Simply stated, prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth...We are commanded to pray always to the Father in the name of the Son. We are promised that if we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God’s will, we can be blessed, protected, and directed...prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, as we express heartfelt gratitude, and as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart. I witness Heavenly Father lives and that He hears and answers every earnest prayer.
- David A. Bednar, Pray Always
Inspiring Short: Seeking Constant Divine Communication | Patrick Kearon
President Monson talks about Prayer
Inscribed on the front of each temple is a solemn statement: “Holiness to the Lord.” These inspired words are a clear invitation that when we enter the Lord’s house, we embark on a sacred journey of learning to become higher and holier disciples of Christ...
when the Lord sees even a spark of desire or a flicker of righteous effort in our willingness to center our lives on Him and on the ordinances and covenants we make in His house, He will bless us, in His perfect way, with the miracles and tender mercies we need.
- Ulisses Soares, Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ
President Nelson and the House of the Lord
[R]egardless of any challenges that yet await us, there is hope and confidence in knowing that by keeping the covenants of the gospel, all of the momentary trials of life can be transcended. The scriptures teach us that all will eventually be well as we are faithful to our covenants… Covenants are agreements we make with our Heavenly Father in which we commit our hearts, minds, and behavior to keeping the commandments defined by the Lord. As we are faithful in keeping our agreement, He covenants, or promises, to bless us, ultimately, with all that He has.
- Paul E. Koelliker, Gospel Covenants Bring Promised Blessings
Teachings of Mormon Prophet - Joseph Smith: Temple Ordinances
The temple is the Lord’s house and a sanctuary from the world. His Spirit envelops those who worship within those sacred walls. He sets the standards by which we enter as His guests… Your temple recommend reflects a deep, spiritual intent that you are striving to live the laws of the Lord and love what He loves…Your temple recommend opens the gates of heaven for you... To be “recommended to the Lord,” we strive to be like Him.
- Ronald A. Rasband, Recommended to the Lord
Inspiring Short: Seeking Jesus in the Temple | Allen D. Haynie | 2023
President Nelson Updates Temple Recommend Interview Questions
Priesthood keys constitute the authority and power of presidency. Priesthood keys govern how the priesthood of God may be used to bring about the Lord’s purposes and bless all who accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ…The power of these priesthood keys is infinite and breathtaking...Priesthood keys distinguish The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from any other organization on earth…Let us rejoice that priesthood keys are once again on the earth!
- President Russell M. Nelson, Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys
Priesthood keys the Restoration of Priesthood keys
FamilySearch is becoming what the Lord needs for part of His Restoration...help[ing] people gain feelings of familiarity and even love for their ancestors and complete their temple ordinances. Now, as the Lord surely knew would happen, young people are becoming computer mentors to their parents and ward members. All have found great joy in this service. The spirit of Elijah is changing the hearts of young and old, children and parents, grandchildren and grandparents... The desire to serve our ancestors and the bonding of parents and children are growing.
- President Henry B. Eyring, He Goes before Us
Discovering My Family’s History
Discovering Jesus Christ Through Family History
Rediscovering Purpose Through the Past | Amanda’s Story
Family History Helped Me Find Where I Belong | Jeremiah's Story
Why Will God Turn the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children? (Knowhy #219)
[T]he treasured blessings of the sacrament are available to us each time we attend sacrament meeting. We do not need to labor unsuccessfully…to find our treasure. Nor need we seek counsel from exotic sources, prizing the novelty of the source and thinking such counsel will be more enlightened than that which we can receive from a humble prophet of God...Treasure the opportunity to repent, the privilege of partaking of the sacrament, the blessing of making and keeping temple covenants, the delight of worshipping in the temple, and the joy of having a living prophet.
- Dale G. Renlund, Jesus Christ is the Treasure
President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God. … The Lord will not forsake us.”... Scripture says, “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good.” This doesn’t mean all things are good, but for the meek and faithful, things—both positive and negative—work together for good, and the timing is the Lord’s...Truly yoked to the Savior, we can say with confidence, “It will all work out.”
- Neill F. Marriott, Yielding Our Hearts to God
Discerning and accepting the will of God in our lives are fundamental elements of asking in faith in meaningful prayer. However, simply saying the words “Thy will be done” is not enough. Each of us needs God’s help in surrendering our will to Him...Humble, earnest, and persistent prayer enables us to recognize and align ourselves with the will of our Heavenly Father...We can... engage in meaningful prayer as we...humbly acknowledge and accept “not my will, but thine, be done.”
- David A. Bednar, Ask in Faith
Inspiring Short: The Whisperings of Heaven | Bruce C. Hafen
The Bread Loaf Prayer | Come Learn with Me
Isn’t it wonderful that there are times when we can feel so fully and personally noticed and loved?...Is it any surprise that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love those around us? When I see people showing Christlike love for one another, it feels to me as if that love contains more than just their love; it is love that also has divinity in it. When we love one another in this way, as completely and fully as we can, heaven gets involved too. So if someone we care about seems distant from a sense of divine love, we can follow this pattern—by doing things that bring us closer to God ourselves and then doing things that bring us closer to them.
- Karl D. Hirst, God’s Favourite
The Heart of the Gospel: Love God and Neighbor
Love One Another - Elder Holland
Much like the five wise virgins who had their lamps full with oil when the bridegroom came, we can be whole in Jesus Christ as we fill our lamps with the nourishing oil of conversion to Him...all ten of the virgins were in the right location, awaiting the bridegroom. Every one of them came with a lamp. But when He came, at the unexpected midnight hour, the five foolish did not have sufficient oil for their lamps...in response to their petition to be permitted to enter the wedding supper, the bridegroom responded, “Ye know me not.”…Wholeness is born of faith in and conversion to Jesus Christ and in letting the light of that conversion shine.
- Camille N. Johnson, Spiritually Whole in Him
How Can Contrasts Teach Us about True Conversion? (Knowhy #562)
Follow Him—An Easter Message about Jesus Christ
Your testimony will be strengthened when you know in your heart through your prayers that the Prophet Joseph Smith was an instrument in the Lord’s hands...Joseph’s translation of the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God was foundational to the Restoration. The Book of Mormon is internally consistent, beautifully written, and contains the answers to life’s great questions. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. I testify that Joseph Smith was righteous, full of faith, and an instrument in the Lord’s hands in bringing forth the Book of Mormon.
- Quentin L. Cook, Conversion to the Will of God
Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet: The First Vision
Ministry of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet: The Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints