Dear Sisters and Elders –
In the scriptures we read, “Ask
and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you” (D&C 4:7).
This statement comes from the Lord. How must we pray in order to receive this
promised blessing?
What are the elements of a
powerful prayer?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught:
“Without faith, our prayers are merely words. With faith, our prayers connect
with the powers of heaven… Faith is absolute confidence in that which is in
absolute conformity to the will of heaven. When we combine that confidence with
absolute action on our part, we have faith” (Revelation, BYU Speeches, 29 Sep.
1981).
So, to connect with the powers
of heaven, we must pray with faith. A prayer of faith: (1) conforms to God’s
will and (2) requires action on our part.
Conforming to God’s Will
For our prayers to be powerful,
and result in miracles, they must conform to God’s will. “And Christ hath said:
If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is
expedient in me” (Moroni
The Bible Dictionary explains:
“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” (pp. 752-753). God has blessings to send to us! We simply need
to ask according to His will.
So, how do we make sure that
our prayers and desires conform to the will of God? First, He has already
revealed much of His will to us. If our prayers align with what is taught by
prophets in the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, or the Missionary
Handbook, then we conform to God’s will, and our prayers will be accepted
by Him (see D&C 11:5; D&C 8:10; D&C 88:64-65). Second, we can rely
on the Holy Spirit to help us know that for which we should pray (see Matthew
6:8; 3 Nephi 19:24; D&C 46:28, 30). The Spirit will guide us and direct us
in our prayers concerning things not addressed specifically by prophetic
counsel. Using these two means will give us confidence that our prayers are
aligned with heaven’s will.
Action on Our Part
Prayers of faith require action
on our part. “Heavenly Father is always ready to hear and answer your prayers.
[But] the power of your prayers depends on you” (True to the Faith, p. 119).
Moreover, Preach My Gospel teaches, “Effective prayer requires great
effort” (PMG, p. 94).
We are commanded to serve God
with all of our “heart, might, mind, and strength" (D&C 4:2). Unless
we willingly strive to dedicate ourselves to God’s work, we will be limited in
our capacity to receive answers to our prayers and to experience miracles. We
must be worthy, obey mission rules, and use time effectively.
Powerful prayer and faith also
require mental exertion. Too frequently we allow negative thoughts to limit our
faith and ability to receive help from God. Joseph Smith explained: “Where
doubt and uncertainty are there faith is not, nor can it be. For doubt and
faith do not exist in the same person at the same time; so the persons whose
minds are under doubts and fears cannot have unshaken confidence; and where
unshaken confidence is not there faith is weak” (Lectures on Faith,
Bookcraft, pp. 59-60).
What are some of the ways that
we allow doubt and fear to negate the power of our prayers? Sometimes I hear
missionaries say: “This is a bad area,” or “I can’t get along with my
companion,” or “The members here are not motivated to share the gospel,” or “I
just can’t do this.” These negative thoughts and statements restrict our faith
and limit our ability to pray for and receive miracles.
We can control our negative
thoughts, and change them into productive ones. When a negative thought comes
we must confront it and replace it with something positive and faithful. Christ
taught, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36).
Here are several ways to “look unto” Christ and to promote positive and
faithful-filled thoughts: (1) write down a goal and post it (e.g., “Talk to
Everyone” or “Always Respond With Love”); (2) envision the end goal in mind
(e.g., see everyone you contact or teach in white baptismal clothing or
visualize yourself teaching effectively); (3) when a negative thought comes,
pray for the Lord to take it away and help you replace it with something more
faithful; and (4) record and review miracles in your journal, and also review
the miracles published in The Messenger.
Our Faith versus Others’
Agency
Can our prayers of faith trump
someone’s agency? No. Agency is a divine gift provided by God to each of His
children. However, our prayers of faith can create circumstances that help
someone to use their faith more righteously. Examples of this include Alma
(Mosiah 27:8-14), Ammon (Ether 12:15), and Nephi and Lehi (Ether 12:14). In
these situations, each of these individuals exercised their faith to create
miracles that helped someone else to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can
do the same!
Thank you for your examples of
prayer and effort, and for the way that you strive to serve God with real
faith. Let’s all strive to pray as if everything depended on the Lord, and to
work as if everything depending on us. If we do, we will experience more
miracles in the work and in our lives. You are some of God’s very best!
Love,
President Pingree