Latter-day Saints in the greater Chattanooga area joined in the National Day of Prayer – designated by the United States Congress as the first Thursday in May – with believers everywhere acknowledging that prayer is meant for everybody, everyday.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “There is nothing more important right now than the people of all nations praying for divine inspiration and guidance.” As reported at newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, President Russell M. Nelson tweeted, “Our Heavenly Father can see things we can’t see. While we see mortal problems and pain, He sees our immortal potential and progress. If we pray to know His will, He will guide and help us along the way.”
“Remember the Savior’s admonition to watch and pray always (3 Nephi 18:15),” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said. “Be strong, be believing, and keep praying. Prayer is often heard and answered in the most unexpected hour.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has 13 congregations in the greater Chattanooga area and over 16.5 million members in more than 31,000 congregations around the world, teaches that we are all children of our Father in Heaven. He loves us. He wants us to be happy. We can reach out to Him through prayer in the name of Jesus Christ and He will hear us.
“Prayer, ultimately, is communication between each one of us and God. Because we are His children, He desires that we communicate with Him. When we pray, we should listen as much as we speak,” said Jason J. Isaacson, President of the Chattanooga Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
So, “please exercise your faith – and pray,” Elder Ballard states. Express appreciation to our Father in Heaven, especially for loving us so much “that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“The Atoning sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus Christ changed each of our lives forever,” President Nelson testified. “We love Him and gratefully worship Him and our Heavenly Father.”
Emphasizing that the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ are “for every race, language and people,” President Nelson affirmed that “each of God’s children deserves the opportunity to hear the healing, redeeming message of Jesus Christ. No other message is vital to our happiness – now and forever. No other message is more filled with hope. No other message can eliminate contention in our society,” (see Nelson, “Christ is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VGCEQLzITk.
Declaring that Jesus is Risen, President Nelson also invited all to increase their faith through prayer. “Our prayers are heard,” he said, and “through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest.”