How to Pray

Praying is simpler than you might think. God is there and will hear and answer your prayers.

Four steps to prayer

God is your loving Father in Heaven, and He wants to hear from you. You can reach out to Him by praying to Him. As His child, you can ask your Heavenly Father for help and guidance in your life.

Praying can be done out loud, or in your mind. You can speak to God like you would any other person. Your words do not have to be eloquent or memorized. It is more important to open your heart and not hold back. Believe He is there and listening, because He is. Believe He will help you, because He will.

Prayer is one the most valuable gifts you have received from your loving Heavenly Father.

1. Begin your prayer

Before you begin, find a quiet place where you feel comfortable. A good way to start is to address God by name. You can try “Dear God,” “Dear Heavenly Father,” “Our Father which art in heaven,” or simply “God.”

2. Have a conversation with God

Speak from your heart and share your hopes and desires as well as your worries and problems. You can ask Him for help, direction, forgiveness, or healing. Whatever is on your mind, bring it to Him, acknowledging that His wisdom and timing are greater than yours. You can ask Him what He wants for you.

Share your feelings with God about others. You can pray for their needs or ask for ways you can love and help them.

Express appreciation to God for all the blessings in your life. Even challenges can be a blessing. This helps us feel humble, which keeps our hearts and minds more open to God's answers.

3. End your prayer

Once you’ve said all that you wanted to say, you can end your prayer by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

We do this because Jesus is the way to connect to our Father in Heaven and all things should be done in His name.

4. Act on your righteous desires

There is wisdom in the saying, “Pray as if everything depends on the Lord, then work as if everything depends on you.” It is in the process of doing that we often get guidance and help from God.

The Power of Prayer

1:18

When to pray

There is no such thing as praying too much. God wants to hear from you when you’re happy, or sad, or if you just need someone to talk to. You can pray whenever you feel like it or need it. In fact, if you don't feel like praying, or feel like God doesn't want to hear from you, that might be one of the best times to pray.

Pray on your own and with others

You should speak with God individually and regularly. But pray with others too—during worship services, before a meal, and in family prayer. One person usually offers the prayer on behalf of the group while others listen respectfully, think of the words being said, and show their agreement by saying “Amen” at the end of the prayer.

Pray throughout the day

In Psalm 55:17, King David said he would pray in the “evening, and morning, and at noon.” Typical times for personal prayer are as you start your day in the morning, before each meal, and before you go to bed at night. But there is never a wrong time to pray. God is always listening, so we can “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Pray for special circumstances

There are times that call for extra prayer—like a prayer for healing, for protection, or for urgent needs. Fasting (purposefully going without food or drink for a period of time) combined with prayer helps show God your sincerity and provides spiritual strength.

We’d love to pray with you

Meet with Missionaries

Getting answers to our prayers

God promises that when we turn to Him in prayer, He will give us answers and guidance.

God communicates with us through the Holy Spirit, in the form of good thoughts and ideas or peaceful, comforting feelings. When we feel those things, it means God is encouraging us, showing us truth, and giving us direction.

Everyone will feel the Holy Spirit in their own way. In the Bible, it’s often described as a “still small voice,” (see 1 Kings 19:11–12) that almost seems to whisper to your mind.

Often, God answers our prayers through others. God can put people into our lives at the right time who can give or be the answer we have been looking for. We can also get answers to prayers by reading what His prophets have taught in the Bible and Book of Mormon. When we pray and read these books, the Holy Spirit can give us personalized ideas and direction. Taking time to study His word is also a way we can show God that we truly desire an answer from Him.

Learn what the Book of Mormon says about prayer

Request a Free Copy

Common Questions

Below are questions often asked about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Click here to see the full list.

The Bible encourages us to pray, while providing lots of examples and advice on how to do so:

Mark 11:24

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Colossians 4:2

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”

James 5:16

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

1 John 5:14

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”

When Jesus Christ was encouraging His disciples to pray, He offered a prayer as an example for them. This has become known as the Lord’s Prayer, and we can pray using the same pattern. We start by addressing God and showing gratitude, then asking for the things we need, before closing our prayer with “amen.” You can find an account of it in both Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:1–4.

There are many different ways to pray. We can pray by ourselves, or as a family. We can offer prayers at mealtime, before bed, first thing in the morning, or anytime, really. The important thing is that we take the time to sincerely offer our gratitude to God and ask Him for help.

In addition to prayer, meditation can help us center our minds on God and help us feel the Spirit. In that sense, meditation is a form of prayer.

Three Ways You Can Build a Relationship with God

The Power of Prayer

Explore more topics

Gospel Principles

The core principles of the gospel are faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Following Jesus Christ

Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus is the Savior of the world. As we follow Him, we find greater peace and happiness in life.

What Does the Holy Bible Teach?

The Holy Bible teaches us that throughout history, God never stops loving His children.

What Is the Book of Mormon?

The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ.