Importance of Questioning in Seeking Answers

Finding Finding Answers to Answers to Questions Questions

What percentage of Israelites were bitten? Where do you look when you are getting bitten? Social media? Friends? Family? Google? NOTE: Everyone who looked around died. Those that looked up, lived.

Ive always had an inquiring mind. Im not satisfied just to accept things. I like to follow through and study things out. I learned early to put aside those gospel questions that I couldn t answer. I had a shelf of things I didn t understand, but as I ve grown older and studied and prayed and thought about each problem, one by one I ve been able to better understand them. (Sister Camilla Kimball)

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

Keep The Doctrine Pure Questions to Ask: 1.What do the scriptures teach? 2.Are my sources credible? Are multiple General Authorities teaching the doctrine in the same way? 3.How does the question fit into the Plan of Salvation? 4.Does my view differ from God s view? 5.Am I willing to surrender my view (if it contradicts with God s view)? 6.Is my approach to finding my answer dignified & reverent? (tone)

1. Whats the difference between questioning and asking questions? 2. What s the difference between questions and doubts? 3. What s the difference between a Diet of Doubt and a Feast of Faith? 4. What if my answer doesn t come? 5. How is the process of seeking spiritual truth different than seeking educational truth? 6. What role will my attitude and motive make when seeking answers? 7. What blessings have come because someone asked a question?

What is the churchs stance on homosexuality?

Questions Regarding Same-Sex Marriage 1. What do the scriptures teach? 2. Are my non-scriptural sources credible? Are multiple General Authorities teaching the doctrine in the same way? 3. How does the matter/issue fit into the context of the Plan of Salvation? 4. Does my view differ from God s view? 5. Am I willing to surrender my view if it contradict with God s view? 6. Is my approach to finding my answer dignified & reverent? (tone) 1. What scriptures teach that gay marriage is ordained of God? What have church leader s taught? How does same-sex marriage affect the Plan of Salvation? How do you define marriage? How does The Lord define marriage? If God were to reveal the truth about marriage to me through the Holy Ghost, would I be willing to change my opinion? Does the doctrine/purpose of marriage point to something more than emotional and sexual fulfillment? 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

What is the churchs stance on homosexuality? sensitive issue which requires kindness, compassion, and understanding and we distinguish between same-sex attraction and behavior. The Church s doctrinal position is clear: Sexual activity should only occur between a man and a woman who are married. (www.lds.org/topics) The Church acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a

What is the churchs stance on homosexuality? As a church, nobody should be more loving and compassionate. Let us be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion and outreach. Let s not have families exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender. (Elder Cook, quoted on Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction, mormonsandgays.org)

Why cant children living with gay parents get baptized until age 18? Elder Christofferson: "This policy originates out of compassion. When church ordinances like blessings and baptisms occur, it triggers other church actions, like visiting and home teaching, church attendance, and participation in Primary. We don't want there to be the conflicts in the home. We don't want the child to have to deal with issues that might arise where the parents feel one way and the expectations of the church are very different. If, when that child reaches majority years, and s/he feels like that's what they want, and they can make an informed and conscious decision and may choose to receive ordinances. Nothing is lost to them in the end. In the meantime, they're not placed in a position where there will be difficulties, challenges, conflicts that can injure their development in their tender years.

SEEK Interesting Important Questions The Questions Mysteries TRUTH Asking questions is essential for learning, but your approach to how and why you ask and what you hope to gain from the answers will determine where you ultimately will be lead. Essential Questions Great Resources PARENTS & PRIESTHOOD LEADERS LDS.ORG/SCRIPTURES LDS.ORG/TOPICS LDS.ORG/MANUAL/HANDBOOK YOUTH.LDS.ORG HISTORY.LDS.ORG MORMONNEWSROOM.OR G MORMON.ORG/CHAT

achievements of the last century (the General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics) are in some points in conflict with each other? They cannot both be right in every detail. Yet scientists rely on both of these theories every day to advance scientific knowledge, knowing that someday the differences will be understood, reconciled, and corrected. Like the scientist who uses relativity and quantum mechanics, we do not discard the gospel or our testimony because not every piece fits today. Did you know that the two greatest intellectual

wall? He will sometimes pick up a rock that just does not fit anywhere in the niches in the wall. But does he abandon the wall and walk away? No, he simply sets the rock aside and keeps building until a niche appears where it fits and then proceeds until the wall is finished. So perhaps should we temporarily set aside questions that we continue to struggle with and that we cannot quite seem to answer today, having faith that at sometime in the future a niche will appear in the rock wall of our testimony where they fit perfectly. Don t abandon the rock wall of your testimony because one or two rocks don t seem to fit. (Elder Richard G Hinckley, 15 May 2007 BYU Devotional) Have you ever watched a stonemason build a rock

Why cant women hold the priesthood? What s the process to find answers to this question?

