WHY PRAYER TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

This is a series of addresses by Modern Prophets and Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
FIRST:  is a series of talks by Apostle BOYD K. PACKER
of the Council of the Twelve Apostles.

“This article was inspired by a recent talk given in an LDS General Conference by  Apostle Boyd K. Packer.”

Our Heavenly Father sent each of us here to earth as spirit sons and daughters.  The object was to obtain a physical body, learn how to use it and care for it. 

We are also here to be tested to see how we make our decisions and use what we had learned while with Him in the spirit world.

WHY DO WE NEED PRAYER? 

He did not leave us all alone.  He gave us a way to communicate back and forth with Him whenever we needed.  This is called Prayer.

No matter what situation we are in, we can pray to Him on our knees or from our mind and heart while we are doing things.  He hears us.

He knows ahead of time what we need, but He wants us to ask him anyways and to learn how to be sensitive to His Spirit so we will recognize an answer when it comes. 

He may not always answer us immediately, but in His own time. 

Sometimes He may not answer a prayer at all because of circumstances, which He knows about, will come up, that answering the prayer, will not be needed.

He gave us a mind and sound reasoning to use much of the time.  We are not expected to ask Him about every decision that He knows we can make for ourselves.

WHY ARE PROMPTINGS OF THE SPIRIT NEEDED?

There is a perfect manner of communication through the Spirit:

1 CORINTHIANS 2: 10

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

All of the sons and daughters of God were given the Spirit of Christ to guide them in choosing between right and wrong.

After baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, another ordinance which is the Laying on of the Hands for the GIFT of the HOLY GHOST is performed.  From that moment on, as long as the person is righteous, the Holy Ghost stays with that person and guides them in ALL THINGS throughout their life on earth.

If that person strays from righteousness, REPENTANCE is needed BEFORE the Holy Ghost returns.

Without this second ordinance, the baptism is not complete.  It is like putting a key in a car ignition but not turning it.  It all works together once the key is turned.

Promptings of the Spirit will guide you in the things that you do.  The Spirit will warn you of some danger coming or that something is not right.  Listen to it.

Most of the time it will come as thoughts or impressions to our mind.  Most of the time you will feel this spiritual communication more than you will hear it.

We are sent here to mortality to gain experiences in choosing good over evil.  Satan knows us from the spirit world and tries to prompt us in NOT praying.  That is the time we most need to pray.

To watch the full talk, go to PRAYER AND PROMPTINGS, 9 Oct. 2009.
For further information, go to www.lds.org.

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