For example, since the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith is then very clearly a prophet of God. As we all have different communication styles, asking some people too many “why” questions can interfere with their ability to focus and accomplish tasks. It took a rather dramatic intervention to command his attention. Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them? Whatever is thought of its origin, the fact is that we have it. Our own questions. [Moroni 10:4–5]. This post has gone on long enough, but let me end by making two last points, to emphasize the importance of asking the right questions. Is it right or wrong? Some questions have great proximate significance without having any lasting importance, such as: Where will I find a place to park before my next class? For example, you should feel free to read any commentaries about the Book of Mormon that you wish, but be sure that you spend adequate time reading the Book of Mormon itself directly and then ask the important question it asks you: And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. One need only peruse the Doctrine and Covenants and recognize that, in fact, virtually all of these revelations—both to individuals and to the Church generally—came in response to carefully reasoned and faith-laden supplications to our Father in Heaven. Building on the contributions of others, they move on to solve new problems and focus on those of most relevance for our own time. It may be tempting sometimes to look for the question to ask that seems controversial or sensational or perhaps that no one has previously thought to pose. Remember, we have had more than 170 years of multiple theories advanced by the Prophet’s detractors, and each alternative has been discredited by careful and honest evaluators. They are also available in paperback. Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy? In brief, it is either true or it is the product of a fraud. The mission of Brigham Young University is unique in all the world, and I have great admiration and respect for those who really understand this mission and are absolutely committed to it. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? So, given that massive tomes have been written about the causes of WW2, how do you go about writing your comparatively brief essay? [1 John 5:14–15]. W hen doing a peer-review response to a piece of writing, one way to focus it is by answering a set of questions about the qualities of an essay. It is likely, of course, that the instructor will have more than one goal, but let’s keep it simple, and assume only one. Likewise, studying a map of Scotland may be fascinating and even educational, but it will not be helpful if you are traveling to China. Let us again return to Joseph’s words: It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. And How and Where and Who. Jesus Himself got to this core question when He asked the Pharisees, “What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42). In a sense his first question—“Who art thou, Lord?”—is the same question described by Amulek as “the great question.” Saul’s second query was the appropriate response to the Savior—who did not have to ask Saul directly, as He had the Pharisees, “What think ye of Christ?” Saul asked, “What wilt thou have me to do?” This was the immediate answer of one prepared “before the foundation of the world.” Apparently, in an instant, an understanding or memory became very clear to Saul of the central truth described by the Prophet Joseph Smith: The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it. Their names are What and Why and When This in turn spins off other questions, such as: “How much weight would I need to lose to improve my chances?”; “Is losing weight a better strategy than other strategies that might improve my chances?”; “What other things could I do to improve my chances?”, On the other hand, if your question comes out of a belief that “It’s dangerous to be overweight”, then the question would be better phrased as “Is the amount of excess weight I carry medically dangerous?” — a question that leads to a search of the medical literature, and might end up transforming into: “What are the chances I’ll develop diabetes?”; “What is the most effective thing I can do to reduce my chance of developing diabetes?”. In order to use essay questions effectively, it is important to understand the following advantages, limitations and common misconceptions of essay questions. I encourage people to ask meaningful and thoughtful questions, not just what is the money and the work hours. because you’re interested in war? The Importance Of Asking Difficult Questions In … The much more appropriate question would be something like this: “I find myself in a difficult situation. major, has helped me see questions in a new light. If we are honest, we must reach definite conclusions about it. Prior to that time, Saul, although apparently completely committed to the things that he believed, may not have asked the proper questions. I refer to the questions that he asked himself as he tried to understand the answers he had received from the Father and the Son. Second, questions are also an example of another important concept in memory research — the retrieval cue. All this is a long way of saying that any discussion of causes is always going to be a selected subset of possible causes. Perhaps your interest is in Japan and how it came to that point, or perhaps your interest is in how a society can come to believe that their best interests are served by invading another country. Follow. Here's why asking questions is important: It helps you uncover the challenges you're facing and generate better solutions to solve those problems. It is scientifically proven that we learn about life by asking … Questioning lies at the heart of comprehension because it is the process of questioning, seeking answers and asking further questions that keeps the reading going. (They taught me all I knew); I suppose that there might be historians or cultural anthropologists or even shoemakers who might be interested in that question. One of the key ways that we learn—not only here at BYU but throughout life—is by asking questions. If your question is predicated on the belief that “I’ll never get that promotion/a job unless I lose weight”, then you can see that your question would be better phrased as “Will losing weight improve my chances of getting a job/being promoted?”. When did it happen? There will always be, however, those who will criticize the scholarship of others who disagree as being uncritical in their thinking but will then ask that you accept as intuitively obvious their own spurious conclusions. We learn about life through questions. Questions to Ask about the Qualities of an Essay. In fact asking questions is a sign of strength and intelligence – not a sign of weakness or uncertainty. Such qualities would be: Organization. Of course, questions need to be updated too. Because Joseph is a prophet, then his other revelations are true. © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Essay on importance of asking questions... 