Petitioning in Prayer Has Taught Me Again and Again That the Vault of Heaven

"Chapter 12: Prayer and Fasting," Doctrines of the Gospel Pupil Manual (2000), 32–34

Introduction

A Church hymn proclaims, "Prayer is the soul's sincere want, / Uttered or unexpressed" ( Hymns, no. 145). These lyrics express the innate longing we all have to communicate with our Heavenly Father. Fasting combined with prayer will increase our spirituality and draw us closer to God.

Doctrinal Outline

1. Prayer has been a role of the gospel programme from the beginning.

   See Moses v:viii.

2. God has revealed why we should pray to Him.

   1. It is a commandment to pray, both individually and in families (see D&C 31:12; 68:33; 3 Nephi 18:21; D&C 93:50; 68:28).

   2. Prayer is essential to salvation (see Alma 37:36–37; James 5:xvi).

   3. Admiration and worship are expressed through prayer (see D&C 136:28; Psalm 92:1).

   4. We are commanded to thank the Lord for all our blessings (come across D&C 46:32; 59:vii).

   5. Temporal and spiritual blessings tin can be obtained through prayer (see James 5:16–18; Enos i:4–6; Mosiah 24:8–25).

3. The scriptures tell us what we should pray for.

   1. We should pray for the companionship of the Holy Ghost (see 3 Nephi 19:9; Moroni 4:3).

   2. We should pray for forgiveness of our sins (see Joseph Smith—History one:28–29).

   3. We should ask for strength to resist temptation and overcome opposition (see Alma 34:23; D&C 10:5; Matthew 26:41).

   4. Husbands should pray for their wives and children (see 3 Nephi 18:21; Alma 34:21, 27).

   5. Nosotros should pray for all people—both righteous and wicked, friend and enemy (see Numbers 21:7; Matthew 5:44; Enos 1:eleven–xiv).

   6. We should petition the Lord concerning our crops, herds, fields, and flocks (see Alma 34:20, 24–25).

4. The Lord has told u.s.a. how to make our prayers more than meaningful and effective.

   1. Nosotros are e'er to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ (come across 2 Nephi 32:nine; 3 Nephi 18:21; 19:6–8).

   2. We do not pray in order to exist seen and heard by others (see Matthew 6:5–6; 3 Nephi 13:5–6).

   3. We should avert vain repetitions when we pray (see Matthew 6:7–8; 3 Nephi thirteen:7–eight).

   4. We should pray daily and continuously (see Mosiah 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Nephi 32:9; Alma 34:17–nineteen, 27).

   5. Nosotros should pray for what is proper (see three Nephi 18:xx; D&C 88:64; 46:30).

   6. Our petitions should be offered earnestly, sincerely, with real intent, and with all the energy and forcefulness of our souls (see Moroni 7:48; 10:four).

   7. Obedience helps us obtain answers to prayer (encounter 1 John 3:22; Alma 34:28).

   8. The Holy Ghost will help us in our prayers (see Romans 8:26).

5. Fasting should sometimes back-trail prayer.

   1. We are commanded to fast (see D&C 59:13–14; 88:76).

   2. Together, fasting and prayer foster spiritual growth and conviction, and bring blessings (meet Omni 1:26; Alma 5:46; 17:3; Helaman iii:35; iii Nephi 27:i; Isaiah 58:1–12; Matthew 17:twenty–21).

   3. It is proper to fast for the ill and for special blessings (see James v:fifteen; Mosiah 27:22–23).

Supporting Statements

1. Prayer has been a part of the gospel plan from the starting time.

   • "No divine commandment has been more than often repeated than the commandment to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Marion G. Romney, in Conference Study, Oct. 1979, 20; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 16).

2. God has revealed why we should pray to Him.

   • "This course [prayer] is essential if men are to exist saved; at that place is no salvation without prayer. How could a man set his centre on righteousness, and then as to work out his salvation, without communing past prayer with him who is the author of righteousness?" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 581).

   • "An important key is turned when we get through the formality of stating our desires to Him who can grant them" (Boyd Thousand. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, 12).

   • "Discover that bang-up commandment given of the Primary, always to recall the Lord, to pray in the morn, and in the evening, and always remember to thank him for the blessings that you lot receive solar day by twenty-four hours" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 218).

