Prayer

I requested two reading assignments yesterday & one today. Out of six quotes, only 2 were repeats, both by Elder James E. Faust. Six quotes would make a LONG entry & so I will make two entries.

Elder Faust says "No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator. There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. …

And then Elder Wirthlin asks,

"Will prayers that do not demand much of your thought merit much attention from our Heavenly Father? When you find yourself getting into a routine with your prayers, step back and think. Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don't have to be grand or glorious. Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one's voice. Thinking of things we are grateful for is a healing balm. It helps us get outside ourselves. It changes our focus from our pains and our trials to the abundance of this beautiful world we live in."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Improving Our Prayers," Liahona, Aug. 2004, 18

What cool advice … express our gratitude for the small & simple things …