D&C 20:77 & 79

77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

A few years ago I was teaching a Sunday school and we were talking about the sacrament.  We talked about who had instituted the first sacrament.  In both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, we can read about the great love our Savior had as he taught his disciples about this ordinance. In 3 Nephi 18:4 it says, "And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude." The Sacrament is a gift that has been given us directly from our Savior, through his disciples, and through them to the young men who administer this ordinance each week.  As we discussed this concept, we came to the understanding that through this direct link, each of those young men are acting in the Savior's stead. as they prepare, bless and pass the sacrament. 
Does this give you a different perspective as the sacrament is handed to you each week?  Think about the fact that each of those young men are acting as proxy in delivering this gift from our Savior.  It is his gift. They, through their priesthood power, act in his stead.  When they say the words to these sacred prayers out loud, they are appealing to our Heavenly Father for us.  These words are not just something to listen to.  They should be the words of our hearts each time we have the opportunity to hear them.
My oldest son turned 16 this last year.  It has brought me even more appreciation as I have the opportunity to listen to these sacred words being delivered through his mouth.  My second son participates in preparing the sacrament and he and my 3rd son help to pass the sacrament each week.  How grateful I am that I have 3 sons that recognize the privilege of helping with the sacrament, and I hope that I never take for granted the words of these prayers and all that they mean.

Love, Sis. Norris

2 Nephi 33:3-4

3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

I love that Nephi prays for his people continually. We too have "people". I think the content of most of my prayers is mainly supplication to the Lord for "my people", my family and friends. And, many times I have, like Nephi, watered my pillow with tears as I have begged Heavenly Father to bless them, and me. (I, unfortunately, pray more when I am in the middle of a trial, than when everything in my life seems to be going well.) I know Heavenly Father wants us to pray to Him on behalf of our "people". He wants us to pray to Him continually for their benefit. And, Nephi didn't just say family and close friends. I believe he meant all people he came in contact with. We can pray for someone we know is having a hard time, even if we don't know them well. Sometimes praying for someone we don't know all that much, or even like that much, for that matter, brings us closer to them and can instill in us a desire to get to know them better and to be kinder to them. If we have faith, the Lord will bless those we pray for, and He will bless us for our efforts.

Love,
Sister Norman

Daniel 6:10

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Have you ever had a hectic morning and forgot to pray before you left your home, or an evening when you were so tired that you fell asleep before you ended your day with prayer? I think we have all done that. On those days, I have thought what if I couldn’t pray. Would prayer mean more to me then? I wonder if because I can always pray, that it doesn’t seem that big of a deal if I skip just once. Prayer was so important to Daniel that he continued to pray even when his life was threatened for doing so. After the law was signed forbidding prayer, Daniel continued to pray as he always had done.  Prayer was essential to his life. He prayed three times a day, on his knees, facing the temple, and giving thanks to God. I found it interesting that Daniel prayed facing the temple. As we pray towards the temple, we can be reminded of the things we should be doing in our lives to be found worthy to be in the House of the Lord. When President Wilford Woodruff dedicated the Salt Lake Temple he offered a specific prayer that people who had there committed their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and were now assailed with temptation or trouble but were unable to get to the temple to supplicate the Lord might face the temple as they prayed, and that the Lord would honor their prayers. We can’t see the temple from our windows as Daniel could, but we can have a picture of a temple in our bedrooms. As we look at it before we pray, we can dedicate our lives to the Lord and strive each day to be one who is worthy to enter the temple.
Love, Sister Linnell

Moses 5:8

8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. Each day whatever we are doing we need to do it with God in mind and do the very best that we can. If we mess up then we need to repent right away. We should unceasingly call upon God.

D&C 5:24

24 Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see.

I have sometimes wished I were like Superman with his cool x-ray vision, and perfect eyesight. Or even like a gypsy with a crystal ball which would allow me to see the things that were going to happen in my life. What I realized when studying this verse is that I have "a view of the things" which I desire to see. When I pray sincerely, humbly, and in faith Heavenly Father will let me know what I need to do in order to achieve the results I want. I like this so much more than having to be a superhero, or carry around a heavy glass ball! Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to live our life blindly; instead he will guide us in all that we do if we ask him to do so. I love that he cares so much about me and that he loves each of you.
I LOVE YOU!
Sister Horne

Alma 45:1

1 Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.

