Prayer & Faith

So Rob and I were asked to speak for the VERY FIRST TIME a few weeks ago in Sacrament Meeting!  I know, it's nuts!!  So, I thought I'd put my talk on here for those of you who may be interested!!!

Faith & Prayer

I’m so excited to be speaking to you today and introducing our family!  To preface our introduction, Rob and I have been married for 10 years in June and this is the first time we have ever spoken in sacrament together and only my second time speaking period.  Brother Neidert called us on Friday night and I figured we have had 10 years to prepare for this talk even though it was short notice!  Bishop, Brother Niedert this is not an invitation for us to do it more often...just saying it so you can understand why I’m so excited to finally be introducing us!  I was a air force brat and moved around a lot when I was a kid.  I am the oldest of 5 kids and am closer to my youngest siblings since they live near here and I see them more often than the other two.  When I was twelve my parents divorced and we moved to St. Louis, MO.  It is my understanding that someone else in our ward is from St. Louis...find me afterward and we’ll chat!  I was in marching band and played the largest bass drum in the drum line and in the symphonic band I played the flute.  I wasn’t much of a jock, but all of my friends were the jocks/cheerleaders and I enjoyed my youth.  I stayed in St. Louis until I left for the land of ice known as Rick’s College (this is another story all on it’s own of how I got there).  After I got away from Rick’s without a ring on my finger I put in my mission papers and left from St. Louis to the Australia Sydney North Mission where I served for 18 months.  Upon return from my mission I moved here to Utah to attend BYU (which by the way, all the time growing up I NEVER wanted to go to BYU) and to see if things would go somewhere with a guy I had known all my life.  During that time neither of us were really feeling a more than friendship vibe and I had met Rob at a FHE activity. Rob and I went on a couple of dates and then nothing...we disagree about this part, so I’ll just leave it at that!  A month or so later Rob asked if I wanted to be hooked up with his best friend who had just gotten home from his mission...so weird right?  I obviously said no and a couple months later Rob called and asked if I wanted to go out.  I put up a bit of a fight since he had blown me off and tried to hook me up with his friend.  But he eventually wore me down to where I said yes to a date.  Eight months later we were married in the Salt Lake Temple.  Rob was raised mainly in South Jordan, he had some time in California and in West Valley.  He is the third of seven kids and the oldest son.  He went to Bingham High School, played soccer there all four years.  As a kid he played competition soccer and was very good.  Rob went on a mission to the Canada Toronto West Mission and had many great experiences there.  We worked our way through college and I received my Bachelor’s in Paralegal Studies and am currently working full time as a litigation trial paralegal for a large local firm downtown.  I love my job and the opportunities it gives me to travel and network with amazing people all over the country.  Rob received his Bachelors in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources.  He currently is working as the operations supervisor for Mountain America Credit Union.  As a family we enjoy going swimming, attending BYU football and Real Salt Lake soccer games, going to Disneyland and just spending time as a family.  That is Rob and I in a nutshell.  I will be introducing our children in the content of the topic of my talk.  Please be advised that I can be a crier especially when talking about such a sweet subject.  I will do my best to get through this.

From a young age I was taught the importance of having faith the the Lord Jesus Christ and to have faith that my prayers were heard and answered.  D&C  88:63 says "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  When I would lose my toys or as I got older my keys I always pray to find them.  Believe it or not, every time I have done that those prayers have been answered.  I have always found them.  Sometimes it takes me awhile to realize that I won’t find the missing items until I do pray, and I believe that it is my Father in Heaven that is teaching me that he answers prayer.  While I was a student I would pray for help during my tests.  I would study and study but felt that my brain was a sieve and nothing was being retained.  The Lord answered those prayers and helped me to do well.  Did I always do well?  No.  Did I always put in the work?  No.  Faith without works is dead...I didn’t do my part and the Lord couldn’t bless me because of that.  I’ve pondered these experiences over my life and have come to the realization that if he will answer such small insignificant prayers, he will definitely answer the important prayers.  By these small things I have gained the testimony I have today on prayer.

