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RON - I have a question about prayer that has bothered me for quit some time.
I have been told by two different people that when saying our personal prayers we should
not say them in any audible voice, because then we are making our problems and thoughts
known to the advasary. The problem is that often my prayers that are quietly thought out don't seem near
as effeciant as the ones I used to do when I would quitly whisper them. It seems that when I say them
with a slight audible whisper it is easier for me to feel like I am actually talking to my Heavenly Father.
When I am just thinking prayers it feels like it is much harder to concentrate on what I am
saying and I seem to repeat myself often and loose track of what I really want to pray about. Don't get
me wrong a quick silent prayer has and always will come in handy when needed. If you could help me with
this question I would appreciate it very much.
JOEL - In all my years in the Church I have never heard
anyone tell me I should not say my private prayers in
an audible voice. Normally I don't do it that way
anyway, but it certainly is not inappropriate. If our
audible prayers are heard by the adversary then we are
in a lot of trouble at church and around the dinner
table and in our family prayers.
Some people probably get this idea from the fact that
only the Lord can know our thoughts and intents. God
said:
"there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts
and the intents of thy heart." (D&C 6:16)
Because Satan does not have this ability, they
therefore conclude that if we vocalize our prayers he
will then have access to our most private feelings and
use them to tempt us. They forget however that praying
is what keeps the adversary away from us, so that he
could not even obtain and use such information.
"What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest
that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out
of your place." (D&C 93: 49)
"Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch
and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for
Satan desireth to have you that he may sift you as
wheat.(3 Nep 18:18)
"Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea,
that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape
the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his
work. (D&C 10: 5)
Even if Satan does hear our vocalized prayers
President Joseph Fielding Smith promised us:
"We may be definitely sure that the Lord will not
permit Satan to deceive the earnest seeker after truth
when he sincerely prays." (Answers to Gospel
Questions, 3:85) TLDP:136)
Jesus said:
"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1: 5)
Darkness and light cannot exist in the same space.
Light always dispels darkness. When we sincerely pray,
either silently or vocally, Satan is not likely to be present.
Here are a few references that support the vocal prayer:
In a revelation given to Martin Harris God told him:
"And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray
vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world
as well as in secret, in public as well as in
private.(D&C 19:28)
Victor L. Ludlow gave this advice:
"There are a couple of reasons why oral prayer can be
more effective than silent prayer. Vocal prayers,
spoken out loud, help us focus on ideas the same way
our speech focuses our thought. Without external
visual or verbal stimulus, the average span of
attention on any idea is about twenty to thirty
seconds for most adults, and even shorter for
children. Also, thought and speech are so closely
linked that an idea is usually not fully formed until
it is expressed. If we say we understand something but
cannot explain it, we probably don't fully understand
it at all. In addition, we all know that talking over
our feelings and problems with someone else helps us
understand them more clearly and relieves our burden.
In the same way, vocal prayer first makes our thoughts
and feelings clear and precise and second brings us
insight and comfort." (Principles and Practices of the
Restored Gospel, p. 78)
Stephen R. Covey said:
"It may help to vocalize your feelings in your
prayers, for to speak out loud forces the kind of
mental concentration that often is necessary when your
mind has a tendency to jump around or when it is
preoccupied with earthly forces, pressures, and
fears." (Spiritual Roots of Human Relations, p. 293)
Elder H. Burke Peterson counseled:
"As you feel the need to confide in the Lord or to
improve the quality of your visits with him—to pray,
if you please—may I suggest a process to follow: go
where you can be alone, go where you can think, go
where you can kneel, go where you can speak out loud
to him. The bedroom, the bathroom, or the closet will
do. Now, picture him in your mind’s eye.
Think to whom you are speaking, control your
thoughts—don’t let them wander, address him as your
Father and your friend. Now tell him things you really
feel to tell him—not trite phrases that have little
meaning, but have a sincere, heartfelt conversation
with him. Confide in him, ask him for forgiveness,
plead with him, enjoy him, thank him, express your
love to him, and then listen for his answers."
(Adversity and Prayer, Conf. Report, Oct. 1973)
Here is a descriptuon of the prophet Enos' not so
silent personal prayer:
"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." (Enos 1:4)
Every creature for miles around probably heard that
prayer; including the vocal prayer of the young Joseph
Smith in the grove(J.S. History 1:14). So keep on
praying vocally; you are in good company.
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