How do we pray? What should we do if we feel distanced from God when we pray? Elder Richard G. Scott instructs us on how to access the power of the divine gift of prayer.
Photo by Juskteez Vu
As Mormons, we have different kinds of divine communication. Some, such as sacrament prayers, use specific words that are repeated regularly. Some prayers are associated with other priesthood ordinances, and outlined instructions are given on how to offer them.
However, personal prayers, as Elder Richard G. Scott tells us, “can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. [They] can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help.” Personal prayer is a gift because it can be what we need it to be at any moment, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
An understanding of the power of prayer often comes when we have a problem or question that is so pressing or complicated that it is difficult to find our way alone. In these moments we come to appreciate the intimate nature of prayer. Though God “knoweth what things [we] have need of, before [we] ask him” (see Matthew 6:8), there is a difference between God’s knowing what we need and our asking him for what we need.
We may feel vulnerable expressing our true desires, hopes, and fears to God. But the more we let God in, the more he can help us feel his loving presence and his deep compassion. When we share with God what we really feel, think, and believe—even if we have feelings of anger, doubt, or hopelessness—we demonstrate our trust in his love and his infinite awareness of our life. Expressing our authentic feelings is often the first step we take toward receiving an authentic response from God. When we say what we really feel, he will remind us that we are each a “precious child” of a “compassionate, understanding Father.”
Watch or read Elder Richard G. Scott’s talk on the supernal gift of prayer.
Source: lds.org/general-conference
—Mark T. Hales, Mormon Insights
Find more insights
Listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”
Watch and listen to President Thomas S. Monson as he tells about one woman’s experience with prayer.
Hear what Elder David A. Bednar has to say about prayer.
Read about the power of prayer and its effect on Enos.
Foto mit freundlicher Genehmigung von HLT Mediathek