Does God Answer Prayer?

:

Does God Answer Prayer? BY LOUIS F. MOENCH

God's eyes are upon all men; he knows their thoughts, and he hears their prayers. From a human standpoint this seems impossible, especially when millions of people are daily seeking personal recognition through prayer. Incredible, as this may seem, there are countless truths quite as marvelous and totally as inexplicable as that God hears personal prayer, a fact plainly set forth in his sacred word. The growth of the giant oak from the tiny acorn the marvel- ;

ous working of the human brain the beating of the heart seventy- ;

two times per minute, or 2,650,838,400 times in an average life, and a thousand and one similar marvels, too numerous to mention, are equally mysterious and incomprehensible to the human mind. Doubt as we may, the acorn grows into a tree the human ;

brain works and achieves marvels and the heart beats without ;

cessation for many years —for a hundred years even, where the laws governing its action are faithfully adhered to. But if the laws that govern are broken, there is no response. So with prayer. Untold numbers testify that God hears and answers prayers, in case the laws governing prayer are faithfully followed. Here is the simple key: "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." But the law is also: "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like the wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." What a grand principle this is when properly understood. David understood it when he exclaimed

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of morning, and dwell in the uttermost ports of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me. and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light above me. Yea the darkness h'deth not from thee but the night shinetb as the day the darkness and ; ;

the light are both alike to thee."

David, through bitter experience, learned this lesson, even as thousands later have learned it: but, unfortunately, frequently not until it is too late to profit by t. The bov realized this when ;

he accompanied his father to steal apples. The father climbed

: !

52 IMPROVEMENT ERA upon a stump to see if anyone was about. The boy then, like David, realized the full meaning of the situation when he exclaimed, "Father, look up!" A man once had a dream, so a story goes. His spirit left his body. A guide stood by his side and escorted him to the gates of heaven. He was there left in an ante-room to wait a few moments till his guide should return. While waiting he discovered that the walls were covered with pictures of various shapes and in different attitudes. On closer inspection he found that they were pictures of himself, taken from his own doings in actual life. He then and there realized that he was "made to be his own judge." What calamities might be averted, what heartaches avoided, if men properly understood and realized, that there is an All-see-

ing One who sees them, and even knows their thoughts, and that the deeds of their lives are recorded which some day they must meet: "The books were opened, and men were judged out of things which were written in the books." If they knew and believed, how different their acts in life would be But does God actually see us, read our thoughts, and hear our prayers? In the early rise of the Church, the Lord gave the following proof to Oliver Cowdery that he heard and answered his prayer

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon that night you cried unto me in your heart that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did T not speak peace to your mind concerning this matter? What greater witness can you have, than of God? And now behold you have received a witness, for if I have told you things which no man knoweth, have you not received a witness ?"

Again,

"Blessed art thou for what thou hast inquired of me, and behold as often as thou hast inquired, thou hast received instruction of my spirit."

Here, then, is the key, if God has whispered peace to our souls and given us an answer to things which no man knew save him and us alone, is there not here a positive proof that he has heard and answered our prayers? I know not what proof others may have had, but as for myself, governed by this key, I know that my prayers have been answered, again and again. I wish to g ve: two or three incidents in my life, as a testimony. While on a mission in Germany, during the years 1884-88 thisincident occured. When the Savior sent out his disciples to preach he instructed them: "Into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go hence." In accordance with these instructions, I made it

DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYER? 53

a practice on entering a town to offer up a silent prayer to the Lord, asking him to direct my footsteps to the house that would be worthy of my message, and where the people would furnish me food and lodging. On one occasion of which I speak, I stood by a fountain and offered up a silent prayer to the Lord to direct my footsteps. The Spirit of the Lord immediately prompted me to knock at the door of a large, beautiful house just opposite and fronting this fountain of water. Upon approaching it, my heart failed me, and I walked past in another direction. After walking several blocks, I was prompted to turn to the left, through a small gate, leading through a large, heavy rock-wall which formed the inclosure of a beautiful park containing several buildings. On being led to one particular building, standing close by the driveway, I found the door partly open. About to knock, I heard the most humble prayer to which it has ever fallen to my lot to listen. When the amen was spoken, I knocked and was bidden to enter. I found a man who was blind, and who appeared to be between ninety and a hundred years old. He said he lived alone, that his children had all forsaken him, and there was no one who ever came to visit him, except an old lady. She was similarly afflicted and came frequently to comfort and cheer him. However, she was now sick abed, so no one came to see him. He said he had pleaded with the Lord to send someone to comfort and cheer him, because he felt lonely and forsaken. I told him that the Lord had heard and answered his prayer for I was a servant of the Lord, come to preach the true gospel of Christ, sent to administer comfort to the needy, the sick and the afflicted, and to bind up the broken-hearted. For about an hour and a half I visited with him and explained the scriptures and invoked the blessings of the Lord upon him. When I was about to go, he made me promise that I would also visit the sick old lady who had been so kind to him. He gave me the directions, and upon following them I found myself, to my great surprise, at the large house opposite the fountain where, two hours before, I had offered my silent prayer, asking the Lord to direct me where to go. On entering I was conducted to the sick chamber of a lady, who was bowed down with old age, very feeble, and unable to rise from her bed of affliction to which she had been confined for several weeks. In accordance with the old gentleman's request, and also her earnest wish, I explained the scriptures to her. After prayer, in which the Lord was asked to bless and comfort her. T was about to go when she asked me where I was going to stay