When I was a teenager I lost friends to death every year of high school and the first few years of college.  I recall when my first friend died my freshman year and I was so troubled by her death.  My mom came into my room to try to comfort me during this dark hour.  Even today I can still feel those emotions I had that day.  My mom discussed the plan of salvation with me and told me that I could pray to feel peace and to pray for my friends family to feel peace during that difficult time.  I remember sobbing a prayer to my Father in Heaven asking for some reprieve from the pain I felt at the loss of my friend and that her family would feel at peace also.  In the May 2007 Ensign Elder Scott wrote the article “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer”, I”m going to share an  excerpt from his talk  "Prayer is the source of comfort, relief and protection, willingly granted by our loving, compassionate Heavenly Father. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and he is listening. He will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. What God does in your life is for your eternal good. An eternal aspect of prayer is gratitude.When we contemplate the incomparable gift of prayer and the limitless blessings that flow from it, honest appreciation fills our mind and heart to overflowing with thanksgiving. . . .and for his answers that meet our needs while motivating us to grow."  The Lord answered my prayer and although my sadness was still present, I felt peace in my knowledge of the plan.  After that, my anguish was not as dark during those hard times in high school.  

When the time came for me to decide to go on a mission, I spent much time praying over this decision, as most people do.  My whole life I knew that I wanted to be a missionary but was extremely nervous about the whole thing.  I had things I had to correct and I hoped that I would be able to be a suitable servant of the Lord.  I read in Enos and found comfort in his words.  I knew that God would hear my prayers and would forgive me.  What a great verse 4 and 5 are, “And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.  And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.”  Through faith in our Savior and in prayer we can be forgiven of our sins.

While in Australia I had many opportunities to exercise faith in my prayers.  There are a few that stand out.  When I had been in Australia for about 4 months I had just moved into an area.  As I was unpacking my new companion started telling me about a woman she and her last companion had been teaching.  We both felt strongly that this woman was in need of being baptized.  We went to her home and told her of the impressions that we were having through the spirit.  She had been resistant to the idea of baptism up to this point.  We expressed to her all of the promptings of the spirit that we had sought from the Lord on what we needed to say to her so she would feel the truth of what we were telling her.  That day, after so many rejections, Meghan agreed to be baptized.  My companion and I knew that the adversary would not be kind to us or to Meghan.  We went to the Lord with this and were prompted to have a fast and that we should be 100% obedient.  It wasn’t that we were disobedient, but we weren’t always 100%.  We told the Lord that we would do whatever it would take to see Meghan be baptized.  We had scheduled her baptism for the following week and knew the week would be tough.  The adversary worked on us, on her, on her husband (who was an active member of the church), and even her toddler son.  But because of the faith and prayers of my companion, our mission president and his wife, our other leaders and myself plus the agreement we made with the Lord, Meghan was able to overcome the adversary and be baptized.  

Elder Bednar said in  his talk “Pray Always”, “Prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth.  As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part.  We are commanded to pray always to the Father in the name of the Son.  We are promised that if we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God’s will, we can be blessed, protected and directed.” http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/pray-always?lang=eng&query=pray+always

Another was an example of a wonderful family.  The Burns family had lived in northern New South Wales in a beautiful home near the beach and with quite a bit of land.  Their bishop had challenged their ward to pray for opportunities to help the missionaries find people to teach.  This sweet family did this.  They went to the Lord in faith that they would be able to help others come into the gospel.  After many days of praying for the opportunity Brother & Sister Burns were prompted to move to a small town hundreds of miles south of where they were living.  Neither one of them wanted to do this.  They loved their home and their ward, but they continued to be prompted to move.  They put their beautiful home on the market and moved to this town.  Because their house had not sold, they were forced to rent a much smaller home than they were accustomed to and to put most of their possessions into storage.  Many months later my companion and I were sent to this town to try to help build up the missionary work in this area.  It had lacked a great deal for a long time.  A few weeks after we arrived we had dinner at the Burns home.  As usual, we gave a spiritual thought and asked if they knew anyone we could teach.  They told us of their neighbor across the street and asked if we would come back by a few days later so they could introduce us in a discreet manner.  We agreed.  A few days later we were introduced to Addie.  Addie accepted the gospel during the first discussion when she was so touched by the spirit as we shared the First Vision with her.  A few weeks later she was baptized.  About 7 months after I came home she went through the temple and received her endowments.  A month after that the Burns wrote to me and told me that they were packing up and moving back to their home that they couldn’t sell in northern New South Wales.  They testified that they finally knew and understood why they were in this small remote town.  They were there to find Addie, to introduce her to the missionaries, to fellowship her until she could stand on her own feet and have other friends in the gospel and to finally see her go to the temple.  The Burns family is an amazing example to me on having faith that our Father in  Heaven will answer our prayers.  We must be willing to follow the promptings we receive to those prayers.  Addie is now a temple worker in the Sydney Temple and has repaired relationships that she never thought she would have before she was baptized.  Brother Burns indicated that he knows that the Lord didn’t really want them to sell their house, hence why it never sold...but it was a trusting that the Lord knew what was best for them and His other children.

