Wrestle Before God in Prayer

My dear friends, brothers, and sisters, it is my great joy and honor to be here with you today. Sister Yamashita and I have looked forward to seeing you very much. As you know, I am originally from Japan. It means I can speak perfect Japanese and I can speak perfect broken English. So, please forgive me and my broken English. I would be happy if you would pray for me and invite the Spirit to be with us.

Today, I am going to talk about wrestling. It is not the sport of wrestling. I had an experience where I wrestled before God like Enos did. As you know, Enos did not wrestle with God. He wrestled before God in prayer. Such wrestling is the struggle to find and express one’s real desires under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.[1]

When I was a sophomore at the university, I was looking for my future career and I was considering dropping out of that university and transferring to another. Because of this, I did not enjoy my university life at that time. Are you enjoying your campus life? I was struggling a bit with my future career. Let me tell you my story.

One day, I received inspiration that I should pray like Enos did. I knew that Enos prayed mightily. After I had that inspiration, I set the date that I would pray as Enos did. To prepare for that date, I fasted. I also came up with questions that I would ask Heavenly Father and I wrote down thoughts of what I wanted to do and what I wanted to become.

I started praying and felt incredibly good, but I had a tough time getting answers to my questions. I prayed for a while, meditated, prayed again, and so on. My soul was hungry like Enos’ soul. I kneeled and cried to Heavenly Father in mighty prayer. How did Enos pray?

And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.[2]

I prayed all day long as well. The answer Enos received was, “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.”[3] The answer I received was different. I received specific answers and advice. For me, every time I prayed, I felt Heavenly Father’s love so strongly that it prompted me to think about my future deeply.

I started praying in the morning, meditated repeatedly, prayed again, and my thoughts of my future gradually solidified, and my heart became increasingly calm and peaceful. Through this fasting and praying, I got two promptings. The one was good advice that I should visit two professors to receive their counsel. The other one was that I would be a university professor. I followed those promptings. I visited the professors’ offices and asked them for their counsel. They gave me good advice to help me make good decisions. I did not quit university or change schools, and I studied hard to go on to graduate school.

Two years later, I went to one of the best graduate schools in Japan, then started teaching at a university, becoming a professor at the age of forty. That experience strengthened my testimony of prayer, receiving revelation, and of Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord invites us to ask, seek, and knock. I testify that “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”[4] is true.

Have you ever wrestled before God in prayer?

I wrestled before God. I prayed mightily as Enos did and received an answer, but my first prayer was different. I had a fear; I was not sure if the answer would come. However, I had a strong curiosity. I do not remember very well, but I was a little hesitant to pray. It was another wrestling. Fortunately, after this struggle, I finally decided to pray. Let me tell you about my first prayer. It was very simple.

According to my missionaries’ instruction, I began my prayer addressing our Father in Heaven. I expressed my gratitude, then I started to ask Him. I asked Him very sincerely and humbly, “Heavenly Father, are you there? Are you really there?” I wanted to know if God really exists. I had many concerns, but I immediately felt His presence. I received the answer; it was a warm feeling. I knew it through the Holy Spirit.

Since that first prayer, I have received and responded to that heavenly help. I have learned that I always need to be ready to receive it. My dear friends, brothers, and sisters, we are at a crossroad where we must make a choice. We need to pray always throughout our lives, not just once or twice. Preach My Gospel tells us,

I am sure you will have many opportunities to pray to make important decisions. Pray as Enos did when you must make a major decision. Wrestle before God in your prayer. “Seek your Heavenly Father’s guidance as you make choices. He will bless you with inspiration through the Holy Ghost.”[6]

To wrestle before God in prayer, I have five suggestions.

First, ponder deeply.

Take time to ponder. As you must make an important decision, before you pray, you should ponder carefully and gather your thoughts and ask God. If you ponder deeply and meditate, you are more likely to receive revelation. Pondering is very important to receive inspiration and revelation.

Fortunately, Sister Yamashita is here with us today. May I ask her to share with us her personal experience? Sister Yamashita, will you share with us your personal experience of pondering?

Sister Tazuko Yamashita: I am a convert to the Church. When I was a college student, I began to seek truth in my life. I was asking questions like, “Is there a God? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going after I die?” So, I met with the missionaries and I joined the Church.

Soon after I was baptized, the Holy Ghost spoke to me one night as I was studying the gospel. His message for me echoed in the deepest part of my soul: “Go on a mission, go on a mission, go on a mission,” repeated again and again. My heart was beating with excitement, my eyes were filled with tears, and I felt complete peace. So, I decided to go on my mission and began saving money. After two years of saving, I realized something on my birthday: “Oh, I am not young; I am old.” I was 24 years old.

