In the course of a faith journey, questions arise. Some are minor—like a word, phrase, or name in the Book of Mormon or a spiteful story in the Old Testament. Others are more consequential. How did racial discrimination survive decades of prophetic leadership? Where does polygamy fit into God’s plan? Why are women relegated to less prominent roles in the Church?

Believers have offered reasonable answers to such questions. But discomfort can remain. And new questions can arise. A seeker can become befuddled in a cloud of questions.

For those who seek peace in matters religious, I recommend that we NOT start by trying to resolve all discontents. I recommend that we start with Jesus.

When have you felt soul-filling awe for the goodness of the Redeemer? When have you felt flooded with His love? When have you felt immense joy in singing hymns of praise for Him? When have you seen His hand in your life? When have you felt profoundly grateful for experiencing His counsel and guidance?

That is the foundation on which a good life can be built. He is the Rock.

Some might suggest that soul-filling affirmations come only after deep study, earnest prayer, and worthy living. That may be true for some. But often Jesus comes quite unexpectedly to places we never imagined and to us when we were hardly ready.

Rather than immerse ourselves in doubts, we can ground ourselves in our relationship with Him.

While we may well ponder and study any spiritual uncertainties and questions we have in our hearts, we need to remember our own human limitations in the face of those that discomfort us. We may demand answers on our own terms. We filter information through our own bias. We might expect that every spiritual question deserves a clear resolution. We forget that God has His purposes and timetable and might not choose to reveal all things to us according to our preferences.  He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8) God may withhold answers to allow us to grow our faith and prioritize our connection with Him.

God instructs us on what we should do during times of doctrinal discomfort. At a time when many confusing reports about the church were being circulated, the Lord offered this guidance:

“Hearken, O ye people of my church, to whom the kingdom has been given; hearken ye and give ear to him who laid the foundation of the earth, who made the heavens and all the hosts thereof, and by whom all things were made which live, and move, and have a being.” (D&C 45:1)

God directs us to turn to Jesus. Think about that. The Master of the universe comes to us, half-hearted and self-serving mortals, and offers a spiritual treat as an invitation to a relationship. He offers His trademark gifts of love, graciousness, goodness, and joy. He comes with outstretched hands, asking us to join Him in friendship and discipleship. In that relationship, we will find reassurance and peace even in the face of questions for which we don’t have comforting answers.

For those trying to find a path forward through confusion, let’s switch out one word in an encouraging scripture: “And ye cannot [understand] all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.” (D&C 78:18)

I am not recommending careless ignorance. Faith-filled study can enrich us. Apologetics have their essential place. We should invest real intelligence and study to understand difficult issues. But we don’t need answers to all questions (or any questions!) to be encircled in the arms of His love. Jesus never demands theological sophistication as a prerequisite to His embrace. In fact, He warns against any kind of self-sufficiency:

And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches–yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them. (2 Nephi 9:42)

If we have come to know Him and experienced His love here in the Restoration, we continue to seek that experience. We trust Him. We allow Him to heal, enlighten, and renew us. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is our Life. He is the one who will carry us to Father. Rather than fussing and pulling at doctrinal loose threads, we should fill ourselves with Him!

To add some perspective, when we receive a trillion-dollar gift from heaven delivered to our doors, will we quibble over imperfections in the packaging? When Jesus has called us into a loving and redemptive relationship with Him, will we depart because of unanswered questions?

When we are evaluating our beliefs, we should privilege the great experiences with Jesus over any frustrations, uncertainties, confusion, or doubt about this doctrine or that practice.

When we let ourselves be embraced by Jesus, we will not have instant closure and clarity on every religious question—but we are not supposed to! Jesus is the answer to all the questions that matter most. We focus on Him, His goodness, His way of living and giving. All things will be resolved in due time. In the meantime, we will grow in faith and rejoice in His embrace.

It is not doctrinal clarity that will save us. It is Jesus.

Invitation: For decades, I have collected inspirational quotes and reflections on life and gospel topics. On our weekly podcast, Transformative Truths for Learning, Growing, and Becoming, Sarah Waldron Brinton and I discuss the best of those quotes and reflections, along with how you can apply them to make your life better. Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Thanks to Barbara Keil for her substantive contributions to this article.