Priesthood and Personal Prayer

Priesthood and Personal Prayer
Henry B. Eyring

(link to talk)

(remember I am using the "language of faith" meaning I am wording the counsel and teaching "as if" I already believe or am already doing it. All bold type is my insertion.)

• The Lord has placed His trust in the holders of the priesthood of God in all the earth to speak and act in His name, which requires inspiration and revelation from God.
• The day has already come where we all must know what God would say and what He would do.
• I pray, in faith, as I begin my day, to speak and act as God directs. When I listen and act, I feel peace, love, and his approval, even if I offend or irritate others.
• In moments when I don't have time to prepare, my unaided judgment is replaced by the inspiration of God.
• To have revelation, I make the effort to pray and work in faith for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
• I go before the Lord often, to witness that I 
• remember him 
• am willing to take upon me his name 
• keep his commandments 
• am willing to work righteousness 
• desire his Spirit to help me.
  
  and I pray and plead that God may:
• recognize me
• in my calling to serve him
• visiting teaching/home teaching
• ward/stake calling
• parent, friend, neighbor, citizen
• hear my prayers and reveal more for me to know about my call
• about the hearts of those I serve
• what things are amiss in their lives
• about people who don't want me to know them
• what God would have me do to help them
• to serve feeling God's love for them
• bless me with his Spirit as my constant companion, 
• because my human judgment and good intentions are never enough
• protect me daily to survive spiritually, through the mists of evil.
• warn and protect me from evil through prophets, apostles, stake presidents, bishops and missionaries who warn how to escape calamity through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and making and keeping sacred covenants.
• that He will lead me into all truth and show me the right way.
• I take this approach with my Heavenly Father with the intent to be recognized by Him personally.
• I patiently and with faith pursue this pattern of prayer.
• I recognize that He is God above all, and Father of all and express that recognition as I pray.
• I kneel and bow my head with a proper feeling of reverence.
• When I can't kneel, I shut out the distractions of the moment and connect with God.
• With the help of the Holy Ghost my home teachers:
• visit me each month
• remind me to pray vocally and in secret
• encourage me to attend to all family duties
• watch over me 
• are with me to strengthen me
• are aware of iniquity, harness, lying, backbiting and evil speaking and seek to eliminate it
• encourage me to attend church and do my duty
  - all impossible without the help of the Holy Ghost.
• I rise to my potential because I have the Spirit with me. 
• I heed the warning voice of God's servants
• The Spirit guides me as He reveals truth when I study the words of prophets.
• I am not casual when I listen or read. I pray and work in faith to put the words of truth down into my heart.
• The Lord strengthens me in my power to serve,through General Conference. 
• I prepare myself for General Conference with prayer.
• I join my faith with those who pray in conference 
• for many blessings on many people
• for the Spirit to come upon the prophet as the Lord's mouthpiece
• for the Apostles and all of the servants called by God 
• Through my faith and diligence, the most joyful benediction to my life will be to hear the Savior say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
• It is not where I serve that counts, but HOW I serve.
• The Spirit can help me to feel the burden's of others, even when my own burdens may be crushing me.
• With a prayer of faith, God grants me power for whatever circumstance I may be in as I ask in humility for the Spirit to show me what God would have me say and do, do it, and continually live worthy of that gift.
• God hears my every prayer.
• I am purified through the Atonement of Christ so I am worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
  
  GENERAL CONFERENCE CHALLENGE:
  
  PRAY:
•  For courage to speak and act as God directs, no matter how others respond
• For the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost
•  For revelation
• Often and tell Him that I remember Him, and am willing to take upon me his name, keep his commandments, and work righteousness
• And plead for God to recognize me
•  For him to reveal more to me about my call; about those I serve and what I can do to serve them
• For daily protection through the mists of evil
• To be warned and protected by the Lord’s servants
• To know how to escape calamity through faith in Christ, repentance, and keeping my covenants
• That He will lead me into all truth and show me the right way
•  And express my recognition of who God really is
• To be prepared for General Conference
• For the Spirit to come upon the prophet as the Lord’s mouthpiece and the Apostles and others servants as they speak
• For the power to do and say as the Lord directs and to remain worthy of the Gift of the Spirit.
  
  
  ACTIONS:

• Work to know what God would say
• Work in faith for the companionship of the Holy Ghost 
• Work in prayer to be recognized personally by God
• Keep a proper reverence for God; kneel to pray 
• Rise to my potential
• Heed the warning voices of God’s servants 
• Study the words of the prophets for revealed truth
• Work in faith to get the truth deep in my heart  as I read and listen
• Prepare for General Conferences with prayer
• Focus on HOW I serve, not where I serve
• Feel the burdens of others, especially when my burdens are heavy
• Allow the Atonement to purify me