Hello family!
 |
| I think this is at the Oasis. Look at all that sand |
Ica is amazing as
always. It has begun to cool down. It is like a perfect temperature now. So
this week we had a lot of things that happened. We had a multi zona on Wednesday
and it was amazing!
I learned so much from the spirit. One thing I learned is
how important it is to be balanced. We watched meet the mormons at the end of
the conference. What I learned is that each of the people and famillies had
passions they liked but they bridled their passions and Christ was the center
of their home. Hermana Douglas shared a lot about the spirit and how important
it is to have it. She shared a story from Elder Busche… Yes dad The elder Busche.
I know, I was so excited when she started talking about him.
 |
| This is an amazing book. We recommend it to everyone. Alan especially loves it because Elder Busche is German |
Will you put the
link to his book Yearning for the Living God? Ok so she said that while he was
a mission pres in Germany he was with some missionaries and asked them when the
last time they had felt the spirit was and they didn’t know! They had to think
long and hard and then they were like oh like last week when we were teaching
the Sanchez family. And he thought WHAT. You are missionaries you should be
feeling the spirit more. I have to admit I reflected and I was sad. I don’t
think I have the spirit with me as much as I should especially as a missionary.
 |
I loved the talk from
conference from one of the Hermana’s that she used the example of the bottle
(it was a soda can). If it is full and there is pressure applied nothing
happens and it is ok but then if the bottle is empty it is crushed and
destroyed. If we aren’t constantly filled with the spirit and light when the
pressure or hard times come we can be destroyed. It is the reason it is so
important to have our lives centered on Christ. He is our rock.
 |
| Happy birthday Hermana Villena |
Helaman 5:12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it
is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that
ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his
mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his
mighty stormshall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag
you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which
ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build
they cannot fall.
Sometimes we feel like
God has forgotten us that He doesn’t know anything we are going through. But I
promise that he does. He knows and cares about all of us and our small trials
even the ones we think are dumb. He cares.
1 Nephi 21:14-16 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath
forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.
15 For
can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on
the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O
house of Israel.
There is a talk I love
by Elder Scott about prayer. Mom will you attach it please? God loves you and
cares about you. Even though you may feel you are in darkness. Just keep going.
You are never alone. He will carry you and comfort you.
Luke 22:42-44 Saying,
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not
my will, but thine, be done.
44 And
being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: andhis sweat was as
it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
He loves you.
Yesterday we had a
lesson with a lady named Maria Viuda de Alegria. Which means widow of
happiness. She has 9 children. Her husband died when she was pregnant with the
ninth. She doesn’t have very much money. She lives with her youngest son and an
18 year old from the Cierra who wants to get an education and so she is helping
him even when she has nothing. I love this gospel. I love President and Sister
Douglas. The Atonement is always enough. I promise. Just trust. DC 6:33-end.
Oh we also have Leonardo
who will be baptized on May 9th! Yay!
Love you!!!!
Hermana Bott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul.
This
conference began with a profoundly moving presentation of the classic hymn
“Sweet Hour of Prayer” by the magnificent Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The familiar
lyrics remind us that prayer is the source of comfort, relief, and protection,
willingly granted by our loving, compassionate Heavenly Father.
The Gift of Prayer
Prayer
is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the
absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful
personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with
Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His
guidance, He commands, “Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea,
before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.” 1
It
matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or
enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need
no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time
needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or
an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them
with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever
answer.
How Should You Pray?
We
pray to our Heavenly Father in the sacred name of His Beloved Son, Jesus
Christ. Prayer is most effective when we strive to be clean and
obedient, with worthy motives, and are willing to do what He asks. Humble,
trusting prayer brings direction and peace.
Don’t
worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate,
understanding Father. You are His precious child whom He loves perfectly and
wants to help. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and He is
listening.
A
key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider
changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants
for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the
strength to fulfill it.
Should
you ever feel distanced from our Father, it could be for many reasons. Whatever
the cause, as you continue to plead for help, He will guide you to do that
which will restore your confidence that He is near. 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
wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we
encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to
resolve it. Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total
dependence on Him. It helps to find a secluded place where our feelings can be
vocally expressed as long and as intensely as necessary.
I
have done that. Once I had an experience that caused me immense anxiety. It had
nothing to do with disobedience or transgression but with a vitally important
human relationship. For some time I poured my heart out in urgent prayer. Yet
try as I might, I could find no solution, no settling of the powerful stirring
within me. I pled for help from that Eternal Father I have come to know and
trust completely. I could see no path that would provide the calm that is my
blessing generally to enjoy. Sleep overcame me. When I awoke, I was totally at
peace. Again I knelt in solemn prayer and asked, “Lord, how is it done?” In my
heart, I knew the answer was His love and His concern for me. Such is the power
of sincere prayer to a compassionate Father.
