D&C 25:4 -- On Murmuring Not

"Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come."
Doctrine and Covenants 25:4


This was a revelation directed to Emma Smith, but like all scripture, we can liken it unto ourselves (1 Nephi 19:23-24). I think it is difficult sometimes to be satisfied when we don't get a clear answer. There are many things that we don't know and questions that the scriptures leave open. Nephi asked God to see what his father saw, and he did, and it made sense to him, but sometimes the answer is no, and we have to accept on faith what is given to us in the scriptures and from the prophets. Since Emma was the wife of the prophet, I imagine that might be even more difficult.

The trick I think is to avoid doubting everything because we can't know that one thing. God gives us so much and answers so many of our questions through the scriptures and through revelation--we have enough to build our testimony on, and as we learn we can see his hand in our lives every day. Sometimes that needs to be enough, for now. Complaining to God or complaining *about* God can be tempting in the moment, but when we pull back from the emotionality of the moment, it is clearly ungrateful in the light of all that he offers us freely. Instead, let's keep asking our questions. If we can't get the answer to one yet, maybe we can take a step back and try something a little less complex and closer to what we already know, so that instead of trying to grasp the knowledge of the entire universe in one go, we are working more in the "line upon line" way that God teaches us. There are plenty of other questions, and God loves to teach us.

Today, let's remember that God's plan is a good one, even if he doesn't reveal all the details to us all at once. We're children compared to him, and some things children won't understand, and even adults probably shouldn't have visions of the future that might change important choices in between. All of our questions will be answered in time... but on the Lord's timetable, not ours. He's the one that can see the future. Let's focus on improving our lives and the lives of the people around us, based on what we already know, and as we master those things, the Lord will grant us more. The Lord knows when the right time is, and that is exactly when it will happen. :) Let's work to be thankful rather than resentful.