I know for myself it is easy to turn to my Heavenly Father in prayer when I need help or comfort, but I sometimes forget when life is good to express my thanks to Him that has blessed me. He is the giver of all good gifts, whether it be a small victory with the kids that day or a huge turn for the positive in our life's direction. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and have joy, so let us not forget to include him on those moments whether big or small.

Love, Sister Emett

3 Nephi 19:23-36

23 And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.

24 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire.

25 And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof.

26 And Jesus said unto them: Pray on; nevertheless they did not cease to pray.

27 And he turned from them again, and went a little way off and bowed himself to the earth; and he prayed again unto the Father, saying:

28 Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me.

29 Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.

30 And when Jesus had spoken these words he came again unto his disciples; and behold they did pray steadfastly, without ceasing, unto him; and he did smile upon them again; and behold they were white, even as Jesus.

31 And it came to pass that he went again a little way off and prayed unto the Father;

32 And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed.

33 And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.

34 Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.

35 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came again to the disciples, and said unto them: So great faith have I never seen among all the Jews; wherefore I could not show unto them so great miracles, because of their unbelief.

36 Verily I say unto you, there are none of them that have seen so great things as ye have seen; neither have they heard so great things as ye have heard.

There are so many important principles about prayer in these verses, but I just want to highlight the phrase in verse 25 that says "Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him." I know that as we pray without ceasing, Jesus will bless us, too. He may not be physically here with us every day, but as we trust in Him and keep a constant, open communication line with him, He will bless us and help us do the things that we need to do to be happy and serve Him. I know that is true. It's been proven true for my life, and I know that it's true for your life, too. He loves you. We as a Stake love you, too.

Love,
Sister Jones

Luke 22:39-46

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
What a wonderful day to be able to post this scripture on Easter weekend. One of my favorite primary songs is "Love is spoken Here", I love the message, but when I heard it for the first time the part that states " I see my mother kneeling with our family each day, I hear the word she whispers as she bows her head to pray. Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears", I felt a little sad because when I think of my childhood I never saw my mother praying, I wondered if any body was praying for me. My next thought was that of other people that may not have felt any one was praying for them. Then the kindest, tender thought came to my mind filling my whole body with love, the spirit whispered to me "I prayed for You, I have prayed for everyone." The greatest prayer ever spoken was from our Savior Jesus Christ to our Heavenly Father for us. His plea was so deep and heartfelt that he bleed from every pore, it was hard for him but he didn't want to stop until everybody and everything was covered by his atonement, so everyone can feel as I did "I prayed for You!"

I Love You, Sister MaryAnn Jensen

Alma 13:28

28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;


Humble, call on his holy name, watch & pray continually, that ye may not be tempted. Be led by the Holy Spirit, be humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love & long-suffering.

All of this so that we may be led by the Holy Spirit. Where do I start? I will start with Humble.
Humble to me, means to be as a little child, teachable. When I am teachable, I seek guidance, and instruction. So if I pray continually, I will be led by the Holy Spirit. Isn't it great to know that when things seem to be more than we can bear, with all the trials that we may be confronted with in this life, that Heavenly Father has provided a way for us to get help through prayer. All we need to do is humble ourselves before the Lord, and ask. As I seek to humble myself, I find that the rest just falls into place. One step at a time.

With Love, Sister Woolsey

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

I am one of those people that likes to make sure that everything is taken care of.  I stress about the details, and worry about the little things.  I've learned through the years, through some hard lessons, that it is okay for me to not always be in control.  While it is a hard lesson, Heavenly Father is waiting for us to turn control to Him.  Learning to humble ourselves takes faith.  Faith that He knows the bigger picture.  Faith that things will be okay.  Faith that He will indeed be our Savior.  When we pray, do we believe that what we ask of Him, He will do?  Or do we pray because we know we are supposed to ask, but then get up and do things our own way anyway?  I continue to learn to be humble, to be teachable, to have faith in my Savior.  I do know that sincere prayer and communication with our Father in Heaven is the key.  When I talk to Him, and take the time to recognize that He is listening, I am humbled by His power and His love.  As this scripture says, "then will I hear from heaven"  I know He hears me, and when I humble myself and have faith, He heals me.