I
have learned much about prayer by listening to President Hinckley offer
supplications in our meetings. You can also learn from him by carefully
studying the exceptional public prayer he offered at the conclusion of the
October 2001 conference for Father’s children throughout the world. He prayed
from his heart, not from a prepared manuscript. (For convenience that prayer is
reproduced at the end of this message.) 2
Study
that prayer, and you will find that there are no vain repetitions, no posturing
to impress others, as sometimes occurs. He combines simple words eloquently. He
prays as a humble, trusting son who knows well his beloved Father in Heaven. He
confides in the certainty that His answer will come when most needed. Each
prayer is tailored to its purpose, with a clear statement of what needs
resolution, as well as ample expression of gratitude for specific, recognized
blessings. His spontaneous prayers are like crafted gems, a silent witness to
the fundamental place prayer has occupied in his life for many, many years.
How Are Prayers Answered?
Some
truths regarding how prayers are answered may help you.
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.
I
have discovered that what sometimes seems an impenetrable barrier to
communication is a giant step to be taken in trust. Seldom will you receive a
complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so
that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be
led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires
you to exercise faith in our Father’s capacity to respond. While sometimes it’s
very hard, it results in significant personal growth.
He
will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. However, His
answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may
plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments
when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you
should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed
and strengthened. His pattern causes you to grow.
President
David O. McKay testified, “It is true that the answers to our prayers may not
always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but
they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who
offers the supplication.” 3 Be thankful that sometimes God lets
you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will
grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the
greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character
enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.
On
occasion, the Lord will give you an answer before you ask. This can occur when
you are unaware of a danger or may be doing the wrong thing, mistakenly
trusting that it is correct.
It
is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not
answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of
deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result.
The Savior taught, “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given
unto you, that is expedient for you.” 4 At times it is difficult to
recognize what is best or expedient for you
over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your
life is for your eternal good.
You
are asked to look for an answer to your prayers. 5 Obey the Master’s counsel to “study
it out in your mind.” 6 Often you will think of a solution;
as you seek confirmation that your answer is right, help will come. It may be
through your prayers, or as an impression of the Holy
Ghost, and at times by the intervention of others. 7
This
guidance about prayer given to Oliver Cowdery can also aid you: “Behold, … you
have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was
to ask me.
“…
You must study it out in your mind; then … ask me if it be right, and if it is
right … your bosom shall burn … ; therefore, you shall feel that
it is right.” 8
Then
the answer comes as a feeling with an accompanying conviction.
The Savior defines two separate ways: “I will tell you in your mind and
in your heart, by the Holy Ghost.” 9
Answers
to the mind and heart are messages from the Holy Ghost to our spirits. For me,
response to the mind is very specific, like dictated words, while response to
the heart is generalized, like a feeling to pray more. 10
Then
the Lord clarifies, “But if [what you propose] be not right you … shall have a
stupor of thought.” 11 That, for me, is an unsettling,
discomforting feeling.
Oliver
Cowdery was taught another way in which positive answers come: “Did I not speak peace to
your mind concerning the matter?” 12 The feeling of peace is the most
common confirming witness that I personally experience. When I have been very
concerned about an important matter, struggling to resolve it without success,
I continued those efforts in faith. Later, an all-pervading peace has come,
settling my concerns, as He has promised.
Some
misunderstandings about prayer can be clarified by realizing that the
scriptures define principles for effective prayer, but they do not assure when a
response will be given. Actually, He will reply in one of three ways.
First, you can feel the peace, comfort, and assurance that confirm that your
decision is right. Or second, you can sense that unsettled feeling, the stupor
of thought, indicating that your choice is wrong. Or third—and this is the
difficult one—you can feel no response.
What
do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a
reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? You may want
to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust. When
you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior’s
teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the
promptings of the Spirit, one of two things will certainly occur at the
appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an
improper choice, or the peace or the burning in the bosom will be felt,
confirming that your choice was correct. When you are living righteously and
are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning
impression if you have made the wrong decision.
Gratitude for the Gift of Prayer
An
important aspect of prayer is gratitude. Jesus declared, “And in nothing doth
man offend God … save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey
not his commandments.” 13 When we contemplate the
incomparable gift of prayer and the limitless blessings that flow from it,
honest appreciation fills our mind and heart to overflowing with thanksgiving.
Should we not, therefore, continually and profoundly express to our beloved
Father, as well as we are able, our unbounded gratitude for the supernal gift
of prayer and for His answers that meet our needs while motivating us to grow?
I
testify our Father will always answer your prayers in the way and in the time
that will be for your best eternal good. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment