Prayer

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in prayer and its powerful effects. Prayer is an opportunity to communicate with our loving Heavenly Father. Because He loves and cares about us, He wants us to talk with Him regularly. Through prayer, we can tell God anything. We have the opportunity to thank Him for the blessings He provides and ask for anything we stand in need of. Members of the Church believe it is important to address God in a reverent manner, to show our respect for Him.

Members of the Church typically begin prayers by addressing our Father in Heaven. Then, they give Him thanks and ask for whatever they may need. They close by saying “in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” Prayer, combined with faith, has many purposes. If we have questions about discerning truth, we can ask God to help us know for ourselves. We can also offer prayers for the sick or afflicted or ask for help with a particular assignment.

When we communicate with God through prayer, He often communicates back to us in the form of revelation. He sends the Spirit to give us thoughts and feelings directly from Him. Answers to prayers may not come in the timing we expect, but God promises that if we pray with faith, and if our will aligns with His, then we will see answers to our prayers when the time is right. When we treat prayer as a sacred experience and pray frequently, we will grow closer to God and feel His presence more in our lives. This collection of talks discusses prayer and how we can make our prayers more humble, more sincere, and more effective. Revelation will come when we seek God and do His will.