Love, Sister Norris

Isaiah 26:8-9

8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

I believe this scripture describes how I should feel all of the time. But, sometimes I forget to pray, and sometimes I do not "always remember Him". This scripture, which is almost poetic to me, tells me how I should pray to my Father in Heaven. I should remember Him always, which is a lot like the scripture that tells us to "pray always". Because, like the testimony of Sister Linnell on the very first post of this blog tells us, when we talk to ourselves and work things out in our minds, we can include the Lord in those conversations. As we remember Him, we can talk to Him. The desire of my soul should be in His name, and all the time- morning, night, always. And, I should learn to accept His council and His judgements. Sometimes His answer to my prayers is no, and sometimes He reminds me that I need to repent and do better. However, I know that if I do seek the Lord always and remember Him always, I will be blessed, comforted and guided.

Love,
Sister Norman

D&C 29:5-6

     "Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.
     And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive."

When my daughter Ashlee was three years old, she began bruising quite heavily all over her body. We took her to her pediatrician who immediately ran some blood tests. We went home and anxiously waited for the results. When he called, he informed us that although he didn’t believe it was leukemia it was necessary that it be ruled out, and he had made an appointment for us the next morning at Primary Children’s Hospital. That began one of the longest nights of my life. We immediately called on our family for help in petitioning the Lord on behalf of our daughter.

We were so grateful that our prayers were answered and the leukemia test came back negative, but we were unprepared for the trials that would come with the ITP diagnosis. Ashlee was put on a medication that altered her moods and suppressed her immune system. We were encouraged to keep her home from church and stores and away from any sick people. It was also necessary to take her at least weekly to the hospital to have her blood drawn and platelet count determined. For the next year, her platelet count never returned to normal and hovered just above the level that could cause the risk of internal bleeding. Her doctor suggested that it might be time to put her in the hospital and be given platelets through an IV. At this time, I also had a two year old and a little baby, and being in the hospital with Ashlee away from my other children seemed overwhelming. We once again called on our family to unite in pray and fasting for Ashlee. The next day, when we received the results of her test, we were devastated because her platelet count had plummeted, and it was necessary for her to be hospitalized immediately.  It seemed as if the Lord had not answered our prayers.

Looking back on this situation, I see so many blessings because of the unity of prayer within our families. I had been stubborn and did not want to follow the doctor’s recommendation. As we prayed that Ashlee would be made whole, it was obvious from the drastic change in her platelet count that the way to heal her was not through faith and prayers alone but to utilize the blessings of modern medicine. Because we had included our family in our prayers, they were prompted by the spirit numerous times to help even without being asked. I remember on several occasions being low on groceries, and my father-in-law just dropping off some milk and bread. My mother who didn’t always attend church fasted and prayed on behalf of her granddaughter. It was a difficult year of my life, and I felt strengthened by the prayers of my family. We definitely felt the blessings of the Lord being in our midst.

Uniting our prayers with others changes the equation. When we include parents, family, and friends in our concerns and needs, their prayers can and will bless our lives. We will be given extra strength to endure any situation, and those who are praying for us will be prompted as to how they can help. I testify that unity in prayer will bring increased power to our requests and increased blessings to our lives and those who are praying for us. What a wonderful blessing it is to have family who can unite with us in prayer in petitioning the Lord on our behalf. Your family is probably already praying for you, but asking for their help with a specific need will bring a powerful love and unity in your home. Prayer changes things.

Love, Sister Linnell

Matthew 5:44

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; This may be a hard thing to do when you first read it. When I Pray for someone that has hurt me in some way it helps me see them in a different way. I try to see them how Heavenly Father see's them. It helps me get past the hurt. In some cases "the enemy"ended up being a good friend.

