Sunday, October 22, 2017

President Thomas S. Monson on the importance and blessing of prayer

President Thomas S. Monson (b. August 21, 1927) was sustained to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1963. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency with Presidents Benson, Hunter, and Hinckley before becoming Church president in 2008.
"Perhaps there has never been a time when we had greater need to pray and to teach our family members to pray. Prayer is a defense against temptation. It is through earnest and heartfelt prayer that we can receive the needed blessings and the support required to make our way in this sometimes difficult and challenging journey we call mortality....
"Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle."
- Thomas S. Monson, "Three Goals to Guide You," General Conference, General Relief Society Meeting, October 2007
Click here to read or listen to the full message

Throughout his ministry, President Monson has often counseled about the power and importance of prayer. In this address to the sisters of the Church, he provided counsel on three goals: study diligently, pray earnestly, and serve willingly.

As he shared experiences and counsel about the principle of prayer, President Monson expressed his awareness of the challenges of our time, and the blessing established habits of prayer can provide as "a defense against temptation" and a source of "needed blessings and the support" that God will provide to assist us in our quest.

He then concludes his counsel on prayer with this concise summary:


This is a great reminder that God is willing to bless and strengthen us as we turn to Him in humility.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

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