In other news, this announcement didn't get, well, announced, but our little sister Ellie Ricks is about to undergo a routine surgical procedure and the family would be most grateful for our prayers for her and her medical team to have a successful procedure with a rapid recovery and with no undesired side effects .
Sister Margie Deegan read our scripture today from Chapter 1 of Enos in the Book of Mormon, verse 12:
"And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith."
Today was our message from the Relief Society Presidency, delivered by our President, Sister Janice Cunningham. She expressed her thanks for the scripture reading which, unknown to Sister Deegan, was right on for the topic of today's message on Prayer.
Sister Cunningham began her lesson by asking, "If you got a call from a dear friend you haven't seen for ages, what would be your reaction? What would happen?" Of course most people answered that they would be delighted, but where would things go from there? Say, you decide to meet for a meal or something, you greet each other, sit down, order . . . and what?
The most popular answer is that the years in between would melt away and we would be able to pick right up where we left off.
What would happen to our conversation? Questions would be asked in order to catch up for the span of time when we were separated from our friend. "What have you been doing?" "How are the kids/family?" "What has happened since we last saw each other?" We would want to reconnect and fill in our friendship from the past to the present. The conversation would just flow - grow organically, as one person put it - as we brought each other up to date, our shared knowledge of each other would expand as we shared our news of joys, successes, fears, frustrations and disappointments.
Sister Cunningham reminded us that these things should also take place when we pray - anytime, day or night. Our Father in Heaven is always there to receive us. He wants to hear from us and we should never ever have to worry about how we look, where we are, if our hair is combed, what clothes we're wearing, whether or not we put on makeup. He is always there for us, waiting and anxious to help us.
Sister Cunningham led us into a discussion on how we pray by telling a story about a little boy who was not of our faith, but belonged to the Boy Scout troop with her boys, so she would give him a ride to the weekly meetings. It was the custom for each of the boys to take a turn saying opening and closing prayer for the Scout meetings and the time came when the only person who had not prayed was this little boy.
At this point, we discussed the order in which Primary children are taught to pray, both in church and at home. A simple way to remember is what Sister Kirk called, "Build a Better Burger". After addressing Heavenly Father, the first part, or the top of the bun, is to thank Him for our blessings; the next part, or the condiments - lettuce, tomato, catsup, mustard, etc., is where we talk to Heavenly Father about where we are in our life, then comes the meat, the burger is what our needs might be, and blessings needed that we are aware of; then the last part, or the bottom of the bun, is the closing.
Back to the story: She was unsure if this little boy knew how to form a prayer, but she asked him to say the closing prayer on this particular day and he did very well - most probably because he had listened and paid attention to the way the other boys had offered their prayers.
Sister Laurie Erickson read a quotation by President Henry B. Eyring from his message in the February 2012 edition of the Ensign entitled "Exhort Them to Pray". In this message, President Eyring told about how, when he was a little child, his parents taught him by example to pray. As a small child, he began with a picture in his mind of Heavenly Father being far away. However, he says, "As I have matured, my experience with prayer has changed. The picture in my mind has become one of a Heavenly Father who is close by, who is bathed in a bright light, and who knows me perfectly."
Whether we perceive of Heavenly Father as being near or far we can talk to him as often as we choose, no matter where we are or what time of day or night it may be. The most important thing to remember is that the responsibility to maintain communication with Him is up to us. He is there. He is waiting. But we are the ones who have to open the conversation.
If we are praying intently, hoping for an answer, it is necessary for us to:
1. Listen for answers. Sometimes we need to do more for ourselves in preparation to receive the answers we seek. We should find a place in our day when we are, or can be, most receptive to receiving answers. After we have "signed and sent" our prayer, we should spend some time to listen quietly for the Spirit to provide inspired answers. Not receiving an immediate answer is not a sign that Heavenly Father is saying "no" to us, but generally is an indication that there may be more we should do on our own before we will see the answer.
