The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
Refer your friends to join The LDS Daily WOOL (Words Of Our Leaders)
(1/27/97)
Is it any wonder that the Lord can hear you when you whisper,
even in your secret closet? Is there any doubt in your minds about it? If man
can communicate across the continent by means of a telephone without wires—by
means of human invention, by reason of the wisdom of man, is there any one who
doubts the ability of God to hear the earnest, honest supplication of the soul?
Do not doubt any more that the Lord can hear your prayers, when, with a small
instrument, sensitive to the electric spark, you can distinctly hear the human
voice in your home received from the ocean thousands of miles away. When you can
communicate to some one in the midst of the ocean from your home, far inland
from the ocean—do not for a moment doubt that the Lord understands all these
means of communication and that he has means of hearing and understanding your
innermost, exact thoughts. "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or
unexpressed." It does not take many words to ask the Lord for what we need;
but we must ask in faith, confidence and trust. It will not do to have doubts in
our minds when we call upon the Lord for a blessing. "If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth
not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For
he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For
let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." (James
1:5-7.) — Joseph F. Smith, "Gospel Doctrine," p.216
(1/28/97)
It may be that some who are under the sound of my voice
today, both of the seen as well as the unseen audience, are earnestly seeking
after truth, but have not as yet put themselves in a position to receive a
testimony of the divinity of this great latter-day work. If there should be
such, let me say to you, as I have said upon other occasions, that if you will
go into your chambers by yourself, and there kneel down and pour out your soul
to the Lord in humble prayer, he will not turn you aside, but he will cause a
feeling to come into your soul that will bear witness to you of the divinity of
this great latter-day work; and by following the admonition that will come to
you, and complying with the commandments of the Lord, you, with us, may rejoice
in the knowledge of this great latter-day work. — Miles L. Jones, General
Conference, April 1932
(1/29/97)
The Lord also commanded man--and it is well known by almost
all Christians--"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37). To know and love
God are sacred blessings. One of the ways that we can come to know God and Jesus
Christ is through sincere prayer. The Lord commands, "Pray always, and I
will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing--yea, even
more than if you should obtain treasures of earth" (D&C 19:38). In the Bible we are commanded to "pray without ceasing.
"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you" (1 Thes. 5:17-18). Prayer to God will give you power to
conquer and overcome the evil powers and influences of Satan and this world. The
Lord said, "Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may
conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that
do uphold his work" (D&C 10:5). Prayer to God is a sacred blessing. —
Bernard P. Brockbank, General Conference, October 1979
(1/30/97)
I am convinced in my heart that the spectacle of a nation
praying is more awe-inspiring, more powerful, than the explosion of an atomic
bomb. The force of prayer is greater than any possible combination of
man-controlled powers because, "prayer is man's greatest means of tapping
the resources of God." I would like to see this nation on its knees in
humble prayer. (The Red Carpet, p. 295.) We should pray frequently. We should be
alone with our Heavenly Father at least two or three times each day:
"morning, midday, and evening" (Alma 34:21). Someone has said that
when you wake up in the morning, the first thing to hit the floor should be your
knees. In addition, we are told to pray always (Luke 21:34-36; 2 Nephi 32:9;
D&C 61:39; 88:126; 93:49). This not only shows we should pray frequently but
also continually have a prayer in our heart (Alma 34:27). Even when the Lord's
time was most in demand, He was not too busy to pray (Luke 5:15-16). (God,
Family, Country, p. 120.) Our prayers should be meaningful and pertinent. We
should avoid using the same phrases in each prayer. Any of us would become
offended if a friend said the same few words to us each day, treated the
conversation as a chore, and could hardly wait to finish in order to turn on the
television set and forget us. (Come unto Christ, p. 26.) — "Teachings of
Ezra Taft Benson," p.425-426
(1/31/97)
The Lord is near unto every one of us, for in Him we live,
and move, and have our being. We can seek Him; we can ask and receive; we can
seek and find; we can knock and the door will be opened to us; and every comfort
and blessing pertaining to the everlasting Gospel enjoyed at any period of the
world's history can be enjoyed today. But they must be sought after by the
prayer of faith, and by diligence, obedience, and by being in harmony with Jesus
Christ our living head. His spirit will permeate the Church. His spirit will
prompt His people if they will be obedient to His laws. — Charles W. Penrose,
General Conference, April 1906
(2/1/97)
We have been tried to some extent, but not to the extent
which we probably will be; there are many things in which we will be greatly
tried before we get through. Every Latter-day Saint who gains a celestial glory
will be tried to the very uttermost. If there is a point in our character that
is weak and tender, you may depend upon it that the Lord will reach after that,
and we will be tried at that spot, for the Lord will test us to the utmost
before we can get through and receive that glory and exaltation which He has in
store for us as a people. When we think about the character of the exaltation
promised unto us, we can understand why this should be the case. What are we
striving for? What are we aiming to obtain? Our constant prayer to God is that
we may be considered worthy to receive celestial glory. That is the prayer of
every one who belongs to the Church. Every man and every woman who prays unto
the Father, who is in the habit of doing so, expresses that desire in his or her
prayer--that we may be counted worthy to receive celestial glory and exaltation
in the presence of God and the Lamb. What a great thing to ask! — George Q.
Cannon, "Journal of Discourses," Vol.22, p.123 - p.124, October 31,
1880
(2/2/97)
Nephi said: "If ye would hearken unto the Spirit which
teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit
teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold,
I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint" (2 Nephi 32:8-9).
