Genuine Questions

Reading: Alma 17-22

These chapters contain one of my very favorite and instructive stories that teach the power of asking simple and genuine questions to God.

In chapter 22, Aaron, a son a Mosiah, comes in contact with the king of all the Lamanites who had a previous exchange with another missionary, Ammon.  This king had been mulling over the things Ammon had taught his son and had some burning questions for Aaron.  Aaron taught the King about God (who the King called the Great Spirit) and once the King believed there was a God, Aaron taught his about the Plan of Salvation beginning with the experience of Adam and ending with being about to receive eternal life.  After hearing all this, the king asks (vs 15):


 15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

 16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.

So the King did exactly what Aaron said:

17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:

 18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.

From this point the King was struck dumb for a while wherein he was taught the things of the Spirit and was converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have always been profoundly moved by his genuine process of questioning and show of faith: Aaron told me that there is a God - and if you are that God, please let me know you, I would even give away my kingdom to know you.

It humbles me every time I read this.  I need to simplify my prayers and my desires.  If my simple desire is to know God, then I need help in simplifying my life a bit, because perhaps I'm doing a bunch of extra stuff that doesn't really matter.  Would I give away all that stuff just to know God?