THE POWER OF PRAYER

What is the power of prayer?

Last Week when Brother Doria asked me to talk this Sunday, I asked him what the subject would be, and when he said the Power of Prayer, I got excited, and said of course.

For those of you that were here on Fast Sunday, you heard me tell the story about my father, his motorcycle accident and his miraculous recovery. That is when my Testimony of Prayer, Fasting and Faith were cemented deep in my heart.

I would like to tell you a story that comes from the Teachings of the Prophets, President Ezra Taft Benson.

“In 1946 I was assigned by President George Albert Smith to go to war-torn Europe and reestablish our missions from Norway to South Africa and to set up a program for the distribution of welfare supplies.

We established headquarters in London. We then made preliminary arrangements with the military on the continent. One of the first men I wished to see was the commander of the American forces in Europe. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany.

When we arrived in Frankfurt, my companion and I went in to seek an appointment with the general. The appointment officer said, “Gentlemen, there will be no opportunity for you to see the general for at least three days. He’s very busy and his calendar is filled up with appointments.”

I said, “It is very important that we see him, and we can’t wait that long. We’re due in Berlin tomorrow.”

He said, “I’m sorry.”

We left the building, went out to our car, removed our hats, and united in prayer. We then went back into the building and found a different officer at the appointment post. In less than fifteen minutes we were in the presence of the general. We had prayed that we would be able to see him and to touch his heart, knowing that all relief supplies contributed from any source were then required to be placed in the hands of the military for distribution. Our objective, as we explained it to the general, was to distribute our own supplies to our own people through our own channels, and also to make gifts for general child feeding.

We explained the welfare program and how it operated. Finally, he said, “Well, gentlemen, you go ahead and collect your supplies; and by the time you get them collected, the policy may be changed.” We said, “General, our supplies are already collected; they’re always collected. Within twenty-four hours from the time we wire the First Presidency of the Church in Salt Lake City, carloads of supplies will be rolling toward Germany. We have many storehouses filled with basic commodities.”

He then said, “I’ve never heard of a people with such vision.” His heart was touched as we had prayed it would be. Before we left his office, we had a written authorization to make our own distribution to our own people through our own channels.” – End Quote

Just imagine that, they are told they could not see the General, they turn around go to their car, take off their hats and pray. They finish their prayer, get out of the car, put their hats back on go back inside and 15 minutes later they walk out with written permission to do exactly what they had desired to do.

I found another story on lds.org that lets us know that you do not have to be a prophet, for God to hear and answer our prayers. You do not even have to be an adult either.

Darlene Joy Nichols of Burnsville, Minnesota relates this experience, which not only intensified her testimony but also that of her Five-year-old daughter Wendi.

Wendi is the oldest of three children, and went to morning Kindergarten. One Morning Darlene got Wendi off to school, then bundled up the two preschoolers and headed off to the Grocery Store. It usually took her about two hour to do her shopping so she wanted to hurry, so that she could pick Wendi up when she got out of school.

They got to the store and began their shopping. They were going down an aisle, when she got a very powerful feeling and then heard, “Darlene go check on Wendi.” Darlene thought, Wendi is safe at school she is ok. She continued to shop and a few minutes later, again, but even more forcefully, “DARLENE GO check on Wendi.” Again, she thought Wendi is at school if there was something wrong they would contact me, she is ok.

She continued down the aisle, and as she turned the corner, again, “DARLENE, GO CHECK ON WENDI!” She left her cart grabbed the two preschoolers and as she was running out the door she called out to the cashier, “I will be back for my Groceries.”

Darlene noticed that while she was in the store something that terrified Wendi more than anything had come upon them, a huge Thunderstorm, Wendi was terrified of Thunder and lightning.

When Darlene got to the school, everything was calm; it did not appear that anything was wrong. But as long as she was there she would go in and check things out. She went into the school walked down the hall and turned the corner towards Wendi’s classroom, she noticed the door to her class was open and she was standing in it. When Wendi saw her mother, her face lit up and she got a huge smile on her face. Darlene got on her knees to give Wendi a hug. The teacher came over and told her that the storm had come up hard and strong, and the kids got scared so she got them all into the center of the room on the carpet, when she looked over towards Wendi, she said, “Wendi was sitting there at her desk praying. When she finished she looked up and said I’m ok my mom is coming to be with me.” Darlene had tears in her eyes, and then Wendi piped up with, “I knew you would come mommy, because I prayed you would.”

