“Chapter 15: Prayer,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson (2023)
“Chapter 15,” Teachings: Russell M. Nelson
Chapter 15
Prayer
Pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost. As you do, He will direct you for good in all that you do.
From the Life of Russell M. Nelson
In November 1985, President Ezra Taft Benson, newly ordained as President of the Church, gave Elder Russell M. Nelson the assignment “to open up the nations in Eastern Europe that [were] under the yoke of Communism for the preaching of the gospel.”
This overwhelming assignment included the former Soviet Union, where it was especially difficult to obtain assistance from those who controlled this decision. After a discouraging meeting in the summer of 1987, Elder Nelson and Elder Hans B. Ringger of the Seventy, who joined him on this assignment, went to a park bench near the Kremlin and reviewed the Church’s dilemma. After considering what steps they might take, they prayed for guidance.
That was one of countless prayers Elder Nelson offered for the people and land of Russia. He prayed to know what to do, where to go, and with whom he should meet. He prayed for a softening of hearts. He prayed that government officials would be willing to meet with him.
In 1990, when Elder Nelson offered a formal prayer rededicating the land of Russia for the preaching of the gospel, he asked Heavenly Father to extend the blessings of the gospel to the Russian people. It was slow, painstaking work. But little by little, with many trips to Russia and many meetings, progress was made.
Then in June 1991, he attended a dinner after The Tabernacle Choir’s performance at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. During the dinner, Alexander Rutskoy, vice president of the Republic of Russia, announced that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been granted full recognition in Russia.
“It was an absolutely stunning moment,” Elder Nelson recalled. “We had hoped it was coming, but we didn’t expect it that night. … Many of us did all we could to bring this about, but make no mistake about it, it was the Lord who worked the miracle.”
Teachings of Russell M. Nelson
Our loving Father in Heaven wants to hear from His children
[Our] loving Father in Heaven wants to hear from His children. Through prayer, we can show our love for God. And He has made it so easy. We may pray to Him any time. No special equipment is needed. We don’t even need to charge batteries or pay a monthly service fee.
Some people pray only when confronted with personal problems. Others don’t pray at all. A scripture makes this observation: “Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the Lord … for them” [Helaman 13:22].
Prophets have long told us to pray humbly and frequently.
Our first noble deed of the morning should be a humble prayer of gratitude. Scripture so counsels: “Pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto [you]: and [you] shall see his face with joy” (Job 33:26; see also Alma 34:21; 37:37).
I did not fully appreciate the significance of prayerful greetings until I became a father myself. I am so grateful that our children never gave their mother or dad the silent treatment. Now I sense how our Heavenly Father may appreciate our prayers, morning and night. But I can imagine the pangs of his sorrow because of silence from any of his children.
Study Question
What are some ways you can better communicate with Heavenly Father?
Jesus taught us how to pray
Jesus taught us how [to pray]. We pray to our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is the “true order of prayer,” in contrast to “vain repetitions” [Matthew 6:7] or recitations given to “be seen of men” [Matthew 6:5].
Jesus revealed that we pray to a wise Father, who knows what things we have need of, before we ask Him.
Mormon taught his son, Moroni, that we should pray “with all the energy of heart” [Moroni 7:48]. Nephi exclaimed, “I pray continually for [my people] by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, … and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry” [2 Nephi 33:3].
The sweet power of prayer can be intensified by fasting, on occasion, when appropriate to a particular need.
Prayers can be offered even in silence. One can think a prayer, especially when words would interfere. We often kneel to pray; we may stand or be seated. Physical position is less important than is spiritual submission to God.
We close our prayer “in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” When we hear another’s prayer, we audibly add our “amen,” meaning, “That is my prayer, too.”
[The Savior] told His disciples that “ye must always pray unto the Father in my name” [3 Nephi 18:19]. The Savior further emphasized, “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name” [3 Nephi 18:21]. Obediently, we apply that lesson when we pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
When should we pray? The Lord said, “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good” [Doctrine and Covenants 90:24; emphasis added].
Alma said, “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God” [Alma 37:37; emphasis added].
We pray privately, with our families regularly, at mealtime, and in daily activities. Simply summarized, we are a praying people.
