Show pray prayer ' will birfngi "relief By MARY LOU PHIPPEN Standard Examiner staff Just spin the globe plunk your finger odds are you will land on down and the a trouble spot While people are rushing here and there trying to solve world’s problems it seems the one source of strength and comfort that never fails is usually the last resort — asking God It might be too late but the Utah Legislature has designated May 4 as a day of fasting and prayer for divine intervention in the state’s precarious weather conditions and the rise of the Great Salt Lake The proposal to pray and fast may seem strange to anyone new to Utah but even presidents have stressed the power of prayer by holding prayer breakfasts from time to time as a situation demands said Robert Hunter chairman of the Weber County Commission “We've done everything we can to solve these problems ourselves so now is the time ta seek help from a higher source" he said adding that it’s not unusual for people locally to call on God in times of trouble Just 11 years ago the pendulum of fate took an opposite swing Instead of flooding conditions in Utah were dry — so dry in fact that members of local religious denominations were asked to pray for moisture The rains came Dennis Whisler pastor of Roy Christian Church said prayer is not for the purpose of getting what people want it is not to get God to change the circumstances It is for God to change people It is a dialogue between God and man Hex is there he listens and understands” But he cautioned that prayers won’t be answered in the same way for everyone He gave an example of this regarding his marriage remember I have almarried” he said “I encounters had been engaged at one time but the realization of marriage had always eluded me” “As long as I can ways wanted to be have had numerous When he reached the age of 29 he said he was confused and frustrated Then a young girl asked him what was wrong with him because he wasn’t married yet He decided to pass that question on to God He expressed himself to God by saing: “If it is within your will for me to be married then I trust that you will lead me to a woman that will love me that I If it's not your will for may love her me to be married then I trust you to help me deal with my frustrations and disappointments” After verbalizing this prayer the telephone didn’t suddenly begin to ring with beautiful women calling but Whisler said he had peace in his heart knowing God cared for him and would answer his prayer in the best way for him Several months later a mutual friend introduced him to a woman named Mary she eventually became his wife He said plans for the wedding went ahead but there was a problem — Mary's mother was opposed to their marriage Once again he turned to God in prayer this time that his future heart would be softened Again his prayer was answered “If she had not given her approval then Apnl 26 fl fi t n mmifMi o (j j m 11 IP u li f i Tr J George Washington in prayer at Valley Forge prepared to cancel the wedding” Whisler said The power of prayer is real said R Dean Udy president of the LDS Brigham City Stake we were 1986 SALT LAKE CITY — In a statement released to the press the First Presidency of the 6 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daSaints encouraged Mormons to participate in the national day of prayer The following statement was signed by President Ezra Taft Benson and his counselors Gordon B Hinckley and Thomas S Monson: “In keeping with an annual tradition dating back to 1775 the president of the United States has again this' year proclaimed a National Day of Prayer “We endorse that proclamation and encourage our individual members and our congregations throughout the nation to join with the president that day in a prayerful petition to our Heavenly Father giving thanks for all that he does for us seeking his guidance and inspiration in the conduct of our lives and asking for the blessing of peace in a troubled world “Also while we enthusiastically support the proclamation let us not limit our supplications to a designated observance We commend the practice of daily prayer to people everywhere “May we all regardless of any particular religious affiliation express daily gratitude to the Father of us all And to paraphrase a familiar hymn when sore trials come upon us when our souls are full of sorrow when our hearts are filled with anger let us think to pray and in so doing seek guidance and comfort and forgiveness from him who gave us life” National Day of Prayer finds growing support in 34th year “I know we can become better people as SAN BERNARDINO CALIF — In rely on the power of prayer in our lives and develop a personal relationship large and small communities from Maine with God through this great power” he to Hawaii final preparations are under way for the nation’s 34th consecutive Nasaid tional Day of Prayer May Daily personal and family prayers have The country’s first national day of adlife a he been of his said part always prayer was called by the First Continental ding that he has been personally guided Congress in 1775 Similar days were desto influence the lives of certain people ignated at critical moments through the and has even seen the sick healed years In 1952 the 82nd Congress made through prayer the national day of prayer an annual ob“I have seen miracles performed in the servance Each president since that time has set lives of my family members and in the aside one day each year for the obserlives of members of my stake” he said vance The proclamation designation as 1986 National Day of Prayer May Udy stressed that God is genuinely concerned about each of his children on was issued by President Reagan on Januearth and that it is important that people ary 13 Public awareness of the National Day communicate with him through prayer of Prayer and participation in it have rison a regular basis en dramatically in recent years according “If men and women will turn their lives of a nongovernmental to the over to God they will find out that he that helps publicize the day and can make a lot more out of their lives group citizen involvement encourage than they can” he said “He will deepen “Interest in the National Day of Prayer their joys expand their vision quicken their minds strengthen their muscles lift grows annually and has now reached the point where so many related activities are their spirits multiply their blessings increase their opportunities comfort their taking place at the state and local levels souls raise up friends and pour out that it would be practically impossible for anyone to keep track of them all” said peace” we Mormons endorse US prayer day Bill Bright of the National Day of Pray Task Force of the National Prayer Committee Herbert E Ellingwood former chairman of the US Merit Systems Protecof tion Board also serves as the independent nonprofit task force composed of representatives of a number of Christian groups Examples of specific activities related to the National Day of Prayer this year include the following: To date more than 20 state governors and more than 25 mayors have issued state or local counterpart proclamations in connection with the day with others expected In Sacramento Calif 1000 political and professional leaders are expected to come together at a May I prayer breakfast at the Sacramento Convention Center In the Chicago area hundreds of volunteers are participating in a Prayer Watch" sponsored by WCFC-Ta local Christian television station in preparation for the nationwide observance Ogden m Church News 3 |