Jay A. Parry - Everyday Answers: True Stories about Gods Presence in Our Lives

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Everyday answers : true stories about Gods presence in our lives / [compiled by] Jay A. Parry.p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and indexes.ISBN 978-1-57008-982-4 (pbk.)1. Christian lifeMormon authors. 2. Miracles. I. Parry, Jay A. II. Title.

BX8656.E94 2003248.4893dc212003010614

Printed in the United States of AmericaAlexanders Print Advantage, Lindon, UT

JIT

Introduction

Few invitations are repeated so often in the scriptures as the invitation to pray. Ask, and it shall be given you, the Lord said (Matthew 7:7). Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you (3 Nephi 18:20; for other such promises see, for example, Matthew 21:22; Luke 11:9; 1 Nephi 15:11; Enos 1:15; Mosiah 4:21; 3 Nephi 14:7; 27:29; Moroni 7:26; D&C 4:7; 42:3; 88:63).

We read in the scriptures and have seen in our lives the many marvelous ways in which this promise is fulfilled. The sick have been healed and the dead raised, financial disasters have been averted, marriages have been saved, wayward children have been reached and retrieved, hearts have been changed, critical guidance has been given about marriage choices and careers. When we need the Lord in big things, when we seek him in humility and with real intent (Moroni 10:4), he is ready to answer us.

But so is he ready to help us with little things. He gives help with difficulties in relationships, peace and comfort in the face of adversity, help with overcoming even small problems of worthiness or obedience, answers to many questions about many things, help in finding lost keys or a misplaced legal document, help with ideas to help us better conquer our everyday problems.

Amulek counseled us to be prayerful about every aspect of our livesnot just the big things but the everyday things as well. Cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save, he said. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.

Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.

Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you (Alma 34:1827).

In private counsel to his son Helaman, Alma emphasized the same principles, underscoring that we should seek the Lords guidance and help in all aspects of our lives, large and small: Cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day (Alma 37:3637).

This counsel was repeated in our time by President Gordon B. Hinckley, when he said in general conference:

I offer a plea that each of us will seek to live closer to the Lord and to commune with Him more frequently and with increased faith.

Fathers and mothers, pray over your children. Pray that they may be shielded from the evils of the world. Pray that they may grow in faith and knowledge. Pray that they may be directed toward lives that will be profitable and good. Husbands, pray for your wives. Express unto the Lord your gratitude for them and plead with Him in their behalf. Wives, pray for your husbands. Many of them walk a very difficult road with countless problems and great perplexities. Plead with the Almighty that they may be guided, blessed, protected, inspired in their righteous endeavors.

Pray for peace in the earth, that the Almighty who governs the universe will stretch forth His hand and let His Spirit brood upon the people, that the nations may not rage one against another. Pray for the weather. We have floods in one area and drought in another. I am satisfied that if enough prayers ascend to heaven for moisture upon the land, the Lord will answer those prayers for the sake of the righteous....

Pray for wisdom and understanding as you walk the difficult paths of your lives. If you are determined to do foolish and imprudent things, I think the Lord will not prevent you. But if you seek His wisdom and follow the counsel of the impressions that come to you, I am confident that you will be blessed.

Let us be a prayerful people (Benediction, Ensign, May 2003, 99100).

Of course, not all prayers are answered in the way we would hope. Sometimes keys remain lost; sometimes wayward children remain lostnot because the Lord and earthly loved ones dont reach out, but because of their own expression of agency. Sometimes financial problems dont end in a miracle but in bankruptcy, and that to worthy people. Sometimes we plead for guidance and the Lord answers, You may choose. Always he blesses us in his wisdom, and always he sends his love to all who will receive it.

This book collects many true stories of answers to prayers. For the most part, these are stories of help the Lord gives to those who seek him in everyday matters. The great matters of life and death, both temporally and spiritually, are not the subject of this book; instead, we have gathered many sweet and powerful accounts of everyday Saints who have sought the Lord and received his assistance in the many challenges they face in their day-to-day lives. A few of these stories do involve major miracles, but in each instance they are presented with the smaller blessings the Lord is pleased to give us as we seek him.

Some of the names of those who have written stories have been changed to protect their anonymity. Some names and other details within some of the stories have been changed for the same purpose. Otherwise, all aspects of these stories are true, testimonies of the love and power of our God, who ever desires to lift and help and bless his children.