Visiting Teaching Message
Participate in Sincere Prayer
Prayerfully teach
these scriptures and quotations or, if needed, another principle that will
bless the sisters you visit. Bear
testimony of the doctrine. Invite those
you visit to share what they have felt and learned.
Participate in Sincere Prayer
Sincere Prayer Has Strengthening Power
Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general
president: “Think of our combined strength if every sister had
sincere prayer every morning and night or, better yet, prayed unceasingly as
the Lord has commanded. If every family
had family prayer daily…, we would be stronger” (“What Latter-day Saint Women
Do Best; Stand Strong and Immovable,” Liahoma
and Ensign, Nov. 2007, 110).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915-85) of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Prayer
changes our lives, Through it we draw near to the Lord, and he reaches out his
finger and touches us, so we never again are the same
Prayer is a great tower of
strength, a pillar of unending righteousness, a mighty force that moves
mountains and saves souls: (“Patterns of Prayer,” Ensign, May 1984, 52).
Elder M. Russell
Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles: “Every honest and sincere prayer adds another piece to
chain-mail armour, … One of the most important ways to clothe yourselves I the
armour of God is to make sure that prayer – earnest, sincere, consistent prayer
– is part of your daily lives” (“Be Strong in the Lord,” Ensign,
July 2004, 10).
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,”
Sincere Prayer is Holy
Communication
President James E. Faust (1920-2007),
Second Counselor to the First Presidency:
“First, prayer is a humble
acknowledgement that God is our Father and that the Lord Jesus Christ is our
Savior and Redeemer, Second, it is a sincere confession of sin and
transgression and a request for forgiveness.
Third, it is recognition that we need help beyond our own ability. Fourth, it is an opportunity to express thanksgiving
and gratitude to our Creator. It is
important that we frequently say: ‘We Thank Thee … ,’ ‘We acknowledge before Thee …,’ ‘We are
grateful unto Thee …’ Fifth, it is a privilege to ask Detty for specific
blessings.
“… Sincere prayers come from the
heart. Indeed sincerity requires that we
draw from the earnest feelings of our hearts:
(The Lifeline of Prayer,” Liahona, July 2002, 62; Ensign,
May 2002, 59-60).
Elder David A.
Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles: “Meaningful prayer requires both holy communication
and consecrated work. Blessings require
some effort on our part before we can obtain them, and prayer, ‘as a form of
work, … is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings’
(Bible Dictionary, “Prayer,’ 753). We
press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of prayer, after we say
‘amen,’ by acting upon the things we have expressed to Heavenly Father” (“Ask
in Faith,’ Liahona and Ensign, May2008, 95)
President Thomas S.
Monson: ”As we offer unto the Lord
our family and our personal prayers, let us do so with faith and trust in
him. Let us remember the injunction of
the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews: “For he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewaarder of them
that diligently seek him.’ If any of us has been slow to hearken to the counsel
to pray always, there is no finer hour to begin than now” (A Royal Priesthood,”
Liahona and Ensign, Now, w007, 61).
