?
What is keeping me from progressing?
What is keeping me from being the right man/woman?
How can I feel at peace with all that I need to do?
What can I do to improve my life?

If we are going to be humble enough to ASK these questions, then we need to be teachable enough to ACT upon those promptings. "We must be willing to act when we receive an answer."

The Holy Ghost really does give customized counsel. He is a completely honest companion and will tell us things that no one else knows has the courage to say. 

A perfect time to ask, "What lack I yet?" is when we take the sacrament.

In this reverent atmosphere, as our thoughts are turned heavenward, the Lord can gently tell us what we need to work on next.  

His suggestion is a challenge. He wants us to try his spiritual exercise that he gave examples of and ask the Lord one of the questions above and then listen for an answer. He says that we can gain personal revelation meant just for you if you do this with a sincere heart.

Is your heart pounding yet? Are you willing to ask the hard questions? Are you wanting to change and progress? If so, accept the challenge and exercise your right to gain further light and knowledge for yourself. It is just like when we learn in the scriptures of line upon line, precept upon precept. We can learn more about ourselves and how to improve in the same way. One step at a time. It is a marathon, not a sprint. We can focus on one thing at a time and that is okay! Will it be easy? Perhaps not. Although it will be worth it.