6.14.15

Preparation for prayer. Marion D. Hanks.

D&C 88:32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.

This principle applies also to prayer. We will enjoy the blessings we are willing to receive. The ones we are willing to work for.

God knows our hearts, our thoughts and our needs. Then why pray? He wants us to be involved, to have the experience, to make the effort, knowing that only in this way do we really understand, commit our hearts, and grow.

In our burdens and anxiety and times of moral weakness we have of ourselves no strength sufficient for the need. Why not try God? He is our ready source of power.

*Wow. I love this talk so much. Wow.

6.13.15

Why should we pray? Marion G. Romney.

3 Nephi 12: 48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

"No one shall ever reach such perfection unless he is guided to it by Him who is perfect. And guidance from Him is to be had only through prayer."

I guess it has never struck my mind that the connection is just that, a link to perfection, to glory, to goodness. I love it.

6.12.15

Moroni 7: 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I find myself praying daily for love and happiness. When we wake up, get in the car, eat food, go for walks, we pray for happiness and love. I find myself struggling to convey my love at times during the day. The boys have been sick and hurting, so also cranky, which makes momma cranky. When I pray for happiness & love, it reminds me & sets me straight.

6.11.15

Bruce R. McConkie. Why the Lord ordained prayer.

3 Ne. 17:17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

Even after the Savior was resurrected, glorified and perfected, He prayed to the Father! I never thought if this before, but it truly is amazing. I also know it's something I need to work on, very much work on.

6.10.15

Pres. N. Eldon Tanner. Intro. Prayer.

I'm going to start my morning prayers with this: "Let thy blessings attend us as we go about our duties, that we may do what is right and return to report to thee."

He says, " We must teach by example, and let the efficacy of prayer in our lives show of the great blessing of learning to know God and learning to depend on Him for the comfort and strength and guidance needed so badly in order to cope with the problems of the day."

6.9.15

Revelation 3: 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

I'm reading a book now about the power of prayer and strengthening my connection to the Father. I know this scripture is all over, and so is the one "any who knock" but it hit me hard tonight. He is there, at my door knocking, desiring me to answer. All I have to do to open the door is pray to Him, talk to Him. It's been a long road, and I have a ways to go but I think I'm getting better.

6.8.15

Elder Wirthlin. BYU devotional. 1-21-03

As we approach our Heavenly Father in the name of Christ, we open the windows of heaven. Prayer is the doorway through which we commence our discipleship to things heavenly and eternal. We will never be alone so long as we know how to pray.

I love this. Tonight I read about boring yourself with your prayers, repeating the same thing over and over. I struggle with this. If I catch myself saying words over and over, I stop, and think of 5 things I've been blessed with today. It's been helping to shape my prayers, to personalize them.

6.7.15

D&C 10:5 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.

I'm working on having more meaningful morning and evening prayers. I know once this is accomplished, I will continue to have meaningful prayers throughout the day. To connect with Him as I send thoughts and prayers to Him thru the whole day. About work, school, relationships, challenges, successes, wonderings, and everything. When I do this, I'll be "counseling with the Lord in all my doings" and He will guide me, and answer me.

6.6.15

Enos 1: 4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

I'm quickly starting to see that I need to pray continually and constantly to Father. It is so easy for me to suddenly see that I can do things "on my own" and that I don't need to ask of Him. But that's incorrect. He is continually blessing me and giving to me, I need to see His hand in my life, and pray. Once I stop praying, even for a day, it's hard to restart the next day. I'm learning that the loss of that connection, even for a day, is such a blow to me spiritually.

6.5.15

Moroni 8:3 I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.

Praying for our children is important, but praying for their parents is also important. Are you praying for your children, your spouse? Now is not too early to pray for them. I'm working on my prayers, to be more mindful of my children, their parents (that's us!), and the Father's told in each of our lives.

6.4.15

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

The Lord teaches us that He gives us weakness for the specific purpose of helping us become aware that we need Him to help us change. Sometimes we need to allow these weaknesses to show thru, we need to speak those weaknesses out loud, in private prayer, to Father. To ask for His help in overcoming the weakness He has given us, to ask to see the purpose, and to obtain the goal He sees for us.

6.3.15

Mosiah 24:22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God.

Lately, I feel my prayers have been ones of pleading, or begging, seeking His much needed help and guidance. And that's ok, He wants us to ask of Him, to seek after Him. But I need to remember to give thanks to Him for what He has given me, to show gratitude for all I have. In the scriptures, when prophets would pray in crisis, they also gave thanks. He is not a repairman, He is a loving friend who love us and wants to bless us.

6.2.15

Hel. 10:4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

I love how much the Lord trusts Nephi to make the right choice and to lead his life in righteousness. I'm grateful for unanswered prayers, the Lord trusts that I will make the right choice.  If we don't get an answer to a prayer, we should thank Father for His trust in us, and then move our feet, using our best judgement, to do what we feel He would want us to do. Perhaps no clear answer is the answer the He trusts us. I desire to be trustworthy.

6.1.15

Alma 34:18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27 Yea, 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.

We don't need an appointment to talk with our Father. I read this and saw my flock of boys, my wilderness of a home. This one is for me. I need to talk with Him more.

5.31.15

Alma 37:36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

One way to counsel with the Lord in all our doings to to keep a running dialogue with Him all day. To walk and talk with Him throughout the day. Ask for patience and kindness, reflect on the beauty, show gratitude, ask forgiveness. Spend the day with Him.