Ether 2:14

And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord.

I am confident that a spiritual man like the brother of Jared would not have stopped praying for four years. I think what he had neglected to do was to ask the Lord for additional direction. He and the rest of the troop were perhaps satisfied with the good life they had on the beach. They had arrived at what to them was obviously the end of their journey on the shore of an un-cross-able ocean. With no place left to go, the easy conclusion was that they were in their promised land.

For four years they relaxed and enjoyed life. Yet something must have stirred the prophet to finally approach the Lord with a question. With the door of inquiry finally open, God took the opportunity to teach the brother of Jared about the mistake he had made.

The message to us is to not make assumptions about the Lord's will for us based on observable circumstances. God's plans for us almost always far exceed our own expectations. We ought not to limit his power in our lives by our own shortsightedness.

Ether 2:5

And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel.

God's revelations are not mysterious or enigmatic. He gives clear and direct instructions, which are practical and simple to follow. Simple doesn't always mean easy, but if we will ask and listen, he will tell us which way to go and how to get where he wants us to be.

3 Nephi 27:29

Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

I love this oft-stated invitation to ask and receive. God wants us to come to him and learn of him. He does not say "Plead until you are blue in the face, knock until your knuckles are bloody. And then just maybe, if I'm in a good mood and you have proven you are absolutely perfect, I might consider answering." Ask and knock, receive and come in. If he loves us as much as he claims he does, why would he treat us any other way than with open arms and open heart?

3 Nephi 18:20

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.

One of the most frequently repeated promises in scripture is "ask and ye shall receive." The caveats are that we must ask the Father; we must ask in Christ's name, which means we must pray as he would pray; we must pray for the right thing, which will be revealed to us by the Holy Ghost; and we must truly believe that God can and will answer our prayer, which is to ask with real intent. Answers to prayers are not capricious or haphazard. God is anxious to bless us with all we can receive. The key is to ask. Faith, with an eye single to God's glory, and not our own vain ambition, turns the key.

3 Nephi 14:7-8

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.

This is one of the most oft-repeated commandments in scripture: ask, seek, knock. Whole books could written on this topic. Here are just two thoughts:.

Jesus promises that everyone who asks, receives. Not just the smart people, or the rich people, or those with pioneer ancestors, or those who have perfect families, or those who have never sinned, or those who have important callings. Everyone means everyone. No one who asks in sincerity, humility and faith will be denied an answer.

The key is to learn to ask the right question, meaning the right question for you. It may take some time to learn, but the Holy Ghost will teach us if we ask for his help and listen.

3 Nephi 12:19

And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.

The law of the gospel is simple to understand. The law, however, cannot be kept without gifts from God. Belief and faith in Christ are gifts. Repentance is a gift of the Christ's atonement. We cannot come fully unto Christ without the gift of the Holy Ghost. Nor can we manufacture a broken heart and a contrite spirit. God in his mercy gives us the law of happiness and then provides the gifts and means to keep it. Our test is whether we will choose his way and then ask for help.

3 Nephi 1:8

But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain.

The righteous believers did not need a sign to ignite their faith, but they needed the promised sign to confirm their faith. It is okay to ask for confirmation. That is not sign-seeking. It is like asking for a testimony of the Book of Mormon as you read it. It is not weakness to ask for validation of your faith as you exercise it. God wants us to ask, and he promises us marvelous answers.

Alma 34:17-18

Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.

Faith, repentance, and baptism are prerequisites for salvation. We must do one more thing, however, to qualify for salvation. We must ask for it. When we want it, when we act like we want it, and when we ask for it, the Lord is quick to respond. He runs to us like the father ran to meet the prodigal son when he was yet a long way off.