Amulek understood the importance of prayer as a spiritually rejuvenating
influence. "Humble yourselves," he said to the Zoramites, "and
continue in prayer. . . . Ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your
secret places, and in your wilderness" (Alma 34:19, 26) ' Amulek counseled
the people to pray over their flocks, their households, and their fields (see
Alma 34:20-21). "Yea.,, he said, "and when you do not cry unto the
Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your
welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you" (Alma
34:27). Earnest, sincere prayer is an essential ingredient in maintaining
spiritual tone. — Dean L. Larsen, General Conference, October 1989
(2/3/97)
The Being of higher intelligence, to whom the request is
directed, may or may not grant the prayer, but some answer will be given. Prayer
has been said to be "the soul's sincere desire." Only when it is such
will the fullest answer be obtained, and it is doubtful if such a prayer is ever
refused. No prayer is unheard. . . . A man should pray always; his heart should
be full of prayer; he should walk in prayer. Answers will then be heard as God
pleases. Seldom is a man greater than his private prayers. To become properly
tuned with the guiding intelligent Being, one must give himself to the matter
devotedly desired in the form of prayer, and then support it with all his works.
Prayer is active and not passive. If a thing is wanted a man must try to secure
it. Then, as a man devotes all of himself to the subject of the prayer, his
attitude becomes such as to make him susceptible to the answer when it shall be
sent. Prayer may be said to be the soul's whole desire. — James E. Talmage,
"A Rational Theology," pp. 76-77
(2/4/97)
It has been said in this conference that every member of the
Church is entitled to revelation. I want to testify to you, that I have
repeatedly sought God in the woods and hills of Scandinavia, in the wilds of
Asia and Africa, upon the high seas, and in many places when I have been far
away from my brethren who were entitled to give me advice: and I have always
received sufficient revelation in answer to my prayers to lead, guide and direct
me in [many] movements, and I have never been led astray when I have sought God
in the proper way. This is my testimony. Even in the midst of political
revolutions I have always known where I stood. I have never had to take counsel
direct from my brethren on political matters. There is a God in heaven who
reveals His secrets to His servants the Prophets, and we are all Prophets in a
certain sense, if we are under the influence of the Holy Ghost, so far as that
is concerned: the most humble man or woman in the Church can get down upon his
or her knees in prayer, and the heavens will be opened in such a way that we
will understand the will of God. Our prayers will ascend to God, and, if we are
sincere and honest in our supplication, we will receive an answer through the
still small voice which will guide our footsteps through life, and which will
cause us to do the right thing at the right time, and to take such steps as we
shall not subsequently have occasion to regret. — Andrew Jenson, General
Conference, October 1912
(2/5/97)
Now, I tell you that you can make every decision in your life
correctly if you can learn to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This you
can do if you will discipline yourself to yield your own feelings to the
promptings of the Spirit. Study your problems and prayerfully make a decision.
Then take that decision and say to him, in a simple, honest supplication,
"Father, I want to make the right decision. I want to do the right thing.
This is what I think I should do; let me know if it is the right course."
Doing this, you can get the burning in your bosom, if your decision is right. If
you do not get the burning, then change your decision and submit a new one. When
you learn to walk by the Spirit, you never need to make a mistake. I know what
it is to have this burning witness. I know also that there are other
manifestations of guidance by the Spirit. — Marion G. Romney, General
Conference, October 1961
(2/6/97)
When you pray—when you talk to your Heavenly Father—do
you really talk out your problems with Him? Do you let Him know your feelings,
your doubts, your insecurities, your joys, your deepest desires? Or is prayer
merely a habitual expression with the same words and phrases? Do you ponder what
you really mean to say? Do you take time to listen to the promptings of the
Spirit? Answers to prayer come most often by a still voice and are discerned by
our deepest, innermost feelings. I tell you that you can know the will of God
concerning yourselves if you will take the time to pray and to listen. —
"Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson," p.428
(11/5/98)
"Go and plead with the Lord; ask Him to remove the
darkness from your minds, to give you the light of the Holy Spirit, that it may
shine upon your understanding, that you may comprehend it, and you will not wait
upon Him in vain." — George Q. Cannon, General Conference,
April 1891, "Collected Discourses," Volume 2
(11/6/98)
"There seems to grow upon us a film of worldliness when
we move away from the Lord. It might be like the film of grease spread over the
body of the swimmer who would cross the English Channel. It fills the pores and
covers the skin so there can be less penetration of the cold. It might be like
the skin-diver's rubber suit. But when we pierce the shell and penetrate the
covering and humble ourselves with naked soul and sincere supplication and
cleansed life, our prayers are answered." — Spencer W. Kimball, "Prayer," "BYU
Speeches of the Year," October 11, 1961
(11/7/98)
"The homes of America need also the blessings which come
from daily communion with God. Devotion in the home, which has been such an
anchor to youth and parents alike, has all but vanished. A few generations ago
it was a common practice. Then families knelt together in prayer; the scriptures
were read aloud; and households joined in the singing of church hymns. This
practice, if revived, would contribute much to the strength of the home and the
nation. The differences and irritations of the day melt away as families
approach the throne of heaven together. Unity increases. The ties of love and
affection are re-enforced and the peace of heaven enters." — Ezra Taft Benson, "Conference Report," April 1949, p.197
(11/8/98)
"Prayer does not consist of words, altogether. True,
faithful, earnest prayer consists more in the feeling that rises from
the heart
and from the inward desire of our spirits to supplicate the Lord in
humility and
in faith, that we may receive His blessings. It matters not how simple
the words
may be, if our desires are genuine and we come before the Lord with a
broken
heart and a contrite spirit to ask Him for that which we need." —
Joseph F. Smith, "Conference Report," October 1899, p.69-71
(11/9/98)
"The promise is made to everyone. There is no
discrimination, no favored few. But the Lord has not promised to crash
the door.
He stands and knocks. If we do, not listen, He will not sup with us nor
give
answer to our prayers. Do you know how to listen, grasp, interpret,
understand?
The Lord stands knocking. He never retreats. But He will never force
himself
upon us. If we ever move apart, it is we who move, and not the Lord.
And should
we ever fail to get an answer to our prayers, we must look into our
lives for a
reason. We have failed to do what we should or we have done something
we should
not have done. We have dulled our hearing or impaired our eyesight."
