I’ve often wished for step-by-step instructions telling me exactly how to pray and get answers. I’ve wanted a list to go through, with the promise that when I got to the end of the list, I would have my answer. No such luck.

Prayer Isn’t Like Aspirin

When I have a headache, I take a break. I rest, lie down, relax. If that doesn’t work, I might try a dark room or a cold cloth. And if that doesn’t work, as a last resort, I’ll take some medicine. This tried and true method of headache relief works for almost everyone; if not, they have different method. But prayer isn’t like aspirin. It’s not a last resort. It’s not something we do only when we’re in pain. It’s also not an instant cure-all.

Prayer is the exact opposite of aspirin. Instead of a last resort, prayer should be something we turn to every single day. Instead of waiting until a problem is beyond our control, or we’re in serious trouble to pray, we should pray always, even when we’re feeling great. Instead of an instant solution to our problems, sometimes we have to continue to pray for the same things for a long time before we receive answers or help.

Guidelines and Counsel

Although there isn’t really a step-by-step instruction manual on prayer, there are guidelines and counsel concerning prayer. In Jeremiah 29, the Lord instructs: “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13). How exactly can we call upon God, seek Him, and receive the answers we so desire?

• Be heartfelt and sincere. Our prayers are more powerful when we truly pour out our hearts to the Lord. Prayer is more than blandly repeating the same worn-out phrases over and over; it’s about what’s really in our hearts. Prayer becomes so much more powerful for us when we really talk to God, and tell Him how we really feel.
• Use appropriate language. It’s important to remember that we’re speaking to God, the most powerful Being in the universe. Using proper and respectful language is easier when we remember with whom we are speaking.
• Have spirit of gratitude. God, our Heavenly Father, has given us everything. I know sometimes it seems like we’re left with nothing, but stop for a minute. We have a body. We have a life on this earth. We have the hope of our Savior Jesus Christ. There is always something to be thankful for.
• Pray like everything depends on God and then work like everything depends on you. It’s wonderful and important to pray fervently and sincerely. But we can’t expect God to do everything for us. We must work our hardest to make what we’ve prayed for happen, because it shows Heavenly Father that we are serious.
• Remember to pray for others. No matter how bad things get, there are always people who need our prayers. Our family members, friends, neighbors—many people need prayers. Additionally, praying for others increases our love for them. Trouble with a roommate or friend? Pray for that person, sincerely, and it will be easier to love him or her.

Have You Tried Prayer?

President Thomas S. Monson, president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shares the following anecdote:

One human resource officer assigned to handle petty grievances concluded an unusually hectic day by placing facetiously a little sign on his desk for those with unsolved problems. It read, ‘Have you tried prayer?’ What he may not have realized was that this simple counsel would solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than could be obtained in any other way (“Come Unto Him in Prayer and Faith,” Liahona March 2009).

Prayer seems like such a simple solution, and to many people seems like a waste of time. After all, we can’t see God, and He has billions of people praying to Him every day. But all it takes is a little bit of faith. Faith that Heavenly Father loves each of us, because He does. Faith that He listens to each of our prayers, because He can. Faith that He answers prayers, because He will.

To the critics who believe that prayer is outdated, a practice for a simpler time, President Monson replies:

Don’t we today, as always, love our children and want them to live righteously? Don’t we today, as always, need God’s divine, protecting care? Don’t we today, as always, continue to be at His mercy and in His debt for the very life He has given us? Times have not really changed. Prayer continues to provide power—spiritual power. Prayer continues to provide peace—spiritual peace (“Come Unto Him in Prayer and Faith,” Liahona March 2009).

We can turn to the Lord always, whenever and wherever we are. He loves us—we are His children. He wants us to pray to Him, and will answer us. Prayer isn’t like aspirin. It’s better.

megan

Megan is a graduate of BYU-Idaho and recently married member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is a writer and avid reader, and loves music, hiking, and her family.

In a recent talk to Mormons, Thomas S. Monson, the Mormon prophet, spoke about how God answers both large and small prayer requests. Mormon is a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He told of three thousand teenagers, gathered to present the traditional cultural festival program before the Mormon temple in Kansas was to be dedicated to the Lord. This is an important event at each temple. The teenagers from all over the area served by the temple meet in their own congregations to practice their portion of the program. Only on the day of the performance do they all get to have a rehearsal all together in the place where they will perform.

Unfortunately, there were technical issues at the theater that day. The jumbotron was not working. It was a large video screen that tied each performance together and also introduced the next act. The teenagers could not rehearse while it was being repaired. The work went on and on and the technicians could not find the problem. Not only did they miss their rehearsal, but it began to look as though they might not get to perform, either. They informed the teenagers of the problem and the 3000 youth knelt on the hard floor and began to pray for the technicians. They also prayed that they would be able to perform properly even though they had been unable to do a run-through. They had done all they could, but they needed God to make up the difference. Very soon after the prayer ended, the technicians announced the problem had been solved.

