Prayer

PRAYER By R. B. Summerhays We Stand for Divine Guidance Through Individual and Family Prayer. (See Alma 33:3-11.) The true attitude of prayer must be founded upon an adequate and true conception of our heavenly Father as nearly as he can be comprehended by mortal beings. Our heavenly Father has revealed enough of his nature so that it is possible for us to become reasonably acquainted with the real at- titude that an individual must hold in order to pray to God sincerely. He is the very Father of our spirits and, as such, trained us in our pre-existence to become like him in the spirit world; and at the proper time, sent us down here to learn mortality. We hold a similar position to him here as a child who has gone away to college, does to his parents. We are not permitted to see him, but we can partake of his influence and inspiration. In order to do this we should look upon him as a real Father; exalted from this earth life, and who has won his present position by his untiring devotion to the gospel which he has given to us for our redemption, having himself walked the way. It is desirable to think of him as a loving parent — one who knows how to love with that keen appreciation of parenthood that only an immortal being can express. Parents in this world feel some of these powers, in a small degree, but wc are told by our heavenly Father that his love is greater than any that mortal men can manifest. We should remember that it is his work and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, and that, therefore, every law that will make for this condition in the lives of mortal men will be brought into action in our behalf through the love and mercy of God, even though we ourselves some- times stray. The commandment to pray was given as a means of soul development for man, as well as a means of granting specific requests. To be effective, prayer should be in keeping with the law. The individual should have in his heart all the spiritual and physical attri- butes necessary to true devotion. To begin with, no man should ask of God a special blessing, or to guide him, unless he is willing that our heavenly Father should see the inmost thoughts of his heart and be a counselor to him. He should realize that, when he is praying, or when he is asking for divine assistance, God is there present, either by himself or his represen- tatives, and -his attitude should be this: "Would I do it were I to see God here?" When the Lord said that this is condemnation that light has come

PRAYER 891 into the world, and that men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil, he did not necessarily mean that their deeds were altogether wicked as we use the term, but rather that they were of a lesser than a Godlike standard. When the light of heaven is turned upon a man's actions, such actions should be in accord with divine law; and it should be the aim of every person who prays, to conform to the heavenly standard, as nearly as it is possible for a man of mortal nature so to do. This attitude alone will develop the subconscious mind to a state where it will naturally do the thing that ought to be done under given circumstances; provided, that the individual will become intel- ligent with reference to the things that he ought to do. A combina- tion, therefore, of a knowledge of the truth and a sincere desire to know the will of the Lord, will bring a man out into the sunshine of the inspiration of the Holy Ghost which will clarify his vision and show plainly the way he ought to go. This is the first attitude of prayer. When once an individual is convinced that he should assume this attitude, it will be easy for him then to enter into the formalities of prayer, such as praying aloud or in secret, in his closet by himself, with his family, in the Church, or even in a social gathering, and he will realize that divine invocation is essential to spiritual progress. The response of the human body to this atttiude of prayer is not only a training in humility and devotion, but it is also a training in the laws of godliness. This was plainly taught by the Lord who revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that those who would abide the celestial glory must be able to abide a celestial law; in other words, must understand the law and then live it. This will take a step by step training over the long path that leads to this high goal, and only a sincere trust in God can accomplish this end. Therefore, it is essential that man shall be trained in all the attributes of godliness and be willing to submit himself to the will of the heavenly Father absolutely and without reservation. The training of the heart, the spirit, and the body, through prayer, is the beginning of spiritual development which makes it in- creasingly easy for an individual to accept and live the truth as it has been revealed in the gospel. Few minds in all the world, from the ignorant barbarian to the most devout Christian, but who have an inherent desire to worship a supreme Being. This attitude is born with the individual, so that his specific attitude is founded upon the extent of his true learning with reference to the real nature of God and those associated with him in the celestial world. History abounds in illustrations of great men having received divine answer to their prayers. This universal manifestation of God's power, through the Holy Ghost, strengthens faith, and is a source of much comfort to the Latter-day Saints, for it brings them to realise

8 70 IMPROVEMENT ERA that God has verily revealed himself in these latter days for the salva- tion of the human family. It enables them to pick out the kernel of truth from the great mass of information that comes to them in the study of books. It enables them to interpret properly the revelations of God in the light of his intelligence. It helps them to know God and to place themselves upon the sure road to eternal progression. These incentives, when properly put into operation, give the body physical training on the positive side of life. The muscles respond to the intellectual and the spiritual. The mind inclines to that which is good and all of the attributes of the human nature are developed in the direction of godliness. Prayer is more than the formal asking for divine aid and assist- ance or blessing. It is man reaching out to God in all the earnestness of his soul with a desire to become spiritually fed and spiritually trained in preparation for the celestial life. Mortality is but a school of ex- perience. If properly directed by the divine Teacher, the Holy Ghost, it will lead to a graduation of a super-character with that degree of intelligence that will permit an individual to abide a celestial glory, which is the aim of all those who have taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ. Salt Lake City, Wasatch Ward Success Success cannot be measured by a yardstick made of gold; Though most folks try to measure it that way, They judge a man successful in proportion to his wealth, And toss the Master's golden rule away. And yet a multi-millionaire may be a failure rank, While some poor man may most successful be;' Success cannot be measured by a yard stick made of gold: Nor failure weighed in scales of poverty. I call that man successful, who has learned to value most The things that bring true happiness and health; The honest, free, unselfish man, who loves and toils and laughs Whose treasures are the kind not bought by wealth The strong, courageous, manly man, with heart and brain and soul Who rises to each task as best he can. Success cannot be measured by a yard stick made of gold, For it is not in money but in man. I count that man a failure — king of finance though he be, Whose God is but an idol made of gold; Who does not use the power from the storehouse of his wealth In service to the worthy, young or old; Whose purpose of existence is not proved by noble deeds- And who but lives for self, and self alone. Success cannot be measured by a yard stick made of gold; But by each goodly act success is shown. BRIGHAM Clegg