Mormon Musings

http://mormonthoughts.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/petitioning-in-prayer/

I pray because the need flows from me constantly- awake, asleep.  It does not change God, it changes me! C.S. Lewis I know not by what methods rare, but this I know, God answers prayer! I know that He has given us His word that tells me prayer is always heard, And will be answered soon or late, and so I pray and calmly wait. I know not if the blessing sought will come just in the way I thought, But leave my prayers with Him alone, whose ways are wiser than my own- Assured that He will grant my quest, or send some answer far more blessed. Eliza M. Hickock

"My faith is, when we have done all we can, then the Lord is under obligation, and will not disappoint the faithful; he will perform the rest." Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young , p. 155 "If I ask Him to give me wisdom concerning any requirements in life, or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children, or those that I preside over, and get no answer from Him, and then do the very best that my judgment will teach me, He is bound to own and honor that transaction, and He will do so to all intents and purposes." Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young , p. 43

"It matters not whether you or I feel like praying, when the time comes to pray, pray.  If we do not feel like it, we should pray till we do." Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young , p. 44 "When you have labored faithfully for years, you will learn this simply fact--that if your hearts are aright, and you still continue to be obedient, continue to serve God, continue to pray, the Spirit of revelation will be in you like a well of water springing up to everlasting life. Let no person give up prayer because he has not the spirit of prayer, neither let any earthly circumstance hurry you while in the performance of this simple duty. By bowing down before the Lord to ask him to bless you, you will simply find this result--God will multiply blessings upon you temporally and spiritually." Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young , p. 46

“You remember the Prophet [Joseph] saw in panoramic vision at least nine of the Twelve in a foreign land. (He doesn’t say England, but that is where they eventually went.) He saw them gathered in a circle, without shoes, beaten, tattered, discouraged. Standing above them in the air was the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was made know to the Prophet that He yearned to show Himself to them, to reach down and lift them. But they did not see Him. The Savior looked upon them and wept. We are told by two of the brethren who hear Joseph rehearse that vision that he could never speak of it without weeping himself. Why? Why should he be so touched? Because Christ willingly came to earth so that all of the Father’s family could come to Him boldly, knowing that He knows what is taking place in us when we sin, that He knows all our feelings and cares. The greatest tragedy of life is that having paid that awful price of suffering 'according to the flesh that His bowels might be filled with compas

"When answers to urgent prayer don’t seem to come, it can be that we don’t understand some truths about prayer, or because we don’t recognize answers when they come.   Communication with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter. It is a sacred privilege. It is based upon unchanging principles. When we receive help from our Father in Heaven, it is in response to faith, obedience, and the proper use of agency. It is a mistake to assume that every prayer we offer will be answered immediately. Some prayers require considerable effort on our part. Don’t worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your Father. He hears every prayer and answers it in His way. When we explain a problem and a proposed solution, sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often, He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us.  For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to d

"And now, my son, remember the words which I have spoken unto you; trust not those secret plans unto this people, but teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.  Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.    O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God. Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doing be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.  Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou lies

I would suggest just reading (or listening to) the entire talk by Hugh B. Brown. Text is pasted on a "page" of this blog and original transcript and audio is available at:  http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=114 .  …Perhaps I can do this more quickly by referring to an interview I had in London, England, in 1939, just before the outbreak of the war. I had met a very prominent English gentleman, a member of the House of Commons, formerly one of the justices of the supreme court of England. In my conversations with this gentleman on various subjects—“vexations of the soul,” he called them—we talked about business, law, politics, international relations, and war, and we frequently discussed religion. He called me on the phone one day and asked if I would meet him at his office and explain some phases of the gospel. He said, “I think there is going to be a war. If there is, you will have to return to America and we may not meet again.” His statement regarding