President Monson was in attendance—one of the reasons the teenagers were so excited to perform—and by the time he entered, there was no evidence of the trial that had gone on. The performance ran perfectly, with each teenager somehow knowing how to properly enter and exit and how to interact with the other groups, despite never having done so in practice.

An amateur show by a group of enthusiastic teenagers might not seem that important in the eternal scheme of things, but God took time to take care of the problem anyway. He understood that while it might not change the world, it mattered to the world of these young people.

President Monson said:

“I never cease to be amazed by how the Lord can motivate and direct the length and breadth of His kingdom and yet have time to provide inspiration concerning one individual—or one cultural celebration or one Jumbotron. The fact that He can, that He does, is a testimony to me.

My brothers and sisters, the Lord is in all of our lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us.”

Read the talk:

Thomas S. Monson, Consider the Blessings, October General Conference, 2012

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Most people think of revelation in terms of the Biblical prophets, who spoke directly to God and received great visions. Only a prophet can receive revelation for the entire church. When a prophet of God speaks, we are all accountable for what he teaches, even if we choose to ignore what is taught. A common example of this would be when Noah called the people to repent. When they did not, the flood came and they paid the price—choosing not to accept the revelation didn’t make it invalid or free them from the need to obey. This helps us to understand the importance of finding out what is true and what source provides truth. When a prophet speaks, God expects us to listen, so first, we must find out to whom He is speaking.

God gives revelation to those who have stewardship or responsibility over the subject of the revelation. This is why only the prophet can receive revelation for the entire church. He is the person with that stewardship. A leader of a religious congregation can receive revelation for his congregation, because that is his special stewardship. When he ends his service to that congregation, he is no longer entitled to revelation for that position. A parent can receive revelation concerning his children. All of us can receive revelation for our own lives, as well.

Even in Biblical times, important revelation meant for everyone was fairly rare. Most of the time, the prophets simply reminded people of what they’d already been taught and still needed to act on. Most revelations did not come through visions and visitations, but through quiet revelation. Prophets normally receive revelation in exactly the same way everyone else does.

That said, how do ordinary people receive revelation for their own lives?

To receive recelation from God, we must prepare ourselves to receive it. We need to build a relationship with Him so that we understand how His gospel works and how He interacts with us. This involves reading the scriptures to study how God has interacted with us in the past and what He expects of us today. Then we need to live the way He has asked us to live.

It means spending time in real prayer—not reciting prayers, but speaking to Him from our hearts about our worries and fears. We need to tell God how thankful we are for what we’ve already received because that helps us become more aware of our blessings and God’s role in them. Then we need to sit quietly and wait to see what happens. In time, we’ll come to recognize a peaceful, warm sensation in our hearts that tells us God is nearby and listening. Satan cannot bring peace or joy. These feelings are always from God.

Once we’ve learned to recognize these feelings and are living in a way that shows respect for God and His teachings, we can receive personal revelation. Revelation will most often come in quiet ways, so we have to be patient and listen with our hearts. We need to turn off the music, the television, and other distractions, especially when we are just learning to recognize what revelation feels like.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons, are taught to first study an issue out in their minds. For instance, if a student wanted to know which college to attend, she would research a variety of them and select the one she feels is best for her. Then she would take her choice to God and ask Him if she’s chosen well. A warm and peaceful feeling is God’s reassurance that she has made a good choice. (It might be that several schools would meet with His approval.) A confused or negative feeling tells her she needs to start again.

Sometimes revelation comes in the form of a thought of impression. It will take practice to know which impressions are revelations and which are just thoughts. As you act on those thoughts, you will learn how to know which are from God. A thought from God might be a simple suggestion: “Lisa is lonely. Go visit her today.”

On rare occasions, a revelation will come in actual words you can hear. This is usually in the case of an emergency, where there isn’t time to analyze whether or not the thought was an impression or a mere thought. “Go to the baby. She’s in danger.”

Modern prophets, like prophets of old, receive revelation from God, most often in the same form we do. God considers revelation important, and we, as ordinary children of God, can receive personal revelation just as Moses received it in his day.

Who is God’s prophet today?

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

One missionary became extremely sick and doctors believed he might not survive the surgery he required. His parents were contacted and soon arrived to be with him. President Monson and the father of the young missionary gave him a priesthood blessing. This is done by having the men place their hands on his heads and praying for God’s will to be accomplished.

