9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.All I am asking people to do is ask, it's Biblical...
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
U Said: My point in this discussion is that we have been instructed by Jesus not to base our faith upon a sign, but upon the truth which we find in the Word of God.
But without his spirit it is impossible to know what is the word of God. "To him that hath ears to hear let him hear" was not just a cute phrase, There are some parts of the Bible that cannot be understood without that spirit. I dare say there are other inspired writings that did not make it into the Bible. Only with the Spirit of God can men discern as they have been commanded to do and ask and receive answers from him.
Historic Christianity has always taught that the Holy Spirit is key in the understanding of the scriptures. Jesus, Himself, makes it clear that this is the case ...John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.A I have said, christians throughout the years have depended upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives to illustrate and understand the scriptures for them.
All I am asking people to do is ask, it's Biblical ...
But you speak as though christians have not been asking God for His wisdom and understanding down through the ages. Christians were praying for God's wisdom long before Joseph Smith came on the scene ... and they continue to do so.
What you speak of is asking for a particular sign from the Holy Spirit. In this you resemble the Pentecostals, who insist that believers must experience the expression of the Holy Spirit in the particular sign of 'speaking in tongues' ... to validate their spiritual experience.