Talk about Faith, this little five-year-old girl who was scared just like all the rest of her classmates, instead of freaking out calmly folded her hands and asked Heavenly Father to send her mom to her.

Remember when you say your prayers, use the words Thee, Thou, Thine, etc. to show your respect and love to Our Heavenly Father and to his Son Jesus Christ. Also remember that when you say your prayers to remember to thank him for all of the gifts, and blessings he has bestowed upon you, ask if it be his will for his blessings, healing hand, comforting spirit be on loved ones, sick and afflicted you may know, and then go on to ask for what ever it is you wish for yourself. Then close in the name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ’s name.

If we want to feel peace and comfort we need to ask God, and we need to keep a prayer in our hearts throughout the day.

Brothers and Sisters I leave this message with you today with my Testimony. If we get down on our hands and knees each morning before we leaving our rooms; pray together as a family to start the day, and keep a prayer in our hearts throughout the day; then end our day with a family prayer, when we go into our rooms for the night, get on our knees once again – for those of you that are married join together in asking God to be with you through the night and thank him for all we have received from him. I know he will hear your prayer, and if it is his will that what you have asked for is right for you, he will let you know, if it not right he will let you know that as well. Brothers and Sister I leave you with this testimony in the name of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ Amen.

Below is more of what I had planned to say, but I ran out of time. However “Did you think to Pray,” is one of my favorite hymns and I love to recite the words to myself, especially when things are not going so well, which you all know is 80% or the time. There is so much great stuff about the Power of Prayer, personal stories of the Prophets, kids, teens, and adults, but one sacrament meeting, when there are other speakers is just not enough time to share all this great information.

One of my favorite hymns is Hymn 140, Did You Think to Pray. To me this song is one of the strongest instructions as far as importance of Prayer.

Did You Think to Pray? 140

1.    Ere you left your room this morning, Did you think to pray? In the name of Christ, our Savior, Did you sue for loving favor As a shield today?

[Chorus]
Oh, how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray.

2.    When your heart was filled with anger, Did you think to pray? Did you plead for grace, my brother, That you might forgive another Who had crossed your way?

[Chorus]
Oh, how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray.

3.    When sore trials came upon you, did you think to pray? When your soul was full of sorrow, Balm of Gilead did you borrow At the gates of day?

[Chorus]
Oh, how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray.

If we begin our day on our knees, end our day on our knees in quiet reflection, in sincere and thoughtful prayer, how could our life go wrong?

In his April 2003 general conference, entitled “Sweet Power of Prayer,” Russell M. Nelson said, “We should pray in accord with the will of our Heavenly Father. He wants to test us, to strengthen us, and to help us achieve our full potential.”

Our Heavenly Father is always ready to hear and answer our prayers. The power of our prayers depends on us. As we strive to make prayer a part of our lives, we should remember this counsel:

Make our prayers meaningful.

The prophet Mormon warned that if anyone “shall pray and not with real intent of heart … it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such” (Moroni 7:9). To make our prayers meaningful, we must pray with sincerity and “with all the energy of heart” (Moroni 7:48). We must be careful to avoid “vain repetitions” when we pray (see Matthew 6:7).

Seek Heavenly Father's guidance and strength in all we do.

Alma counseled his son Helaman: “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. 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” (Alma 37:36-37; see also Alma 34:17-26).

Remember the needs of others as we pray.

We should offer prayers “for [our] welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around [us]” (Alma 34:27). We should ask our Heavenly Father to bless and comfort those in need.

When we are asking for the welfare of others as well as ourselves, we need to make sure that we remember to let God choose how he wants to answer, by saying If it be thy will...

Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost so we will know what to include in our prayers.

The Holy Ghost can teach us to pray and guide us in the things we say:

And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For 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. 2 Nephi 32:8; 

And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasin,to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire. 3 Nephi 19:9, 24).

He can help us pray “according to the will of God”

He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore itis done even as he asketh. (D&C 46:30).