The missionary, Elder Davidson, was in a hospital room with five other husky and usually hungry men. While he was having his surgery, the nurse arrived with breakfast, a larger than usual portion because the men always wanted more than they were given. However, when she tried to serve it to the first man, he refused it. Each of the other four patients also refused breakfast that morning. When the nurse asked what the problem was, they explained that Elder Davidson had told them a lot about his religious beliefs. One thing they had learned was that he believed that if people fasted and prayed, they could bring about miracles. They had decided to fast and pray that day for Elder Davidson, even though they weren’t Mormon themselves.

Not only was the surgery a success, but when Thomas S. Monson tried to pay the surgeon, he refused to take any money. He said that it was the first time he’d ever done a surgery where he felt his hands were guided by a higher power. Because of this, he felt it inappropriate for him to take payment.

Read the complete story:

Crisis at the Crossroads by Thomas S. Monson

Mormons follow the Biblical teachings of fasting and prayer. Let’s look at fasting first.

For Mormons, fasting means to go without food or drink of any kind, even water. They do this once a month if they are physically able to do so, usually the first Sunday of the month. They fast for twenty-four hours, which requires them to miss only two meals if they time it properly. During this time, they spend extra time in prayer, and often choose a purpose for their fasting, just as the men in the above story focused their fast on helping their friend survive surgery. Mormons might fast to gain a testimony of a particular doctrine, to help a struggling family member or friend, or to give them strength to confront a challenging situation in their own lives.

Fasting allows them to focus on spiritual matters and also humbles them, making them more receptive to God’s teachings. During the fast, they will pray and then wait for answers and because they are making this sacrifice, they are better able to recognize the answers given.

As an interesting side note, when Mormons fast, they donate the money they would have spent of food and drink—and often an additional sum as well—to a special fund used only to help the poor. None of the money is used for administrative costs, so all of it goes to feed someone who would otherwise be hungry, homeless, or without other necessities.

Jesus taught that fasting could strengthen us spiritually and allow us to bring about miracles that cannot be accomplished any other way. (See Matthew 17:14-21.)

Prayer is a critical part of the fasting process. Jesus taught his followers to pray and he prayed to His Father Himself, sometimes publicly to set the example. Mormons are noted for the number of times they pray to God in a given day. They are taught to pray each morning and evening in a personal prayer, a couple prayer if married, and in a family prayer if they have children or others living in their homes. In addition, they pray prior to meals and before scripture study. Then, of course, they also talk to God at any time during the day when they feel a need or desire to do so. Many keep an ongoing conversation going all day long.

The Mormon religion started with a prayer, making that doctrine especially meaningful to its members. When Joseph Smith, the first prophet, was fourteen, he read James 1:5 in the New Testament. It said that if you lacked wisdom—needed to know something—you could ask God and it promised God would respond. He took the scripture to heart and went into the woods to pray, where God and Jesus Christ appeared to Him to answer His question about which church to join.

Of course, most people don’t get quite that direct an answer to their prayers; however, God does promise to answer every meaningful and righteous prayer. He may answer in three ways—yes, no, or not yet—but He always answers.

To receive answers to prayers, Mormons follow a prescribed pattern. They do not use written and recited prayers except in a few formal situations and never in their personal prayers. (Recited prayers are reserved for situations like blessing the sacrament, similar to communion, or baptism.) Although there aren’t exact words, there is a pattern which is very simple.

Mormons begin their prayer by addressing God by name. They use a simple phrase such as, “Dear Heavenly Father” or “My Father in Heaven.” Next, they offer thanks for the blessings God has given them. In this way, before they start asking for things, they are reminded of the good He has already done and of His attentiveness to their needs. They also demonstrate to God they are paying attention themselves and that they are not taking these gifts for granted.

These expressions of gratitude can be followed by requests for help, although Mormons sometimes offer thanks and nothing else. Mormons believe they should not treat God like Santa Claus, asking Him for things they can do for themselves. A person who needs a job will still sit at the computer looking for work, rather than going off to play and expecting God to drop a job in his lap. He will trust God to show him where to look for the job he needs, but he will continue to look. A Mormon will also act as if he expects his prayer to be answered. For instance, if he prays for an opportunity to introduce someone to Jesus Christ, he will begin to learn more and to decide how to discuss the Savior, even though he can’t yet think of anyone who doesn’t already know about Jesus.

Mormons close their prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, because we pray to God through Him. The prayer is then ended with the traditional “Amen.”

For Mormons, prayer serves many purposes. It helps them make God a partner in their lives, a part of everything they do. It also allows them to build a close, personal relationship to Him so that when they return home, they know Him well. They build trust in God and learn to recognize how He communicates with them.