— Spencer W. Kimball, "BYU Speeches of the Year," October 11,
1961, p.6
(10/18/02)
"We have a great generation of youth, but as I talk to many, I am amazed
and surprised at the laxity of prayers among them, especially those who are in
sin. Many have nearly ceased to pray. Their communication wires are down. Also
numerous young people in their early married days cease to pray with regularity;
their lines are sagging." — Spencer
W. Kimball, "Keep the Lines of Communication Strong,"
"Ensign," July 1972, p. 38
(10/19/02)
"Miracle of miracles and wonder of wonders, they are interested in us, and
we are the substance of their great concern. They are available to each of us.
We approach the Father through the Son. He is our intercessor at the throne of
God. How marvelous it is that we may so speak to the Father in the name of the
Son." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," "Ensign," Mar. 1998, p. 7
(10/20/02)
"I am particularly gratified, and it is of great significance to me, that I
may at any moment and in any circumstance approach through prayer the throne of
grace, that my Heavenly Father will hear my petition, that my Advocate, him who
did no sin, whose blood was shed, will plead my cause. (See D&C 45:3-5.) I
rely heavily on that access to God, which he gives to all his children, for he
is indeed no respecter of persons, and he that asks shall receive." — D. Todd Christofferson, "I Know in Whom I
Have Trusted," "Ensign," May 1993, p. 83
(10/21/02)
"But is prayer only one-way communication? No! One of the reasons 'prayer
is the soul's sincere desire' (Hymns, no. 220) is because prayer is such a
privilege-not only to speak to our Father in Heaven, but also to receive love
and inspiration from him. At the end of our prayers, we need to do some intense
listening-even for several minutes. We have prayed for counsel and help. Now we
must 'be still, and know that [he is] God' (Ps. 46:10.)" — Spencer W. Kimball, "Pray Always,"
"Ensign," Oct. 1981, p. 5
(10/22/02)
"Thankfully, we can call upon Him anytime, anywhere. We can speak to Him in
the quiet thoughts of our mind and from the deepest feelings of our heart. It
has been said, 'prayer is made up of heart throbs and the righteous yearnings of
the soul.' (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book
Co., 1977, p. 238.)" — Rex D.
Pinegar, "Peace through Prayer," "Ensign," May 1993, p. 66
(1/14/04)
"When we use these sacred words, 'in the name of Jesus Christ,' they are
much more than a way to get out of a prayer or out of a testimony or out of a
talk. We are on holy ground, brothers and sisters. We are using a name most
sublime, most holy, and most wonderful-the very name of the Son of God. We are
now able to come unto the Father through His Beloved Son. What power and
reassurance and peace come when we really pray in His name. This conclusion to
the prayer may, in many ways, be the most important part of the prayer. We can
appeal to the Father through His victorious Son with confidence that our prayers
will be heard. We can ask and receive, we can seek and find and subsequently
find the open door." - L. Edward Brown, "Pray
unto the Father in My Name," General Conference, April 1997
(2/13/04)
"To receive personal revelation requires a constant, concentrated effort in
which we continue to petition Heavenly Father about our concerns. We cannot
become casual in our communications with Him. To do so is to ignore the counsel
to 'trifle not with sacred things' (D&C 6:12). We must follow
the counsel to 'pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy
name by night' (2 Ne. 9:52).
It is not the duration of our prayers but the depth of our desire that results
in revelation." - L. Lionel Kendrick, "Personal
Revelation," Ensign, Sept. 1999, p. 8
(3/15/04)
"All of us have much to learn and need good counsel. And beyond sound human
help, beyond the 'arm of flesh,' it is written, 'Counsel with the Lord in all
thy doings, and he will direct thee for good' (Alma 37:37). 'He will console
you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause' (Jacob 3:1)." - Marion D.
Hanks, "I
Will Look unto the Lord," Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 13
(3/21/04)
"Prayer as a means of changing the hearts of national leaders? Of course!
We cannot underestimate the power that is opened to us when all of us-in family
prayers, in private prayers, in our meetings-combine our faith to plead with the
Lord to help bring about righteous purposes here on earth. In fact, the Book of
Mormon contains eloquent testimony of the power of prayer to open wide the doors
that seem irrevocably locked." - Dean L. Larsen, "Prayer:
The Missionary Tool in Everyone's Hands," Ensign, Oct. 1977, p. 38
(4/5/04)
"Your prayer can take many forms. It can be sung in a hymn, or whispered,
or even thought. It can be as short as one word-'help!'-or it could be as long
as Enos's prayer that lasted all night and all day. The important thing to
remember is to pray often, talk to Heavenly Father, seek his counsel so that he
can guide you. When you draw near to Heavenly Father in prayer, he will draw
near to you. You need never feel alone again." - Dwan J. Young, "Draw
Near to Him in Prayer," Ensign, November 1985, p. 92
(4/24/04)
"The most important step in spiritual preparation is prayer. Prayer is a
means of seeking help and understanding. It is recognition that 'man doth not
comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.' (Mosiah 4:9.)" - Loren C.
Dunn, "Teaching
by the Power of the Spirit," Ensign, September 1984, p. 12
(5/24/04)
"Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord.
Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him.
What a marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually
speak with our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen
to that response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share
with Him. He has said, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest' (Matthew
11:28). He continues, 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (v. 30)." - Gordon B.
Hinckley, "Stay
on the High Road," General Young Women Meeting, March 2004
(6/14/04)
"Would you like the power to ward off and resist temptation? If so, do as
Alma and Paul suggested: 'Pray continually,... and thus be led by the Holy
Spirit.' (Alma 13:28.)"
- Carlos E. Asay, "The
Companionship of the Holy Ghost," Ensign, April 1988, p. 17
(7/24/04)
"Faith can be fortified through prayer. Prayer is the powerful key to
making decisions, not only concerning your physical body, but concerning all
other important aspects of your life. Humbly seek the Lord in prayer with a
sincere heart and real intent, and He will help you. (See Alma 33:23; Moro. 7:9; Moro. 10:4; D&C 9:7-9.)" - Russell
M. Nelson, "Choices,"
Ensign, November 1990, p. 75
(8/17/04)
"The family should kneel together daily in family prayer. Alma 58:10 tells us:
'Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen
us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us
strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions,
for the support of our people.' Our family has always needed to be
strengthened-and still does-and kneeling in prayer daily certainly helps.
