The Nature of God
Most people believe in a Supreme Being, even though they may call Him by different names.
We know that God, our Heavenly Father, lives. He knows you and each of us and loves us all as His children.
We are commanded to love God (Matthew 22:36–38). Jesus Christ taught that we must know the only true God to have eternal life (John 17:3). As His children, we must know who He is and what He is like.
As you come to know and love God, you will find greater peace and joy, both in this life and in the life to come.
God is our Heavenly Father
Jesus taught that God is “Our Father which art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). We call God Heavenly Father because He is the Father of our spirits.
As your Father, God knows and loves you personally. He wants you to find joy in this life and return to live with Him when this life is over. He has prepared a plan to help you do these things. It is the plan of salvation, a plan of happiness. It offers peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
How can I know that God exists?
God has provided many evidences of His existence. One of these is the testimony of His creations: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1).
Have you ever looked in awe at the night sky with its millions of stars? Or studied the intricate details of a leaf or flower? Or marveled at the miracle of a tiny new baby? These beautiful and complex creations didn’t come about by chance. They are the creations of God, your Heavenly Father. They can remind you of His existence and of His love for His children.
An ancient prophet declared: “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth . . . and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Book of Mormon, Alma 30:44).
What is God like?
God is perfect. He is all-wise and all-powerful—the ruler of the universe.
He is also merciful, kind, loving, and just—your Heavenly Father. We are created in His own image (Genesis 1:27).
Because you are His child, He knows and loves you as an individual. He has a plan to help His children find joy in this life and return to live with Him when this life is over.
Can I talk to God?
Yes. God loves you and wants you to talk to Him in prayer. The Savior said that we should “pray always” (Luke 21:36). A prophet whose words are recorded in the Book of Mormon said, “Let your hearts be . . . drawn out in prayer unto [God] continually” (Alma 34:27).
Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we have. It allows us to communicate with our Heavenly Father and to seek His guidance in all matters, great or small.
Prayer is not complicated. You can pray anytime, anywhere, out loud, or silently, with perfect confidence that God will hear you.
Does God answer prayers?
Yes, God does answer sincere prayers. Sometimes answers come through:
The Holy Ghost, giving you feelings or thoughts and ideas.
Other people.
The scriptures.
The answer may not come immediately or may not always be the answer you hoped for. Our vision is limited. God’s is not. As a loving Father, He will answer your prayers at a time and in a way that He knows will help you the most.
What is faith in God?
Faith in God is more than a theoretical belief in Him. To have faith in God is to trust Him, to have confidence in Him, and to be willing to act on your belief in Him. It is a principle of action and power.
To have faith is to “hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Book of Mormon, Alma 32:21). Each day you act upon things you hope for, even before you see the end result:
A farmer plants a seed and waters and tends it because he has faith that it will grow.
A student studies hard because she has faith that she will grow in knowledge.
Likewise, faith in God requires that you act with hope and trust in Him, before you see the final outcome. It also involves doing all you can to bring about what you hope and pray for.
Receiving answers to prayers
Because God often answers prayers through the Holy Ghost, it is important to learn to recognize the inspired feelings and thoughts that can come to you during or after a prayer.
When the answer is “no,” because what you have asked for would not be best for you, you may have feelings of doubt or confusion.
When the answer is “yes,” you may have a warm, peaceful feeling.
God does not always answer immediately. And sometimes the answer may be “wait a while.”
God expects you to do your part to receive answers. Work out solutions and present your intended decisions to Him. Your obedience to His commandments also influences your ability to receive answers to prayer.
Often God gives you the ability to help answer your own prayers. As you pray for help, you should do all you can to bring about the things you desire.
Your prayers will always be answered at a time and in a way that Heavenly Father knows will help you the most.
Simple Steps to Prayer
Prayer is the way we communicate with our Heavenly Father. He wants to hear our deepest feelings and concerns. Prayer isn’t complicated or rigid. It is simply communicating what’s in your heart to your Father in Heaven. Don’t worry too much about the “mechanics” of your prayer. Just open up your heart and speak to Him.
A simple prayer may include the following four basic steps:
Address God as “Father in Heaven” or “Heavenly Father.”
Thank Him for the things for which you are grateful (“I thank thee for . . .”).
Ask Him for what you need (“I ask thee . . .”).
Jesus is the mediator (1 John 2:1) between you and Heavenly Father, so close your prayer by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Does God perform miracles?
The scriptures contain many accounts of God’s miracles in ancient times. In our day, He hasn’t lost interest in His children. He is still a God of miracles.
But He doesn’t perform miracles to satisfy someone’s idle curiosity or to prove that He is God. Rather, miracles are blessings to those who exercise faith in Him.
People who experience miracles today often consider them sacred and don’t talk publicly about them. But miracles do occur among God’s followers today just as they did in ancient times.
Learning about God
God, your Heavenly Father, knows and loves you. He wants you to know about Him, His plan for you, and how to return to live with Him. He has not left you on this earth without direction or the means to learn about Him. Throughout time He has chosen special witnesses, called prophets, to testify to His children and record His word. Amos wrote, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
You can learn more about your Heavenly Father as you study His words recorded by His prophets and as you listen to their direction and witness of Him.
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