Before the First Vision: A Crucial Lesson for Us All

By Becky Squire

I've been writing and blogging about family relationships for several years now, and as a result I frequently receive many questions from my readers.

How can I stop yelling at my kids?

How can I revive my marriage?

How can I figure out my purpose?

Search engines provide endless answers to any question you may have. It's easy to whip out your phone or computer and quickly type something into that search bar. Hundreds of answers appear immediately. Social media is full of influencers who seem to have success running through every bone in their body. If Google can't answer your question, so-and-so who has 10 thousand followers and seems so relatable surely will.

So, what does the First Vision have to do with any of this? Before Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, before he was visited by God the Father and His Son, and even before he wandered into the sacred grove, there was one crucial step. When he was confused about which church to join, he didn’t ask his favorite influencer. He didn’t even ask his own parents. Joseph Smith followed the counsel of James to ask of God.

Perhaps you're thinking, "well sure - when I have a question as important as which church to join, or if I should change careers, or who I should marry - then of course I would ask of God." But why would you ever settle for anything less?

I'll never forget what my daughter taught me when she about 4 years old. Our family was at my oldest son's baseball game in a large field with 4 baseball diamonds. She brought a little toy pirate coin to play with while we watched and had lost it somewhere in the grass. She was extremely upset. I asked her what she could do about it, and she quickly settled down and said, "I'll say a prayer." I expected her to say a quick prayer by my side, but instead she marched off to the outfield of one of the games going on and knelt down. A few minutes later she walked back to me and immediately found her toy in the grass right where she had been sitting.

I know this won't be the case every time we pray, but I'll always remember the faith and action my daughter showed over such a simple request. But is any request ever too simple? So many of our experiences are echoes of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s search for truth. His words may be similar to our own: “If any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know” (JS—H 1:12).

Do you want to know how to stop yelling at your kids? Ask of God.

Need some guidance to revive your marriage? Ask of God.

Want to figure out your purpose? Ask of God.

Many of us simply don't realize how every article we read, every podcast we listen to, or every social media post we scroll past has the power to influence our thoughts. How can the content you consume fit every unique and individual circumstance? It can't! But God can because He knows you.

If you have questions about anything, don’t habitually seek the answer online. Ask of God.