During the last week and a half I had a few episodes of gratitude. Work has been fun lately because I am pursuing some projects that I really like. I have felt grateful to the point of wanting to thank God for the opportunities I am experiences at work. I also felt a lot of grateful emotion as I watched the “Prince of Egypt” animated movie. I was amazed that the music in the movie (along with the great story, I think) had such an ability to move me. When I feel these types of grateful moments I really feel strongly that there is a God.
I have never had problems saying my prayers. I attribute this established habit to my mom. She always insisted on saying prayers with me (and my brothers) as child before I left for school. I carry on that tradition in my own home. I like to pray with my children before they go to school.
Lately as I have tried to understand what prayer is to me as it relates to Jesus Christ. I have assumed that I don’t pray to Christ. I pray in Christ’s name but never to him directly. There are numerous examples in the scriptures were individuals pray to Christ directly and communicate with him. As I have mentioned in other posts on this web page there is a commandment in the church that we pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Christ (see 2 Ne. 32: 9). Therefore, I have questioned whether I am allowed to pray to Christ. I have been perplexed at times with whether or not I can have a relationship with Christ because I never seem to interact with him directly. However, as I have studied this question I have come across some quotes that have been a bit surprising to me.
In Robert Millet’s book “Life in Christ” President Smith is quoted as saying, “All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. In all of the scriptures, where God is mentioned and where he appeared, it was Jehovah. . . . The Father has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son.”
Alma 11:39 states that Christ is the very Eternal Father. Christ, the Father and the Holy Ghost are one in purpose but I am still left wondering about the following. I am commanded to pray to God in Christ’s name. If God doesn’t deal directly with man is it Christ who answers my prayers? But since Christ is the Eternal Father is it to Christ I am praying to in Christ’s name? I have always believed I am praying to God the Father, not Christ. But am I? Lately, I have felt alienated from Christ because I felt like I never communicate with Him. If Christ and God are really one then why am I commanded to pray in Christ’s name to a being who doesn’t interact with me except through Christ? Maybe I am interacting with Christ, which is what I would like to do. Maybe I am not interacting with God – who I have assumed I have been praying to all my life. Does this mess make sense to anyone?
I would like to assume that “directly” in President Smith’s quote refers to an actual visitation by God. I hope God does interact with me through prayer, even though Pres. Smith might classify this as an indirect interaction. I believe God does hear my prayers and responds to many of them. Where does Christ fit into all this? Christ’s voice is the primary voice we hear in the Doctrine and Covenants. Christ seems to be answering all the prayers/questions. Does he answer mine?
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