Matthew 26:36-44

36¶Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

These verses are so special as they speak of our Savior during the atonement. He felt "sorrowful and very heavy" as he proceeded to the garden. HE UNDERSTANDS WHEN WE FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THINGS IN OUR LIFE! In verse 41 He reminded his disciples (remember we are also his disciples because we follow him) that they needed to "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." How often do we feel this way? We are struggling in our lives with school, work, friends, family, even the gospel yet we feel so physically and emotionally tired that we fail to pray. Our spirits yearn for the guidance only our Father in Heaven can provide, yet our physical bodies often rule over our decision not to pray. It is during these difficult times that we must make time to pray formally and continuously so that our spirits can strengthen our physical bodies. I have been exhausted and called on my Father in Heaven in prayer only to find that I was blessed with the physical and mental ability to go on. He hears our prayers, just as he heard our Saviors prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. He loves us and will strengthen us in good times and in bad times. I know this is true. I am so grateful for his love for me, and for each of you.

I love YOU!
Sister Horne

D&C 46:7, 30-33

7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.

30 He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.

31 And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;

32 And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.

33 And ye must practise virtue and holiness before me continually. Even so. Amen.

When I read these scriptures the line that really stood out to me was "...and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart..". It brought to mind when I was called to be Stake Camp Director last year. I had prayed and felt strongly that it was a call that came from Heavenly Father. I knew that there was a reason for that call at that time, even though I was scared and doubted in myself. But I felt as I asked my Heavenly Father for His direction instead of looking for mine, the more I was blessed. The closer I kept myself to the Spirit, by keeping my daily actions virtuous and pure, the more I was guided. The experience was a great blessing to my life. I know if we take what is given to us by the Spirit and move forward with faith, praying to our Heavenly Father, we will be guided to His will and we will be able to do that which may be asked of us.

Love, Sis Emett

Mosiah 4:21

"And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another."

As we come to recognize and feel grateful for all the Lord has given us, I think it's a natural reaction to feel the desire to give to others. What can you give? Part of showing your gratitude to God for your blessings involves blessing the lives of those around you with service and love and time. Remember that in Matthew, Jesus says that, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.." We show our thanks by serving those around us. Today think (and pray) about what you can do for someone else to show your gratitude to God for all you have been blessed with.

Love,
Sister Jones

Psalms 9:1-2

1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

During Sacrament meeting a few months ago, we had two of our young women perform a song for the congregation. I noticed and felt while they were singing that they were glowing with goodness and purity. These Young Women were praising Jesus Christ in song but more importantly they praised him with their lives. These scriptures from Psalms reminded me of the Young Women theme, "we will stand as witnesses at all times in all places". in our scripture today it states " I will shew forth all thy marvellous works", we are walking testimonies of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. When I look at the Young Women in our stake, I see goodness and beauty and I thank you for being an example to all of us. Remember a few years back our General Young Women leaders encouraged us to do 3 things each day and that was, read your scriptures, pray morning and night and smile. Be glad and rejoice and have a wonderful day I Love You all, Sister MaryAnn Jensen :)

Alma 62:51

51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land.

As I reflected on this scripture, it states "They" I think about the times when we have been asked by our Prophet to pray. Such as to pray for our missionaries, or to pray for our Country, etc. There is greater power when we combine our prayers in one purpose. As I look and listen to the world around me, I see how much I need my Father in Heaven. I sometimes wonder if anyone elses prayers are getting through, because I tie up the "phone" line pleading with my Father in Heaven. When things get hard, make a few "local" phone calls, and ask others to help in your pleadings to our Father in Heaven.

Sister Woolsey

D&C 54:10

10 And again, be patient in tribulation until I come; and, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, and they who have sought me early shall find rest to their souls. Even so. Amen.

Sometimes I have a restless soul.  I want answers and resolutions quickly.  I want to know that things are going to work out.  I worry about things.  I worry about my children, I worry about my job, I worry about my calling, about life, and oh ya, I worry about my children.  Being told that I need to be patient in my tribulations isn't always the answer that I want to hear.  But my restless soul craves peace.  This scripture reminds me that there is a way for me to find peace despite whatever I might be going through.  The spirit reminds me that my Heavenly Father is waiting for me.  As I seek Him, He will bring me peace.  Not only that, but He wants me to do it now.  While each of us has trials and tribulations, He wants us to turn to Him.  To ask for His help.  To seek Him.  And when we do, He will bring rest to our souls.  He will bring peace.

