'Great is the power of prayer'
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"Great is the power of prayer," President James E. Faust said Sunday morning. "No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator.
"Through all generations since that time prayer has filled a very important human need. Each of us has problems that we cannot solve and weaknesses that we cannot conquer without reaching out through prayer to a higher source of strength. That source is the God of heaven to whom we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. As we pray we should think of our Father in Heaven as possessing all knowledge, understanding, love and compassion."
President Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, then recited the Lord's prayer and explained: "First, prayer is a humble acknowledgment that God is our Father and that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Second, it is a sincere confession of sin and transgression and a request for forgiveness. Third, it is recognition that we need help beyond our own ability. Fourth, it is an opportunity to thank our Heavenly Father and to express our gratitude to our Creator. It is important that we frequently say: 'We thank Thee . . .' 'We acknowledge before Thee . . .' 'We are grateful unto Thee. . . .' Fifth, it is a privilege to ask Deity for specific blessings."
Speaking of the sincerity of prayer, whether on the knees or the "silent prayers of the heart," President Faust said: "Indeed, sincerity requires that we draw from the earnest feelings of our hearts when we pray rather than using vain repetitions or pretentious affectations such as those condemned by the Savior in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. Our prayers then truly become the 'song of the heart' and 'a prayer,' not only reaching God but touching the hearts of others as well."
Some blessings sought through prayer require work, effort and diligence, President Faust said. "For example, at times fasting is appropriate as a strong evidence of our sincerity."
When not praying directly, then let your heart be drawn out in prayer continually, he counseled. "God knows our needs better than we can state them, but He wants us to approach Him in faith to ask for blessings, safety and comfort."
President Faust shared with the congregation his experiences during World War II when he spent 83 days on a British Liberty Ship. As the only member of the Church on board, he went to the bow of the ship on Sundays with his set of servicemen's scriptures and songbook to read, pray and sing by himself. "I did not try to bargain with the Lord, but I did pray fervently that if I could survive the war and go home to my wife and family, I would earnestly try to remain true to the sacred covenants I had made at baptism, to the oath and covenant of the priesthood and to my temple vows."
Describing the harrowing experience of a violent storm that he later learned capsized many other vessels, he added: "Of course I prayed, as I imagine others did. In time the storm moved away from us. I am grateful for the sustaining influence and comfort my prayers gave me then and in other times of peril since."
President Faust spoke of the powerful and sustaining power of family prayer and related the account of a British family during World War II in Liverpool. A 500-pound bomb landed just outside their home, but did not explode. The father, whose wife had died, gathered his five children around him and prayed. The next day, the foreman of the A.R.P. squad told him they did not know why the bomb had not gone off.
"The Savior counseled that we should pray for those who despitefully use us. This principle is often overlooked in our prayers. The Prophet Joseph Smith understood it clearly," President Faust said. He then related the example of the Prophet praying for those within the Church in Kirtland who were rebelling against him.
Daniel Tyler, an associate to the Prophet, recorded: "I had heard men and women pray — especially the former — from the most ignorant, both as to letters and intellect, to the most learned and eloquent. But never until then had I heard a man address his Maker as though He was present listening as a kind father would listen to the sorrows of a dutiful child. Joseph was at that time unlearned, but that prayer, which was to a considerable extent in behalf of those who accused him of having gone astray and fallen into sin, was that the Lord would forgive them and open their eyes that they might see aright. That prayer, I say, to my humble mind, partook of the learning and eloquence of heaven."
Continuing, President Faust said that no more poignant prayer has been uttered than by the Savior in Gethsemane. "He withdrew from His apostles and prayed to the Father, 'Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.' (Luke 22:42.) An important element of all of our prayers might well be to follow the pattern of that prayer in Gethsemane: 'not my will, but thine, be done.' "
In conclusion, President Faust, his voice choking with emotion, invited members to remember President Gordon B. Hinckley in their prayers. "No one fully knows, not even his counselors, how heavy his burdens are and how great his responsibility is."