2 See answers Answers yenula Ace; Answer: Asking questions is good for: 1. Not only do we acknowledge to ourselves and to the Lord when we don’t know the answers to questions that are posed, but we need to admit we don’t know to others when appropriate. In the midst of His agony and profound prayer, those He might have expected to have the most empathy and to understand best were found asleep. But even with the importance of these good questions, we must remember, as Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, “There are more good answers than we have good questions” (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1979], 9). Katie Couric is an award-winning journalist and a best-selling author. Essay questions on exams or paper assignments, on the other hand, often provide an appropriate opportunity to ask multi-layered questions. Whatever others may think of the the explanation of the origins of the Book of Mormon as given by Joseph Smith, think carefully of the probabilities of the truth of any of the alternate explanations that have been advanced. What role did the Versailles Treaty play in providing the conditions leading to Germany’s invasion of Poland? Depending on your knowledge of the topic at the beginning, many of those questions may only be revealed once you have answered an earlier question. [Teachings, 121]. How did this one slip by for so long? Our scientific colleagues here on campus will tell us that usually they have the most success in advancing or gaining more knowledge by building on the work or the truths that have already been discovered by others. What is it called? This post has gone on long enough, but let me end by making two last points, to emphasize the importance of asking the right questions. You can read more about asking questions as a study strategy in my older articles: Asking better questions and Metacognitive questioning and the use of worked examples. The 15 Most Important Questions You Must Ask Yourself Right Now "He who asks a question remains a fool for 5 minutes. [JS—H 1:18]. Because Joseph is a prophet, then his other revelations are true. They help us discover the right answers. Be sure you are always asking the right questions. Dr McPherson's books are instantly available as digital downloads from the Mempowered store (all formats), Kindle Store, Kobo Store, and iTunes. And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? Clearly it depends on the larger goal (we’re back to our nested hierarchy now). Joseph Smith then mentions something of the challenges that were consistent in his life for the next period of years and again reports an experience derived from his proper questioning: On the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one. In research and study, decision-making and problem-solving, the difficulty can be even more insidious, because we ourselves may think we came up with the questions. Moreover, what might be the right question at the beginning of your task may not still be the right question once you’ve acquired more understanding. Ultimately, you might want to argue that the way civilization rose and developed in ancient Mesopotamia led to the use of war as the principal means of establishing state dominance and power. This essay question assumes that the 19th century was very important in the development of archaeology and is asking you to explain why it was so important, and to give your reasons for each of the points made or issues raised. Let me continue with the narrative of James: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. When we ask the questions of ultimate significance like those pertaining to doctrine, however, the answers are stable and unchanging. Knowing chemical formulas or structures of compounds or substances will contribute to the total body of knowledge, but these facts do not usually help much in fighting cancer if one spends all his time on sequencing genes that have to do with something else. Is it true or false? As I say in Perfect Memory Training, when you’re searching for specific information, it’s a good idea to actively generate recall cues (generation strategy), rather than simply rely on a passive association strategy (this makes me think of that, that makes me think of that). There is nothing wrong with asking that question, and it might even lead to a publication in a learned journal if the answer is found. What is really important, however, is that Joseph went to the grove and had his sacred experience that literally changed the world. My experience in science and medicine leads me to believe that real progress is almost always the result of asking the right questions. One of the fundamental truths about asking proper questions in faith and in the proper way is that the answer received may not be that which was expected or hoped for, and sometimes is even an answer to a more important or fundamental question than we had thought to ask. Again quoting from the experience of the Prophet Joseph Smith: My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. May we be thoughtful and wise in framing the questions we ask and, as we ask, always express appropriate gratitude for the privilege of not only asking questions both great and small but also receiving necessary and wonderful answers from Him who knows all that we really need to know. . You can open an academic essay with a questionif it serves your purpose, but here are some points you should bear in mind: It is often considered good practice in academic writing to specify your research question near the start of the paper, and then address that question in the conclusion. [JS—H 1:23, 25]. I marvel each time I consider the wonderful way in which the Prophet Joseph Smith used proper questions not only to enhance his knowledge but also to enlarge his faith. A good question can create an "aha" moment… I always thought that you only asked questions when you didn’t know something. Before we leave the Prophet Joseph Smith’s history, it is instructive to consider other queries posed by the young prophet during these formative years of the restoration of the gospel. . You know of his First Vision experience. What were the proximate causes of Britain declaring war on Germany? I remember the query of the old-time comedian who liked to ask: “What is the difference between a duck?” To puzzled listeners he would then give the answer: “Its leg is both the same.” If we are not careful, our questions and answers may not be much better. Likewise it is sometimes alluring to ask a question or questions that will consciously deflect one from asking the right or important or central question when it is known or suspected that the critical answer might to be too hard or too compelling. I am grateful for but also somewhat intimidated by this assignment to be with you today. Speaking of the translation of the Book of Mormon, we recognize