Love, Sis. Norris

Mark 1:35

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

This scripture is referring to Jesus Christ. What a great example He is to us! He rose up early in the morning and found a quiet place to pray. I think that is the best way to start the day. When we start the day with prayer, we invite the Spirit to be with us throughout the day. Heavenly Father can, through the Spirit, help us make decisions throughout the day, show us whom we can serve, and bless us with those blessings we stand in need of. We may think that praying in the morning may seem mundane or unnecessary, but miracles can happen! Just think of Joseph Smith. In Joseph Smith History verse 14 we read, "It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring..." And then, of course we know that Joseph Smith began to pray and saw and spoke with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! What an incredible experience! And, it all began with a simple prayer "a great while before the day, in a solitary place." I believe that we can also have wonderful experiences when we pray to our Heavenly Father in the morning as we ask Him for help and for the Spirit to be with us throughout the day.

Alma 31: 30-35 &38

     "O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul.
     O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people. 
     O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me—yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, and also my two sons—yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ.
     Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people.
     O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.
     Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.
     And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."

In my life, I have experienced my greatest sorrows, pain, and heartache because of the poor choices of another. As you look around at the suffering of others, it is hard to witness so many afflictions caused because of wickedness.  I find myself asking the very same question spoken by Alma, “O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people?” Almost daily, we hear of a child abused by the very people who should love and protect them. A young father is killed by an intoxicated driver and leaves behind a grieving wife and children. Parents mourn because of the actions of a rebellious child. Children suffer through the heartache of divorce because of the selfishness of a parent. A teenager contemplates taking their own life because of the ridicule of others. And a young girl finds herself feeling alone and isolated because of the unkind words of her friends. Like Alma, I have found myself suffering with a “heart that is exceedingly sorrowful.”

It can be easy to feel overcome with discouragement and despair when trials come because of the actions of someone else. If we had to rely solely on our own capabilities to endure these trials, we would most likely lose hope.  Alma asks God, “Wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ . . . wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions, which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people.” Because of the gift of agency, Alma knew God could not stop the actions of others; therefore, he asked to be given comfort, strength, and patience during his afflictions.

Asking as Alma did requires great faith on our part. Enduring pain because of another may seem unfair, and we may find ourselves asking to have the trial removed. As we read yesterday, I know that the the Lord does visit his people in their afflictions and will ease our burdens.Trials can teach us how to rely on the Lord for strength and give us an understanding of how strong we can be with the Lord’s help. Adversity gives us the opportunity to feel God’s matchless love for each of us. Affliction allows us to feel His comfort of peace when our hearts are heavy. I have spent many nights crying because of pain caused by the actions of another, and when I get down on my knees and plead with the Lord for peace and calm, I feel of His love for me and receive comfort and reassurance that I will be given the strength to endure my afflictions with patience. If your heart is sorrowful, ask the Lord to grant unto you His peace, comfort, patience and strength, and He will bless you because you are His daughter.

Love, Sister Linnell

Mosiah 24:10-14

10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God. 11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death. 12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. The Nephites were able to still pray to Heavenly Father for help even when the Lamanites were watching them. I find that I pray in my thoughts alot during my day. It seems I need alot of help all day long. Heavenly Father says that he will ease our burdens. I think that is a great promise. If you don't pray during the day try it. You can do it where ever you are, Heavenly Father will still hear you and answer your prayers.

Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

I notice such a difference in my day when I open and close it with prayer as well as think about my Heavenly Father's purpose for me throughout the day. My thoughts are turned toward things that are really important, rather than idleness. My actions become purposeful. My day has meaning. This is what "accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass" means to me.
It is easier to escape the things of the world when we have prepared ourselves to receive guidance from our Heavenly Father. When we think we are too busy to really pray, or feel the things in our hearts are not worthy of a conversation with Heavenly Father we have to realize that these are Satan's tools used to keep us from prayer. Our Father already knows what is in our hearts and he also knows better than anyone that our schedules are never too busy for prayer. He wants to help us and protect us from the harshness of the world. All he desires is that we are open enough to pray, and therefore open enough to accept his guidance. When we do, we will feel worthy of his protection.