Children need to be constantly taught how they should act when they mature and
have their own families." - LeGrand R. Curtis, "Happiness
Is Homemade," Ensign, November 1990, p. 13
(12/3/04)
"Joseph Smith has given us not only the message
of the divine Restoration but also the practical how-to steps to obtain personal
and divine communication. The young Joseph tells us of the confusion in his
life. Said he, 'I was laboring under... extreme difficulties' (JS-H
1:11). He was driven to the
scriptures to seek guidance, which he found in the epistle of James: 'If any of
you lack wisdom, let him ask of God' (James
1:5). The young Joseph said, 'At
length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and
confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God' (JS-H
1:13). Joseph no doubt also read
the following words given by James: 'But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed'
(James
1:6). Joseph knelt to offer up
the desire of his heart. Then came a wrestling and darkness. This was followed
by the light of the divine message. The answer and the instruction were complete
and full. Is not this the instruction, the how-to we need to obtain divine
answers to the confusion and to the vexatious problems in our lives?" -
James E. Faust, "He
Restoreth My Soul," Ensign,
October 1997, p. 2
(12/4/04)
"Brothers and sisters, as we go forward in our lives, let us never forget
to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is our Father. He is accessible
to us. He is the author of eternal truth, the Master of the universe. The handle
is ready, and the door can be opened to His abundance. 'If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God.' (James
1:5-6.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Pillars
of Truth," Ensign, January 1994, p. 2
(12/6/04)
"Sometimes we may feel that our spiritual edge has grown dull. On some very
trying days, we may even feel that God has forgotten us, has left us alone in
our confusion and concern. But that feeling is no more justified for the older
ones among us than it is for the younger and less experienced. God knows and
loves us all. We are, every one of us, his daughters and his sons, and whatever
life's lessons may have brought us, the promise is still true: 'If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.' (James
1:5.)" - Howard W. Hunter, "Blessed
from on High," Ensign, November 1988, p. 60
(12/7/04)
"Some of the most remarkable personal revelations have
been directly related to individual study of the scriptures. For example, the
vision of the degrees of glory recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76 came to the
Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon after the Prophet had been studying the
translation of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John. (D&C
76:headnote, D&C
76:15-24.) Joseph Smith's First Vision came after he had reflected on James
1:5 'again and again.' (JS-H
1:11-17.) And President Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the
dead came as he pondered over questions related to 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 4:6 [1
Pet. 3:18-20; 1 Pet. 4:6].
(D&C 138:1-11.)" -
Joe J. Christensen, "Toward
Greater Spirituality: Ten Important Steps," Ensign, June 1983, p. 8
(2/5/05)
"If you ask the Lord for help, he will give you strength, power, and
ability to overcome Lucifer and withstand his efforts, and thus you will be
strengthened and made more perfect. We must seek the Lord's help in prayer.
"The Lord has made no promise to those who try to go it alone. As soon as
you think you can lick the devil alone, on your own, without the Lord's help,
you have lost the battle before you start." - Eldred G. Smith, "Decisions,"
Ensign, Dec. 1971, p. 46
(3/6/05)
"I'm reminded of something I read just the other day. Let me share it with
you. It seems that a small boy was trying to lift a heavy stone, but couldn't
budge it. His father, watching very interestedly, said, 'Are you sure you're
using all of your strength?'
"'Yes, I am!' the boy cried.
"'No, you're not,' said the father. 'You haven't asked me to help you.'
"Well, let me just tell you that however tight the game seems at the
moment, I know the coach and I know that He can help. There is a personal and
loving God who knows all of the plays. He understands the game of life. He
understands you and me. And he understands what you and I need now to help in
our lives. Talking to him is an easy thing, really. All you have to do is call
time-out. Say to yourself, 'I've had it. I need help.' And be prepared to
listen. Say to him, 'I can't take any more of this running without seeing
clearly where the bases are or the direction I'm headed.'" - Paul H. Dunn,
"Time-Out!"
Ensign, May 1980, p. 38
(6/2/05)
"In a world of instant communication, we are
prone to become impatient and want instant answers to our prayers. God always
answers prayers, but He does it in His own way and in His own time. Perhaps it
is wise to remember this counsel: 'Be still and know that I am God' (D&C
101:16)." - L. Lionel Kendrick, "Personal
Revelation," Ensign, Sept. 1999, 9
(6/24/05)
"I bear witness to you that God listens to humble prayer. If
he didn't, he wouldn't ask us to pray. Part of our worthwhile, urgency prayers
today can be a reverent, quiet, listening period. Can we not appropriately say
that he that goes to the well of prayer with faith unwavering is daily drawing
oil for his lamp? It is also possible to help accumulate our supply in
meaningful meditation." - Marvin J. Ashton, "A
Time of Urgency," Ensign, May 1974, 37
(7/2/05)
"It is pleasing to that God whose we are when we fast and
pray and seek his blessings; when we plead with all the energy of our souls for
those things we so much desire; when, as Paul says, we 'come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
need.' (Heb. 4:16.)
"Prayer is the way and means, given us by our Creator, whereby we can counsel
and communicate with him. It is one of the chief cornerstones of pure and
perfect worship.
"In prayer we speak to the Lord, and he speaks to us. It is our privilege to
have our voices heard in the courts above and to hear the answering voice of the
Lord conveyed by the power of his Spirit.
"Prayer changes our lives. Through it we draw near to the Lord, and he reaches
out his finger and touches us, so we never again are the same." - Bruce R.
McConkie, "Patterns
of Prayer," Ensign, May 1984, 32
(7/16/05)
"I give you my testimony that if you sincerely apply family
prayer, you will not go away unrewarded. The changes may not be readily
apparent. They may be extremely subtle. But they will be real, for God 'is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' (Heb.