God promised, in James 1:5, that He would answer our prayers. Mormons believe God keeps His promises and that if He says he will give us wisdom, He will do so in a way we can recognize. Although some religions teach people not to pray for truth because they won’t know who is answering the prayer, Mormons trust that God can do anything—including making His answers identifiable. For that reason, after they pray, they are taught to remain quietly on their knees, waiting to see if God would like to speak with them. Prayer is not a one-way communication.

Mormons generally research their problems first and come to a conclusion on their own. Then they go to God for confirmation of their choices. When we have made the right choice, God fills our heart with a feeling of peace and joy. Satan cannot create peace or joy. When we are wrong, we often feel confusion or a “stupor of thought.” This tells us we need to start over with the study process.

The more we pray and turn to God in faith, the greater our faith grows and the closer our relationship to Him will be.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Learning how to pray is one of the first skills a Mormon learns, either in childhood or as a potential convert. This is because until a person knows how to pray, he will be unable to know whether or not Mormonism is true. Once he has his answer, he can also use this same ability to receive answers to other kinds of prayer.

Prayer is communication with God, so it is easier to have effective prayers if we have a good relationship with God. Reading the scriptures and spending time in prayer are two ways to get to know who God is. Attending church, of course, is another way. As you build your knowledge of God and get comfortable talking to Him, your prayers will become more effective.

Mormon beliefs about prayer include a simple pattern to formal prayers. Of course, there are also time throughout the day when they communicate informally with Him, but during formal prayers, both public and private, they try to follow a basic pattern.

First, Mormons address God respectfully by name. Mormons often start prayers by saying, “Dear Heavenly Father” or something similar to that. They consider God to be the literal father of their spirits and treat him as they would a parent, with love and respect.

Next, Mormons thank God for the blessings they have received from God. This helps them to review their day and their lives in general to notice what is good. It is easy to get so focused on negative events that we lose sight of our blessings and fail to notice how God is working to help us through our trials. This step of our prayer encourages us to slow down and notice that God is present in our lives.

The third step is to ask God for what we need. This is an optional step, since there are times we will only be praying to thank God for what He has already done. This step comes with some responsibilities. As a wise parent, God knows it is never good to just give us anything we ask for without expecting us to do as much as we can on our own. Every parent knows the parent’s job is to make up the difference between what is needed and what the petitioner can do for himself. If we ask God to help us find a job, we need to actually search for and apply for jobs, not just sit back and wait for God to drop one in our laps. Instead, His job will be to lead us to the best job, to help us know what to say in the cover letter, and to do well in the interview. We always need to be prepared to tell God what we will be doing to make our desires happen and then to ask for only those things we can’t do ourselves.

It’s important to remember that God isn’t Santa Claus. He has to balance our wishes with the eternal plans He has for us and for others. What we want isn’t always what is best for us or for someone else who will be impacted. For instance, in the above-mentioned example of praying to get a job, if someone asks to get a specific job, they are also asking that the other applicants, who might also have prayed about the job, not get it. God must balance out all those requests and decide who most needs or will most benefit from that job.

What then is the purpose of praying, if God will do what is best? Prayer puts the situation into God’s hands, allowing Him to make the decision. It makes it easier for us to accept the decision, since we have agreed that He is best suited to know what is best.

If a decision has to be made, we’re to study it out, make a decision, and then take that decision to God for confirmation. If we learn we’ve made the wrong choice, we start over again. In this way, God allows us to improve our ability to make decisions and measure them against what God knows is best.

The next step in a prayer is to tell God anything else we’d like to tell Him. We can share details of our day or talk about what is on our minds. Then we close by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

When we pray, we pray to God through Jesus Christ. This is a sacred responsibility. When we pray in His name, we need to be certain we are treating His name with respect. We should not be using prayer to be sarcastic or mean-spirited, to pray things that would offend Jesus, or to be frivolous. That doesn’t mean we can’t be cheerful or talk about mundane things. It does mean we need to be respectful because anything said in Jesus’ name must be a respectful use of that name.

Many people consider “amen” to be the end of their prayer. They jump up off their knees and head out for their day or go to sleep. When they learn how to pray, they only learn how to do their part of the prayer. Mormons, however, are taught that there is still another step.