When we make a request through prayer, we must do all we can to assist in its being granted. Heavenly Father expects us to do more than merely ask Him for blessings. When we have an important decision to make, He often will require that we “study it out in [our] mind” before He will give us an answer (see D&C 9:7-8). Our prayers for guidance will be only as effective as our efforts to be receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. Our prayers for our own welfare and for the welfare of others 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).

Personal Prayer

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ counseled, “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” (Matthew 6:6). Personal, private prayer is an essential part of our spiritual development.

At least every morning and every night, we should find a place that is free from distractions and kneel in humility and commune with our Heavenly Father. D&C 19:28; 20:51 counsels that, Although sometimes we may need to pray silently, we should make an extra effort at times to pray vocally.

As we prepare to say our prayers, and get down on our knees, we need to meditate on what it is that we wish to speak to our Father about. As we meditate listen for the still small voice, feel for the burning in our bosoms as thoughts go through our minds, the Holy Ghost will help us to know what it is that we truly need to say. He knows the desires of our hearts, the needs we each have and knows the words that will help our Father in Heaven to know how to help us according to his will.

Prayer is two-way communication. As we close our prayers, we should take time to pause and listen. At times, Heavenly Father will counsel, guide, or comfort us while we are on our knees.

We should never give in to the idea that we are not worthy to pray. This idea comes from Satan, who wants to convince us that we must not pray (see 2 Nephi 32:8).

If we do not feel like praying, we should pray until we do feel like praying.

The Savior has 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). Although we cannot be continuously on our knees, always offering a personal, private prayer, we can let our hearts be “full, drawn out in prayer unto [God] continually” (Alma 34:27;) 

Throughout each day, we can maintain a constant feeling of love for our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son. We can silently express gratitude to our Father and ask Him to strengthen us in our responsibilities. In times of temptation or physical danger, we can silently ask for His help. And it came to pass that he commanded the multitude that they should cease to pray, and also his disciples. And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts. 3 Nephi 20:1.

Family Prayer

In addition to commanding us to pray in private, the Savior has exhorted us to pray with our families. He said, “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed” (3 Nephi 18:21).

We should make family prayer a consistent part of our family's life. Every morning and every evening, we should kneel together in humility, giving each family member frequent opportunities to say the prayer and uniting in gratitude for the blessings Heavenly Father has given us. We should also unite in faith to plead for the blessings we need and to pray for others.

Through regular family prayer, our family members will draw nearer to God and to each other. Our children will learn to communicate with their Father in Heaven. We will all be better prepared to serve others and withstand temptations. Our homes will be places of spiritual strength, a refuge from the evil influences of the world.

Public Prayer

At times, we may be asked to offer a public prayer, perhaps in a Church meeting or class. When we receive this opportunity, we should remember that we are communicating with Heavenly Father, not giving a public sermon. We should not worry about what others may think of what we say. Instead, we should offer a simple, heartfelt prayer.

Receiving Answers to Prayer

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). To the Nephites He said, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you” (3 Nephi 18:20).

Heavenly Father hears our prayers. He may not always answer as we expect or want, but He does answer—in His own time and according to His will. Because He knows what is best for us, He may sometimes answer no, even when our petitions are sincere.

After our heartfelt and passionate council with our Heavenly Father, we need to remain in place and meditate on what we asked for and hear or feel the answers. We may get the feeling that God is not ready to give us an answer yet, or that the answer will come to us shortly, and we just need to be watching out and listening for it.

Answers to prayer(s) come in many ways. They often come through the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost, and this is what we call  “Personal Revelation.” They may come in the circumstances of our lives or through the kind acts of those around us. As we continue to draw near to our Heavenly Father through prayer, we will recognize more readily His merciful and wise answers to our pleadings. As we read in Psalm 46:1, we will find that He is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

I would like to close with a comment by Thomas S. Monson, in the March 2009 Liahona

 “One human resource officer assigned to handle petty grievances concluded an unusually hectic day by placing facetiously a little sign on his desk for those with unsolved problems. It read, “Have you tried prayer?” What he may not have realized was that this simple counsel would solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than could be obtained in any other way.”