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About Praying
By Dr. C. L. Olsen
Of the many excellent faith-promoting gems found in our Church literature, the following is from the pen of the late Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon: "Praying frequently helps to praying fervently." And, we might add: Praying sincerely develops faith in prayer. Indeed, no matter how frequently or how fervently one might pray, if faith in God is lacking, the mere words, be they every so flowery, become like tinkling cymbals. A poor mortal's entreaty, addressed to his heavenly Father, need not be studded with beautiful phrases of lofty sentiments, so pleasing to the human ear. "The prayer of a righteous man availeth much," be it ever so faulty in verbal construction.
It has been said that prayer is the key to the Father's heart. The "lock" to the Father's heart, is no Yale affair, no tumbler latch, no safety contrivance, to keep intruders out. It is always in order, and it readily yields to pressure-the latch-string is within easy reach-it is not hung too high for the tiniest dwarf-but even the giant must find it, if the door shall open. But, one may ask, why pray at all, especially to a Being who "knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him?" Because it is a divine injunction; and therefore, to pray is right, proper and necessary. By way of analogy, earthly parents, even, expect their children to ask for such favors as they wish to receive. "Ye shall pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." "Watch and pray." "Pray without ceasing."
These divine injunctions do not imply, however, that man, machine-like, should continuously mutter his prayers, from morning till evening and during the night, every minute, while awake; that he should employ an abacus of wires and beads, a tally-board, or any other mechanical contrivance to help him keep account of the number of prayers offered; or that he, to save himself from the physical exertion involved, should utilize the so-called praying-machine, praying-mill or praying-wheel, used in Thibet and other parts of the East, concerning which the Abbe Huc in his Travels in Thibet, 1844, says:
"It is common enough to see them fixed in the bed of a running stream, as they are then set in motion by the water, and go on praying night and day, to the special benefit of the person who has placed them there. The Tartars also suspend them over their domestic hearths, that they may be set in motion by the current of cool air from the opening in the tent, and so twirl for the peace and prosperity of the family."
No; prayer is the soul's sincere desire. A prayer, to deserve the significant designation, must be a sacred devotional of the highest order; must spring from the heart's deepest recesses; must be uttered by lips undefiled with hate, malice and rancor; must in very deed express the longings and righteous yearnings of one's inner self, the wishes, hopes and aspirations of the humble supplicant. It must, moreover, be prompted by an abiding faith in "the Giver of all good gifts." Else praying is senseless lip-service, hollow mockery, hypocrisy, out-and-out.