11:6.)" - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Blessings of Family Prayer," Ensign, Feb. 1991, 5
(8/21/05)
"Parental prayer is an unfathomable source of power. Parents
can never give up hoping or caring or believing. Surely they can never give up
praying. At times prayer may be the only course of action remaining—but it is
the most powerful of them all." - Jeffrey R. Holland, "Alma,
Son of Alma," Ensign, Mar. 1977, 81
(9/18/05)
"We need to continually take the time to communicate with our
Heavenly Father and those about us. As we share, we can make the difference in
the life and light of others. We lift as we love and as we convey our love
through communication. In the scriptures we read, 'But to do good and to
communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.' (Hebrews
13:16.)
"In all of our relationships, communication should be open, comforting, and
sincere. God has invited us to communicate with Him through prayer continually,
no matter where we are or what the circumstances. He wants to hear from us. He
loves us. He knows us. He wants to be part of our lives and to help us solve our
problems. How important it is to improve our communication with Him and with
others every day!" - Marvin J. Ashton, "Be of Good Cheer" [Salt Lake City:
Deseret Book Co., 1987], p. 101
(9/21/05)
"We are commanded to pray (Alma
34:17-27) both vocally and in secret. Secret prayer is a personal, private
communication that God has provided between us. Elder Francis M. Gibbons wrote:
'Satan and his followers, who have been cast out of God's presence and are dead
to His spirit, are excluded from those who, by the spirit of prophecy and
revelation, may know the thoughts and the intents of our hearts. So, in his
wisdom and mercy, God has provided a channel of communication between him and
his children on earth that Satan, our common enemy, cannot invade. This is the
channel of secret prayer. The significance of this to the Latter-day Saint is
profound, for by this means we are able to communicate with our Heavenly Father
in secrecy, confident that the adversary cannot intrude.' (Francis M. Gibbons, "The
Dual Aspects of Prayer," Ensign, November 1991, p. 78)
"As parents, if we teach the importance of prayer in our homes, we must pray
ourselves. We must have our family prayers morning and night, a blessing on the
food at each meal, as well as our personal, private prayers." - Joseph B.
Wirthlin, "Finding Peace in Our Lives" [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1995],
p. 163
(10/28/05)
"The Lord will be involved in the specifics
of your life if you invite him to be. In my own life, I've seen time and again
how true this is. I may be struggling with a problem and trying all sorts of
solutions. Then, after the frustration that usually comes from relying on my own
strength, I finally humble myself and ask for help in a specific way. I testify
that consistently the Lord gives me ideas or thoughts or feelings that help me
to come to the resolution of the problem. I am surely thankful for a loving,
gracious Father in Heaven, who will answer prayers and do so immediately." -
Gene R. Cook, "Receiving Answers to Our Prayers," p.54
11/30/05
"The time will come when we shall know the will of
God before we ask. Then everything for which we pray will be 'expedient.'
Everything for which we ask will be 'right.' That will be when as a result of
righteous living, we shall so enjoy the companionship of the spirit that he will
dictate what we ask. On this point the Lord has said, 'He that asketh in the
Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he
asketh' (D. & C. 46:30), and
again, 'And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask
whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done. But know this, it
shall be given you what you shall ask.' (D.
& C. 50:29-30.) Nephi, the son of Helaman, so lived. He with unwearyingness
declared the word of God. He sought not his own life but the will of God, and to
keep his commandments continually, and to him the Lord said, '...all things
shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which
is contrary to my will.' (Helaman
10:5.)" - Marion G. Romney, "Conference Report," October 1944, Second
Day—Morning Meeting, p.56
12/8/05
"A youngster was assigned by his father to see to the moving of a large
rock. He tugged and pushed, and he lifted and struggled without avail. Some
friends were enlisted, but together they could not move it. Reluctantly he
reported to his father that he could not budge the rock.
"'Have you done all you could?' asked the father.
"'Yes,' said the little boy.
"'Have you tried everything?' persisted the father.
"'Yes,' said the boy. 'I've tried everything.'
"'No, son, you haven't,' said his dad. 'You haven't asked me.'
"Why do so many of us, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, fail to go to him,
to keep in touch with our Father? He is anxious to help. But he wants us to
learn our need for him, to open the door to him." - Marion D. Hanks, "Joy
through Christ," Ensign (CR), July 1972, p.104
12/13/05
"I wonder if we ever stop to think why the Lord has asked us to pray. Did he ask
us to pray because he wants us to bow down and worship him? Is that the main
reason? I don't think it is. He is our Heavenly Father, and we have been
commanded to worship him and pray to him in the name of his Beloved Son, Jesus
Christ. But the Lord can get along without our prayers. His work will go on just
the same, whether we pray or whether we do not. He knows the end from the
beginning. There are many worlds that have passed through the same experience
that we are going through. He has had sons and daughters on other earths, where
they have had the same privileges and the same opportunities to serve him and
the same commandments that we have had given to us. Prayer is something that we
need, not that the Lord needs. He knows just how to conduct his affairs and how
to take care of them without any help from us. Our prayers are not for the
purpose of telling him how to run his business. If we have any such idea as
that, then of course we have the wrong idea. Our prayers are uttered more for
our sakes, to build us up and give us strength and courage, and to increase our
faith in him." - Joseph Fielding Smith, "Conference Report," April 1968, First
Day—Morning Meeting, p.10
12/14/05
"At times you young women may feel you are having an experience like Nephi. The
Lord has not asked you to build a ship, but to build your life. You don't yet
know what your completed mortal life looks like. But your Father in Heaven knows
and can guide you one step at a time. He is asking you to build your life
according to His guidelines because He is the One who created you and wants you
ready to return back home with Him someday. Like Nephi, you too may have
detractors and dissenters seeking to change your course, or at least slow down
your progress.
"But you have access to the same system of communication that Nephi used. Long
before e-mail and faxes, cell phones and satellite dishes, computers and the
Internet, this communication with your Heavenly Father was in place. It predates
every type of networking invention today. Its power extends through the cosmos."
