A grand factor in understanding the nature of our Father in Heaven, includes the devotion to his laws and ordinances such as tithing, scripture study, fasting, service, keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, and attending the temple because through keeping these commandments, we nurture branches to sprout delicious fruits of freedom. The motive is that love-based relationship with God, and the relationship gets DEEPER. Answers are clearer. The root of the tree which springs these bountiful, fruit filled branches, is here:
'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?'
'Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22: 36-40'The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already WILLING to grant, but that are made CONDITIONAL on our ASKING for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means of obtaining the HIGHEST BLESSINGS' -Bible Dictionary 'prayer'
I KNOW God will answer every one of your prayers, as he does my prayers- thus I fear praying for certain things, while incesstantly pursuing others. I know he will do that for each and every of his children who ACTIVELY choose to come closer to him. This active choice is through keeping his commandments, or in other words, showing him that we love him, and his sons and daughters. : )
"And ye see that I have commanded that NONE of you should go away, but rather commanded that ye should COME UNTO ME, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world" -Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 18:25
