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It's Okay to Ask

We have people who can support us through our challenges

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Sometimes we might feel like if we can’t do everything ourselves, then we’re not good enough. It can be easy to believe this lie, but we were not designed to do everything on our own.

Heavenly Father has provided us with the support of family, friends, classmates, and countless others to assist us on our journey. As we go through difficult circumstances in our lives, we can rely on precious truths that tell us, “It’s okay to ask for help.”

We have support

Sometimes we hesitate to ask for help because we are afraid of what others may think or don’t want to be a burden. When these feelings come our way, we can learn from the experiences of Joseph Smith.

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We can receive strength when we seek support.
While Joseph was in Liberty Jail, he experienced a great deal of emotional and physical hardship. At one point, Joseph asked, “Oh God, where art thou?” 1 In response to his earnest plea for help, God reminded Joseph that his afflictions would be a small moment, and taught him another precious truth: “Thy friends do stand by thee.” 2
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When we face difficult circumstances in our lives, it’s important to remember the loving hands we have around us, earnestly seeking to lift us up in our time of need.

You have the love and support of missionaries, instructors, family, friends, and fellow students!

Help is within our reach

In all things, you have the support of a loving Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. However, President Spencer W. Kimball shared, “God does notice us, and He watches over us. But it is usually through another person that He meets our needs.” 3

David Sorenson, from Taylorsville, Utah, experienced the power of friends when he was a student in PathwayConnect. “At first, I tried to keep my personal issues secret and to myself,” David said. “But very quickly, I realized that my classmates weren’t all that different than I was. Everybody came from a different background. There were people that I felt were in similar situations that I was in. It made me really feel at home, like I didn’t have to worry about being judged.”

We too can experience what David felt when it comes to asking for help and reaching out to others. If you don’t know where to start, BYU-Pathway has many resources available to you. A simple conversation with a missionary or someone from your gathering could do wonders. Even just an email to an instructor could lead you in the direction you need.

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Sharing our experiences can help us realize others are in similar situations.

Asking for help is being true to yourself

Elder Robert D. Hales spoke about the importance of needing help. He said, “When you attempt to live life’s experiences alone, you are not being true to yourself, nor to your basic mission in life. … The disposition to ask assistance from others with confidence, and to grant it with kindness, should be part of our very nature.” 4
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Robert D. Hales, “We Can’t Do It Alone,” Ensign, Oct. 1975

Friendships are a very important part of our experience in this life. We need help, and it’s okay to ask for it! Sometimes schoolwork and life at home may pose challenges, but we can find relief as we seek help and find the courage to ask for it.