"A Child's Prayer" isn't just a song for children, it is for all of us. We are all children of our Heavenly Father, and the primary method of communication with Him is prayer.
At a fireside in 1980, Bishop H. Burke Peterson gave us the following counsel:
"...as you think to whom you are praying, speak out loud to him—or, if you wish, whisper to him. Address him as your Father and say what you would like to say to him. Don’t repeat trite phrases that you have heard others say; instead, be sincere with him, and talk about the things you want to talk about. Thank him for what he has done for you. Confide in him; let him know what’s in your heart. Ask him for some help.
Those of you who may have had some particularly difficult experiences may only want to ask him for a desire to pray. That may be all you will want to ask for tonight. But at least ask for that—a desire to pray. Then plead with him, enjoy his Spirit, tell him you love him. I don’t know how many of you have prayed out loud and in that vocal prayer have told the Lord that you love him, but that is a great experience.
After you have talked to him, listen to him. You must listen carefully, or you are going to miss his answers. Sometimes people will pray for a minute, or two, or five, or fifteen, and then not even listen for a second. Perhaps something different would happen if you continued to kneel at your chair or your bed (after you prayed) for a minute, or two, or five, or fifteen, until you get that good, warm feeling that you have received an answer. Then you know the Lord has heard your prayer, you know he’s there, and you know that you have finally found a way to allow him to get his messages through to you.
Without prayer we will never really know our Heavenly Father or his Son, the Savior; and without prayer we cannot return to him, for we will have closed the door. He does not close the door—we do."
Ideas to Remember to Pray
- Make yourself a prayer rock. Put it on your pillow after you get up to remind you before you go to bed that night, then place it by your bed in the morning to remind you to pray when you get up.
- Pray to remember to pray!
- Wear a piece of jewelry everyday that reminds you to pray. When you put on your jewelry that particular piece will remind you to pray in the morning and when you remove it it will remind you to pray in the evening. It may even remind you throughout the day to "pray always."
- Pray whenever you remember! If you're on your way to work in your car and you realize you didn't kneel down before you left, pray right then and there (but please keep your eyes on the road). Pray whenever something comes to your mind that you want to to pray about, or when you just want someone to talk to. Heavenly Father is someone to talk to!
- Write a reminder on your mirror or put a sticky note on the fridge to remind you to pray.
