Improving Our Prayers | Joseph B. Wirthlin | 2003

As we approach our Heavenly Father in the name of Christ, we open the windows of heaven. We can receive from Him truth, light, and knowledge. Prayer is the doorway through which we commence our discipleship to things heavenly and eternal. We will never be alone so long as we know how to pray.
This speech was given on January 21, 2003.
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© Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.
I feel fortunate to be here this morning and grateful to spend a few moments with you. This university is very dear to me. The decisions that have been made over the years regarding this institution have not been made lightly.
As a church, we have invested sacred resources in this university and especially in the students. What happens here is important to the Brethren, to the Church, and to the Lord.
We are hopeful that those who walk upon this sacred ground will be an influence for good in their homes, in their communities, and throughout the world.
There is greatness here. You can feel it.
Who knows what literature, law, science, invention, insight, research, and art will flow from here? Who knows how the world will be blessed as a result of your efforts and inspiration?
One of the reasons you will achieve great things is because you will not be alone. The Lord is waiting to open the windows of heaven and magnify your righteous endeavors. He will bless your homes and your relationships. If you will come unto Him and serve Him, He will take the talents and abilities you possess and magnify them in marvelous ways.
So that we may come unto the Lord, we must communicate with Him through prayer. There may not be a commandment uttered more frequently than that we lift up our hearts and our voices in prayer to our Heavenly Father.
“Pray always,” the Lord has commanded to us in these latter-days, “and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing” (D&C 19:38). The Book of Mormon teaches, “Ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness” (Alma 34:26).
The Apostle Paul taught that we should “pray without ceasing. [And] in every thing give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
Jesus the Christ, our Exemplar, often prayed to the Father. If the Savior of all mankind felt such a need to supplicate the Father, how much more should we lift up our voices in prayer!
Every person here today lived at one time in heavenly realms. We walked with our Heavenly Father. We knew Him. We heard His voice. We loved Him.
And although we were eager to enter mortality and continue our progression, we must have regretted the separation that would accompany it. We must have sorrowed that a veil would cover our eyes and the bright memories of our lives would be cloaked in the forgetfulness of mortality. How we must have yearned to stay close to our Father in Heaven. How we must have covenanted to ever reach after Him and commune with Him.
Undoubtedly our separation from our Heavenly Father was softened when He promised that as we sought after Him in prayer, He would reach toward us.
Now we are here. Our memories of our premortal life are dim and dark. We have forgotten those things we supposed we could never forget. Unfortunately and tragically we sometimes even forget our Heavenly Father, whom we loved so dearly.

[@luisnavarro2264]

I give thanks for Elder Wirthlin, his life, his faith, his example. Today I’ve been uplifted by his words and by the Spirit. Though you are on the other side of the veil, your legacy keeps blessing so many of of us, thank you Elder Wirthlin.

[@AlejandroMadrid-tn1gp]

Powerful and oh, so beautiful. I am going to listen to this again and again.

[@lewirthlindatuin209]

this phrase touches my soul: Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one’s voice.

[@dianahumphries5681]

His voice is so kind and calm; such a lovely man 😊

[@e.b.9736]

I really needed to hear this. I have been struggling with difficult decisions. "Prayer is the doorway through which we commence our discipleship to things heavenly and eternal. We will never be alone so long as we know how to pray." Thank you for sharing this video. What a treasure!

[@frontpage11]

This is exact what I need right now!! Thank you!! We love and miss you Elder Wirthlin!!!

[@saydee7878]

What a beautifully soft spoken voice he has. Touched my heart... ❤

[@natbc9301]

These talks are more powerful than just magnificent words. There is real power behind them.

[@martinquick5891]

What a blessing to have such an archive of rich and wise messages.

[@mrdayyumyum3712]

I have always enjoyed this man's talks.

[@angelastacks883]

I'm so grateful it helps so much to have these talks, it is very soothing.

[@joemalasky4959]

Thank you to those posting these. It brings the spirit into my day and bit by bit inspires me to draw closer to God.

[@nuagor]

9:54 Absolute confidence, conformity to God's will, and working with all your power for the things you are praying for 22:43 The challenge of mortality is to come out of the darkness into the light.

[@SadieRTrego]

Wow these are all the questions and feeling I've been having about my prayers for a while now. This exactly how I've been feeling about my prayers as if there just repetition. Ive been struggling so much with my prayers and been wondering how can I improve them This is truly the true church and gospel of Christ 😔🙏🤍🌹 Thank you for this talk

[@marthagutierrez1178]

This is so good!!! Great teachings and doctrine! Thanks for posting!

[@katrinablazevic9970]

I loved this talk. I definitely need to work on my prayers! It is so important to communicate with our Heavenly Father about everything. He is very aware of us and wants to have a close relationship with us. I look forward to my prayers being more meaningful and being closer to God.

[@annamateaki5795]

Just when I was pondering this question this pops up. Thank you

[@karadanvers6136]

I like the part where Jesus said he will have dinner with us. Can you just imagine? :) made me happy that the Savior would actually want to have dinner with us :)

[@GermanJrTurno]

I love these holy men

[@bookadmirer.3699]

I've been having such a hard day. I'm so stressed out about school and work and family. This has helped. Thankful for Elder Wirthlin and this channel.

[@rickfarr8491]

I feel the Lord felt this talk would help me at this point in my life. I will listen to it often.

[@karadanvers6136]

I have never heard that account abt Lorenzo Snow before :) glad I decided to listen tonite :)

[@bathulasatish3045]

How close you feel to heavenly father? We should meditate before prayer Prayer is not picking up call for grocery store and order If they get rich they will forget God We sholud pray in secret places Pray for financials problems other problems. We must prepare and do our best then we need to depend on GOD.

[@flasktalimasa5586]

So much knowledge from these apostles Ernest truth

[@elitster]

Love it

[@EMonzon]

a man made of gold

[@raychristensen5273]

Yes I'm grateful for there talking to us it's a great blessing 🙏

[@mardigra1916]

I hope God listens

[@CML95018]

❤❤❤

[@MsEva9470]

Thank you for great masaje

[@tomperry2637]

For us hearing impaired i would like to pass along that the [cc] at about 25:00-28:00 where Elder Wirthlin starts speaking of Joseph Smith, the captions are totally different than what Elder Wirthlin is saying. Thank you for making [cc] available to us.

[@byuspeeches]

Thank you for letting us know about this! We have gone through that section and fixed the captions so they now align with what Elder Wirthlin said. It can be tricky to catch differences when speakers go off script, so we appreciate you mentioning it. We hope you continue to enjoy BYU Speeches!

[@elviagironcortesmaderacali5018]

que bien B virtua Joseph y B bibla

[@ildenete3235]

Fazer uma oração cantar um hino ouvir uma música e ler a escritura que se encontra rondando ha um tempo entre a mente e o coração e eu paro para dar lhe atenção. Pronto! O Espírito ! Das coisas simples , do amor de Deus. Ah! Não seria maravilhoso se a Terra fose assim?