Questions Regarding Women and Priesthood 1.What do the scriptures teach? 2.Are my non-scriptural sources credible? 3.How does the matter/issue fit into the context of the Plan of Salvation? 4.Does my view differ from God s view? 5.Am I willing to surrender my view if it contradict with God s view? 6.Is my approach to finding my answer dignified & reverent? (tone)

Interesting Important Question? Question? Mystery? Essential Question? The Sources Why can t women hold the priesthood? The Sources The Sources PRAYER & SCRIPTURE STUDY Great Resources PARENTS & PRIESTHOOD LEADERS LDS.ORG/SCRIPTURES LDS.ORG/TOPICS LDS.ORG/MANUAL/HANDBOOK YOUTH.LDS.ORG HISTORY.LDS.ORG MORMONNEWSROOM.OR G MORMON.ORG/CHAT

Why cant women hold the priesthood? Women do not hold the priesthood because the Lord has put it that way. It is part of His program. Women have a very prominent place in this Church. Men hold the priesthood offices of the Church. But women have a tremendous place in this Church. They have their own organization. They have their own offices, their own presidency, their own board. That reaches down to the smallest unit of the Church everywhere in the world... The men hold the priesthood, yes. But my wife is my companion. In this Church the man neither walks ahead of his wife nor behind his wife but at her side. They are co-equals in this life in a great enterprise. (Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1996 General Conference)

Why cant women hold the priesthood? By divine design, fathers are to watch over and teach their families in love and righteousness. They are to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers should help one another as equal partners (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, 2001) Back

Why did the Church practice polygamy?

Interesting Important Question? Question? Mystery? Essential Question? The Sources Why did the Church practice polygamy? The Sources The Sources PRAYER & SCRIPTURE STUDY Great Resources PARENTS & PRIESTHOOD LEADERS LDS.ORG/SCRIPTURES LDS.ORG/TOPICS LDS.ORG/MANUAL/HANDBOOK YOUTH.LDS.ORG HISTORY.LDS.ORG MORMONNEWSROOM.OR G MORMON.ORG/CHAT

Questions Regarding Polygamy 1.What do the scriptures teach? 2.Are my non-scriptural sources credible? Are multiple General Authorities teaching the doctrine in the same way? 3.How does the matter/issue fit into the context of the Plan of Salvation? 4.Does my view differ from God s view? 5.Am I willing to surrender my view if it contradict with God s view? 6.Is my approach to finding my answer dignified & reverent? (tone)

Why did the Church practice polygamy? command it: to increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant in order to raise up seed unto [the Lord] (Jacob 2:30). Marriage became available to virtually all who desired it; economically disadvantaged women married into more financially stable households. Although some leaders had large polygamous families, two-thirds of polygamist men had only two wives at a time. They believed it was a commandment of God at that time and that obedience would bring great blessings to them and their posterity. While there was much love, tenderness, and affection within many plural marriages, the practice was generally based more on religious belief than on romantic love. Not all were expected to live it (www.mormon.org). The Book of Mormon identifies one reason for God to

Why did the Church practice polygamy? through His prophets, has directed the practice of plural marriage (sometimes called polygamy), which means one man having more than one living wife at the same time. In obedience to direction from God, Latter-day Saints followed this practice for about 50 years during the 1800s but officially ceased the practice of such marriages after the Manifesto was issued by President Woodruff in 1890. Since that time, plural marriage has not been approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any member adopting this practice is subject to losing his or her membership in the Church. (Church Handbook of Instructions) At certain times and for His specific purposes, God, Back

Is the Church racist?

Interesting Important Question? Question? Mystery? Essential Question? The Sources Is the Church racist? The Sources The Sources PRAYER & SCRIPTURE STUDY Great Resources PARENTS & PRIESTHOOD LEADERS LDS.ORG/SCRIPTURES LDS.ORG/TOPICS LDS.ORG/MANUAL/HANDBOOK YOUTH.LDS.ORG HISTORY.LDS.ORG MORMONNEWSROOM.OR G MORMON.ORG/CHAT

Questions Regarding Race and the Priesthood 1.What do the scriptures teach? 2.Are my non-scriptural sources credible? 3.How does the matter/issue fit into the context of the Plan of Salvation? 4.Does my view differ from God s view? 5.Am I willing to surrender my view if it contradict with God s view? 6.Is my approach to finding my answer dignified & reverent? (tone)

Is the Church racist? During the first two decades of the Church s existence, black men were ordained to the priesthood. There is no evidence that any were denied the priesthood during Joseph Smith s lifetime. In 1852, President Brigham Young publicly announced that men of black African descent could no longer be ordained to the priesthood. Thereafter blacks did continue to join the Church through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Following the death of Brigham Young, subsequent Church presidents continued the practice. Over time, however, Church leaders and members advanced many theories to explain the priesthood and temple restrictions.

Is the Church racist? the Salt Lake Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance, Church President Spencer W. Kimball received a revelation. The First Presidency stated that all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood. Today, the church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form. (lds.org, published January 2014) In June 1978, after spending many hours in the Upper Room of Back

The adversary has caused many members of the Church to stumble when they discover information about the Church that seems to contradict what they had learned previously. But eventually all questions will be answered. All of our doubts will be replaced by certainty. (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, January 13 2013.)

Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know. This is a divine work in process, so please don t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined and resolved. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. Elder Holland, April 2013 General Conference

Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past Please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (President Uchtdorf, Come Join With Us, October 2013 General Conference).

Who can testify of the process of finding answers to questions?

Mormon 9:27 Doubt not but be believing Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and he shall direct thy paths 2 Nephi 26:24 He doth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world D&C 88:118 Seek learning by study and also by faith Moroni 10:4 If ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth

Finding Finding Answers to Answers to Questions Questions