Ask with faith in Christ- Pray for what is right

While all need help from the Lord, many individuals do not seem to know how to receive such help, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Council of the Twelve commented in his Sunday afternoon address."Such difficulty results either from not following His spiritual law for providing help or from not recognizing help when it comes," he explained. "Well did James observe: `Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.' (James 4:3.)

"True, the Lord has said, `. . . ask and ye shall receive. . . .' But He also declared: `Behold you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.' (D&C 9:7.)"

Quoting several other scriptures, Elder Scott said: "Now to summarize, blessings come when we ask the Father in the name of Christ, diligently keep His commandments, ask with faith in Christ, ask for that which is right, harden not our hearts, express gratitude."

Priesthood blessings are one way the Lord provides help, he noted.

"Appropriate use of priesthood authority opens a channel of help where the outcome is consistent with the will of the Lord. The blessing resolves those things which are beyond our own capacity to influence either personally or with the help of others. Yet we must do our part for the blessing to be realized. We must strive to be worthy and to exercise the requisite faith to do what we are able. Where it is intended that others help, we must use that help also. It is through our doing what is within our ability to accomplish by the power of the Lord that the blessing is realized."

He told of a young man, severely injured in an accident who was blessed through the priesthood to regain his mobility.

"With periodic help from loving friends he is succeeding in a university and striving to progress to qualify to be a missionary."

In contrast, he told of another man whose first comment to Elder Scott was "Why doesn't the Lord give me a wife?"

"As we spoke it was obvious he was not doing the most fundamental things to qualify to find a wife. . . . Clearly, he must do his part."

Elder Scott affirmed that prayers are answered when they conform to the will of God.

"His will is our best choice in life whether or not we fully understand it. When we act, using our moral agency wisely, the Lord will act according to His will."