Once we’ve asked God for help or advice or even just talked to Him, we need to remain on our knees and quiet. Prayer is not a monologue. It is a conversation. When we talk to other human beings, we don’t normally say our part and run off. We stay and listen to the other person’s response. We need to do the same thing in prayer. When we finish talking, we need to sit quietly and let God have a turn. As we sit or kneel without distractions, keeping our minds free of our own random thoughts, God can place His thoughts into our minds and hearts. In this way, we can receive answers to our questions or guidance in our decisions. We can also do this step within the prayer—ask a question and wait for the answer. The answers come in several ways. Most often, we feel a peaceful, comforting feeling in our hearts that tells us the decision we made was correct. Satan cannot bring peace and comfort. That is God’s gift to us. Sometimes thoughts will come into our minds, again accompanied by a feeling of peaceful rightness. If we are trying to find a job, this thought might come to us: “Ask Fred if there are openings in his company.” In this way, God shows us where the job we are looking for can be found. Very rarely do we hear an actual voice. On occasion, this will happen, but usually in situations of imminent danger, when there is no time to verify the thought came from God.

There are some who teach people not to pray for answers because they won’t know whom the answer is from. This is a direct contradiction of Biblical teachings, since the Bible, and Jesus Christ, specifically instruct us to pray for wisdom. (See James 1:5 in the New Testament.) In this verse, James says God promises to answer our prayers for wisdom. Mormons trust God to keep His promises, and they believe that if God promises to do something He will find a way to do it. This means He will make sure we can learn to recognize the ways He is communicating with us. For Mormons, it is important to trust God to keep His promises. Learning how to pray includes learning to trust God.

Finally, once we’re off our knees, we need to act as though we trust God to do what we’ve asked. If we’re asking for help finding a job, we need to head to the computer to search the job ads, demonstrating a willingness to do our part and also faith that God is going to lead us to that job. If we’re writing a book and want help, we need to sit down and start typing. If we ask for courage in a given situation, we need to go into it with a determination to trust God to help us through it.

Learning how to pray can change our lives forever. No longer do we have to guess at life’s questions. We can get our answers from the only being that has a perfect knowledge of us, our needs, and our eternity.

The Mormon prophet, Thomas S. Monson, taught this about the power of learning how to pray:

As we offer unto the Lord our family prayers and our personal prayers, let us do so with faith and trust in Him. Let us remember the injunction of Paul to the Hebrews: “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder 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. William Cowper declared, “Satan trembles, when he sees the weakest Saint upon his knees.” Those who feel that prayer might denote a physical or intellectual weakness should remember that a man never stands taller than when he is upon his knees.

We cannot know what faith is if we have never had it, and we cannot obtain it as long as we deny it. Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other.

Read Thomas S. Monson’s complete talk on prayer:

Thomas S. Monson, “Come unto Him in Prayer and Faith,” Ensign, Mar 2009, 4–9

easier to believe that someone who lived anciently is a prophet than to believe someone in your own time is a prophet.

This was a problem faced by many Old Testament prophets, as well. When Noah preached of the flood and repentance, no one outside his own family took him seriously. He was just Noah, a man they saw working his orchards and going about town each day. It was hard to imagine someone so ordinary could be a prophet and so, when he prophesied, they didn’t listen. By the time the rain began, and they realized he really was a prophet, it was too late.

Jesus Christ himself commented on this challenge. He himself was just the carpenter’s son to many. He was too familiar, and without the distance of space or time, He seemed too ordinary to be a prophet and a God to the people who had watched Him all His life. “A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4) In other words, He was too familiar to those around Him, including His own brothers until His resurrection.

Today, people note there is a Mormon prophet, but they find it hard to believe a person in their own time could be a prophet. They presume that God is incapable or unwilling to talk to His children today, although they have no trouble believing He could and would talk to His children long ago. Distance lends validity.

God sent prophets to the early Israelites to prepare them for Jesus’ ministry on earth. He didn’t just teach Adam everything and then hope it all got passed down correctly. He continued to bring new prophets after Adam was dead, and they continued to prepare the world for the Savior’s birth. Times change, and the prophets taught practices that applied only to that time period—build an ark, gather manna, or head for the promised land, for instance. Without a prophet, no one would have known what to do in those unique situations.

Periodically, prophets were taken from the earth and the Israelites were left to fumble through on their own, due to their lack of obedience. However, each time, God eventually restored the prophets.

Now, we are preparing for Jesus to come again. Just as prophets were sent to prepare the world for the first coming, prophets have been sent to prepare for the second coming. If we needed prophets to prepare for one, we also need them to prepare for the other.

How, though, do Mormons know Thomas S. Monson is the prophet who has

been sent? Among all those who have claimed to be prophets, how have they identified this particular man as God’s true prophet?

Mormons are taught from their childhood or from the days they are contemplating converting to Mormonism, to find this out for themselves. They’re told that the testimonies of their parents, teachers, or missionaries are only a starting point. They must find out for themselves, and they must get this information from the only one they can completely trust to lead them on the correct path. This, means, naturally, they must ask God. Only God can tell them who their prophet really is.

