There is an intriguing episode in the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants where Oliver Cowdery has arrived in Harmony to learn about Joseph Smith’s story and offers his help as scribe in translating the plates. We don’t have the full story, but from the context of the revelations, it seems that Oliver was fascinated by the process of translation in watching Joseph work and wondered if he, too, could be a translator. In section 8, the Lord tells Oliver that he can if he learns how revelation works, applies himself unto the gift being given and has faith, nothing doubting. In the very next section, however, the Lord says that Oliver did not do as he was instructed in some way (he ‘feared’ and did not translate, but started other work and ‘did not continue’ as he ‘commenced’), and therefore his opportunity to translate had passed for a time. The Lord offers this explanation: “Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.” (D&C 9:7)
I feel for Oliver. I’m not sure anyone, in the beginning process of learning revelation, knows what to do other than ask. From his experience, however, we receive necessary insight into how the Lord offers revelation, and what our part needs to be.
We live in a world of fast information. Computers and internet technology give us instant access to seemingly infinite material, and we use that technology all the time for easy answers (we don’t even have to type anymore, just speak a question!) If I don’t know how many cups there are in a gallon, I ask siri. If I want to know how many miles it is to the store, I ask siri and I get an answer in seconds. It’s awesome! But, if we expect that the Lord works in the same way we will be disappointed and frustrated. The Lord is far more likely to guide us in the process of finding the answers than to give us instant gratification.
If instead of telling me how many cups were in a gallon, siri told me to go find a cup measure and a gallon jar, and then fill the cup and pour it into the jar, counting the number of cups it takes to fill it, I wouldn’t like it as much, but I would be far more likely to learn that answer and have it stay with me-become a part of my knowledge not easily dislodged. When I get an instant answer, I know it for the moment, but am sure to forget it pretty quickly unless I use it all the time. If siri told me to calculate the miles in some way, rather than giving me a quick number, I would again be far more likely to know the distance to that store for much longer than if I am just given the answer. The knowledge of that distance might even become a permanent part of me.
God is far more interested in helping us become something than in giving easy answers. While He knows the end from the beginning (and we would like to!), we wouldn’t have lasting, transforming experiences and learning opportunities if He simply gave us all the information we wanted, when we wanted it. He is not a computer spitting out collected facts and knowledge. Rather, He is a teacher, a father, a guide; He leads us and walks with us in the process of learning and changing and growing. While we are receiving revelation all along the way of that course, we may miss it if we think revelation is only a specific answer given to a specific question.
This is much harder for us. It requires work and effort and patience and uncertainty. How much easier, how much more effortless and painless, just to be given the mileage rather than having to calculate for ourselves! And the natural man likes easy. We may be tempted to conclude that God doesn’t hear us or won’t answer us or even isn’t really there when we don’t receive answers like we expect. That would be a mistake-and as we learn from Oliver’s experience, we may miss opportunities and growth. We may, even more sadly, lose the growing certainty that God is hearing us and guiding us in our journey if we don’t learn to see revelation in the process of finding answers. God’s counsel to Oliver is also to us: ‘be patient,’ ‘do not murmur,’ ‘study,’ ‘ask,’ ‘feel,’ ‘be faithful,’ ‘doubt not, fear not,’ ‘stand fast.’ (see D&C 6:36, 9:3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13-14) Gratefully, the Lord is patient with us in our learning process and allows us to fail and try again as many times as it takes us to realize that He is revealing Himself to us throughout all of the journey, in all of the trying, even if there is some pain or wrong turns along the way. Oliver got to continue, uncondemned (see D&C 9:12); and so do we.
There are some things that siri simply does not have satisfying answers to, and its answers are limited to the knowledge of man. Computers are good at finding facts and opinions, but not so good at knowing the most important things (just try asking siri the meaning of life!) The deepest longings of our soul cannot be quickly or easily answered. We are blessed to have sure knowledge of truth from God, who does know the meaning of life and our purpose and plan for being here. Because He knows this, He also knows the best way for us to achieve our greatest potential. He is truth and light and love-a love so vast and majestic, that it never rests or fails or gives up as He leads us on the journey of becoming what He is, by teaching us how to seek and search and choose and experience in ways that make all of the right answers become woven into our characters and our souls; until those answers become who we are and we are like Him.