that night. I Lord would direct me said I did not know, that the where to go. She told me of a widow who frequently entertained strangers. I went to her home where I was royally entertained from Saturday night until Monday morning. On Sunday morn-

54 IMPROVEMENT ERA ing, she introducedme at meeting to her minister who invited me to preach. At the close of the services he emptied the collection box into my lap, "for," said he, "you have surely earned it." On Monday morning, the widow not only furnished me an excellent lunch for my journey, but also money to help pay my expenses on the way. Thus marvelously had the Lord heard and answered my prayer. Another instance comes to my mind. I had selected as my place of prayer, a sheltering tree which stood near the outskirts of town. At a certain time I asked the Lord, as before, to direct my footsteps where my services were most needed, and where willing hearts would listen to his word. I walked leisurely into town, trusting the Spirit of the Lord to guide my feet. After making several turns, I was suddenly prompted to go to the right. This led me through a door and up a flight of stairs. As on the previous occasion, I found a door ajar and, stopping, I heard the most humble supplication ever offered up by youthful lips. I knocked at the door and was invited to enter. I told the young lady, whose eyes were wet with tears, that I had heard her prayer through the open door, and that I would be pleased to do anything I could for her. She told me the minister of the little town had visited her the night before, and made her believe that she was so wicked that she never could obtain forgiveness for her sins, and, therefore, would be forever lost. She felt so dis- heartened and discouraged that she knelt and asked the Lord that her sins might be forgiven, and that he would send one of his servants to give her this assurance to comfort and to bless her. When I left she cheerfully took up the burden of life again, thanking the Lord for his kindness and mercy in answering her prayer in an hour of bitter trial. One more incident I made an appointment with a minister :

of the Lutheran church to explain the principles of the gospel as we understand them to him. The town lies about six miles distant from Stuttgart, and is known as Hadelfingen. As I started on my journey it began to rain, gradually increasing until it fairly poured. I sought shelter under an awning on one of the lead-

ing streets of Stuttgart. Here I offered a silent prayer unto the Lord, relating my predicament. I was getting wet through, I had no umbrella, while there were many who had two. Would he not provide me with shelter from the rain ? After the storm ceased somewhat, I renewed my journey, arriving at my destination at about the appointed time. I was kindly entertained, and, after the evening lunch, was invited into the library. The minister seemed much interested and after explaining the principles of the Gospel as I understood them, he told me it was God's truth, but that the world was too wicked to receive it. I might find, here and there, converts, but they would be very

—

DORS COD ANSWER PRAYER? 55

few and far between, and my greatest enemies would be the ministers of the various denominations. He knew of but one, the Reverend Mr. Hoffacker, of Goepingen, who would be willing to listen to me. He requested that I go and visit him, stating that he would pay all my expenses. He said ministers were preaching for hire and were afraid that their little crafts would be endangered by my doctrine. His words were literally fulfilled, for, aside from this man Hoffacker, I found but one other

willing to listen to my message. Next morning the sky was clear, and never did the sun shine with more splendor. My friend, who had so kindly entertained me during the night, giving me a good bed and an excellent breakfast, accompanied me to the gate, where he pressed enough money into my hand to visit the minister at Goepingen. Just as I was about to leave, he accosted me with the remark, "Mr. Moench, have you no umbrella?" On answering him no, he said, "I have two, and you shall have one of them," and then brought a brand-new umbrella and gave it to me. My prayer had been answered, at a time and under circumstances least expected. I told him that he had been very kind to me, had fed, lodged and given me money, and now protected me against the storm. I had no money to give him nothing but the dear gospel message which I had already delivered. We went to his library and there in prayer I invoked the blessings of the Lord upon him, and when he finally offered me his hand to bid me God speed, he could not have looked at me with a more thankful expression than he did. It caused me to wonder if missionaries really understand who and what they are, and what a glorious message they have to bear to the children of men. These are a few among the many incidents that give me the assurance that God lives, that his eyes are upon us, and that he knows our thoughts and hears our prayers. OGDEN, UTAH

BELGIAN REFUGEES DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES BY THE WAR