My young brothers and sisters, can you think of the last
time you received an answer to your prayers? Was it when
you lost something? Was it when you were scared? Maybe
you were sick or someone you loved was sick. I have
prayed in those times, too.
Where were you the last
time you prayed? I have prayed in many places. I have
prayed on the beach, in the mountains, in church, on the
playground. I have prayed in my house, in an airplane,
and at the hospital. I know that I can pray to Heavenly
Father anytime, anywhere. I know He hears me.
Let me tell you a story about two children—a boy who
was about six years old and a girl just over seven. They
went for a ride one hot summer day with their dad in
their grandpa’s old Jeep. They drove for an hour and a
half, and the Jeep started making funny noises. It died
completely as they rolled into a gas station in the next
town. “We can fix it,” the attendant said, and he
directed them to walk across town to a parts store. Once
inside the store, the children found lots of things to
look at, and they didn’t notice their dad go into the
back with the manager. All they knew was that they
couldn’t see him. They looked outside and saw a man down
the street who was wearing a hat like their dad’s. He
was just turning a corner, so they ran after him crying,
“Dad! Dad!”
By the time they figured out it wasn’t their dad,
they were lost. They couldn’t find the store, they
didn’t know where they were, and they didn’t know anyone
in that city. The girl wanted to go this way; the boy
thought they should go that way. How could they find
their dad, or at least the Jeep? She said, “We need to
pray.” He felt self-conscious about praying in public,
but after they prayed, they both started walking in the
same direction. They found the gas station, crawled in
the back of their Jeep, and waited. After a little
while—it seemed like a long time to them—their father
came. He had also been praying that he’d find them and
find them quickly.
In the scriptures there are many stories of answers
to prayer. Do you remember these? Nephi was told how to
build a ship and where to find food; Daniel prayed for
protection from the lions; Enos prayed all day and into
the night that his sins would be forgiven; Hannah prayed
that she could have a baby. My favorite story about
prayer is the story of a young boy who wanted to know
something. He wanted to know which church he should
join. His friends and his family were finding churches
to join. He just didn’t know which church was right. He
was only 14 years old.
One day Joseph Smith was reading in the Bible, and
this is what he read: “If any of you lack wisdom, let
him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James
1:5). That scripture was so powerful to him! He’d
never prayed out loud before, but he needed an answer
and he believed the scripture. Humbly, he went to a
wooded area close to his house, and he knelt down and
began to pray. This was such an important prayer that
the powers of darkness threatened to overwhelm this
strong, young farm boy, but he cried out to God for
help. As he did, a light descended and the darkness went
away. Joseph saw two personages standing in the light.
One of them said to him, pointing to the other, “This is
My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (JS—H
1:17). It was God the Father and His Son, Jesus
Christ.
When I think of that story, I think of my children.
All of them served in missions outside of the United
States. They each needed to learn a new language. One of
the things they learned to share in their new languages
was the story of Joseph Smith’s prayer. Why did they
learn that? Because the people they were teaching needed
to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus chose Joseph
Smith to be the prophet who would restore the gospel and
the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth once more. And
the people needed to know that just as Joseph Smith
received an answer to his prayer, they could pray to
Heavenly Father and receive answers to their prayers. He
will answer your prayers, too. I know we can pray to
Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere, and I’m so grateful
that we can.
Here is my testimony on the fingers of one hand:
1. I know that God is our Father in Heaven and that
He loves us.
2. Jesus Christ is His Son, our Savior and Redeemer.
3. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He translated
the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is
the Lord’s Church on the earth today.
5. The living prophet is President Gordon B.
Hinckley.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Testimony
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