PROVO, Utah — In order to come unto the Lord, Church members must communicate with Him through prayer, said Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Jan. 21.

Speaking during a BYU devotional, Elder Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve said, "There may not be a commandment uttered more frequently than that we lift up our hearts and our voices in prayer to our Heavenly Father."

Jesus often prayed to the Father, said Elder Wirthlin. "If the Savior of all mankind felt such a need to supplicate the Father, how much more should we lift up our voices in prayer?

"Every person here today lived at one time in heavenly realms. We walked with our Heavenly Father. We knew Him. We heard His voice. We loved Him. And although we were eager to enter mortality and continue our progression, we must have regretted the separation that would accompany it. We must have sorrowed that a veil would cover our eyes and the bright memories of our lives would be cloaked in the forgetfulness of mortality. How we must have yearned to stay close to our Father in Heaven. How we must have covenanted to ever reach after Him and commune with Him.

"Undoubtedly, our separation from the Father was softened when our Heavenly Father promised that as we sought after Him in prayer, He would reach towards us."

Elder Wirthlin called prayer a way for Church members to commune with the Infinite. It is a time of gratitude, introspection and emotion — sorrow, joy, enlightenment and peace, he said.

"The more time we spend in righteous prayer, the more our beings will be filled with light. . . ," he explained. "The more our souls are filled with light, the more we become like our Father in Heaven, the more we are capable of feeling the fruits of the Spirit. This light grows within us, often slowly. It banishes the darkness of this mortality. It sets to flight fear and doubt and all desire to do evil. It fills the soul with love, peace and unspeakable joy."

Elder Wirthlin promised the students that spiritual experiences are available to all who come before their Eternal Father with a broken heart and contrite spirit.

"As we approach our Heavenly Father in the name of Christ, we open the windows of heaven. We can receive from Him truth, light and knowledge.

"Prayer is the doorway through which we commence our discipleship to things heavenly and eternal. We will never be alone so long as we know how to pray."