Enriching Lives through Online Training

Hello Brethren!
Remember last week I mentioned the principle: pray without ceasing … pray always. This week I feel "impressed" to follow up on prayer and suggest 3 "principles"—
(1) Pray with real intent
(2) The "power" of gratitude
(3) Prayer is a TWO-way communication

This past Wednesday, our youth were given a delightful reference book by the Branch entitled: True to the Faith, A Gospel Reference by the First Presidency. It covers Gospel topics alphabetically … an excellent manual for adults, too! I will quote from this book on the 3 topics above.

Make your prayers meaningful. The prophet Mormon warned that if anyone "shall pray and not with real intent of heart .. it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such" (Moroni 7:9). To make your prayers meaningful, you must pray with sincerity and "with all the energy of heart" (Moroni 7:48). Be careful to avoid "vain repetitions" when you pray (see Matthew 6:7). Give serious thought to your attitude and to the words you use. …Always give thanks to your Heavenly Father. You should "live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you" (Alma 34:38). As you take time to remember your blessings, you will recognize how much your Heavenly Father has done for you. Express your thanks to Him. … Remember that prayer is two-way communication. As you close your prayers, take time to pause and listen. At times, Heavenly Father will counsel, guide, or comfort you while you are on your knees.

Now, a few of my own comments.
Years ago, when Dallas Rhyne was a counselor in the Elder’s Quorum, I had a PPI with him. As we closed, he shared one goal he had … and that was to pray for a minimum of 15 minutes in all his personal prayers. My first thought was that that was a rather "lengthy" prayer … but remembering that Enos prayed all night and into the day … and the profound results he got … this "made sense" … so I figured I’d try it out too (i.e. experiment on the word … in this case, the word of my priesthood leader). As you might expect, it worked! I found that if I just took enough time on my knees, things would occur to me that otherwise would have not "come to mind" … because I just wasn’t "focusing" long enough! My prayers entered a new "dimension" and became so much more meaningful and sincere/intent. Also, when you pray long "enough" you tend to pause and listen to the Spirit more … and THIS is when you really begin to receive revelation. One significant experience I had years ago, along this line, occurred one morning, very early. Donna and I happen to both be awake and she had a few things on her mind she was upset about which she "downloaded" on me. At the time she was not in a "receptive" frame of mind … and when she concluded, she just rolled over and went back to sleep … but I was in a turmoil and really felt the need to speak my "mind". Since I couldn’t speak to her, and no one else would be awake at that hour to call, the thought occurred to me, "I know who I can speak with!" … So I knelt and poured my heart out to Heavenly Father. Three specific questions I wanted answers to came to mind which I asked him. I was on my knees for a good half an hour (quite a lengthy prayer, for me … but I really felt the need to communicate … and get answers). It "just so happened" that just as I was about to finish praying, the specific answers to my three questions came into my mind! It was, to me, amazing. It was the first time I had the experience (as far as I could recall) of getting specific answers/revelation BEFORE concluding a prayer! … And since that time, I have repeated the process and realize that if I prayed in faith, yearning for answers, more often than not they would "come" even while on my knees… listening.