Elder Bednar continues to say, “Revelation is communication from Heavenly Father to His children on earth.  As we ask in faith, we can receive revelation upon revelation and knowledge upon knowledge and come to know the mysteries and peaceable things that bring joy and eternal life.  The mysteries are those matters that can only be known and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost.”

I remember after I came home from my mission I went to a fireside a few days before 9/11 and President Hinckley spoke to the Young Adults giving counsel to see the positive in the world.  During his talk I wondered why he thought this was so important.  Two days later we could see why.  I recall the sadness that I felt that day, as I’m sure most of you do.  I recall my fervent prayers for those that were directly affected by the tragedies that day.  I recall our nation coming together and our President praying in faith to our Father in Heaven for our country and for all those that would have cause to mourn.  In a conference talk entitled “Prayer” Elder Eyring said this, “You have probably noticed, as I have in recent days, that prayer have not only become more numerous but more heartfelt.  Such a turning to fervent prayer when the world seems out of joint is as old as mankind.  In times of tragedy and danger, people turn to God in prayer.  Even the ancient King David would recognize what is happening.  You remember his words from the book of Psalms: “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”  If we turn our hearts to the Lord he will bless us and will not abandon us in our time of need.  

Throughout the years we have been asked to join in fasts and to pray for individuals that are in need.  Most recently, my mission president got extremely sick.  He was put on a ventilator and his family didn’t think he would make it much longer.  His daughter reached out to the missionaries that served under him and asked that we all pray for her father.  As the request came to me I was reminded of the scripture, D&C 29:6 “And, as it is written - Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.”  It has been 2 ½ weeks since we heard of president’s illness and he has made leaps and bounds on his road to recovery to the point he is off the ventilator (as of last night).  Has his journey been easy?  Not even close.  But I believe it is through the faith of those that pray for his recovery that has helped aid that process.  A couple of years ago we had a sister in our ward in Daybreak who was celebrating the birth of a beautiful baby boy and a week after his birth had a brain aneurysm.  Typically, people do not recover from things like this, I believe like my sweet mission president, that it is through the faith and prayers of righteous saints that have helped aid in their recoveries.  Does this always happen?  No.  And Rob will be discussing that portion of this topic later.

In the 10 years Rob and I have been married we have had many trials of our faith and have had to rely on the power of prayer to help us get through those times.  One of the trials we have had to face involves our son.  Six years ago I was pregnant with our first baby.  It was a bit of a stressful time for me since I wasn’t sure if I would be a great mother and definitely did not feel prepared to be a mother, great or not.  I had a pretty easy pregnancy and thought that if pregnancy was this easy I wouldn’t mind doing it again.  When I was just barely 6 months pregnant I got sick.  I didn’t know how sick I was until a week and a half later when I had two grand mal seizures which forced the delivery of our sweet son, Landon.  He was born at 27 ½ weeks weighing 1 pound 4 oz.  He lived a short half hour during which I was under anesthesia.  Rob had the awful task of telling me what had happened to our first born.  Throughout the 5 days I spent in the hospital after this event, I spent much time alone in prayer to my Father in  Heaven seeking understanding and peace.  The peace came immediately, even before my personal verbal prayers began.  I knew through the spirit that Landon was only sent here to gain a body.  His mission on this earth was complete.  And I felt and still feel honored to be the mother of one of the great and noble spirits that were too perfect to have to be tested in this life.  The understanding came much later.  