I Love YOU,
Sister Horne

Omni 1:26

26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

This morning before my prayers I read the scripture and pondered on what it meant to "offer your whole soul" unto Him. My mind went to my my closest relationships. Ones that you can share your "whole soul" with. For some of us it is a mother or father or even a good friend. For me it is my husband. So I started my prayer and pictured my Heavenly Father listening beside me with the same closeness I feel when I often pour out my heart to Paul.

As I prayed I was moved by the feelings I felt. I wept as I shared the joys and pains in my heart. It wasn't just about the words to my prayer. I shared my emotions and feeling deep in my heart. After I finished my prayer that closeness of Heavenly Fathers spirit was still there. I was left with a sure confidence that Heavenly Father had heard each word of my prayer, and that it mattered how I felt and not just the words I said. It mattered that I shared my "whole soul".

Love,

Sister Emett

D&C 112:10

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers."

Do you ever find it hard to be humble when asking for answers to your prayers? I often want my prayers to be answered how I want and when I want and find it really difficult when the answers take longer than expected or aren't the answers I was looking for. Do you feel that? When I became pregnant with our first child, I was not prepared for the intense sickness the pregnancy would bring. I lost 45 pounds over many months and couldn't keep food or water down. I was vomiting every day, several times a day. And it did not go away after the first trimester, like I had hoped. I was weak and discouraged. I begged the Lord to take the sickness from me. I pleaded that I would feel well enough to be able to keep attending school and my part-time job that we needed to be insured. I prayed that I'd be spared the constant vomiting and nausea. That relief did not come. I was sick the entire nine months of that pregnancy and every pregnancy after it.

I remember one day very vividly. I was lying on my bed, so sick and weak that I could hardly move. It had been probably 4 or 5 months at that point of feeling like I had the worst stomach flu of my life, and there was no relief in sight. My ribs ached from retching over and over again. I was so dehydrated that I couldn't even cry tears. I started begging Heavenly Father, once again, telling Him that I couldn't take it anymore and that I just needed to feel better. In the middle of that prayer, I felt an overwhelming peace. I knew that I would not find the physical relief I was seeking, but I knew that Jesus knew what I was feeling and that He had suffered for me. He suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross, not just for our sins, but for every pain and sadness and heartache that we would suffer. I knew that although I wouldn't find the answers that I was looking for, He would take me by the hand and lead me through that trial. My attitude changed and I was able to deal with the pregnancy with more patience and humility after that day.

I really think the key is trusting that the Lord knows us and wants what is best for us. If we turn our lives over to him, He will most definitely make more of us than we could make of ourselves. Sometimes that means the answers we want don't come. Sometimes that means we have to suffer through a trial without an end in sight. Sometimes that means that what we want the very most, even when it's a righteous desire, will not come to pass. But it never means that the Lord doesn't love us or is unaware of us.

I believe that if we are humble and pray sincerely, the Lord will lead us by the hand through whatever we have to go through. When He doesn't calm the storm, He does help us weather it. I've seen that time and again in my life. I know that He loves me, and He loves you. If we turn to Him through prayer, He will lead us and answer our prayers.

Love,
Sister Jones

Jeremiah 29:13

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." When you first think of the words “seek” or “search” one would think that someone or something is hiding and we need to start looking around not sure where or how to search. We often get confused, maybe like it is a game. This is not the way Jesus Christ wants us to seek him, he is not hiding. Thomas S Monson has said “The formula for finding Jesus has always been and ever will be the same—the earnest and sincere prayer of a humble and pure heart.” The prophet Jeremiah counseled, “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13.) Before we can successfully undertake a personal search for Jesus, we must first prepare time for him in our lives and room for him in our hearts. In these busy days there are many who have time for friends, time for shopping, time for work, time for play—but no time for Christ. Look in your heart, make room in your heart, and Christ will be there. Have a great day, Love Sister MaryAnn Jensen

Enos 1:4

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

As I thought and analyzed this scripture, I related it to my physical body. I was hungry...so I went to the kitchen to look for food, not finding anything to satisfy my hunger, I got in the car and went to the store. So...would I go to such labors to seek food for my soul? Yes, for I know that God loves me, and wants only good for me. And so, I must be willing to do all I can for my good.

