(This was an assignment for my Doctrine and Covenants class. I had to research a Gospel Topic of my choosing and research it. It's not my finest piece of writing, it's actually very sloppy. It slips in and out of first and second person all over the place. Luckily this isn't for an English class. However, the contents are very interesting. Prayer has been a topic of interest for me because I often have a hard time with it. Researching pamphlets, the scriptures, and general conference talks has opened my understanding of it and will hopefully help me improve my own prayers. So, here's my 3000+ word paper...)
While studying this topic, I came across a lot of instruction. For something that is so essential to our salvation, there sure are a lot of rules. Of course, God will not turn away anyone who is sincerely trying. I actually found all the instruction to be quite helpful because I often struggle with my own prayers, particularly public prayers. What do I say? How do I phrase it? What should be included? What order should I say these things? Is it appropriate to say certain things? I studied mainly the True to the Faith pamphlet, but I also referenced the LDS Gospel Topics, several different General Conference talks, and of course the scriptures.
Prayer is a central and crucial part of our lives. It is our way of communicating with our Heavenly Father and developing a strong relationship with Him. Understanding our Father’s will is essential to our eternal salvation. Jesus Christ commanded, “Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 18:19). Richard G. Scott calls prayer a “supernatural gift.” He goes on to say of prayer, “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” (Using the Supernatural Gift). Heavenly Father is always ready to hear our prayers, but their power depends on us. We must make them meaningful. Mormon warned us that if anyone “shall pray and not with real intent of heart . . . it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such” (Moroni 7:9). Joseph B. Wirthlin said in his talk Improving Our Prayers, “We must pray with true sincerity and must avoid “vain repetitions” (Matt 6:7). Sometimes they become routine. Our prayers become hollow when we say similar words in similar ways over and over so often that the words become more of a recitation than a communication.” I know that I am certainly guilty of doing this. I know that sometimes I must pray for the same things all the time, such as “please bless our church leaders” or something like that. However, as I kneel down to pray, I should actually think about what I am saying and not just spew it out like a robot. When we mindlessly say things in our prayers without really thinking about it, even if those things are good, that is when they become “vain repetitions.”
When we pray, we must use remember that we are addressing our Father in Heaven, our Creator, the Almighty God. Therefore, we must use language that shows love, reverence, and respect. The language varies on the different languages spoken, but in English, for example, we must use the same words that the scriptures use to address God such as Thee, Thou, Thy, and Thine (True to the Faith, 119). Imagine speaking to a king. You would not just address him like you would your friends or family. You would be formal and courteous. God is a million times greater than an ordinary king. We must show him all the respect, love, and reverence He deserves.
We must always start our prayers by giving thanks to our Father in Heaven. He has given us so much and we should show our gratitude before jumping into all our needs. We should “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you” (Alma 34:38). As we take the time to remember all the blessings we have been given, we will begin to recognize just how much Heavenly Father has done for us. I, personally, try to find at least ten things to be grateful for before making my requests. I always thank him for my family and for the gospel. I also try to come up with some new things every time so that I avoid “vain repetitions.” Sometimes, I even try to express why I am thankful for those things and I pour out my gratitude even for the smallest of things. Remember, we are in existence because of Him. Literally everything we have is because of Him.
We must remember the needs of others as we pray. According to Alma 34:27, we must offer prayers “for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.” We must try to think of others outside our own needs. We must remember our church leaders and the missionaries out serving in the world. We must remember our family, friends, and coworkers. There are so many people who can benefit from our prayers.
Sometimes we need to ask the Holy Ghost what we should pray about. Is there anything extra that should be included? There are several scriptures that talk about how the Holy Ghost can guide us in knowing what to say in our prayers (Romans 8:26; 2 Nephi 32:8). He knows what Heavenly Father wants so he can help us pray “according to the will of God” (D&C 46:30). Richard G. Scott advises us to try to learn to ask the right questions. We should consider changing our requests from what we want to earnestly asking for what the Lord wants (Using the Supernatural Gift). The Lord is all-knowing. He will not lead us astray. He wants us to return to Him and will always lead us in the right direction. However, we must ask the right questions in order to receive the answers we need. Being specific is one way of receiving answers. Joseph Smith had a specific question when he went into the grove: “Which church should I join?” He was not vague with something like “please help me to know which church is right.” He had a specific question that he wanted to know the answer to. And it was a sincere, earnest desire of his heart which he received an answer to.
