Fasting and Prayer Often Brings the Blessings of the Lord

 

Bible Dictionary: Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Omni 1:26 I would that ye should come unto Christ. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

Alma 5:46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself.

Alma 6:6 Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.

Alma 17:3, 9 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation.

And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them.

Alma 28:6 And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.

Alma 45:1 Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.

Helaman 3:35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ,

Moroni 6:5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray.

How to get the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our life.

Below are statements made by President Russell M. Nelson since he was called as prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, January 14, 2018. This post also includes a few quotes from his 2017 talk, "Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives."

Need to come closer to Christ

• It is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures—perhaps measures we have never taken before—to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. 
• We have never needed positive spiritual momentum more than we do now, to counteract the speed with which evil and the darker signs of the times are intensifying.
• These are the latter days. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
• There has never been a time in the history of the world when knowledge of our Savior is more personally vital and relevant to every human soul.

 

How to get the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our life.

• To do anything well requires effort. Becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is no exception.
• Immerse yourself in the scriptures to understand better Christ’s mission and ministry.
• Know the doctrine of Christ so that you understand its power for your life. 
• Internalize the truth that the Atonement of Jesus Christ applies to you. He took upon Himself your misery, your mistakes, your weakness, and your sins. He paid the compensatory price and provided the power for you to move every mountain you will ever face.
• Ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, for help.
• The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. 
• Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son.
• Because when we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.
• I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen.
• I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.
• I asked the young adults of the Church to consecrate a portion of their time each week to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works. I invited them to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum.
• Learn about miracles. Miracles come according to your faith in the Lord.
• Seek and expect miracles. The Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, “doubting nothing.” Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith.

 

Blessings that the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings in our lives.

• Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ.
• Each of God’s children deserves the opportunity to hear and accept the healing, redeeming message of Jesus Christ. No other message is more vital to our happiness—now and forever.
• The more you learn about the Savior, the easier it will be to trust in His mercy, His infinite love, and His strengthening, healing, and redeeming power.
• Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power available to us in this life. All things are possible to them that believe.
• The pure doctrine of Christ is powerful. It changes the life of everyone who understands it and seeks to implement it in his or her life. The doctrine of Christ helps us find and stay on the covenant path.
• When your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear.
• Few things will accelerate your spiritual momentum more than realizing the Lord is helping you to move a mountain in your life.
• During these perilous times of which the Apostle Paul prophesied, Satan is no longer even trying to hide his attacks on God’s plan. Emboldened evil abounds. Therefore, the only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice, and to use our energy to help gather Israel.
• Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son.
• Because when we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.

How to Prepare for the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 

How to Prepare for Conference

 Links to other articles:

·         Learning from General Conference Messages

·         “5 Steps for Making Conference Stay with You”

·         “Ideas to Prepare to Participate in General Conference”

 

 President Russell M. Nelson, April 2020

The purpose of this and every general conference is to help us to hear Him. We have prayed, and invite you to pray, that the Spirit of the Lord will be with us in such rich abundance that you can hear the messages that the Savior has especially for you—messages that will bring peace to your soul. Messages that will heal your broken heart. Messages that will illuminate your mind. Messages that will help you know what to do as you move ahead through times of turmoil and trial.

President Russell M. Nelson, April 2021

As we listen to the messages that have been carefully prepared by our leaders under the direction of the Holy Ghost, I invite you to pray to identify the debris you should remove from your life so you can become more worthy.

President Russell M. Nelson, October 2021

I invite you to listen for three things during this conference: pure truth, the pure doctrine of Christ, and pure revelation. Pure revelation for the questions in your heart will make this conference rewarding and unforgettable. If you have not yet sought for the ministering of the Holy Ghost to help you hear what the Lord would have you hear during these two days, I invite you to do so now. Please make this conference a time of feasting on messages from the Lord through His servants. Learn how to apply them in your life.

President Henry B. Eyring, Trust in God, Then Go and Do,” Oct. 2010

Your needs are great and varied. Each of you is a unique child of God. God knows you individually. He sends messages of encouragement, correction, and direction fitted to you and to your needs.

