So one of the things I’ve been doing since last General Conference is reading the talks, one at a time. Someone in EQ suggested that if you read one per week you get through them in time to start over for the next conference (in 6 months time). Turns out that there are actually 33 talks but I’ll figure it out.

So with my new handy Franklin planner I have been scheduling in one per week.

As I was reading the talk for this week, I thought it might be interesting / worthwhile to blog about some of my thoughts while reading it. So…. here I am.

Pray Always, by David E Bednar (that would be,at least for now, “Took Ricks to the Y“)

So sometimes I find that my prayers are pretty lame. Recently I’ve been praying for some friends of mine that are having a hard time. And even though I really do WANT to help them I have trouble figuring out how to pray for them.

One thing I thought was interesting was the idea that in our prayers we could:

* Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.
* Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.
* Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.
* Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.
* Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.

Also found it interesting a story Elder Bednar gave about how when they lived up in Idaho having a General Authority come stay at their house shortly after a friend of theirs died. When they got together for a family prayer, the GA asked Sister Bednar to “express only appreciation for blessings received and ask for nothing.”

After sharing that, Elder Bednar said “The most meaningful and spiritual prayers I have experienced contained many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests. As I am blessed now to pray with apostles and prophets, I find among these modern-day leaders of the Savior’s Church the same characteristic that describes Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon: these are men whose hearts swell with thanksgiving to God for the many privileges and blessings which He bestows upon His people (see Alma 48:12). Also, they do not multiply many words, for it is given unto them what they should pray, and they are filled with desire (see 3 Nephi 19:24). The prayers of prophets are childlike in their simplicity and powerful because of their sincerity.”

I thought that was interesting and I will try to incorporate that as I pray this week.

Till next week!