Prayer is the Answer.

You all are probably so extremely tired of me just going on and on and on about all things that I "think" I know about the family but I am just learning so much and this project is so fun for me.This week let's talk prayer. I just want to focus on one chapter this week because to me prayer is something very important to me, the other chapters were too but this stood out to me the most.
The chapter that stood out to me in this week's lesson on Family Happiness was called, "Sanctification and Cooperation: How Prayer Helps Strengthen Relationships in Good Times and Heal Relationships in Bad Times." The title alone spoke to me, because let me tell you, IT REALLY WORKS!
There are times in marriages and families where you are so irritated at the person and you do not want to even look at them, but bed time prayers need to happen, and as soon as that prayer starts the heart is softened. An apostle talked about that, but I cannot think of who it was right now.
My book said this on prayer, "Prayer is the means by which individuals may invite God to play an active role in their relationship." This is very true. Through this lesson and the examples in my life I have quickly come to see that as we kneel in payer to our Heavenly Father, he will guide us in all that we need to know at that time.
One thing I know to be true is family prayer with children is very important, doing morning and night prayers with children sets an example for them to start saying their own prayers when they are old enough to do so. My sister does this with her family and all of her children ages; 8,6 and 4 say their prayers (the 4 year old needs some help but it is so cute!) and they have a baby but she can only listen right now because she is too young. But my point being that these kids are learning from their parents what prayer means and how much it can help with everything!
I have a personal testimony that prayer helps in all things, Kendall and I have turned to Heavenly Father through prayer in so many ways just in our short 7 months of marriage for guidance in all things marriage. I am grateful that Heavenly Father doesn't mind listening to me and is there is to help us if we ask.
I want to close with this quote from this chapter by Dallin H. Oaks, "If you are already descending into the low state of marraige-in-name-only, please join hands, kneel together, and prayerfully plead for help and the healing power of the Atonement. Your humble and united pleadings with bring you closer to the Lord and to each other and will help you in the hard climb back to marital hamony." This quote is very powerful and do not take it as prayer only helps with the big problems but I know that it helps with the little annoyances as well.
Prayer is great for everything, be sure to pray is give thanks to Heavenly Father for blessing you with a temple marriage and family as well, he likes to know we are grateful and happy too!

Here is just a cute little meme I found on google about prayer:


Happy day and Happy Spring!