3. The scriptures tell us what we should pray for.

   • "Nosotros would say to the brethren, seek to know God in your closets, call upon him in the fields. Follow the directions of the Volume of Mormon, and pray over, and for your families, your cattle, your flocks, your herds, your corn, and all things that you lot possess; ask the approval of God upon all your labors, and everything that y'all engage in. Be virtuous and pure; exist men of integrity and truth; keep the commandments of God; then y'all will be able more perfectly to empathize the difference betwixt right and wrong—between the things of God and the things of men; and your path will be similar that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day" (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 247).

4. The Lord has told us how to make our prayers more meaningful and effective.

   • "It was a prayer, a very special prayer, which opened this whole impunity! It began with a immature human'southward kickoff song prayer. I hope that not also many of our prayers are silent, fifty-fifty though when we cannot pray vocally, it is good to offer a silent prayer in our hearts and in our minds" (Spencer W. Kimball, in Briefing Study, Oct. 1979, four; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 4).

   • "Do you have prayers in your family unit? … And when you exercise, do y'all go through the operation similar the grinding of a piece of machinery, or do you bow in meekness and with a sincere desire to seek the blessing of God upon you and your household? That is the style that we ought to do, and cultivate a spirit of devotion and trust in God, dedicating ourselves to him, and seeking his blessings" (John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, 284).

   • "Answers to prayers come in a quiet way. The scriptures draw that voice of inspiration equally a still, small-scale vocalisation.

     "If you really endeavour, you can acquire to respond to that phonation.

     "In the early days of our spousal relationship, our children came at shut intervals. As parents of little children will know, in those years it is quite a novelty for them to become an uninterrupted night of sleep.

     "If you accept a new baby, and another youngster cutting teeth, or 1 with a fever, you lot can be up and downward a hundred times a nighttime. (That, of course, is an exaggeration. It's probably only xx or thirty times.)

     "We finally divided our children into 'his' and 'hers' for dark disposed. She would become upwards for the new baby, and I would tend the one cutting teeth.

     "One day we came to realize that each would hear only the one to which we were assigned, and would sleep very soundly through the cries of the other.

     "We have commented on this over the years, convinced that you can railroad train yourself to hear what yous desire to hear, to run into and feel what you want, but it takes some workout.

     "There are so many of usa who get through life and seldom, if e'er, hear that vocalism of inspiration, because 'the natural man receiveth non the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned' (1 Cor. 2:fourteen)" (Boyd Thousand. Packer, in Conference Study, Oct. 1979, 28; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, nineteen–20).

   • "Put difficult questions in the back of your minds and become about your lives. Ponder and pray quietly and persistently about them.

     "The reply may non come as a lightning bolt. It may come up as a little inspiration hither and a little there, 'line upon line, precept upon precept' (D&C 98:12).

     "Some answers will come from reading the scriptures, some from hearing speakers. And, occasionally, when it is important, some will come up by very direct and powerful inspiration. The promptings will be articulate and unmistakable" (Packer, in Briefing Report, October. 1979, thirty; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 21).

   • "Equally we go through life, nosotros ofttimes build a stone wall between ourselves and heaven. This wall is built by our unrepented sins. For instance, in our wall there may be stones of many different sizes and shapes. There could exist stones because we have been unkind to someone. Criticism of leaders or teachers may add some other stone. A lack of forgiveness may add another. Vulgar thoughts and actions may add some rather large stones in this wall. Dishonesty will add together another; selfishness another; and so on.

     "In spite of the wall nosotros build in forepart of u.s.a., when we cry out to the Lord, he still sends his messages from heaven; but instead of being able to penetrate our hearts, they hit the wall that we have congenital upwardly and bounce off. His letters don't penetrate, and then we say, 'He doesn't hear,' or 'He doesn't answer.' Sometimes this wall is very formidable, and the great challenge of life is to destroy information technology, or, if you delight, to cleanse ourselves, purifying this inner vessel so that we can exist in tune with the Spirit.

     "Let me give you some examples. I suppose we accept all had someone practice something to us that nosotros didn't like, and that fabricated the states angry. We can't forget it, and we don't desire to be around that person. This is called beingness unforgiving. Now, the Lord has had some very strong words to say to those who will not forgive one another. Many years ago I had an experience with being unforgiving. I felt I had been taken advantage of, and I did not similar the person. I did not want to be around him; I would pass on the other side of the street if he came down information technology; I wouldn't talk to him. Long after the effect should have been airtight, it was yet cankering my soul. One twenty-four hour period my wife, who is very astute and knows when I'm not doing everything I should, said, 'You don't like so and and then, do you?'

