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When someone looks at the world of Christianity, there are diverse beliefs about God and the scriptures. It is no different in regard to the range of beliefs about how God answers prayers. I could write a book about it, but my purpose here is to address only a concern about how prayers are answered.

It can be hard for a floundering member of this Church when he/she doubts the doctrines taught by the apostles and prophet, then go out, investigate and compare the doctrines and beliefs of other Christian denominations, especially in terms of how God answers prayers, leading themselves to think that another church or another Christian denomination or group knows more about prayers and God. This usually happens through accounts given by other Christians of how their prayers were answered.

I have heard and read personal accounts of prayers answered from a range of people, both in and out of this Church. I have heard accounts of the results from prayers that range from the mundane to the impressive. From all of that, I heard other Christians claim that God’s Spirit is therefore always within them, as they explain about their answered prayers, believing wholeheartedly that God is working in their life and guiding them. With all the differing accounts, especially from people outside the Church, how can a member discern if what was said is true and prevent getting pulled into the deluge of false claims about God and his Holy Spirit?

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Over the years attending this Church, I have seen and heard some people volley strange ideas and precepts. Some I recognized were created by what the world calls “New Age” and others are simply a wild idea that got out of hand. I wondered why these people, who attend this Church which provides the doctrine of God, having prophets write and speak on many subjects, still run off with some wild ideas? 

I saw that this is not an unusual thing. When this Church began with the prophet Joseph Smith, the same thing happened. People began to expound all sorts of unusual beliefs and doctrines that did not come from the Lord. Some, who did not have the authority from God, believed that they can receive revelation for the Church. This occurred in the early Christian Church as well, so this phenomenon is something that is expected.

When a person shares a true inspiration from the Lord, what he/she says carries the spirit of truth in it. Those that are open to this spirit will receive it with feelings and thoughts of, “Umm, never thought of it that way”, spurring contemplation or deeper thought. These pearls seem to be infrequent, but what is more prevalent are ideas and precepts that are way out of line.

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