SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER Summary

173rd Annual  General Conference of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Saturday morning,  April 2003

Key Doctrines and Principles:

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 Prayer is a vital communication linking man and God. He is a loving father that desires our happiness “and to help us achieve our full potential.” We pray for many reasons, in many places and postures, and at many times. Prayer may be silent or verbal. All sincere prayer brings great power  and blessings to us. “The Lord said, ‘Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good’ (D&C 90:24).”

Favorite Quotes:

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“Father in Heaven wants to hear from His children (see Mosiah 9:3; Mosiah 13:29; Hel. 12:5).”

“Through prayer, we can show our love for God. And He has made it so easy. We may pray to Him any time. No special equipment is needed. We don’t even need to charge batteries or pay a monthly service fee.”

“Some people pray only when confronted with personal problems. Others don’t pray at all. A scripture makes this observation: ‘Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the Lord … for them’ (Hel. 13:22). Prophets have long told us to pray humbly and frequently. (For examples, see Jer. 29:11–13; Joel 2:32; Philip. 4:6; 1 Ne. 15:8–11; Alma 37:37).”

“Jesus revealed that we pray to a wise Father who knows what things we have need of, before we ask Him (Matt. 6:8) . . . The Lord said, “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good (D&C 90:24).”

“We should pray ‘with all the energy of heart’ (Moro. 7:48) . . . The sweet power of prayer can be intensified by fasting, on occasion, when appropriate to a particular need (See Matt. 17:21; Mark 9:29; 1 Cor. 7:5; Mosiah 27:22–23; Alma 5:46; 3 Ne. 27:1; D&C 88:76).”

“Prayers can be offered even in silence. One can think a prayer, especially when words would interfere.  One of our hymns recounts that ‘Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed, … The upward glancing of an eye when none but God is near’ (Hymns, no. 145).We often kneel to pray; we may stand or be seated, as may be appropriate for the occasion Physical position is less important than is spiritual submission to God. (For other helpful instruction, see Dallin H. Oaks, “The Language of Prayer,” Ensign, May 1993, 15–18).”

So What?

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We each can have a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven. Although we may not demand or coerce his blessings, he freely offers us all that is for our best good. We must ask him for the things we need and recognize his omniscient love for us personally.