Mormons believe they can go to God with any question and ask for guidance and wisdom. This was promised in James 1:5 in the Bible. It’s interesting to note many scholars believe the author of this book is the half-brother of Jesus Christ. The scripture reads:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)

This is the scripture that launched the restoration of the gospel. After the death of the Savior and the apostles, people began to get confused about doctrine. In fact, it began even before the apostles died, and they often worried about this in their letters found in the New Testament. Joseph Smith, a fourteen-year-old boy, read this scripture in the early 1800s and put it to the test. He went into the woods and prayed to know which church to join. God and Jesus Christ came in person to tell him not to join any of them, because the full gospel was no longer on the earth. There was not to be a new reformation—which may have been why he couldn’t join a church in the interim—but a restoration of truth.

This critical scripture was not written just for future prophets. It is a promise from God for every person with faith. While God and Jesus are not likely to appear to us in person, since we aren’t going to be launching the restoration in the future, we can still receive answers from God, and this is what Mormons are taught to do.

When a Mormon, or someone learning about the Mormons, wants to know what is true, they go to God in prayer. We teach our investigators (people learning about Mormons) to first study and learn from reliable sources, such as missionaries, Mormon friends, and the official Mormon websites. Then they think about it and even test it out. For instance, the best way to find out if the Savior really wants us to love our neighbor is to begin treating others with love and kindness and then see how we feel as we do. It’s often said by Mormon leaders that we cannot do wrong and feel right. If we can feel God’s spirit and feel peaceful and right, we know this is a true commandment.

Answers do not always come immediately. Sometimes a person must pray for many days or weeks to know the answer. Some have even prayed for years. Sometimes we can pray for one small part of the answer and then pray for other parts in other prayers. As our ability to understand how God communicates with us improves, we can better prepare to receive answers to the big questions.

Here’s how this might work in actual practice:

Susan has been talking to her Mormon friend about Mormon beliefs. The prophet topic really interests her, because she’s often wondered why God didn’t care enough about us to help us prepare for the Second Coming. She is encouraged by her friend to pray. However, she’s just not ready to know if Thomas Monson is the prophet. She decides to start a little smaller. She reads about Old Testament prophets and what God has said about them. Then she goes to God in prayer and tells Him she believes He must have sent a prophet at some time in recent years and asks if this is true. At first she feels nothing, because she’s not used to asking for confirmation, rather than physical help. However, she perseveres and trusts God. Soon she feels a powerful, warm, and comforting feeling in her heart. She knows it is from God, because she feels at peace.

In time, she is ready to know who that prophet is and returns to God in prayer. When she receives an answer again, she understands immediately the implications of this answer.

There are some who try to convince investigators not to pray about this. They say we can’t know who is answering the prayer. However, Mormons know God can do anything and that means He is capable of answering us in a way we can recognize. Mormons don’t underestimate God. We know Satan is not the author of peace and true joy. That comes only from God. Knowing this, Mormons are able to know in a way no one can take from them that God has sent us prophets in the last days because He loves us as much as He loved His early Israelites.

only source of truth and safety.

“May we remember that the wisdom of God ofttimes appears as foolishness to men; but the greatest lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and we obey, we will always be right.” (See Thomas S. Monson, “They Marked the Path to Follow,” Ensign, Oct 2007, 4–9.)

The Mormon willingness to trust and obey God stems from their beliefs about our eternal relationship with Him. Mormon beliefs teach that God created our spirits. After the creation of our spirits, we lived with Him as spirits. We were ourselves, and that time was spent learning the gospel, developing our personalities, and deciding if we were obedient or rebellious. After a time, we’d grown and progressed all we could in the sheltered environment of our Father’s home and were offered the opportunity to come to earth to live and to progress in new ways. Satan attempted to overthrow the Plan of Salvation, wanting to replace it with one in which we would come to earth as mere puppets, doing his will and never having the opportunity to make our own choices. He argued this would keep us safe, because we wouldn’t sin, and therefore would be able to return to Heaven. He demanded all glory and worship be directed to him as a result, essentially allowing him to replace God.

Because agency is a critical aspect of the Plan of Salvation, his plan was not God’s plan. Jesus Christ stepped in and offered to carry out the plan correctly. He would be our Savior, being born on earth, taking our sins upon him through the atonement, and then dying for us. We would be able to choose for ourselves whether or not to accept the Gospel. This was a risk, but the only way we could return to God properly and give meaning to our time on earth. One-third of those in Heaven rejected the Savior’s plan, and were cast out of heaven, unable to come to earth and partake of the atonement. They became Satan’s followers. The remainder of us began taking our turns on earth.