2. Study the scriptures. Many times, as we study the scriptures, we will come upon a verse that directly responds to the desires of our heart. This could come during our regular daily scripture study, but more often will be found during a time when we simply open the book and read without advance planning. Heavenly Father will guide our eyes to the answers that are awaiting us.
3. Conference talks. We are fortunate to receive an Ensign each May and November that contains all the talks given at the latest General Conference. As we re-read those inspired talks we can look for answers, examples that relate to the questions and needs that we have in our lives.
Now, imagine three interlocking spheres:
The first one says "My Desire +", the second one says "But, if not +", and the third says "Godly Desire".
So, the formula in our prayers should be to ask for "My Desires" (Plus) "But, if not" - meaning if I am not at a place where I can expect these desires (Plus) "Godly Desires" - in other words, "Thy will be done". Our goal should be to Pray for something that we know God can grant for us.
Sister Beverly Ricksecker read a few examples "God, please help me to get some sleep tonight, but if not, help me to have enough energy to be pleasant and hard working anyway." "God, please bless that my child will get over this sickness and feel better, but if not, help us to trust in Thee and be patient with each other." "God, please bless that I will be included in my group of friends, but if not, even if I feel excluded, help me to be kind and generous."
Always ask that, if there is something else we can do, to please send the answer.
The world is in such turmoil around us that our choices are no longer black and white. There are so many grey areas in our lives and they are so difficult to discern that we need help to find which way we should go.
One sister contributed the quotation from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that says, "You can have want you want or you can have something better." We need only ask what that "something better" is through prayer.
Another quote from a blog by Sister Celeste Davis on "How to Pray in a Way God Can Answer" was read by Sister Anika Trockel:
"An unexpected benefit has been that I don't fear hard situations or not getting what I want nearly as much as I used to because I've seen and felt God answer my prayers - both my desires and my "but if nots."
"It's been a great exercise in praying not for my circumstances to change, but that I in my circumstances may be changed, which is what Elder Bednar says is the key to unlocking grace in one of my favorite gospel talks of all time."
We had a number of scriptures read which relate to the attributes we receive from prayer:
Doc. & Cov. 8:10-11 - "Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not.
"Ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that you may translate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up, that are sacred; and according to your faith shall it be done unto you."
If we ask in faith and do not ask for things that are inappropriate for us, God will grant our requests in accordance with our faith.
Doc. & Cov. 8:22-23 - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
"Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?"
In answering our prayers, God will speak peace to our mind - give us a calm affirmation of what is right and leave us energized and confident in which path we should take.
We need to be patient and not expect instant results, since our answers may come over a period of time. Many times our answers may unfold like puzzle pieces for us to ponder and assemble.
Heavenly Father knows each one of us and He gives us what we need as we need it and are able to understand what we have been given.
Sister Cunningham also gave us the reminder to consider the Hymnal for answers, since many of our hymns are actually prayers, searching for answers to gospel questions.
She also talked of Enos, in the Book of Mormon, who says his soul hungered and that he knelt down and prayed all the day and all the night in repentance. When the morning came, he heard a voice saying his sins were forgiven because of his faith. He had to employ his faith in praying or he would not have received any answers. We need to be hungry for what the Lord wants for us.
Don't forget to say "thank you". Gratitude is one of the most important parts of our prayers. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and have all that He can give us, but we should be grateful for his blessings and let Him know by telling Him.
We had a little Scripture Mastery exercise in which Sister Cunningham handed out specific scriptures containing a treasure that we can receive through offering our prayers.
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.:
2 Nephi 32:8 - "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 now pray."
Doc & Cov. 19:28 - "And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private."
Doc & Cov. 19:30 - "And thou shalt do it with all humility, trusting in me, reviling not against revilers."
Doc & Cov. 112:10 - "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers."
May we each pray to our Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, with faith, love and humility in order to receive the answers, blessings and guidance we seek throughout our days.
Your bloggess,
Karen
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