     "'No, I don't,' I said. 'But how could yous tell?'

     "'Well, information technology shows—in your eyebrow information technology shows. Why don't yous do something about it?' she said.

     "'Like what?'

     "'Why don't you pray about information technology?'

     "I said, 'Well, I did pray in one case, and I still don't similar him.'

     "'No,' she said, 'why don't you really pray most it?'

     "And so I began to think, and I knew what she meant. So I decided that I was going to pray for a better feeling well-nigh this person until I had 1. That night I got on my knees, and I prayed and opened up my heart to the Lord. But when I got upwards off my knees, I nonetheless didn't like that person. The next morning time I knelt and prayed and asked to take a feeling of goodness toward him; but when I finished my prayers, I still didn't like him. The next dark I nevertheless didn't like him; a week afterward I didn't like him; and a month after I didn't like him—and I had been praying every dark and every forenoon. Just I kept it upwardly, and I finally started pleading—not but praying, but pleading. After much prayer, the fourth dimension came when without question or reservation I knew I could stand before the Lord, if I were asked to, and that he would know that at least in this instance my heart was pure. A modify had come over me after a menses of time. That stone of unforgiveness needs to be removed from all of us, if it happens to be there, and I suggest that persistent prayer might be a way to remove information technology" (H. Burke Peterson, "Prayer—Attempt Once again," Ensign, June 1981, 73).

   • "Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and over again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to exist opened simply by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is organized religion, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls just when what is sought is, in God's judgment—not ours—right for the states. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we desire very much and wonder why the door does not open. Nosotros would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more hands than it does. I tin tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell u.s. much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father" (Neal A. Maxwell, "Insights," New Era, Apr. 1978, 6).

   • "But is prayer only one-way communication? No! … At the end of our prayers, we need to practice some intense listening—fifty-fifty for several minutes. Nosotros have prayed for counsel and help. Now we must 'be withal, and know that [he is] God' (Ps. 46:10.) …

     "… Sometimes ideas overflowing our mind as nosotros listen after our prayers. Sometimes feelings press upon us. A spirit of calmness assures u.s. that all will be well. But ever, if nosotros have been honest and earnest, we will feel a good feeling—a feeling of warmth for our Father in Heaven and a sense of his love for united states of america" (Spencer West. Kimball, "Pray Always," Ensign, Oct. 1981, five).

   • "The pattern of our lives determines our eligibility to receive the promptings of the Spirit and to hear the answers to our prayers. Again, let there be no misunderstanding. Heavenly Father does answer our prayers, just ofttimes we aren't prepared to hear him. Some are answered immediately, but some practice take longer, and that'southward where we may go discouraged" (Peterson, "Prayer—Try Again," 74).

5. Fasting should sometimes accompany prayer.

   • "Fasting, with prayer as its companion, is designed to increase spirituality; to foster a spirit of devotion and love of God; to increase faith in the hearts of men, thus assuring divine favor; to encourage humility and contrition of soul; to aid in the acquirement of righteousness; to teach man his pettiness and dependence upon God; and to hasten those who properly comply with the law of fasting forth the path to salvation" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 276).

   • "Failing to fast is a sin. In the 58th chapter of Isaiah, rich promises are fabricated by the Lord to those who fast and help the needy. Freedom from frustrations, freedom from thralldom, and the approving of peace are promised. Inspiration and spiritual guidance will come up with righteousness and closeness to our Heavenly Father. To omit to do this righteous human action of fasting would deprive us of these blessings" (Spencer W. Kimball, The Phenomenon of Forgiveness, 98).

   • "A certain kind of devil goes not out except by fasting and prayer, the scripture tells the states. (Meet Matt. 17:21.) Periodic fasting can aid clear upwardly the mind and strengthen the torso and the spirit. The usual fast, the one we are asked to participate in for fast Sunday, is for 24 hours without food or drink. Some people, feeling the need, accept gone on longer fasts of abnegation from nutrient but have taken the needed liquids. Wisdom should be used, and the fast should exist broken with light eating. To brand a fast near fruitful, it should be coupled with prayer and meditation; physical work should be held to a minimum, and information technology's a blessing if 1 can ponder on the scriptures and the reason for the fast" (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1974, 92; or Ensign, Nov. 1974, 66–67).

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/12-prayer-and-fasting?lang=eng

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