Here is one of the most powerful promises ever given to humankind and the most often repeated. There are conditions to this promise, of course. We must ask in faith (James 1:6), we must seek persistently (Luke 11:5–10; 18:1–5), and we must knock with rigor. We must also ask, seek, and knock obediently and not improperly (“ask not amiss”; 2 Nephi 4:35; Helaman 10:5), else we have no promise from the great Benefactor (D&C 82:10). Elder Richard G. Scott taught: “His invitation, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive’ (3 Ne. 27:29) does not assure that you will get what you want. It does guarantee that, if worthy, you will get what you need, as judged by a Father that loves you perfectly.”52
In verse 12 the law and the prophets are summarized in one idea, known widely as the “golden rule”: whatever we would like people to do to us, we do that to them. Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, “The best and most clear indicator that we are progressing spiritually and coming unto Christ is the way we treat other people.”53