Prayer Quotes - 4
Elder Richard G. Scott explains how the mere expression of gratitude to our Heavenly Father edifies us:
"I have saved the most important part about prayer until the end. It is gratitude! Our sincere efforts to thank our beloved Father generate wondrous feelings of peace, self-worth, and love. No matter how challenging our circumstances, honest appreciation fills our mind to overflowing with gratitude."
("Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer," Ensign, Nov. 1989, p. 32) Quoted in Michael D. Christensen's book: Just Be Yourself, That's Hard Enough!, p. 134
"Don't ask God for what you think is good; ask Him for what He thinks is good for you."
Quoted in God's Little Devotional for Graduates, p. 52
The Bible Dictionary explains (page752):
As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship.
Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.
Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.
"It is not well for a man to pray cream and live skim milk."
~Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit ~
"But is prayer only one-way communication? No! . . . 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' (Psalm 46:10)
. . . . Sometimes ideas flood our mind as we listen after our prayers. Sometimes feelings press upon us. A spirit of calmness assures us that all will be well. But always, if we have been honest and earnest, we will experience a good feeling--a feeling of warmth for our Father in Heaven and a sense of his love for us."
President Spencer W. Kimball: ("Pray Always", Ensign, Oct. 1981, p. 5)
"Can you neglect to pray while there is one who needs the help your prayer can bring?"
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"Hands that work are more blessed than Lips that pray"
Howard W. Hunter
"Prayer is the key which unlocks the door and lets Christ into our lives."
Marion G. Romney (Ensign, May 1978, page 50)
Topic: The Lord is in the Details
"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
"The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer and obtain divine teaching."
Joseph Smith (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 191)
"Offer daily to be of use to the Lord."
Kate L. Kirkham, BYU Dev., April 12, 1994
"Our prayers are answered not when we are given what we ask but when we are challenged to be what we can be."
Morris Adler
President Heber J. Grant once counseled us:
"The minute a man stops supplicating God for his spirit and direction, just so soon he starts out to become a stranger to him and his works. When men stop praying for God's spirit, they place confidence in their own unaided reason, and they gradually lose the spirit of God, just the same as near and dear friends, by never writing to or visiting with each other, will become strangers."
(Improvement Era, Aug. 1944, p. 481)
"Prayer is not the overcoming of God's reluctance, but the laying hold of God's willingness."
Philip Brooks
"Years ago I read about Brigham Young following the practice of never taking any food or drink in the morning before he had his personal prayer. I have followed that practice for more than 20 years now--in fact, ever since I was called as a bishop. I commend that practice to you, and I guarantee you won't forget your prayers."
W. Eugene Hansen at a BYU Dev. on June 30, 1998
"When life seems more than you can stand . . . kneel."
"Prayer is as essential to a righteous life as food and water is to our daily sustenance. .... if we had to live on the sustenance and the frequency and intensity of some of our prayers, many of us would be much thinner than we are today."
"Achieving your full potential" - Donald L. Staheli - CES Fireside - March 2, 2003
"The individual who learns early in life how to pray, for what, and why has so much the advantage over one who has not learned or does not believe that prayer can be a powerful influence."
President N. Eldon Tanner, "Importance and Efficacy of Prayer," Ensign, Aug. 1971, 2
"Have I had some prayers that were not answered? Yes, and so have you. Sometimes the reason is that we may ask for something without enough faith, or we may in fact ask for something that isn't expedient or that isn't right. For us to get used to the fact that all prayers are not automatically answered is one of life's growing experiences."
Neal A. Maxwell, BYU Dev. - January 12, 1999 - "Sharing Insights From My Life"
"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
"Hem your day with prayer and it will be less apt to ravel at the edges."
"One of the questions we must ask of our Heavenly Father in private prayer is this: 'What have I done today, or not done, which displeases Thee? If I can only know, I will repent with all my heart without delay.' That humble prayer will be answered. And the answers will surely include the assurance that asking today was better than waiting to ask tomorrow."
"Do Not Delay", Henry B. Eyring, Oct. 1999 General Conference address
Elder D. Todd Christofferson on Meaningful Prayers
"As you study to understand the scriptures, . . . your prayers must not be limited to that. . . . Your Heavenly Father wants you to pray about your hopes and fears, your friends and family, your school and work, and the needs of those around you."
"When Thou Art Converted," Ensign, May 2004, p.12
"First, prayer is a humble acknowledgment that God is our Father and that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.
Second, it is a sincere confession of sin and transgression and a request for forgiveness.
Third, it is recognition that we need help beyond our own ability.
Fourth, it is an opportunity to express thanksgiving and gratitude to our Creator. It is important that we frequently say: 'We thank Thee… ,' 'We acknowledge before Thee… ,' 'We are grateful unto Thee…'
Fifth, it is a privilege to ask Deity for specific blessings."
James E. Faust, "The Lifeline of Prayer," Ensign, April 2002
"Be determined to pray with all the energy of your heart that you might have every gift a loving Heavenly Father knows you must have to serve His Son and to endure against the powers of darkness."
Elder Henry B. Eyring - Ensign, Oct. 1999, 11
President Thomas S. Monson on Praying:
"We learn to pray by praying. One can devote countless hours to examining the experiences of others, but nothing penetrates the human heart as does a personal, fervent prayer and its heaven-sent response."
"Teaching Our Children," Ensign, Oct. 2004, 4
"We may pray to Him any time. No special equipment is needed. We don't even need to charge batteries or pay a monthly service fee."
Elder Russell M. Nelson - Ensign, May 2003, 7
Topic: Praying for Others
"There is great power in praying for others, perhaps even more than in just praying for yourself. . . . . "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 to 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
"I believe that the fervent prayers of many righteous men [and women] can bring to pass miracles."
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Mar 1971, 20