What is Prayer?

What is prayer? 
Are there different types of prayer?                 
To whom do we pray? How can it work? 
Why do we pray?

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Uttered or Unexpressed.                 
The motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast.         

Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear.                                     
The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try.                     
Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, The Christian’s native air.               
His watchword at the gates of death; He enters heav’n with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, Returning from his ways.                   
While angels in their songs rejoice and cry, “Behold he prays!”

The Saints in prayer appear as one In word and deed and mind,           
While with the Father and the son Their fellowship they find.               
Nor prayer is made on earth alone: The Holy Spirit pleads,                         
And Jesus at the Father’s throne For sinners intercedes.

O thou by whom we come to God, The Life, the truth, the Way!            
The path of prayer thyself hast trod; Lord teach us how to pray.

By James Montgomery British Editor, Hymn-writer and Poet.                     
Music composed by George Edward Percy Careless, Royal Academy. London, UK.

Prayer by Repetitive Meaningless Words.

In addition to that explanation of Prayer, please consider that we are all commanded; Repeat not your prayers as the heathens do, for by their much murmurings, do they think that their prayers will be answered.  See; Matt 6:7

Consider also: 
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. 
Words without thoughts, Never to Heaven Go!” (Shakespeare’s Hamlet.)

Many ‘so called Christian’ churches use written proscribed prayers. They simply read and repeat them. They thus ignore the commandment in Matt 6:7   
But there is one that stands out amongst all the rest as being repetitive. It is known as the RC Rosary. It is usually given as a form of punishment to those who have been to confess their sins to the local priest in the church’s confessional box.

So what is the Rosary? 
It consists of a set of five Decades of (i.e. 10) prayers. Starting with one “Our Father” (the Lord’s Prayer), 10 Hail Mary’s, and one Glory be to the Father, that comprises one decade of the Rosary. Problem is that the rosary consists of five decades.  Quite a mouthful of murmuring to absolutely no avail. “Words without thoughts, Never to heaven Go!” Yes Shakespeare was spot on. If you wish to find out what these prayers are like you are invited to just Google them and locate them and read them for yourself, that you may fully understand.

To whom do we pray?

When asked by the apostles; Lord, teach us to pray, Jesus began: “Our Father, which art in heaven” Yet he himself was upon the earth talking with his apostles. 

And, when Jesus was upon the earth, he said; “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give it unto you”. John 16:23-24  So he didn’t tell us to ask himself or his mother Mary, his first apostle Peter nor Matt, Mark Luke or John. Neither did he address himself to the Holy Ghost.  So let’s just follow his example and address ourselves to "Our Father which art in heaven."

How can it work?

When we address our Heavenly Father directly as Jesus did, we get His immediate attention.  Now if we are really praying, and concentrating our thoughts upon the desires of our hearts, (Prayer is the heart’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed) then our prayers ascend to his throne in heaven and the promise given will be fulfilled.

Why do we pray?

“He who receiveth all things with thankfulness, shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundredfold, yea more.” D & C 78:19    So with such a blessing promised, by our Heavenly Father’s son Jesus, we would not only be very foolish, but downright stupid to boot, not to offer our heartfelt thanks. 

Like unto Solomon, one of the best things we could ask for is wisdom, to conduct our affairs. Then unlike Solomon keep the laws of Moses.