Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire

Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire

“Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach

the Majesty on high” (Hymn 145)

My first memory as a little girl was my father teaching me to pray at my bed. He taught me to give thanks for blessings. He taught me to ask for things I may need. He taught me to pray for others like our prophet, our bishop, and the missionaries. Over time, I remembered the lessons he taught and I grew closer to my Father in Heaven every time I prayed.

I will admit that this is one of the adversary’s greatest temptations for me. As the youngest of three children, I always felt the need to prove that I could do things myself. Here’s were the temptation came into motion. I was here to prove myself and that I was supposed to do it alone. Silly thought right? God never sent us here to do it alone! One of my favorite general authority speakers was Elder Richard G. Scott. He gave a conference address in April 2007 where he stated “Pray even when you have no desire to pray. Sometimes, like a child, you may misbehave and feel you cannot approach your Father with a problem. That is when you most need to pray. Never feel you are too unworthy to pray.” I try to remember this and pray for that desire to remain close to him especially because I need his help. That is Satan’s trap-trying to do everything on our own.

As a married woman, my husband will repeat the hymn “Did you think to pray?” Reminding me to take certain problems I may be having to the Lord. He and I are continuing to learn together the value of prayer in our marriage. In our textbook, it states “Drawing on the powers of heaven through prayer is a powerful resource for couples that can make a good relationship better and can heal a faltering marriage.” (Hawkins, p.196) Even the The Family: A Proclamation to the World states “Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” (First Presidency, 1995). It reiterates that the key to a successful marriage and family involves prayer.

I have, throughout my lifetime, served in a variety of church callings that I have had to depend on the Lord for guidance through prayer. I can’t begin to say what a blessing this has been to receive answers to concerns for my seminary students, primary children, or even the young women on my basketball team. How did I receive these answers? Elder Scott says it best, “Often when we pray for help with a significant matter, Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers.”My answers never seem to come while I am on my knees. If I am preparing for a lesson, I may ask for guidance and feel a sense of joy about moving forward in a certain direction. Funny enough, I can say most of my answers come while I am working out. My mind must be alert and active to be able to have messages received.

I have a testimony that prayer strengthens us. It’s not for God, it’s for us. As parent, he loves us and wants to continue our relationship. To hear the good and the bad in our lives. To know that we love him and our grateful for all that he blesses us with on earth. For me, it’s about making him my priority and exercising faith to ask for his help and guidance. “So when life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray!”

References:

Hawkins, A., Dollahite, D., & Draper, T. (2016), Successful Marriages and Families Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives, Provo,Utah, BYU Studies

Scott, Richard G., (2007,April), "Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer", Ensign,
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