The Holy Ghost guides

Today I read 2 Nephi 32. In chapter 31, Nephi tells that the Savior, the perfect man, was baptized, even though he didn't need forgiven because he hadn't done anything wrong. Jesus Christ was humble; he willingly went through baptism, because the Father required it. He wants us to be baptized, after faith and repentance, so we can receive the Holy Ghost to guide us.

Nephi then says, in effect, "I hear you asking, Well, what's next? I've been baptized, I've received the gift of the Holy Ghost. I'm still alive, i.e., still have to decide what to do next, and all you're telling me is 'endure to the end.' Easy for you to say, bud. What exactly am I supposed to do now?"

Nephi answers with this: The gift of the Holy Ghost brings us the ability to speak with the tongues of angels. Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. To the angels the Holy Ghost gives Jesus Christ's words, that is, His instructions and His comfort. With the gift of the Holy Ghost, we gain access to the same conduit. We receive through the Holy Ghost, instructions and comfort from our Savior.

Verse 3: "Wherefore (because of this), I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold (look, you), the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."

Nephi goes on to clarify: the fact that you're still asking what you should do tells me that you didn't ask God, through the Holy Ghost. Because I know by experience (and he does know, he's told us of many things he learned by asking God), that if you ask, God will answer. Verse 5: "if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."

He's already told us that the way we should enter is: put your faith in Jesus Christ, repent of your sins, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now he says, Ask. You have questions, ask God. Seek to learn. Study, not just the words of Christ, but study whatever it is you're wondering about, and the Holy Ghost will guide you.

That's where Nephi stops. He says, I can't give you any clearer instructions than that. I'm sorry you aren't listening, aren't asking. I know people are telling you not to listen, not to pray, that there's no answers there. I'm telling you God is the answer, is the source of answers, is willing to talk to you. Don't quit. Keep going.

Verse 9: "I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

Note that he doesn't say the results will always be good in your eyes. It will be good for the welfare of your soul. Maybe God wants some humility. Maybe there's something you need to fail at, so you will try something else. Maybe he's letting you go into a dead end, so that you know it's a dead end and can then choose better with more information. Maybe he is telling you, and you're misinterpreting what he said. God is patient. He keeps trying. He tells us again and again. And he lets us knock our heads against the wall a few times, so we come back to him and ask him again.

I'm supposed to write a book. I feel afraid. But God is faithful, and won't stop telling me, nudging me, pointing me in that direction, closing doors that lead to other things. I'm the ant on the ground. I can't tell that this blade of grass isn't going the way I need to go; it looks right... but God directs. He waits, he points, he listens to me wail about how I don't know what to do and I don't know how. He comforts me, and points me in the right direction, again.