 

Elder Anderson, Facebook and Instagram, 2020 and 2022

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

We are looking forward to #GeneralConference in just a few days. We look forward to being with you. It will be a time of great rejoicing and great revelation, and I promise you that you will get answers you need as you prepare yourself for this important time.

I invite you to prepare yourself for a marvelous general conference with the three suggestions in this video. I express my love and my great happiness at being with you soon.

Let me give you three quick suggestions. First of all, be very prayerful as you go into these next few days. Think about the things that most concern you, you might write them down, then pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ that answers can be provided. It won’t be so much of what is said as what you feel.

Next, as you attend the conference, don’t be casual in this attendance. Think about it as if you are going to have an interview with a very important person. Get prepared for it. Think about the time. Don’t just come up and down, run into the next room and get some popcorn. This is very serious and can be very helpful to you.

The final thing I would recommend is that as you listen take notes, not so much as you would if you were in a school room, but notes that come into your mind, thoughts, impressions that come.

Then after the conference is over when you go back and read these talks again, read them realizing that the Lord may give you more: more impressions, more important things for your life.

 

Ponder questions you need answers to

 

Elder Bednar, Facebook and Instagram 2022

We are on the eve of another general conference. I’d like to make just one suggestion for you to consider that can greatly increase the impact of this conference in your life. Have questions in your mind and in your heart. As you exercise faith in the Lord as you formulate and consider those questions, and as you actively listen by the power of the Holy Ghost, you will receive the answers that you need.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “General Conference—No Ordinary Blessing,” Ensign, Sept. 2011

There are messages in each general conference as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations. As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. For example, you might yearn for direction and guidance by the Lord regarding challenges you are facing.

 

Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitude for the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation

 

Plan to listen with intent and then act

 

President Eyring “Trust in God, Then Go and Do”

You show your trust in [God] when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks. If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer in this conference, you will find it. And if you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you.

Review past general conference messages.

 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The more we treasure the words of the prophets and apply them, the better we will recognize when we are drifting off course—even if only by a matter of a few degrees.

 

Prepare as the prophets do

 

Elder Robert D. Hales, “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets,” Oct. 2007

We prepare to receive personal revelation as the prophets do, by studying the scriptures, fasting, praying, and building faith. Faith is the key. Prophets receive personal revelations to help them in their own lives and in directing the earthly affairs of the Church. Our responsibility is to seek personal revelations for ourselves and for the responsibilities the Lord has given us. By unwavering faith, we learn for ourselves that “it is by faith that miracles are wrought.”

 

Generally, those miracles will not be physical demonstrations of God’s power—parting of the Red Sea, raising of the dead, breaking down prison walls, or the appearance of heavenly messengers. By design, most miracles are spiritual demonstrations of God’s power—tender mercies gently bestowed through impressions, ideas, feelings of assurance, solutions to problems, strength to meet challenges, and comfort to bear disappointments and sorrow.

 

These miracles come to us as we endure what the scriptures call a “trial of [our] faith.” Sometimes that trial is the time it takes before an answer is received.

 

Identify the doctrine or principle being taught, find invitations to act, and recognize the promised blessings

Learn Elder Bednar’s pattern for studying conference messages —doctrine, invitations, blessings 

https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-03-25/elder-bednar-patterns-general-conference-messages-invitations-blessings-207576

 

Doctrine taught. Invitations to act. Promised blessings.

Identifying and applying the pattern of those three connected elements can bless individuals as they prepare for, listen to and study messages from Apostles and Prophets given during general conference, said Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“The basic pattern is to identify the fundamental doctrine or principle that is being taught, find invitations to act related to that doctrine or principle, and then also recognize the promised blessings that will come as we act in accordance with that invitation,” he said.

In an interview leading up to the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Bednar recalled earlier Church presidents — including President Harold B. Lee and President Spencer W. Kimball — teaching that conference messages should serve as an important guide in our lives until the next general conference.

 

 

 

 

Hymns/Words of Comfort During Times of Deep Trials

I have a few favorite hymns that I retreat to in times of deeper trials. I had never thought through the words of the third hymn below before, but now I have three songs to rely on.