After that horrific ordeal where our son died and I almost died, Rob was a little gun shy.  Okay, he was A LOT gun shy.  He wanted nothing to do with trying to have another baby...and for good reason.  But, I couldn’t let it go.  I finally knew that I was meant to be a mother.  I knew that I wanted to try again.  It wasn’t about replacing Landon, but it was about filling a void that his death put in my heart.  I didn’t think that I could be happy again without that.  I spent many countless hours fervently praying for a miracle.  The song “He Hears Me” by Hilary Weeks describes perfectly the aching of my heart and the prayers that I spilt to my Heavenly Father.  The words are beautiful, “ Here I am again, down on my knees, And with every pleading word, Thy comfort I seek, Though the words are slow to come, My thoughts are racing by, Peace fills the room, Thy spirit is nigh, He hears me When I'm crying in the night He hears me When my soul longs to fight Till the morning will come And the light of the dawn reassures...He hears me.  Any hour, wherever I may be In the silence of an empty room, or on a crowded street Whether offering thanks, or in urgency I pray I never go unnoticed, I'm never lead astray Any whisper of the soul No matter how old Father hears the call He hears me When I'm crying in the night He hears me When my soul longs to fight Till the morning will come And the light of the dawn reassures...He hears me.”  http://youtu.be/aEJAT8MPm5A

I went to both Robs and my family, including my father who is not a member, and asked them to all fast with me that Rob would feel comfort in the idea of having another baby.  I knew what I wanted, I just needed him to want it too!  A few weeks after our fast, Rob finally agreed that we should try one more time.  The Lord heard my pleas and answered them.  

I got pregnant a few months later and my new doctor and I had the more than normal once a month visits.  I prayed continually throughout my pregnancy that the things that happened before would not be the same.  Barely into my 6th month, the same problems arose; not the siezures, but the blood pressure issues I had before.  I felt different than I had with Landon.  I felt peace that all would be okay and that the Lord would answer my prayers.  Our sweet Amelia was born at 28 weeks weighing in at 1 pound 10 oz.  Although she was small, she was a fighter and she was for the most part healthy.  Don’t get me wrong, the 63 days in the NICU were hard.  But I felt blessed because I had already been through the worst experience of my life...anything was better than that!  When Amelia was in her 4th day of life she was put back on the ventilator and I was sitting next to her isolette just praying she wouldn’t be on the vent for too much longer the Lord once again allowed me a small glimpse into the eternities of my sweet family.  I was able to understand the love Landon had for his sister, that he knew her and that the Lord knew and loved all of us.  Amelia is now a healthy 4 ½ year old and the joy of our lives!  She is still a spit fire and will always be a strong girl always out to prove to the world that she can do anything and everything she puts her mind to.  

The understanding that I sought when Landon died came when Amelia was born.  Had I not gone through that experience with Landon, we may not have ever had more children, I was pretty set on just having one (even with a good pregnancy), and had Landon survived the ordeal, I may not have had the faith to have more children.  Elder Wirthlin put it wonderfully in his talk “Come What May, and Love it”, “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing & gratitude.”  

When we have kids, we want what is best for them.  We want them to be better than we were or are.  We want them to have faith and know that there is a loving Heavenly Father and older brother, Jesus Christ that loves them without question.  That they hear and answer prayers.  We want to ensure they gain testimonies of the simple truths that are held in the Gospel.  In all of those things that I pray for when I pray regarding Amelia, I never imagined that she would be the one teaching me about having faith when we pray.

When we were teaching her to pray, we would say the same prayer over and over so that she would get the rhythm of how prayer works.  We never really talked to her about praying for specific things when the need arose.  We thought it was great that our sweet girl wanted to say the prayer by herself!  Recently, she has started saying more heart felt prayers.  She thanks her Father in Heaven for everything...she lists them nightly of the things she is grateful for that day.  When she hasn’t had a great obedience day, she prays that she will be more obedient and listen to her dad I better.  When she hears that someone is sick, she prays that they will feel better.  She prays and tells her Father in  Heaven about the love she has for her family members, and names them individually and then expresses her gratitude that she feels the love from those same people she loves.  Joy fills my heart when I hear my sweet girl pray, I can only imagine the joy our Father in Heaven feels when each of us pray.

Elder Eyring said, “With faith, we will be able to pray for what we want and appreciate whatever we get.  Only with that faith will we pray with the diligence God requires.”  

I know that our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.  I have felt the peace the spirit brings to my soul to reassure me that He is there.  I know that Jesus Christ Lives that he loves us and that he and our Father in Heaven want us to pray to them and to trust that they know what is best for us.  The sun rises in the morning and a new day begins and the Lord is there if we will but ask.