"Think of it," said Elder Richard G. Scott, "the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful Personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father.
"Actually," he continued, "He commands: 'thou shalt pray."'
Speaking Saturday morning, Elder Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve said prayer is not a matter of circumstance nor does it require an appointment.
"Our supplication can be brief, or can occupy all the time needed.... You and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer."
Prayer is most effective "when we strive to be clean and obedient," he said. "Don't worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk."
A key to improved prayer is asking the right questions, he said. "Consider changing from asking for the things you want, to honestly seeking what He wants for you."
Being able to "fathom the immense power of prayer" may not come "until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it," he said. "Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him."
Heavenly Father will give gentle promptings, continued Elder Scott, "that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers.
"Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer. That pattern requires you to exercise faith in our Father's capacity to respond. While sometimes very hard, it results in significant personal growth."
Answers seldom come while one is on the knees praying, Elder Scott said. "Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart."
Be thankful that sometimes God "lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase."
When answers do not come, even after exercising great faith and living obediently, Elder Scott said, "your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good."
Answers come as a feeling with an accompanying conviction, he said, describing how the Holy Ghost will answer to either the mind or the heart.
"For me, response to the mind is very specific like dictated words, while response to the heart is generalized like a feeling to pray more."
Elder Scott explained that the Lord will reply in one of three ways. First, by feelings of peace and comfort. Second, by an unsettled feeling, a stupor of thought. Or, third, "and this is the difficult one — you can feel no response."
"What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer?
"You may want to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust. When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior's teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an improper choice, or the peace or the burning in the bosom will be felt confirming that your choice was correct....
"God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision."
