President Holland's April 2024 Conference Talk on Prayer
President Jeffrey R. Holland, “Motions of a Hidden Fire.”
Notes from Discussion:
President Holland, “. . . I can say that part of what I received was an admonition to return to my ministry with more urgency, more consecration, more focus on the Savior, more faith in His word,” explaining his desire to “raise an apostolic voice of both warmth and warning in the morning, during the day, and into the night.”
Consider the connection between his BYU faculty address in August 2021, “The Second Half of the Second Century of Brigham Young University,” and his October 2021 general conference talk, “The Great Possession.”
President Holland has previously shared that he has suffered from depression - the vision he received may help him overcome those feelings and move forward strongly— - this vision was a jolting wake-up call for him and us.
Elder Maxwell when he was ill and wanted to be done -- President Hinckley told him to wear himself out
Holland acknowledged that the prayers for him and his wife were not answered in the same way—appreciated his acknowledgment of this difference since all of us have experienced prayers not being answered as we hoped. What is the right way to pray for someone without taking away that individual’s agency? One way is to state the concern and ask how to minister to that individual.
Virginia Hinckley Pearce: “And so the miracle of prayer doesn’t reside in the ability to manipulate situations and events, but in the miracle of creating a relationship with God.”
One reason we don't say "who is dead" in the temple anymore is because they are not dead, they have passed onto the next phase of eternal progression. Assume that the veil is not as thin as we think--what would happen if we didn't put boundaries or restrictions between us and them? President Holland, “We need to believe in angels and miracles and the promises of the holy priesthood.”
Wendy Nelson has taught that we have to ask for their help (family members who have passed) and be specific in asking for help
The power of the covenant gives us access to angels -- call upon them. We can pray for messages to be delivered to those on the other side.
What does "ask not amiss" mean? Footnote: 2 Nephi 4:35, “Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.”
President Holland urges us to “be serious in our planning” of eternal life and that “this is an urgent matter for all of us.” He has recently said in private settings that he is not concerned with the daily administrative duties of life and church but with raising his apostolic voice—this way of living would be liberating.
Vocal prayers - keep us on track for what we need to say -
Myth: Satan hears our prayers and then knows best how to attack
Truth: When we pray to God, Satan cannot be present
Kimberly Matheson: “Prayer is a slice of time that suspends the typical run of the world and, by praying regularly, disciples thereby habituate themselves in an ability to suspend the world whenever necessary. Trained in hitting “pause” before sleeping and after rising and every time food is set before them, disciples then grow capable of hitting “pause” when a conversation comes to blows or their mile-worn legs grow fatigued.” Kimberly Matheson, Sperry Symposium, October 2022.
Is rebuking Satan a prayer? It is a command. Hold arm to the square and with faith in Jesus Christ, command him to depart. Use when feeling dark, or losing confidence or self-esteem, or fearful, etc.
We have the power to call in the light and to dismiss the darkness
Rebuking is a form of testifying of Jesus Christ
Note texted to Kim after our gathering:
“I got a little inspiration as I was taking off my makeup. Perhaps President Holland had to come back because it was for his good so he could feel that he had given it his all without trepidation. Maybe his wife didn’t have those insecurities when she left for the next life and he did have insecurities. Maybe coming back and giving it his all, like literally all he had, was his Heavenly Father‘s gift to him that he had fought a good fight. He now can go back home in a month, weeks, or days and have peace that he gave it his all.”
Talks, podcasts, quotes, essays, and books mentioned:
Magnify Community podcast featuring Ellen Rees
Links to President Holland's talk, “Motions of a Hidden Fire,” and Patricia Terry Holland's funeral service
“When growing conditions are not ideal, trees slow down their growth and devote their energy to the basic elements necessary for survival,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Kimberly Matheson - For permission to receive a copy of Dr. Matheson’s 2022 Sperry Symposium presentation, please email her at kim_matheson@byu.edu.