As a newly minted first grader, I soon learned that in Virginia schools we had to stand each morning and repeat the Lord’s Prayer (yes, really!), along with other day starters. In a home without religion, the “big words” I learned did not include “hallowed” or “trespasses,” and I didn’t understand which “kingdom” was involved. I did not totally understand what we were saying or why we were saying it. To finish was my intent—real or otherwise. As an adult now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have come to appreciate the power of prayer offered with real intent.
God’s Perfect Knowledge
From school, school yard, and nuns passing from a nearby convent, I developed a vague idea of God. But I did not think of Him when we repeated the prayer at school. I know now that the Lord’s prayer should be said with real intent—a deeply personal statement of love and worship for God.
Dallin H. Oaks called attention to Ammon’s explanation to King Lamoni that God “looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.” 1
God knows our real intent: what we are really thinking and what we really want. What we communicate by praying or preaching what we think we are supposed to say may represent our own insecurity.
This seems harsh, but we know how common it is—and how often we may not realize we are doing it. Knowing God’s infinite love and patience, I think I hear Him sighing: “She doesn’t understand yet, but she will eventually get there.”
We receive salvation and exaltation by God’s grace—not by a balance sheet. But we sometimes receive day-to-day “rewards” that keep us going, even when we are frustrated by what we can’t do. Elder Oaks explained, “the law of God can reward a righteous desire because an omniscient God can discern it. As revealed through the prophet of this dispensation, God ‘is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’” (Doctrine and Covenants 33:1).
Elder Oaks applied this by helping us understand that persons with real intent—genuine desire—to do something but cannot (e.g., lacking financial ability or physical capability), will be judged and rewarded as if they had done it.
Those who do something grudgingly, without real intent or desire, receive no approval or reward. Thus I receive no reward for landscaping or scrubbing projects I am glad my arthritis keeps me from doing. And if I’m going to whine about washing luncheon dishes, I might as well have stayed home.
God’s Loving Communication
Dieter F. Uchtdorf has assured us, “The Everlasting and Almighty God, the Creator of this vast universe, will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent.” He mentioned dreams and visions, but included thoughts as well as feelings.
Elder Uchtdorf continued, “He will speak in a way that is unmistakable and that transcends human experience. He will give them divine direction and answers for their personal lives.” Real intent is extremely important: “you must consider, ponder, fearlessly strive to believe.” 2
Worship and prayer are not passive. Some of us use words—spoken in our voices or dragged through our minds and hearts. We may use fuzzy words or images as we examine our thoughts or feelings, but the Lord sees and hears reality.
Elder Uchtdorf counseled that we must live principles we want to understand. “Put gospel doctrine and Church teachings to the test in your own life. Do it with real intent and enduring faith in God.” When we deliberately, actively seek for light, our real intent indicates to God that we are ready to receive it.
God’s Blessings with Real Intent
Jeffrey R. Holland linked “earnest desire” with real intent, quoting 2 Nephi 31:13,“With full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God.” He assured us, “I testify that in response to that kind of importuning, God will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen our belief” (emphasis in original). 3
In a general conference talk, Gerrit W. Gong gave examples of his own prayers asking for marriage guidance.
When I asked, “Heavenly Father, should I marry Susan?” I felt peace. But it was when I learned to pray with real intent, “Heavenly Father, I love Susan and want to marry her. I promise I will be the best husband and father I can be”—when I acted and made my best decisions, it was then the strongest spiritual confirmations came.
Elder Gong also told of an ancestor’s intent. For 47 years, “Gram,” widowed with five children (all young), “promised the Lord if He would help her, she would never complain. The Lord helped her. She never complained.” 4
These examples involved specific, deliberate, focused thought and personal commitment—Real intent with a capital R.
The purest prayers, of course, include those of children. My daughter-in-law was for much of her life a child life specialist, working in hospitals with children who were critically ill or injured.
When my daughter asked, “How do you tell children they are going to die?” she responded, “We don’t have to. Children always know.” Some of the children have told her, and others who care for them, about the “visitors” all of them have.
The Lord knows the depth of our need as well as the thoughts and real intent of our hearts—more clearly and accurately than we could ever express.
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