Study Question
What does it mean to you to pray always?
The Lord has taught us ways our prayers can be enhanced
The Lord has taught ways by which our prayers can be enhanced. For example, He said that “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” [Doctrine and Covenants 25:12].
Prayer can also be enhanced by fasting. The Lord said, “I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth” [Doctrine and Covenants 88:76]. …
… [Humility] can also enhance our prayers. Scripture so declares, “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers” [Doctrine and Covenants 112:10].
Prayer begins with individual initiative. “Behold,” saith the Lord, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” [Revelation 3:20]. That door is opened when we pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
We manifest our love for God through prayer. And listening is an essential part of prayer. Answers from the Lord come ever so quietly. Hence He has counseled us to “be still and know that I am God” [Doctrine and Covenants 101:16].
We need to pray from our hearts. Polite recitations of past and upcoming activities, punctuated with some requests for blessings, cannot constitute the kind of communing with God that brings enduring power. Are you willing to pray to know how to pray for more power? The Lord will teach you.
As you think celestial, your heart will gradually change. You will want to pray more often and more sincerely. Please don’t let your prayers sound like a shopping list. The Lord’s perspective transcends your mortal wisdom. His response to your prayers may surprise you and will help you to think celestial. … Our prayers can be—and should be—living discussions with our Heavenly Father.
Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take.
Study Question
What could you do to enhance your prayers?
Your heartfelt pleadings are important to God
Unfailing faith is fortified through prayer. Your heartfelt pleadings are important to [God]. Think of the intense and impassioned prayers of the Prophet Joseph Smith during his dreadful days of incarceration in Liberty Jail. The Lord responded by changing the Prophet’s perspective. He said, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” [Doctrine and Covenants 122:7].
If we pray with an eternal perspective, we need not wonder if our most tearful and heartfelt pleadings are heard. This promise from the Lord is recorded in section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants:
“Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord … and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
“Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord” [Doctrine and Covenants 98:2–3].
The Lord chose His strongest words to reassure us! Seal! Testament! Sworn! Decreed! Immutable covenant! Brothers and sisters, believe Him! God will heed your sincere and heartfelt prayers, and your faith will be strengthened.
Study Question
What experiences have helped you understand that God hears your prayers?
Heavenly Father answers our prayers according to His eternal perspective
When we pray, we should not presume to give counsel but should inquire of the Lord and hearken to His counsel. … Not all of our prayers will be answered as we might wish. Occasionally the answer will be no. We should not be surprised. Loving mortal parents do not say yes to every request of their children. …
We should pray in accord with the will of our Heavenly Father. He wants to test us, to strengthen us, and to help us achieve our full potential.
I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered. We wonder, “Why?” I know that feeling! I know the fears and tears of such moments. But I also know that our prayers are never ignored. Our faith is never unappreciated. I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time.
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world—He who ransomed us with His blood—is our Redeemer and our Exemplar. At the close of His mortal mission, He prayed that His will—as the Beloved Son—might be swallowed up in the will of the Father. In that crucial hour the Savior cried, “Father, … not as I will, but as thou wilt” [Matthew 26:39]. So we should pray to God, “Thy will be done.”
Study Question
What does it mean to you to pray in accordance with the will of Heavenly Father?
Plan private time each day to prepare, to ponder, and to pray
“When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” [Matthew 6:6].
Wherever your personal “closet” may be—whether it be a literal closet or some other place where you can enjoy seclusion, plan to have a period of private time in that setting to prepare, to ponder, and to pray. …
You may wish to keep a notepad and pencil handy so you can capture any promptings that come to your heart and mind. As you reserve this precious time of preparation each day, the Holy Ghost can reach you and teach you.
As you complete your private time, and as you then follow with family prayer and scripture study, you are prepared for a wonderful day ahead. You can feel confident that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, will be your companion, your protector, and your guide. …
Throughout each day, pray to be guided to do your part so you can be yoked with the Lord. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light [see Matthew 11:30]. You will need that help. Nothing will be too difficult when you are yoked with the Lord in His holy work.
