B. But we can certainly ask our earthly fathers with the assurance that we will receive what we ask for. Likewise, the Bible says God is our heavenly father. Why is revelation so essential to our spiritual survival? Because the world can be confusing and noisy, full of deception and distractions. Communication with our Father in Heaven enables us to sort through what is true and what is false, what is relevant to the Lord’s plan for us and what is not. The world can also be harsh and heartbreaking. But as we open our hearts in prayer, we will feel the comfort that comes from our Father in Heaven and the assurance that He loves and values us. Ask B. In Matthew 7:9-11 we learn God will not answer our prayers if what we pray for could harm us. He is our heavenly father and he cares for us.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple… in answer to the question suggested by ver. 6, if this be the measure of the Divine dealings, what bounties can sinners expect at God's hands? Let them, nevertheless, ask of God, and it shall be given them (cf. Alford); but rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!” Enter through the narrow gate. ( J) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. True and False ProphetsMatthew 7:7 : 1Ki 3:5; Mt 18:19; 21:22; Jn 14:13, 14; 15:7, 16; 16:23, 24; Jas 1:5-8; 4:2, 3; 5:16; 1Jn 3:22; 5:14, 15 Recently a loved one said to me, “I believe personal revelation to be true. I believe the Holy Ghost will show me all things I should do. 4 It is easy to believe when I feel my bosom burn with undoubting conviction. 5 But how can I have the Holy Ghost always speak to me at this level?” If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? It is my testimony that this is the dispensation of the fulness of the gospel. We can enjoy the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. We have the scriptures widely available to us. We are led by prophets who teach us the will of the Lord for the difficult times we live in. In addition, we have direct access to our own revelation so the Lord can comfort and guide us personally. As the angel said to Alma, we have “great cause to rejoice” ( Alma 8:15). In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Four months ago, in my study of the scriptures, I was reading about Alma’s mission in Ammonihah when I came across this suggestion in Come, Follow Me: “As you read about the great blessings God gave the people of Nephi (see Alma 9:19–23), ponder the great blessings He has given you.” 1 I decided to make a list of God’s blessings to me and record it in my digital version of the manual. In a matter of minutes, I had listed 16 blessings.Or what if, instead of giving you what you wanted, they gave you a snake? (Pull a toy or stuffed snake out of the box.) How would that be?