Seek and Ye Shall Find

3rd Nephi 14 is very similar to Matthew 7. Jesus gave the Nephites the same counsel He gave the Israelites on the Mount. He commands: Judge not; ask of God; beware of false prophets. He also promises salvation to those who do the will of the Father.

There are several instances in the Book of Mormon where prophetic teachings and Jesus’ teachings are duplicated, almost word for word. Of course, the doctrine would be the same—there is only one Father and one Son. The Book of Mormon supports and clarifies the Bible.

One of the last Book of Mormon prophets, and the man for whom the Book of Mormon is named, testified of the supportive relationship between the things he was recording and the things that would eventually comprise the Holy Bible.

Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.

For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.

Let’s talk about some of the Savior’s teachings. For example, 3rd Nephi 14:7-8 reads:

Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

I’ve often pondered what Christ meant here. At first glance, it sounds as if one could ask for almost anything and receive it. I’m not sure if the Bible offers any additional guidance here but the Book of Mormon does. In 3rd Nephi 18:20, Jesus explains a bit more about this promise:

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.

So first of all, we need to align our desires with God’s will. And what is the prayer God wants most to answer? I believe God desires to answer prayers that draw us closer to Him and His Son. In addition, prayers asking for forgiveness must certainly be among those He delights to answer.

Referring to the parable of the laborers given in Matthew 20, Jeffery R. Holland, one of Christ’s modern Apostles, commented:

This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.

What a beautiful thought! The Omnipotent God finds joy in extending mercy to those who feel they don’t deserve it. Elder Holland goes on to say:

I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.

This is the God I worship! One Who descended from a place of unimaginable glory and power to live as a man with the intent of delivering all who would simply love and obey Him. His sacrifice was infinite in scope, ensuring there would be none left behind except those who simply refused to believe on Him.

But I also feel that His message of “ask and ye shall receive” has at least one other application.

If we seek the Lord, we will find Him. If we seek that which is true, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, worthy of praise, and of good report; I believe we will find it. But in like manner, if we seek hate, pessimism, cynicism, and the philosophies of man, we’ll find those, too.

“No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.”

CS Lewis