President Gordon B. Hinckley on finding peace and strength through prayer

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.

"Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him. What a marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually speak with our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen to that response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share with Him. He has said, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matt. 11:28). He continues, 'For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (Matt. 11:30).

"That simply means that when all is said and done, His way is easy to bear, and His path is easy to trod. Paul wrote to the Romans, 'For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost' (Rom. 14:17).

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ must be a beacon light before you, a polar star in your sky."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stay on the High Road," General Conference April 2004
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What classic counsel: "Never assume you can make it alone." How much we need one another to help bear our burdens and endure to the end; and so much more critically, how desperately we need the help of our loving Heavenly Father!

Prayer truly is the choicest of gifts and will bring us rich blessings and profound support as we learn to communicate with God. Another profound truth: "Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share with Him." We should never hesitate to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)