I started to wonder if I should go on my mission or get married. I was worried that I might miss the chance to get married. I was pondering about that from the bottom of my heart. One day, the Holy Spirit spoke strongly and clearly to me again. “Don’t worry about your future. Peace be unto your soul.” My whole body was filled with the Spirit of peace and love. I cried. I committed again to go on my mission.

Soon, I was called as a missionary. I served in the Tokyo North Mission. I worked hard there. It was so wonderful!
While serving, I met a nice and wonderful young man. I had many opportunities to hear his testimony. Each time, I was filled with the Spirit so much. It caused me to think of my future. I wished that I could marry someone like him.

A month after my mission was finished, I was prompted to write a letter to him. I decided to send the letter by express mail. The letter was just to say thanks. I didn’t expect an answer from him because I thought he didn’t know who I was. However, soon I got a letter from him sent by express also. This is what he wrote: “Your letter ignited a fuse in my heart. I am thinking about marriage. Please go on a date with me.” I was so surprised! This was his first letter to me, and I wept quietly. At that time, I decided to get married to him. After three months, we married.

Heavenly Father granted my desire regarding my marriage which I had been worried about before my mission. So, I want to say to you as the Spirit said to me: “Don’t worry about your future. Peace be unto your soul.” Heavenly Father really loves you. Heavenly Father really knows your needs.

As you live the gospel and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost immediately when they come, you might also feel the comforting message: “Don’t worry about your future. Peace be unto your soul.” I know this is true.

In Doctrine and Covenants 82:10, the Lord promised His faithful servants: “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”[7] In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Thank you, Sister Yamashita, for your inspired message.

Second, pray with sincerity.

We must pray with sincerity and “with all the energy of heart.”[8] Be careful to avoid “vain repetitions”[9] when you pray. Give serious thought to your attitude and to the words you use. We love Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We know They love us and listen to our prayers. Be honest and say how you feel to our Heavenly Father. If you pray with all your heart to the God you love instead of praying mechanically and formally, Heavenly Father will help you to feel His love and to know that He hears your prayers.

Third, use proper language that shows love, respect, reverence, and closeness.

The application of this principle will vary according to the language you speak. If you pray in English, for example, you should use the pronouns of the scriptures when you address God—Thee, Thou, Thy, and Thine—rather than the more common pronouns you, your, and yours. Regardless of the language, the principle remains the same: when you pray, you should use words that appropriately convey a loving, worshipful relationship with God. You may have some difficulty learning the language of prayer, but you will gradually become more comfortable with it as you pray and read the scriptures. Praying in a friendly manner to Father in Heaven is not bad, but do not be too casual.

Fourth, always give thanks to your Heavenly Father.

You should “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.”[10] As you take time to remember your blessings, you will recognize how much your Heavenly Father has done for you. Express your thanks to Him.

Fifth, seek Heavenly Father’s guidance and strength in all you do.

Alma counseled his son Helaman:

"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."[11]

My dear friends, I am sure many of you have wrestled before God in prayer. It is wonderful. That experience will bring you many benefits. Your testimony will be strengthened. Your trust in the Lord will increase. You will get closer to the Lord.

I bear my witness that our Heavenly Father does live indeed and that He loves us. He knows each of us; He knows our desires. He listens to our prayers because He loves His children. I testify that we are our Father in Heaven’s children, that He loves us, and that He sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can again return to His presence.

Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.”[12] As our Heavenly Father loves us, Jesus loves us too. What is the love of Jesus Christ? When he appeared unto the Nephites, He said to them, ”Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you,” then asked “have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them.”[13]

My dear brothers and sisters, I know Jesus heals us and strengthens us. He said Himself, “I am the door of the sheep. . . I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”[14] In addition, He said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”[15] Jesus knows us by our names. He knows our challenges, our sufferings, our weaknesses, and our strengths. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

[1] ^{“Chapter 17: Enos–Words of Mormon,” Book of Mormon Student Manual, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2009.}

[2] ^{Enos 1:4.}

[3] ^{Enos 1:5.}

[4] ^{Matthew 7:7.}

[5] ^{“Lesson 4: The Commandments,” Preach My Gospel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2019.}

[6] ^{“Make inspired choices,” For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2022.}

[7] ^{Doctrine and Covenants 82:10.}

[8] ^{Moroni 7:48.}

[9] ^{Matthew 6:7.}

[10] ^{Alma 34:38.}

[11] ^{Alma 37:36–37; see also Alma 34:17–26.}

[12] ^{John 10:30.}

[13] ^{3 Nephi 17:6–7.}

[14] ^{John 10:7, 9.}

[15] ^{John 10:14.}