The Touching Story Behind “It Is Well with My Soul.” I have read this story many times, but it still brings me peace. It is one thing to be able to read the words, it is another thing to write them during what he went through!

"It is Well With My Soul"

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well, With my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

 

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

 

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

 

 "How Gentle God's Commands"

My favoritie line: “Why should this anxious load, press down your weary mind?”  

1. How gentle God’s commands!

How kind his precepts are!

Come, cast your burdens on the Lord

And trust his constant care.

2. Beneath his watchful eye,

His Saints securely dwell;

That hand which bears all nature up

Shall guard his children well.

3. Why should this anxious load

Press down your weary mind?

Haste to your Heav’nly Father’s throne

And sweet refreshment find.

4. His goodness stands approved,

Unchanged from day to day;

I’ll drop my burden at his feet

And bear a song away.

 

 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

 Joyfully

 1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!

Join the great throng,

Psaltery, organ and song,

Sounding in glad adoration!

 

2. Praise to the Lord! Over all things he gloriously reigneth.

Borne as on eagle wings, safely his Saints he sustaineth.

Hast thou not seen

How all thou needest hath been

Granted in what he ordaineth?

 

3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee.

Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee.

Ponder anew

What the Almighty can do,

Who with his love doth befriend thee.

 

4. Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!

All that hath breath, join with Abraham’s seed to adore him!

Let the “amen”

Sum all our praises again,

Now as we worship before him.

 

Text: Joachim Neander, 1650–1680; trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1829–1878

Music: From Stralsund Gesangbuch, 1665; arr. by William S. Bennett, 1816–1875, and Otto Goldschmidt, 1829–1907

 

Psalm 150

Psalm 23:6

Meanings of the Word "Hearts" in the Scriptures

Elder Holland Safety for the Soul

The Savior warned that in the last days even those of the covenant, the very elect, could be deceived by the enemy of truth. If we think of this as a form of spiritual destruction, it may cast light on another latter-day prophecy. Think of the heart as the figurative center of our faith. Then consider Jesus’s declaration that in the last days “men’s hearts [shall fail] them.”

Hearts and Desire

Elder Russell M. Nelson “Decisions for Eternity,” October 2013

We can change our behavior. Our very desires can change. How? There is only one way. True change—permanent change—can come only through the healing, cleansing, and enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He loves you—each of you! He allows you to access His power as you keep His commandments, eagerly, earnestly, and exactly. It is that simple and certain. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of change!

Hearts and Understanding

2 Nephi 16:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes—lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed.

Mosiah 12:27

Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?

A Mighty Change of Heart

Mosiah 5:2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

Alma 5:14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

A Broken Heart & Contrite Spirit

3 Nephi 9:19-20 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

2 Nephi 2:7–8 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

Hearts and Sanctification and Yielding our Hearts

Mosiah 4:2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Helaman 3:35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

The Word of the Lord Written in our Hearts

Mosiah 13:11 And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives.

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Hearing the Word of the Lord in our Hearts

Elder Neil L. Andersen, “Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice,” October 2015

Addressing honest questions is an important part of building faith, and we use both our intellect and our feelings. The Lord said, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart.” Not all answers will come immediately, but most questions can be resolved through sincere study and seeking answers from God. Using our mind without our heart will not bring spiritual answers. “The things of God knoweth no man, but [through] the Spirit of God.” And to help us, Jesus promised us “another Comforter” and called Him “even the Spirit of truth.”

2 Nephi 33:1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

3 Nephi 11:3 And notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

Stony Heart verses a Heart of Flesh

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Satan Has Hold on the Hearts of Men

Helaman 6:30 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness … from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men.

Helaman 6:17 For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get gain.

1 Nephi 22:26 And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.

Mosiah 26:3 And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.

Other Phrases

·         A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit

·         A mighty change of heart

·         Yielding our Hearts

·         Full Purpose of Heart

·         Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

·         My heart pondereth

·         Prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord

·         A forgiving heart

·         Trust in the Lord with all your heart…