Pray regularly
Recognize answers- Trust God
"The miraculous element of prayer to me," said Elder Rex D. Pinegar of the Presidency of the Seventy, "is that in the private, quiet chambers of our mind and heart, God both hears and answers prayers."
Speaking Sunday morning, he explained: "The peace God speaks to our minds will let us know when decisions we have made are right, when our course is true. It can come as personal inspiration and guidance to assist us in our daily lives or in our homes and our work. It provides us with courage and hope to meet the challenges of life."
Elder Pinegar related an incident when, at age 12, he and some friends were injured in a fireworks explosion. "The force of the explosion knocked us off our feet, and the flames from the ignited powder burned us severely. Soon after, I felt my face, hands and arms being wrapped in bandages.
"I had been taught very early in my life to pray. Mother and Father had made prayer an important part of our family life. Not until that day, however, did it become so meaningful to me. In those frightening moments I found peace and comfort through prayer."
Continuing, Elder Pinegar counseled: "Our Father in Heaven has promised us peace in times of trial and has provided a way for us to come to Him in our need. He has given us the privilege and power of prayer."
He said that perhaps the greatest test of faith and the most difficult part of prayer may be to recognize the answer and then to accept or to act upon the answer God chooses to give.
"Consistency in prayer along with the counsel of the prophets and searching the scriptures keeps us in tune with the Lord and enables us to interpret the promptings of the Spirit more easily," he added.
Elder Pinegar related that there is terrible suffering in the world today. "Tragic things happen to good people," he continued. "God does not cause them, nor does He always prevent them. He does, however, strengthen us and bless us with His peace, through earnest prayer.
"If we, like the Savior, have the faith to put our trust in our Father in Heaven, to submit to His will, the true spirit of peace will come as a witness and strength that He has heard and answered our prayers.
"If we resist the inspiration of God and turn from His promptings, we are left to our own confusion and lack of peace."
Then referring again to the fireworks accident, he related - with great emotion, "While the doctor treated my burns, I hummed a hymn, finding comfort in these words: `When sore trials came upon you, Did you think to pray? Oh, how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day. So when life gets dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray." (See Hymns, p. 140.)
