Prayer

I chose prayer as one of my topics because it was something that I struggle with in my daily life. I know when I don't pray to my heavenly Father I am not showing him my gratitude for all my many wonderful blessings that he has given me. I notice that I seek out the Lord when I am having a trial in my life. After studying the words of the Apostles and Prophets I know I need to go to him with a broken heart and contrite spirit daily. How does my Heavenly Father know I appreciate all that he does for me if I don't tell Him. I know some prayers are not answered immediately but are answered in the Lord's time.  I am grateful for the desire to pray to my Heavenly Father each day. I could not have grown this much without his help. My goal is to have personal prayer morning and night. I will express my gratitude for all of my many wonderful blessings.  I will pray for those in need and ask where I can be an instrument for the Lord. 

"Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul."

Richard G. Scott- April 2007 General Conference "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer"

“Those . . . who will through mighty prayer and earnest study inform themselves as to what these living prophets say, and act upon it, will be visited by the spirit of the Lord and know by the spirit of revelation that they speak the mind and will of the Father.”

President Marion G. Romney "Teachings of the Living Prophets" 

"A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it."

Richard G. Scott- April 2007 General Conference "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer" 

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “In all our prayers, it is well to use the pronouns thee, thou, thy, and thine instead of you, your, and yours inasmuch as they have come to indicate respect.”

Dallin H. Oaks- April 1993 General Conference "The Language of Prayer," 

"Modern revelation commands parents to “teach their children to pray.” (D&C 68:28.) This requires parents to learn and pray with the special language of prayer. We learn our native language simply by listening to those who speak it. This is also true of the language with which we address our Heavenly Father. The language of prayer is easier and sweeter to learn than any other tongue. We should give our children the privilege of learning this language by listening to their parents use it in the various prayers offered daily in our homes." 

Dallin H. Oaks April 1993 General Conference "The Language of Prayer,"

"In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children."

 M. Russell Ballard October 2012 General Conference "Be Anxiously Engaged,"

"Prayer is the key which unlocks the door and lets Christ into our lives." 

Marion G. Romney April 1978 General Conference "Prayer and Revelation," 

"Because He respects your agency, Father in Heaven will never force you to pray to Him. But as you exercise that agency and include Him in every aspect of your daily life, your heart will begin to fill with peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus an eternal light on your struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges from an eternal perspective." 

Richard G. Scott October 2014 General Conference "Make The Exercise Of Faith Your First Priority"

"Whenever these moments of our extremity come, we must not succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that He does not hear our prayers. He does hear us. He does see us. He does love us. When we are in dire circumstances and want to cry, “Where art Thou?” it is imperative that we remember He is right there with us—where He has always been! We must continue to believe, continue to have faith, continue to pray and plead with heaven, even if we feel for a time our prayers are not heard and that God has somehow gone away. He is there. Our prayers are heard. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us." 

Jeffrey R. Holland, "Lessons from Liberty Jail" Ensign, September 2009

 "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 R. Snow October 2001 General Conference "Gratitude"

"In my life I have learned that sometimes I do not receive an answer to a prayer because the Lord knows I am not ready. When He does answer, it is often “here a little and there a little” because that is all that I can bear or all I am willing to do."

Robert D. Hales October 2011 "Waiting Upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done"