- Sharon G. Larsen, "Your
Celestial Guide," Ensign (CR), May 2001, p.86
1/16/06
Topic: Don't Go It Alone
"Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never
hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him. What a
marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually speak with
our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen to that
response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share with Him.
He has said, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest' (Matt. 11:28).
He continues, 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (Matt.
11:30)." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stay
on the High Road," Ensign (CR), May 2004, p.112
1/19/06
"Many prayers are spoken while we are on our knees. The Savior knelt as He
prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. (See
Luke 22:41.) But silent
prayers of the heart also reach to heaven. We sing, 'Prayer is the souls sincere
desire, Uttered or unexpressed.' (Hymns, no. 145.) Sincere prayers come from the
heart. Indeed, sincerity requires that we draw from the earnest feelings of our
hearts when we pray rather than using vain repetitions or pretentious
affectations such as those condemned by the Savior in the parable of the
Pharisee and the publican. (See
Luke 18:10-14.) Our
prayers then truly become the 'song of the heart' and a 'prayer,' (D&C
25:12.) not only reaching God but touching the hearts of others as well." -
James E. Faust, "The
Lifeline of Prayer," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.59
2/1/06
"Perhaps the most important lesson young Joseph learned in the Sacred Grove is
this significant eternal truth: the heavens are not sealed. God does communicate
with mortals. He loves us today just as much as He loved those who lived
anciently. What comfort that sweet assurance provides in a world filled with
confusion and discouragement! What peace and security come to the heart that
understands that God in heaven knows us and cares about us, individually and
collectively, and that He communicates with us, either directly or through His
living prophets, according to our needs." - M. Russell Ballard, "Restored
Truth," Ensign (CR), November 1994, p.65
2/17/06
"Obviously, secret prayer is necessary in many cases where it is awkward or
infeasible to pray vocally. So, if we are in a social or a business setting and
need comfort or direction, a resort to secret prayer is often our only
alternative.
"But a more significant reason for praying secretly is found in the Doctrine and
Covenants, section 6, where it is written, 'Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest
know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents
of thy heart.' (D&C 6:16.)
"Other scriptures broaden this concept to include not only God, but those whom
God inspires. So Zeezrom, the crafty lawyer who was taught by Alma and Amulek,
became convinced 'that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for
power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the
spirit of prophecy.' (Alma 12:7.)
"It is clear, then, that Satan and his followers, who have been cast out of
God's presence and are dead to His Spirit, are excluded from those who, by the
spirit of prophecy and revelation, may know the thoughts and the intents of our
hearts. So, in his wisdom and mercy, God has provided a channel of communication
between him and his children on earth that Satan, our common enemy, cannot
invade. This is the channel of secret prayer. The significance of this to the
Latter-day Saint is profound, for by this means we are able to communicate with
our Heavenly Father in secrecy, confident that the adversary cannot intrude." -
Francis M. Gibbons, "The
Dual Aspects of Prayer," Ensign (CR), November 1991, p.78
3/22/06
"... to Thomas B. Marsh [the Lord said]: 'Pray always, lest you enter into
temptation and lose your reward.' (D&C
31:12.)...
"The purpose of prayer... is not to appease a vindictive Deity; nor is it to
court favors from an indulgent Father. It is to attune oneself with the spirit
or light which 'proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity
of space.' (D&C 88:12.) In
that light is to be found sure answers to all our needs." - Marion G. Romney, "Prayer
and Revelation," Ensign (CR), May 1978, p.48
3/31/06
"We remember His counsel: 'When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the
hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.
"'But thou, when thou prayest,... pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matt.
6:5-6.)
"This guiding instruction has helped troubled souls discover the peace for which
they fervently yearn and earnestly hope.
"Unfortunately, prosperity, abundance, honor, and praise lead some men to the
false security of haughty self-assurance and the abandonment of the inclination
to pray. Conversely, trial, tribulation, sickness, and death crumble the castles
of men's pride and bring them to their knees to petition for power from on
high." - Thomas S. Monson, "The
Prayer of Faith," Ensign (CR), May 1978, p.20
4/3/06
"A constant expression of gratitude should be included in all our prayers. Often
prayers are given for specific blessings which we, in our incomplete
understanding, believe we need. While the Lord does answer prayers according to
His will, He certainly must be pleased when we offer humble prayers of
gratitude." - Steven E. Snow, "Gratitude,"
Ensign (CR), November 2001, p.43
4/11/06
"When you pray—when you talk to your Heavenly Father—do you really talk out your
problems with Him? Do you let Him know your feelings, your doubts, your
insecurities, your joys, your deepest desires—or is prayer merely an habitual
expression with the same words and phrases? Do you ponder what you really mean
to say? Do you take time to listen to the promptings of the Spirit? Answers to
prayer come most often by a still voice and are discerned by our deepest,
innermost feelings. I tell you that you can know the will of God concerning
yourselves if you will take the time to pray and to listen." - Ezra
Taft Benson, "A
Message to the Rising Generation," Ensign (CR), November 1977, p.30
4/26/06
"Now, when to pray: Generally, I think we might say that we should pray in
secret, with our families, and in worship meetings and public assemblies.
"Secret prayer should have a place in every persons life. Again the Savior gave
us the pattern when he said: '...when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and
when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.' (Matt.
6:6.)
"The Prophet Joseph Smith, speaking on this subject, stated: 'We would say to
the brethren, seek to know God in your closets, call upon him in the fields.
Follow the directions of the Book of Mormon, and pray over, and for your
families, your cattle, your flocks, your herds, your corn, and all things that
you possess; ask the blessing of God upon all your labors, and everything that
you engage in.' (DHC, vol. 5, p. 31.)" - Franklin D. Richards, "The
Importance of Prayer," Ensign (CR), July 1972, p.66
4/30/06
"Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we have while here on earth. Through
prayer we can communicate with our Heavenly Father and seek His guidance daily.
Jesus taught, 'Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name' (3
Ne. 18:19). We should pray each day that we will have the power to resist
temptation. Amulek teaches us that we should pray 'morning, mid-day, and
evening' and that our hearts should 'be full, drawn out in prayer unto [God]
continually' (Alma 34:21,
27). Our daily prayers influence our thoughts, our words, and our actions.