Although we no longer live in God’s presence, he has given us many ways to relearn who He is and to stay close. The Bible is one way Mormons learn about God. It contains a record of God’s dealings with the Israelites and also records the Savior’s life and ministry. The Savior taught us much about God. Of course, God was not only the God of the Israelites. Many people around the world knew of Him and interacted with Him. The Book of Mormon contains a record of God’s dealings with a group of Israelites who immigrated to what is now the Americas. There they lived among the native population, but in their own cities. They left behind a record of their experiences with God and the writings of their prophets.

Prayer is another way we can learn about God. Mormon beliefs teach that as we pray and wait patiently for answers, we can learn to recognize how God communicates with us and understand the answers given to our questions. In James 1:5-6, in the Bible, we learn that God has promised to answer our questions:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. (James 1:5-6, King James Version of the Bible.)

Most prayers Mormons give are in their own words, rather than being recited prayers. This allows them to communicate openly with God and build a comfortable, loving personal relationship with Him. Mormons believe God need not be distant. We can know Him as well as we know our earthly family and friends. He stands ready to have that relationship with us; it is up to us to demonstrate our willingness to do so.

Mormons believe in a God who is fairly easy to understand. He has a body of flesh and bones, although it is perfected and glorified. The Bible teaches that we were created in His image, and Mormons consider it an honor to be created to look much like Him. (Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 5:1) To understand His nature, we can think about the characteristics of a perfect father—loving, wise, and involved. God has rules and expectations, because a good father does this for his children, and he enacts rewards and punishments to help us grow to become perfected. While we can’t become perfect in this life, we can become as close as possible to it and then complete our progression after our deaths.

Mormons believe that through grace and the atonement of Jesus Christ, everyone has the ability to repent and to be risen from the dead. Everyone is saved from eternal death, regardless of their actions on earth. Not even belief in God is required, because Mormons do not believe in grace by works and taking Christ as our Savior would be a work.

However, most of us want to do more than to live forever. Most who love God wish to spend their eternities with Him and with the families they love. God has promised us that if we keep the commandments to the best of our ability, and repent when we fall, if we have sufficient faith and if we obey out of faith and love, not hope of reward, we can return to live with God after our deaths. No unclean thing can dwell in God’s presence, and since we take our character and personalities with us when we die, only those who love God and live accordingly can dwell with Him. Mormons believe that achieving exaltation, which some call being saved, is not a one-time action, but a life time mission of learning to sacrifice and to align our will with God’s out of love.

These understandings of the nature of God allow Mormons to believe the words of Thomas S. Monson quoted at the start of the article. They trust God to never lead them astray because they know He knows them personally, loves them, and has the power to know what is best.

During the message I delivered at general conference in October 1975, I felt prompted to direct my remarks to a little girl with long, blonde hair, who was seated in the balcony of this building. I called the attention of the audience to her and felt a freedom of expression which testified to me that this small girl needed the message I had in mind concerning the faith of another young lady.

At the conclusion of the session, I returned to my office and found waiting for me a young child by the name of Misti White, together with her grandparents and an aunt. As I greeted them, I recognized Misti as the one in the balcony to whom I had directed my remarks. I learned that as her eighth birthday approached, she was in a quandary concerning whether or not to be baptized. She felt she would like to be baptized, and her grandparents, with whom she lived, wanted her to be baptized, but her less-active mother suggested she wait until she was 18 years of age to make the decision. Misti had told her grandparents, “If we go to conference in Salt Lake City, maybe Heavenly Father will let me know what I should do.”

Misti and her grandparents and her aunt had traveled from California to Salt Lake City for conference and were able to obtain seats in the Tabernacle for the Saturday afternoon session. This was where they were seated when my attention was drawn to Misti and my decision made to speak to her.

As we continued our visit after the session, Misti’s grandmother said to me, “I think Misti has something she would like to tell you.” This sweet young girl said, “Brother Monson, while you were speaking in conference, you answered my question. I want to be baptized!”

The family returned to California, and Misti was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through all the years since, Misti has remained true and faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Fourteen years ago, it was my privilege to perform her temple marriage to a fine young man, and together they are rearing five beautiful children, with another one on the way.

Thomas S. Monson, “Tabernacle Memories,” Ensign, May 2007, 41-42

In April of 2000, I felt such direction. I had received a phone call from Rosa Salas Gifford, whom I did not know. She explained that her parents had been visiting from Costa Rica for a few months and that just a week prior to her call, her father, Bernardo Agusto Salas, had been diagnosed with liver cancer. She indicated that the doctors had informed the family that her father would live just a few more days. Her father’s great desire, she explained, was to meet me before he died. She left her address and asked if I could come to her home in Salt Lake City to visit with her father.