People most often pray when they have an important and/or troubling decision to make. In D&C 9:7-10 He advises us to “study it out in your mind” before bringing it before Him, then He will give us an answer. We must be willing to act and should not expect our prayers to be magically answered. Our prayers will be in vain if we “turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need” (Alma 34:28). According to David A. Bednar in his talk Ask in Faith, “Action alone is not faith in the Savior, but acting in accordance with correct principles is a central component of faith. Thus, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20)” (emphasis added). Sometimes we expect Heavenly Father to answer our prayers when all we have done is say a prayer. “The doors of heaven will ever be closed to those who hold out their hands, waiting for blessings to drop from heaven upon them” (Wirthlin, Improving Our Prayers). We must be willing to act on our prayers and the answers we receive. This is often the part people find the most difficult or choose to ignore.
We are advised to have personal prayers “in secret” (Matthew 6:6) because it is an essential part of our own personal spiritual growth. However, even if we are alone, we should sometimes make an effort to pray vocally. True to the Faith advises us to pray in private at least every morning and every night. For me, this is the time when I can truly express my soul to Heavenly Father. I lay before him my private concerns, my doubts, my needs, and then I earnestly ask that He assist me with figuring out solutions, unburdening me, or simply forgiving me of my weaknesses. I know that private prayers are the time for repenting of any sins you may have committed whether big or small. Of course the big ones sometimes require counsel with your bishop and other steps, but all sins require a one-on-one with God as you humble yourself and ask for His forgiveness.
We should also pray with our families “that your wives and your children may be blessed” (3 Nephi 18:21). True to the Faith says of this matter that “through regular family prayer, you and your family members will draw nearer to God and to each other. Your children will learn to communicate with their Father in Heaven” (p. 122). We are once again advised to make this a morning and nightly ritual with our families. Each family member should be given the opportunity to say the prayer. Children will learn the importance of saying their prayers through the example set in the home.
If we are ever called on to say a public prayer, we should remember that we are still speaking to Heavenly Father. We should not worry about what others might think of what we are saying. Instead, we should give a humble, heartfelt, and sincere prayer. Joseph B. Wirthlin said, “Some believe that the more eloquent a prayer, the more effective. Too often these prayers are not so much meant for the ears of the Almighty as they are for the ears of the audience. Do you want to commune with the Infinite? Then approach Him with reverence and humility. Don’t worry so much about whether your words are polished or not. Worry instead about speaking from your heart” (Improving Our Prayers). This is one of my biggest struggles. I never know what to say during a public prayer. I worry too much about what people will think and I can never give a “good” prayer. My private prayers are always very sincere and thought out, but when it comes to praying publicly, I can never think of anything. I always feel everything that comes to my mind is either too personal or not personal enough. I always fall back onto the cliches of public prayers such as “bless the teachers” or “bless that we’ll feel the Spirit” and I never earnestly pray for anything. I fall into those “vain repetitions” too often instead of sincerely putting my heart into it.
In Psalm 37, David revealed a step-by step process for active prayer and faith. It may serve as a pattern for us to follow as we seek to increase our faith and improve our prayers. “Fret not” is the first step (verse 1). We need to stop worrying about everything. According to Joseph B. Wirthlin, “When we worry about the future, we create unhappiness in the present” (Improving Our Prayers).
The next step is “trust in the Lord” (verse 3). We need to trust Him because He is all-knowing and ever-loving. He wants what is best for us and knows what we need. He is perfect and wants us to return to Him.
The next step is “do good” (verse 3). As church members, we are expected to do good as we follow Christ’s example. Joseph B. Wirthlin says, “we have made solemn covenants to serve as a light unto the world. Our Heavenly Father expects our actions to serve as a living testimony to our words. As we do good, the Lord can bless our efforts” (Improving Our Prayers). This does not mean that we should never make a mistake. The Lord asks that we do our best and that we repent of our sins. As we make mistakes, we should learn from them and try our best not to repeat them. We will become more Christlike if we do these things.
The fourth step is to “delight thyself also in the Lord” (verse 4). Rather than sulking and grumbling about what we are not receiving, we should be joyful and grateful. We should know that in His own time, the Lord will bring about our righteous desires.
The fifth step is to “commit thy way unto the Lord” (verse 5). No matter what trials we are going through, no matter what concerns we have, we should always commit ourselves to the Lord and His commandments. They are always the right way.
