From his book ‘Finding Peace, Joy, and Happiness’, Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased) shared:
The role of obedience in gaining spiritual direction is crucial, as this comment of President Joseph Fielding Smith confirms: “Now the Lord would give us gifts. He will quicken our minds. He will give us. . . a knowledge that will be so deeply rooted in our souls that [it] can never be rooted out, if we just seek for the light . . . and the understanding which is promised to us, and which we can receive if we will only be true and faithful to every covenant and obligation pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” 43
Pray Continually
Our communication with God is through prayer. His communication with us almost always is through inspiration to ourselves or through others. His guidance takes a wide variety of paths. The entreaty to pray “continually without ceasing”44 does not mean to be always on our knees. You can maintain the attitude of prayer, having a prayer in your heart, and be ready to respond to an answer in many settings and circumstances throughout your day.
For prayer to be answered, you should first formulate a decision and then present it to the Lord for ratification. Specifically, as has been mentioned, the Lord has told us:
If it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore you shall feel that it is right.
But if it is not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing that is wrong.
As you study that scripture and others that apply to the principles of prayer, you will find that nowhere does it say when the Lord will answer. Some of us misunderstand the doctrine. We urgently plead for an answer. We pray with sincerity, following the steps outlined and nothing happens. I will share something found by personal experience. It has been confirmed so repeatedly that I know it is true. When you follow the laws of prayer given you of God, one of three things happens. First you feel that peace, that comfort, that assurance, that certainty that your decision is right. Or second, you can sense that uncomfortable feeling, that stupor of thought, and you know that what you have chosen is wrong. Or third—and this is the difficult one, you feel nothing.
What do you do when you have prepared yourself, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? I have come to thank the Lord when that occurs, for it is an evidence of his trust. I positively know that as you apply your decision as though it were confirmed powerfully from on high, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time; either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an incorrect choice; or the peace or burning in the bosom will be felt confirming that your choice is correct. When you are living righteously and proceeding in trust, the Lord will not let you go too far without a warning if you have made the wrong decision.
As noted, prophets have indicated that the answer comes when you need it most, not necessarily when you ask for it. But what happens if the timing is such that you have to make a decision and you are still unsure about what to do? You have prayerfully studied the question and have evaluated it to make sure it’s consistent with the principles of the gospel. Then you have determined that it seems to be in harmony with your understanding of what your Father in Heaven would want you to do. Yet when you pray for an answer and none comes, what should you do?
What I say now requires that your life be righteous and that you are willing to obey the direction of the Lord, both of which qualify you to receive His guidance. Under those circumstances, when you diligently seek but receive no answer, you may proceed with conviction.
Remember, the requisites are living the commandments and making sure that what you propose to do is consistent with the Savior’s teachings. Then, if you don’t receive an answer and can’t wait longer, proceed. Again, the Lord won’t let you make a mistake. If in trust you have selected the wrong path, He will let you know by the impressions that come before it is too late. But you must be attentive, looking for direction. If you’ve chosen the right thing to do, that feeling of peace will come as you carry it out, when He confirms your correct choice. If not you will be warned before it is too late. I promise you that. I testify that these principles are true. Even when the decisions are the most vital in life, that is the process as I have come to understand it. ~ Richard G. Scott, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2007). 74-76
43. Joseph Fielding Smith, in a Conference Report, October , 1958, 22.