Have you gone to a quiet, secluded spot to be all alone? Have you found your own “Sacred Grove” equivalent, where you can pour out the secret longings of your soul in prayer to your Father in Heaven? Have you really conversed with God as one man speaks to another? Have you really declared your allegiance to him and your availability to him, without any reservation? Have you said, “Here I am, Lord! Use me!”? Have you pleaded with him, and as you did, have you put behind any counterfeit clichés that may have been part of your prayers in the past? … Resolve now to make of your home a place of prayer. Make it a sanctuary of faith.
Study Questions
What questions could you ask in prayer as you prepare for each new day? Why do you feel it is important to write down insights from your prayers?
Praying strengthens us and helps us bless others
Just as physical strength requires exercise, so spiritual strength requires effort. Among the most important of spiritual exercises is prayer. It engenders harmony with God and a desire to keep His commandments. Prayer is a key to wisdom, virtue, and humility.
Praying helps us to face trials in life. Prayer centers our attitudes precisely. With that focus, we do not wander to the right or left through land mined with traps of temptation. Disciples do not flirt with danger at the jagged edge of disaster. Experienced mountain climbers do not lean toward the dangerous edge but toward safety, with ropes and other safeguards to secure them to those they trust. So it is with us. When we climb mountainous challenges of life, we should lean toward our Master and be yoked with him, clinging tightly to the iron rod of the gospel, to family, and to trusted friends. …
The Lord said, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” [Doctrine and Covenants 6:36]. I have learned that such faith gives emancipating power. Facing God first lets us decide firmly what we shall not do; then we are free to pursue what we ought to do.
Faith can be fortified through prayer. Prayer is the powerful key to making decisions … [concerning all] important aspects of your life. Humbly seek the Lord in prayer with a sincere heart and real intent, and He will help you.
Remember that faith and prayer alone are seldom sufficient. Personal effort is usually necessary to accomplish your heart’s desire. “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” [James 2:17].
I have a firm belief that praying for those in need is pleasing to God; in fact, He commands us to turn to Him and to pray for others! However, it is my own personal experience that when I ask God in prayer for direction on what I can do to help minister, lift, love, and support those in need, He answers these prayers with specific and simple things I can actually do to bless one of His children.
I invite you to consider how your thoughts and prayers can be a catalyst for God to inspire and direct you toward acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity. Imagine how much good you could do in the world—and in your own family, school, and workplace. As we seek to be His healing and helping hands, we surely will exalt the Lord.
Study Questions
How has prayer helped you face trials in life? How has prayer helped you find ways to serve others?
Invitations and Promises
When we pray, the Lord opens the door to us
Prayer begins with individual initiative. “Behold,” saith the Lord, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” [Revelation 3:20]. That door is opened when we pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
God will heed your sincere and heartfelt prayers
If we pray with an eternal perspective, we need not wonder if our most tearful and heartfelt pleadings are heard. This promise from the Lord is recorded in section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants:
“Your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord … and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
“Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord” [Doctrine and Covenants 98:2–3].
The Lord chose His strongest words to reassure us! Seal! Testament! Sworn! Decreed! Immutable covenant! Brothers and sisters, believe Him! God will heed your sincere and heartfelt prayers, and your faith will be strengthened.
Heavenly healing will take place in God’s own way and time
I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time.
The Holy Ghost can reach you and teach you
Wherever your personal “closet” may be—whether it be a literal closet, or some other place where you can enjoy seclusion, plan to have a period of private time in that setting to prepare, to ponder, and to pray. …
You may wish to keep a notepad and pencil handy so you can capture any promptings that come to your heart and mind. As you reserve this precious time of preparation each day, the Holy Ghost can reach you and teach you.
As you complete your private time, and as you then follow with family prayer and scripture study, you are prepared for a wonderful day ahead. You can feel confident that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, will be your companion, your protector, and your guide.
God will direct you toward acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity
I invite you to consider how your thoughts and prayers can be a catalyst for God to inspire and direct you toward acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity. Imagine how much good you could do in the world—and in your own family, school, and workplace. As we seek to be His healing and helping hands, we surely will exalt the Lord.
Video
Related Talks
“Sweet Power of Prayer” (April 2003 general conference)
“Lessons from the Lord’s Prayers” (April 2009 general conference)