Because of meetings and obligations, it was rather late when I left my office. Instead of going straight home, however, I felt impressed that I should drive further south and visit Brother Salas that very evening. With the address in hand, I attempted to locate the residence. In rather heavy traffic and with dimming light, I drove past the location where the road to the house should have been. I could see nothing. However, I don’t give up easily. I drove around the block and came back. Still nothing. One more time I tried and still no sign of the road. I began to feel that I would be justified in turning toward home. I had made a gallant effort but had been unsuccessful in finding the address. Instead, I offered a silent prayer for help. The inspiration came that I should approach the area from the opposite direction. I drove a distance and turned the car around so that I was now on the other side of the road. Going in this direction, the traffic was much lighter. As I neared the location once again, I could see, through the faint light, a street sign that had been knocked down-it was lying on its side at the edge of the road-and a nearly invisible, weed-covered track leading to a small apartment building and a single, tiny residence some distance from the main road. As I drove toward the buildings, a small girl in a white dress waved to me, and I knew that I had found the family.

I was ushered into the home and then to the room where Brother Salas lay. Surrounding the bed were three daughters and a son-in-law, as well as Sister Salas. All but the son-in-law were from Costa Rica. Brother Salas’s appearance reflected the gravity of his condition. A damp rag with frayed edges-not a towel or a washcloth but a damp rag with frayed edges-rested upon his forehead, emphasizing the humble economic circumstances of the family.

With some prompting, Brother Salas opened his eyes, and a wan smile graced his lips as I took him by the hand. I spoke the words, “I have come to meet you.” Tears welled up in his eyes and in mine.

I asked if a blessing would be desired, and the unanimous answer from the family members was affirmative. Since the son-in-law did not hold the priesthood, I proceeded by myself to provide a priesthood blessing. The words seemed to flow freely under the direction of the Spirit of the Lord. I included the Savior’s words found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 84, verse 88: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” Following the blessing, I offered a few words of comfort to the grieving family members. I spoke carefully so they could understand my English. And then, with my limited Spanish language ability, I let them know that I loved them and that our Heavenly Father would bless them.

I asked for the family Bible and directed their attention to 3 John, verse 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” I said to them, “This is what your husband and father would have you remember as he prepares to depart this earthly existence.”

With tears streaming down her face, Brother Salas’s sweet wife then asked if I would write down the references for the two scriptures I had shared with them so that the family might read them again. Not having anything handy on which I could write, Sister Salas reached into her purse and drew from it a slip of paper. As I took it from her, I noticed it was a tithing receipt. My heart was touched as I realized that, despite the extremely humble circumstances in which the family lived, they were faithful in paying their tithes.

After a tender farewell, I was escorted to my car. As I drove homeward, I reflected on the special spirit we had felt. I experienced, as well, as I have many times before, a sense of gratitude that my Heavenly Father had answered another person’s prayer through me.

Thomas S. Monson, “The Priesthood-a Sacred Gift,” Ensign, May 2007, 57-60

One Sunday afternoon I received a phone call from the proprietor of a drugstore located within our ward boundaries. He indicated that earlier that morning, a young boy had come into his store and had purchased an ice-cream sundae from the soda fountain. He had paid for the purchase with money he took from an envelope, and then when he left, he had forgotten the envelope. When the proprietor had a chance to examine it, he found that it was a fast-offering envelope with the name and telephone number of our ward printed on it. As he described to me the boy who had been in his store, I immediately identified the individual-a young deacon from our ward who came from a less-active family.

My first reaction was one of shock and disappointment to think that any of our deacons would take fast-offering funds intended for those in need and would go to a store on a Sunday and buy a treat with the money. I determined to visit the boy that afternoon in order to teach him about the sacred funds of the Church and his duty as a deacon to gather and to protect those funds.

As I drove to the home, I offered a silent prayer for direction in what I should say to compose the situation. I arrived and knocked on the door. It was opened by the boy’s mother, and I was invited into the living room. Although the room was barely lighted, I could see how small and run-down it was. The few pieces of furniture were threadbare. The mother herself looked worn out.

My indignation at her son’s actions that morning disappeared from my thoughts as I realized that here was a family in real need. I felt impressed to ask the mother if there was any food in the house. Tearfully she admitted that there was none. She told me that her husband had been out of work for some time and that they were in desperate need not only of food but also of money with which to pay the rent so that they wouldn’t be evicted from the tiny house.

I never did bring up the matter of the fast-offering donations, for I realized that the boy had most likely been desperately hungry when he stopped at the drugstore. Rather, I immediately arranged for assistance for the family, that they might have food to eat and a roof over their heads. In addition, with the help of the priesthood leaders in the ward, we were able to arrange employment for the husband so that he could provide for his family in the future.

Thomas S. Monson, “Heavenly Homes, Forever Families,” Ensign, Jun 2006, 98-103