Heavenly Call for a Family in Need, Star Valley Wyoming

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The Church website defines Prayers as "a conversation with God, where if you reach out, you will find Him. It is best understood by doing it." We are taught that as children of a loving Heavenly Father we are given the gift of prayer, to communicate directly with God. The Creator of the Universe, hears our heart felt desires and will listen and answer according to our needs.

Jefferey R. Holland said in a recent conference address:

"Brothers and sisters, I testify that God hears every prayer we offer and responds to each of them according to the path He has outlined for our perfection.... It is for reasons known only to God why prayers are answered differently than we hope—but I promise you they are heard and they are answered according to His unfailing love and cosmic timetable.

Thomas S. Monson, said:

“To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with challenges and difficulties large and small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace. Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us. Speak to Him in prayer and then listen for the answer. Miracles are wrought through prayer” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2009, 68; or Ensign, May 2009, 68).

This Miracle comes out of the book "Harold B. Lee, Remembering the Miracles".

Our Heavenly Father hears our hearts and will answer our prayers.

The Story:

"I was raised up in Star Valley Wyoming. [President Ballantyne had said]. It was a hard and difficult climate, the soil not too good, and we struggled. Father had a large family, and sometimes after we had our harvest there was not very much left after expenses were paid. So Father would have to go away and hire out to some of the big ranchers for maybe a dollar a day, a little more than to take care of himself, and very little to send home to Mother and the children. And things began to get pretty skimpy for us.

We had our family prayers around the table, and it was one such night that father was gone that we gathered, and Mother poured out of a pitcher into a glass for each one, milk divided among the children, but none for herself. And I, sensing the fact that the milk in the pitcherwas all that we had, pushed mine over to Mother and said, "Here, Mother, you drink mine."

"No, Mother is not hungry tonight," she said. (Mothers are never hungry in cases like this.) That worried me.

We drank our milk and went to bed, and I could not sleep. I was the oldest in the family. I got up and tiptoed down the stairs and there was Mother our in the middle of the floor kneeling in prayer. She did not hear me as I came down in my bare feet. I dropped to my knees and I heard her say "Heavenly Father, there is not food in our house today. Please, Father, touch the heart of somebody so the children will not be hungry in the morning." When she finished her prayer, she looked around and saw that I had heard and she said to me, somewhat embarrassed, "Now you run along to be, son. Everything will be all right."

Well, I went to bed assured by my mother's faith. The next morning I was awakened by the sound of pots and pans in the kitchen, and the smell of cooking food. I went down to the kitchen and said, "Mother, I thought you said there was not any food." All she said to me was "Well, my boy, didn't you think the Lord would answer my prayer?" I got no further explanation than that.

Years passed and I went away to college. I was married and I came back now to see the old folks. Old Bishop Gardner was now reaching up to a ripe old age, but he still had a keen memory and as I visited with him he said:

"My son, let me tell you of an experience that I had with your family. I had finished my chores, and we had had supper and I was sitting and reading the paper. My shoes were off and I was sitting by the fireplace. I heard a voice that said 'Sister Ballantyne doesn't have any food in her house'. I thought it was my wife. I called out, 'What did you say, Mother?'

She came in wiping her hands on a towel and asked 'Did you call me, Father?'

'No, I didn't say anything, but somebody did.'

What did they say? She asked.

'It said that Sister Ballantyne didn't have any food in her house.'

'Well then,' she said 'you better put on your shoes and your coat and go over and take some food to Sister Ballantyne. Somebody is telling your to do your duty as a bishop.'

Under the cover of darkness that night Bishop Gardner took flour, meat, potatoes, and all the necessities, because he was acting in the office to which he had been called and under the impulse of the power of the Almighty God."

President Harold B. Lee, when speaking of this experience said "Now we too are in His service. We have the right to that kind of spiritual direction, if we live for it. God grant that we may. . . not fail of the high appointment for which we have been called in our Fathers Kingdom."

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke about being available to help our Father in Heaven in the talk

"You are my Hands" in April 2010

He said:

"A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”

...Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope.

As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit."

References:

Harold B. Lee Miracles Book p

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/04/you-are-my-hands?lang=eng