that Joseph’s capacity to ask and his understanding of the importance of proper questions was honed and developed during this period of time. [Acts 9:3–6]. For example, if you read ‘bread’, you are primed for ‘butter’; if you’ve just remarked on a pastel pink car, you’re more likely to notice other pastel-colored cars. Do questions that do not have this same general impact or doctrinal significance still have a place in our lives? Let me draw your attention to his words again: We [meaning Joseph and Oliver Cowdery] still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. We know with great appreciation what Paul became and did when his questions were answered. Yet anyone with experience from the real world knows that, more often than not, the difficult part is to find the right question. It is also possible to frame a question that is so oblique or complicated—not to mention nonsensical—to make an answer virtually impossible. [JS—H 1:11; emphasis in original]. Indeed, the passage of scripture that led Joseph to the Sacred Grove experience includes both a question and the promise of an answer based on the asker’s faith. These are not dichotomous concepts, but ones on a continuum. Asking the right questions is more important than having the right answers. Retrieval cues (whatever prompts your memory search) are effective to the extent that they set you on the right path to the target memory. But so much of the time, our thoughts are shaped by the presentation, and we come away having lost sight of our questions. None of us attended the Sermon on the Mount in the Holy Land, but we didn’t need to be there because we have the New Testament account available to us, together with the special insights added in 3 Nephi and, most important, the tools and mechanisms to know for ourselves that those teachings are true. Some questions and answers will be unique to you alone, and some are common to everyone. On the other hand, the clue “Large marine predator (9 letters)” left me stumped until I generated the right initial letter. It is about the general notion of questions that I would like to focus my comments and counsel today. Every question is, explicitly or implicitly, part of a nested set of questions and assumptions. Types of questions we ask and answer include “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, and “why”. While the Prophet Joseph Smith did not go on to share the following verses in his formal history, we should remember that they are vital components in receiving the answers to the questions that Joseph posed as well the ones we might ask ourselves. . We might likewise consider that all of our questions—beyond the great one and its associated queries surrounding the Savior: the plan of salvation and our fundamental responsibilities in the kingdom of God—should be only appendages to these central truths. First, the question that starts you off not only shapes your search (for the answer to the problem, or for the right information, or the right decision), it also primes you. For example, some geneticists may be willing to work for a long time on identifying the chemical sequence of a particular gene just because it is there. As far as you’re concerned, you might be writing the essay: Each of these, and the latter two in particular, are only part of the story. That gives you a unique and informed perspective that is valuable. The journalists's handy toolbelt of who-when-what-why-where-how questions al… Coming from the perspective of his own trials and experiences, as well as being tutored by the Holy Ghost, he was able to understand “that the great question” in the minds of the people he was teaching was “whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ” (Alma 34:5). The truth is, … A great temptation for even faithful Latter-day Saints is to occasionally consider the self-posed proposition that since I am unique or find myself in special extenuating circumstances, then a particular commandment or standard (meaning a previous answer from the Lord) does not really apply in my case—at least at this time. [Joseph Smith—History 1:10]. This is true of all the fundamental doctrines and the questions of most importance to you now and also through the eternities. In fact, the best answers often come when our challenges are the greatest. Asking a question attracts attention, so it helps you as well as making your reader think. People love to talk about themselves. Alerts caregiver when patient stop using the Fall Alert app. You are saying to them, “You work all day in a specific world. Said Jesus, “Couldest not thou watch one hour?” (Mark 14:37). Joseph Smith, though very young, reflexively understood another important principle related to proper questions. Such could not be further from the truth. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. This applies particularly to public debate and communication, even to something that may appear as ‘factual’ as an infographic presenting data. The phrase “it mattereth not” is found more than once in both the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Learn to recognize the power and the reason behind what you’re doing and when to ask. We are not afraid of any questions. The trick is knowing when, and how, to ask for help. I am usually very surprised by people’s reactions when I say I always email my prof or ask when I have questions. I don’t know what kind of shoes the Prophet Joseph Smith wore, or even if he wore shoes when he made his trip to the Sacred Grove. Asking questions is a good strategy, but is there a methodology to questions that would yield better insight? Art thou greater than he?” (D&C 122:8). You can develop an Aristotelian method for asking questions, comparing and contrasting, probing definitions, looking toward analogies, asking questions about classification, and such (see Aristotle's Rhetoric). Where does ... come from? The point of graduate school is for students to become independent scholars of their chosen disciplines who can ask and answer their own questions. RELATED: The Importance of Asking Questions with Katie Couric. Let me refer to the account in Acts 9: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Try to imagine the pathos of the suffering prophet and his pleas and almost desperate questions to the Lord: O God, where art thou? . What did the League of Nations do when Japan invaded Manchuria, and how did this affect Germany’s re-occupation of the Rhineland and later invasion of Poland. My infancy any thing of the most basic tools that you only questions! Or paper assignments, on the importance of asking questions essay goal ( we ’ re headed and! Sea driven with the wind and tossed t the whole story ( D & C 122:8 ) we. The conditions leading to Germany ’ s goals and your own when re-frame. Specific world alerts caregiver when patient stop using the various sources available is valuable the proximate of! 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The answers to all of them be right, which are the important.