Sister Woolsey

Matthew 7:7-11

" Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? "

I've been thinking about the word ask.  In all aspects of our lives we can gain so much by simply asking.  For me, I'm pretty good about asking things for others.  The same applies to my prayers.  I ask for things for my children, I ask for my family, for my calling, for others who I know need something.  Unfortunately, I often think that I should not ask for things for myself.  Instead those are the things that I think I should just be able to do myself.  Often when I say my prayers I will tell myself that I shouldn't ask for Heavenly Father's help because I haven't done my part yet.  Maybe I haven't been reading my scriptures, or maybe I've been angry with my kids.  Whatever it is I feel like if I just fix those things, then I'll be worthy to ask my Heavenly Father for things.

Then something happens that reminds me that I need to ask Him for help.  If I ask, He will help me with even the very smallest things.  He will make them easier. There have been times in my life that I have asked for help loving someone more, and my Heavenly Father has given it to me.  I have spent a great deal of time trying to come up with answers, only to ask and have the answer given to me. 

I love this scripture.  It reminds me that I am a child of my Heavenly Father.  Just as I want the best for my own kids, He wants even more for us. "How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"  Try it.  Think of something small and simple.  One of those things that you think that maybe Heavenly Father doesn't really care about.  Then, get down on your knees and ask him for it.  You may be surprised at the power it brings.
- Sister Norris

D&C 19:28 & 38

28 And again, I command thee that 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. 38 Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.


I love how this says that we should pray out loud as well as in our hearts, in public as well as in secret. Most of us probably do a great job of praying on our own, in our bedroom, with the door closed. But, this scripture really emphasized to me that we should not be afraid to pray vocally in front of others. I know sometimes we feel shy or embarrased when we are asked to pray in front of a group- either at church or seminary, or somewhere else. However, look at the first part of this scripture- it says, "I command thee...". Praying vocally is a commandment. I hope that we can take this as a challenge to better accept invitations to pray outloud and in front of people any time we are asked. I know that if we do this we will be blessed "more than if [we] should obtain treasures of the earth...".

-Sister Norman

2 Nephi 9:52

Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.

Do you wonder how it could be possible to “pray unto God continually by day” when your life is so busy? It almost seems to be impossible. After reading an Ensign article, I began to see how it could be achievable to have continual communication with my Heavenly Father. The following is a portion of the article by James T. Duke:

“According to George Herbert Mead, a great analyst of human behavior, thinking is essentially a conversation we hold with ourselves. ‘We can hear ourselves talking, and the import of what we say is the same to ourselves that it is to others.’ (Mind, Self and Society, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1934, p. 62.)

This described precisely how my mind works when my thoughts are just meandering along. My lips don’t move, and nobody hears me. But constantly, almost without interruption, I am saying things to myself: ‘It’s time for me to put out the garbage. I wonder how Dave (my missionary son) is doing today. I hope it isn’t too cold today where he is in Minneapolis. Well, I’d better get going, or I’ll be late for work. Oh, I didn’t put gas in the car yesterday. Maybe I don’t have enough gas to get to work. I wonder if I have time to stop on the way to school.’

If that kind of thinking is a conversation with ourselves, why not turn it into a conversation with God? And prayer isn’t much different from thinking. In fact, it has many similarities.

If, instead of talking to myself, I talked to my Heavenly Father, then my thoughts would be prayers. I’d be including Heavenly Father in every aspect of my life, every decision I make. I would, in essence, be praying continually.

With this insight, I find my heart is more frequently drawn out in prayer. My Father in Heaven has become for me an ever-present friend who listens as I talk to him. My thoughts become more meaningful and more holy when I direct them toward the Father:

‘I wonder how Dave is doing today. Father, please watch over Dave today and keep him safe. Please lead him to those who are seeking thy gospel. And thanks for letting me raise that fine son, and for his goodness and willingness to serve thee. Well, I’d better get going or I’ll be late for work. …’

Of course, I often slip back into talking just to myself, operating on my own. But more and more I am aware of the nearness of the Lord and the influence of the Holy Ghost. In those precious moments when my heart softens and I know that my Father hears me and loves me, how I love him! I love to call him Father. I praise and adore him, and my gratitude for him deepens day by day as my heart is drawn to him by prayer.” (Ensign, February 1986)

Next time you begin talking to yourself, invite Heavenly Father to join in the conversation.
Love, Sister Linnell