This is a paraphrased question asked on Yahoo Answers:
"So I guess I don't really have a strong testimony. I would pray to ask if god really exists and get no answer. I prayed so many times, with no feeling or anything. What could this be? I'm healthy, normal, and I'm not on any meds or anything; I'm just normal. I read scriptures and engage my mind before praying, so what am I doing wrong? why are there no answers to my prayers? Is there no God? I mean I did everything right. I'm so confused. Please help!
Response:
I'm a convert myself. Answers are received in so many different ways. For me, reading the scriptures, specifically the Book of Mormon, is where I felt my Heavenly Father's love and concern.
Alma talks about planting the seed, which is "the word," and continuing to nourish it. -Alma 32 You've probably heard the adage, "If you want to talk to the Lord, pray. If you want to hear from the Lord, read your scriptures."
True conversion and faith come from frequent and deep study, and the spirit bearing witness of the truthfulness of what you read/hear. Remember, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." -Romans 10:17
Once you have had the witness of the spirit (and even before), commit to continue down the path you have commenced (2 Ne 31:20) and follow the promptings of the spirit. Moroni emphasized that we must ask with "real intent." -Moroni 10:4
You will have confidence in your life and will see through the ignorance in the world, especially many answers given on Yahoo Answers by people who don't know what they're talking about.
Best Wishes,
Rusty
It can be a struggle. Remember what Thomas Paine said "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly...."
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Why am I getting no answers to my prayers? Is there no God?
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2 comments:
In addition to what has been said, I was reading in the Book of Mormon the other day about something that might help make some sense out of why you may not be feeling the answer to your prayers and the strong testimony that you probably see others feeling.
The Lord, speaking to Moroni, said "But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my spirit, and he shall know and bear record." (Ether 4:11). There are a few important things we can learn from this. First, believing is a choice. It is when we choose to believe that the Lord says he will visit us with the manifestations of His Spirit. Not to change the meaning of the verse, but to place the emphasis I see from it, I want to write it in a different way: "when he believes these things of which I have spoken, THEN will I visit him with the manifestations of my Spirit." Believing is not a passive process, it is a choice that we make; we choose to believe. So often we may look at someone who believes and think it fell upon them, or that they received it AFTER a strong spiritual manifestation. Sometimes this may occur. But many times it is because these individuals have chosen to believe and then had the Spirit confirm to them the things they believed. It is when we choose to believe that the Spirit of the Lord falls upon us, and then we are able to go away with a firm spiritual witness and testimony of the things of God. Then not only can we believe, but we can know that God lives and we can know of the true points of His doctrine. But ultimately, it begins as a choice.
I totally agree Jonathan.
Believing is a choice. I love how Moroni clarified what to believe: "these things which I have spoken." It is so crucial to study the doctrines of the restored gospel.
I love this quote by President Joseph F Smith: "Evidently there are many members of the Church who have not received a testimony simply because they do not make their lives conform to the requirements of the gospel [we learn these requirements in the scriptures-ancient and modern]. The Spirit of the Lord cannot dwell in unclean tabernacles, and because of this the knowledge which is promised is not received. Then again, there are members of the Church who take no time to inform themselves by study and faith, and all such are without the inspiration which the faithful are promised."
So study it out, do it, and then we "shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God...." -John 7:17
Great comment Jon!
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