In order to retain a remission of our sins, it is essential that we ask our
Heavenly Father each day for strength to stay in the straight and narrow way." -
Keith Crockett, "Retaining
a Remission of Sin," Ensign (CR), November 2000, p.77
5/6/06
"The pattern for seeking answers from God is simple to explain yet much more
personal when applied. To begin, we are invited to study in our minds and ponder
in our hearts those things that we most desire of Him. (See
D&C 9:7-8;
Moro. 10:3.) This process of
reflection brings clarity and inspiration to our souls. We are then instructed
to present our thoughts and desires directly to Heavenly Father in humble prayer
with the promise that, if we ask Him in the name of Christ, if what we are
seeking is right, and if we 'ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having
faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto [us], by the power of the
Holy Ghost,' for it is 'by the power of the Holy Ghost' that we 'know the truth
of all things.' (Moro. 10:4-5.)"
- Craig C. Christensen, "Seek,
and Ye Shall Find," Ensign (CR), May 2003, p.33
5/30/06
"To be effective, prayers must not consist of words alone. Earnest prayers must
have an appropriate blend of earnest feeling and spirit. It is the spirit that
not only teaches a man to pray, but also makes his heartfelt desires acceptable
and conveyable. If a contrite spirit and a broken heart are united with faith
unwavering, our prayers, no matter how simple the words, will be significant." -
Marvin J. Ashton, "Personal Prayers," Prayer , p.77
8/14/06
"If you're praying for something that really matters, you can count on the fact
that the devil will get involved. He's eager to do what he can to thwart you. He
will do his best to dissuade you from going forward. He'll give you such
thoughts as "You can't do it. You're not worthy enough. Your family's got too
many problems. You can't do what the Lord requires." He'll engineer whatever he
can to try to make you doubt. So you may as well know up front that he is going
to tempt you.
"When you attract the devil's attention and he starts to give you more
opposition than you normally have, that's a great sign that you're on a course
that pleases God and displeases Satan.
"I've found that when you begin to pray for something that really matters, many
times things get worse, not better. Often the cause is Satan and his helpers,
who are doing their best to make sure you don't succeed. That ought to be a
signal to a man or woman of faith: "I'm on the right track. I'm doing something
that's making a difference and I will now double my faith." If you can increase
your faith in that moment, you will have won most of the battle." - Gene R.
Cook, "Receiving Answers to Our Prayers," p.136-137
8/19/06
"Jesus counseled, 'Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you
may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan
that do uphold his work.' (D&C
10:5.)
"In our individual prayers we should sincerely ask our Father in heaven to help
us meet and conquer the temptations of this life, and ask him to deliver us from
evil. We have been commanded to ask.
"Proper sincere prayer to a living Father in heaven, through a living Savior and
Mediator, is essential for protection from the power and evil influence of the
devil. It is very important for the Saints to know that during today's perilous
times when peace has been taken from the earth, and Satan has power over his own
dominion and over all that will not hearken unto the voice of God, that the Lord
gave these comforting words, 'The Lord shall have power over his saints, and
shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon the world.' (D&C
1:36.)" - Bernard P. Brockbank, "Hearken
Unto the Voice of God," Ensign (CR), May 1974, p.113
9/1/06
"When one of our daughters was about three years old, she did something that
always delighted her parents. When we called her name, she would usually answer
by saying, 'Here me is.' This childish reply was among the sweetest things her
parents heard. But when she was grown, we expected her to use appropriate
language when she spoke, and of course she did. As the Apostle Paul said, 'When
I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a
child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.' (1
Cor. 13:11.)
"The same is true of prayer. Our earliest efforts will be heard with joy by our
Heavenly Father, however they are phrased. They will be heard in the same way by
loving members of our church. But as we gain experience as members of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we need to become more mature in all of
our efforts, including our prayers.
"Men and women who wish to show respect will take the time to learn the special
language of prayer. Persons spend many hours mastering communication skills in
other mediums, such as poetry or prose, vocal or instrumental music, and even
the language of access to computers. My brothers and sisters, the manner of
addressing our Heavenly Father in prayer is at least as important as these." -
Dallin H. Oaks, "The
Language of Prayer," Ensign (CR), May 1993, p.15
9/20/06
"Just as the Savior stood ready to help this father whose son was 'sore vexed,'
(Matt.
17:15.) so is He ready to help our unbelief today so that with faith we can
survive our mortal struggles and 'come off conqueror.' (D&C
10:5.)" - L. Whitney Clayton, "Help
Thou Mine Unbelief," Ensign (CR), November 2001, p.28
9/28/06
"When we pray, we should not presume to give counsel but should inquire of the
Lord [The Lord said, 'If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon
revelation, knowledge upon knowledge' (D&C
42:61.) The Lord explained that 'you must study it out in your mind; then
you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom
shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be
not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of
thought' (D&C 9:8–9).] and
hearken to His counsel. Joseph Smith's first prayer ushered in the Restoration
of the gospel. In 1833, he received the Word of Wisdom after asking the Lord for
counsel. The revelation on the priesthood received in 1978 by President Spencer
W. Kimball came after intense inquiry. Inspiration regarding the construction of
smaller temples came after the pondering of President Gordon B. Hinckley." -
Russell M. Nelson, "Where
Is Wisdom?" Ensign, Nov. 1992, 6
11/15/06
"My wife and I have seven children, six sons and a daughter. Each one of our
children has been taught to pray as soon as he or she was old enough to kneel.
