Should you ask more than once?

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I should probably start this post out by saying I never had to actually ask the Lord, as in Moroni 10:3-5 whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. I was given a witness of the truth of the entire Church without even asking about the Book of Mormon specifically. Since then, I have gained a greater testimony because of all of the truth I have seen in the Church. So I guess I have never actually prayed to ask whether the Book of Mormon is true — I have never had to.

We had the missionaries over for dinner tonight, Sunday, and they said something that I found interesting: they were told in the MTC that one should ask whether the book is true every time you read it. The promise is that you will get a greater testimony and greater spiritual confirmation each time. I’m reading the Book of Mormon again this year with my kids for Gospel Doctrine, and we are taking it slow. We don’t plan on finishing until the end of the year. So, round about December I will get down on my knees and ask again and see what kind of confirmation I get.

In the meantime, what say you, M* readers: should you ask more than once? One thought that occurs to me is that there is no need to ask God if something is true if you already know it is true. But perhaps the missionaries are right, perhaps there are reasons to ask multiple times?

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About Geoff B.

Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.

10 thoughts on “Should you ask more than once?”

  2. I’ve never really given it much thought, but I suppose it isn’t a bad thing to ask twice. I mean, if the Spirit tells you more than once (re-confirms), what is wrong with asking twice?

  3. My mom always swore that when she had kids, she’d make sure to give us hugs and tell us she loved us every day (my grandmother’s not a very affectionate woman.)  Communication with God isn’t quite so transparent, and I think it’s better to ask and get it out there than to risk finding yourself skeptical from a lack of confirmation that you never remembered to ask for.

    I think Billy Joel really says it all, though.

  4. I tried asking one time after I had already had a testimony and the answer came very clear “you already know its true, why are you asking again?”

  5. Margaret, that is exactly why my instincts have told me not to ask again up until hearing this from the missionaries last night.

  6. I think you should go with your own instincts and feelings on this, as what the missionaries tell you may be helpful, but certainly isn’t binding. I have found in reading the Book of Mormon, the spirit confirms to me at different times, the truthfulness of it.

  7. I think it’s not so much a matter of asking if the whole this is true all over again. You should always pray before you read the scriptures anyways and it’s not a bad idea to ask for the spirit to testify of the truth of what you read.

  8. Something happened with that post. It was very profound LOL. No, I just said, I don’t like “shoulds.” I think this is an entirely personal matter and you CAN ask as many times as you want. I need to be reassured on myriads of matters over and over and over……

  9. A wife of 65 years was asked by her husband what was wrong. She replied, “You don’t tell me you love me.”
    He replied, “I told you on our wedding night that I loved you and I am a man of my word. Am I not?”

    I am blessed that I haven’t had to ask again. The Spirit has confirmed it many times over during my study. It is truly a marvelous work!

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