In Everything Give Thanks

     "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;" D&C 98:1. Probably my most memorable pitching experience is the game against American Fork where the region championship was on the line. I was going up against a pitcher who would eventually be drafted into the MLB, the winner would be the #1 seed in the state tournament, and we were ranked 1 and 2 in the Utah power rankings. Both me and my opponent pitched all 7 innings, and my defense came up clutch with some big plays all throughout the game to give us a 3-2 win. We were excited for the win and we got on the bus to go back to Riverton. When I got home, the first thing I did was go into my bedroom. Still overcome with emotion, I said a prayer of gratitude to my Father in Heaven. The prayer probably lasted 10 minutes, because I had a lot to be grateful for that day. When I concluded my prayer and stood up to leave, I was hit with a realization. I said to myself, "how come this is the first time I have prayed like this after a game?" I had played hundreds, if not thousands, of games throughout my life and it took me until the region championship game of my senior year to get on my knees like I did. It wasn't that I wasn't ever grateful for my experiences that I had, but I never knelt down after a game and thanked my Heavenly Father.

     On my mission in Mexico City, I felt that my prayers were at their strongest. I felt a strong connection with God not only as I knelt down, but also as I went about my day. As I got home I felt my prayers starting to be more repetitive and less meaningful. As a missionary, there was always something new going on and we always had things to pray about. As a regular church member, sometimes our days are repetitive between work/school schedules and it's hard to think of new things to talk about with God. One thing that has helped me in this situation is to say a different kind of prayer. Instead of kneeling down and struggling to think of things to say, I kneel down with the intent of not asking for anything. Instead, I give thanks for every little thing I can think of in my life. In the spirit of gratitude, the Holy Ghost will accompany you and help you make your prayers more meaningful. Even if it takes 15 minutes, I know that simple prayers of gratitude will help increase your capacity to pray.

     In the scriptures, we read about several experiences where disciples of Christ receive great visions or revelations. In these instances it also is mentioned that those people were in fervent prayer, or that had spent a lot of time pondering over the goodness of Christ. Here are a few examples: talking about his father, Lehi, Nephi said, "Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people. And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly." (1 Nephi 1:5-6) Enos said, "And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.....And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens." Enos then had a conversation with the Lord and he was assured that his sins were forgiven. 

     Prayer can also be the way we help our friends and family members through hard times. I testify that the Lord hears each and every sincere prayer that we say. In the book of Mosiah, we see an example of how fervent prayer was effective for Alma. His son, Alma the Younger, was seeking to destroy the church and persecute it's members. In Mosiah 27:14 it says, "And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith." 

     Prayer can be the way we develop and strengthen our relationship with God, but only if we diligently seek him. When we find ourselves struggling to have sincere prayers, we can start by simply thanking God for everything we have. Another way that I have found effective is to ask that the spirit can accompany us in the prayer, and wait for a little bit until I feel the spirit present. It never takes long. Our Heavenly Father is anxious to hear from and answer his children. Let's invite him into our lives each and every day!