The sixth step is to “rest in the Lord” (verse 7). Even though it is often very difficult, sometimes, all we can do is wait and be patient. The Lord will answer our prayers in His own due time.
David A. Bednar encourages us to ask for missionary opportunities. He gave a specific list of some things to include in our prayers in his talk Ask in Faith: 1) Thank Heavenly Father for the doctrines and ordinances of the gospel. 2) Ask for courage to share the gospel with friends and family. 3) Ask Heavenly Father to help us find people who will be receptive to the teachings of the gospel. 4) Pledge to do our part and ask for help overcoming fear, hesitation, and anxiety. 5) Seek for the gift of discernment, meaning you are able to spot missionary opportunities as they occur.
We should never give into the idea that we are unworthy to pray. This idea comes from Satan who wants to convince us not to pray and lead us away (2 Nephi 32:8). True to the Faith advises “if you do not feel like praying, pray until you do feel like praying” (p. 121). The Savior commanded, “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). Richard G. Scott says, “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” (Using the Supernatural Power). I know that a lot of people who have strayed away from the church see themselves as unworthy and decide that they cannot pray. This is absolutely the opposite of what we should do when we go astray. If we decide that we want forgiveness or a change, we need to pray. God will always, always hear us. I see so many people who think “I have gone so far. I have sinned so much. There is no way I can come back. It’s not worth trying.” This is Satan talking! He’s trying to keep you in the dark by convincing you that there is no way back. There is always a way back! Praying is the first and most essential step. Get down on your knees and tell your Father in Heaven everything. He is always listening. He loves you so much.
As we pray with our Father in Heaven we receive a “gentle outpouring of the Spirit” (Wirthlin, Improving Our Prayers). The Lord tells us in D&C 50:24 “that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” People who do not have this light will always struggle with unbelief. Only through prayer can we receive this light. As we pray, our souls will become filled with light and we will begin to understand.
Sometimes even after we have prayed or even received a priesthood blessing, we do not see immediate effects. Elder Bednar gave an example of a family traveling through Europe. While they were there, the 13-year-old son became very sick. At first the parents brushed off the sickness as fatigue from air-travel, but as it persisted and increased throughout the day, they became very worried. They were far away from home and did not know how to get proper medical assistance. The boy was given a priesthood blessing, but the mother knew that “merely waiting for the anticipated blessing would not be enough; they needed to continue to act.” Even though the blessing the son had received was in effect, the mother and son knelt in prayer. They included an acknowledgement of trust in the blessing the son had received and a commitment to persevere through whatever was in store for them that was in line with God’s will. Shortly after their prayer, the son’s condition improved (Ask In Faith). It was the increased and unwavering faith of the mother and family that brought the promised blessings upon the son. Even though he had already received a priesthood blessing, it was after the “trial of their faith” (Bednar, Ask In Faith) that the son was healed.
The Savior taught, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). Heavenly Father always hears our prayers and He always answers them. He may not answer them in the way we expect or right away, but He does answer them. Sometimes He says no even when our petitions are sincere. He knows what is best and we should trust in Him. Richard G. Scott tells us that often our answers do not come in ways we expect and usually not right away: “His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart” (Using the Supernatural Gift). As the Savior taught, “Thy will be done” (Luke 11:2). However, just saying “thy will be done” is not enough. We all have to completely surrender to the will of God and accept whatever the outcome may be. To quote David A. Bednar, “Prayer is a privilege and the soul’s sincere desire.” In order for our relationship with our Father in Heaven to be fully functional, our sincere desire must align with His will. If we pray always, soon the sincere desires of our hearts will align with His will.
Bibliography
Bednar, David A. "Ask in Faith." Spring 2008 General Conference.
"Prayer." Gospel Topics. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
True to the Faith. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2004.
Scott, Richard G. “Using the Supernatural Gift of Prayer.” Spring 2007 General Conference.
Wirthlin, Joseph B. "Improving Our Prayers." Spring 2004 General Conference.
In a previous post when the first trailer was released, I mentioned the portrait of the Prince that the Beast claws up. It portrays him as a child with his parents. I think that is extremely fascinating. I saw in a TV spot he was in fact a young man when he was transformed, so that picture was probably painted earlier, but still. (If you want to look at that post, you can go HERE)