Some of the sweetest prayers ever offered in our home have been those of our
children. Many times we as adults forget how teachable children are, and how
much they can learn if we give them guidance and encouragement. Sometimes
parents are overly permissive or too lax in their teaching, thinking their
children do not comprehend. They comprehend more than we would suppose. They can
be taught to pray at a very early age." - Vaughn J. Featherstone, "Teaching Our
Children to Pray," "Prayer," p. 89
12/21/06
"Think about the Savior. It takes a lot of confidence to tell a blind man to
see, or to tell a crippled man to pick up his bed, or to set off walking across
the surface of a stormy sea. Where did Jesus' confidence come from? I think it
came from his relationship with his Heavenly Father. If we have faith in the
Savior and follow his example, I think that we also can have the same kind of
confidence. Jesus taught us how to pray, how to approach our Father in Heaven in
great confidence and great love. I have read that the Aramaic word Jesus used
doesn't mean just 'Father' but something much more intimate, like 'Daddy' or
'Papa,' the word a very small child would use in calling to his or her father.
The apostle Paul told the Hebrews: 'Let us... come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' (Hebrews
4:16.) Paul was reminding the Hebrews that they could have confidence in
Christ because He was their Savior. He reminded the people that they were only
mortals but they still were good enough to give bread and fish to their
children, not stones or serpents. 'How much more shall your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?' (Luke
11:13.)" - Chieko N. Okazaki, Aloha!, p.60
1/15/07
"We cannot find Enos-like
faith without our own wrestle before God in prayer. I testify that the reward is
worth the effort. Remember the pattern: (1) hear the word of God, spoken and
written by His servants; (2) let that word sink deep into your heart; (3) hunger
in your soul for righteousness; (4) obediently follow gospel laws, ordinances,
and covenants; and (5) raise your voice in mighty prayer and supplication,
asking in faith to know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I promise that if you
do these things sincerely and unceasingly, the words Christ spoke to His
disciples will be fulfilled in your life: 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' (Matt. 7:7.)" - Robert D. Hales,
"Finding
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," Ensign (CR), November 2004, p.70
4/6/07
"Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in
Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most
all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as
insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because
He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, 'Thou shalt pray
vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in
public as well as in private.' (D&C 19:28.)
"It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free
or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need
no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed.
It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for
help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you
and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer." - Richard G.
Scott, "Using
the Supernal Gift of Prayer," General Conference, April 2007
5/1/07
"As you exercise your agency, remember, you are not alone. In addition to a kind
and wise Heavenly Father, there are others who are praying for you to make wise
choices. As a youth, when I would go out on a date or with my friends, I would
always check in with my parents when I came home. Usually I would just knock on
their door, open it and say, 'I'm home,' and then go to bed. One night I came
home from a date, knocked as usual, and then opened the door. As I did so, the
light from the hall fell on my angel mother on her knees in prayer. And as I saw
her there, I knew whom she was praying for. I have never forgotten that
experience. And the knowledge that my mother still prays for me today bears me
up and reminds me who I am and that I am not alone." - Charles W. Dahlquist II,
"Who's
On The Lord's Side?" General Conference, April 2007
5/22/07
"There is great power in praying for others, perhaps even more than in just
praying for yourself. The Lord said to Thomas B. Marsh, who was then president
of the Quorum of the Twelve:
"'I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy brethren. Be not
partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as
for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my
name.
"'And pray for thy brethren of the Twelve.' (D&C
112:11-12.)
"When we pray for others with a fervent heart, we are obeying the second great
commandment, to love our neighbors as ourselves. The Lord hears our pleas in
their behalf and blesses them according to that which they are willing receive.
"I've found it helpful to pray when I'm trying to help another, 'Lord, deliver
me his heart. How may I help this man now? How might I lighten his burden?' It's
as important to pray specifically for others as it is for ourselves." - Gene R.
Cook, "Receiving Answers to Our Prayers," p.69
9/16/07
"Our hearts can
only be drawn out to God when they are filled with love for Him and trust in His
goodness. Joseph Smith, even as a boy, gave us an example of how we can come to
pray from a heart filled with the love of God and then pray unceasingly through
a life filled with trials and blessings.
"Joseph started for the grove to
pray with faith that a loving God would answer his prayer and relieve his
confusion. He gained that assurance reading the word of God and receiving a
witness that it was true. He said that he read in James, 'Let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him.' (James
1:5; JS-H
1:11) His faith to ask of God in prayer came after
pondering a scripture which assured him of Gods loving nature. He prayed, as we
must, with faith in a loving God." - Henry B. Eyring, "Prayer," Ensign (CR), November 2001,
p.15
10/5/07
"'Please, Lord,
help me to help myself.' I am convinced that this prayer for increased personal
powers—spiritual strength, greater inspiration, and greater confidence—is one
that God always answers. We can learn to solve our problems with God's help,
making him our partner." - Franklin D. Richards, "The Importance of Prayer," Ensign (CR), July
1972, p.66
1/12/08
"Joseph Smith’s mission was
unique, yet his humble prayer can be a helpful model for us. He began, as we
must, with faith in a loving God who can and wants to communicate with us and
help us. That faith was rooted in impressions which came to him as he pondered
the words of God’s servants in the scriptures. We can and must go often and
carefully to the word of God. If we become casual in our study of the
scriptures, we will become casual in our prayers." - Henry B. Eyring, "Prayer,"
Ensign (CR), November 2001, p.15
4/2/08
"We can call upon our Heavenly Father in
the name of our Savior. Prayer provides an opportunity for us to express
gratitude. Taking an inventory of our blessings fills us with hope. 'Pray
unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this
love.' (Moro.
7:48.)
"We
can ask for what we need hour by hour and minute by minute. It is possible to
have this personal conversation with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ by
kneeling in prayer, just as surely as if we could kneel beside the manger and
see the Savior there." - Betty Jo N.
Jepsen, "By
Way of Invitation" (Alma 5:62),
Ensign (CR), November 1992, p.76
5/4/08
"I
long have been impressed with the truth that meaningful prayer requires both
holy communication and consecrated work. Blessings require some effort on our
part before we can obtain them, and prayer, as 'a
form of work, . . . is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all
blessings' (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer,”
753). We press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of prayer, after we
say 'amen,'
by acting upon the things we have expressed to Heavenly Father."
- David A. Bednar, "Ask
in Faith," General Conference, April 2008
Refer your friends to join The LDS Daily WOOL (Words Of Our Leaders)