* Prayer

Brigham Young said: “Prayer is often difficult and strenuous—just plain hard work. If you really want to converse with the Lord, you must count on a mighty struggle. Receiving inspiration and revelation through prayer is one of the greatest achievements of man, and to expect that blessing without effort is contrary to the order of heaven. One has to break the prayer barrier by knocking and knocking. We should not be dismayed when much knocking at first seems to avail little. There are few exercises in faith greater than that of praying persistently, and the very of act knocking will capacitate us to accept, understand, and implement the new-found truths that may be revealed in us. Nothing teaches us how to pray more effectively than forcing ourselves to pray. However, as in skiing, the “learning how” can be exciting—the realization that we are participating in an effort that has brought most, if not all, celestial truths to the earth creates a sense of spiritual adventure second to none.” (JD, 13:155.)

(Posts with a preamble asterisk * are for a more general audience, and not specific to teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)