floridaman1

If God the Father is Omnipotent/Sovereign/All knowing God then how is it that our prayers have any effect or affect on the outcome of Earthly matters? If the outcome is already known, why make prayers of intercession or requests? Praying prayers of praise and thanksgiving make sense, but what of other types of prayers?

I've always thought this text from the Bible Dictionary entry on Prayer sounded correct and helpful:
Frankly, I'm glad they've removed the "template" for prayer that used to be taught (at least, it's gone from Preach My Gospel), and replaced it with something more in line with the above, and not transactional.

If God the Father is Omnipotent/Sovereign/All knowing God then how is it that our prayers have any effect or affect on the outcome of Earthly matters? If the outcome is already known, why make prayers of intercession or requests? Praying prayers of praise and thanksgiving make sense, but what of other types of prayers?

If God the Father is Omnipotent/Sovereign/All knowing God then how is it that our prayers have any effect or affect on the outcome of Earthly matters? If the outcome is already known, why make prayers of intercession or requests? Praying prayers of praise and thanksgiving make sense, but what of other types of prayers?

If God the Father is Omnipotent/Sovereign/All knowing God then how is it that our prayers have any effect or affect on the outcome of Earthly matters? If the outcome is already known, why make prayers of intercession or requests? Praying prayers of praise and thanksgiving make sense, but what of other types of prayers?

@LDSGator I was gonna let this run for a little bit for giggles but probably would feel too guilty. He’s a GA but not one of the 12. It’s Elder Holmes who I believe is in the Young Men’s Presidency. 

Not bragging. Very cool! 

I suggest you live as best you can according to what you know and believe, while continuing to seek for more light and knowledge. As you live according to the light that has been given to you, God will give you more, and you will soon have enough light to see what your next step should be. 

I have actually read a lot of your thread, though not all of it. Perhaps I will start at the beginning and go through it again. Thank you for the insight. I would never actively speak out against the church or prophet, that is not my intention or place, I try to respect people that I do not agree with, so that would not be something I would do   But I thank you for that bit of advice, I can see how some people would not be able to control themselves. 

What of people that believe there is some truth to the BOM and that some of the LDS doctrines have merit, but also cannot jump full in? How would they fit in, or can they ever? I would currently fit into this category as I believe there is something to the BOM and that Joseph Smith had a sincere intention. The issues lie in that simply turning my back on traditional Christian Doctrine and beliefs is incredibly difficult, simply "jumping all in" is not a step I can take at this time. Simply believing in a Prophet is difficult as I do not come from a tradition that believes in them. Believing that God gave JS the initial vision and then the BOM is fairly easy, but the next steps further into the WoW, D&C, etc. become exceedingly more difficult. 
I truly am sincere in these questions, if this is taken as being too far or trollish please know that is not my intention, I am searching and have a desire to learn. 
 

Something I have struggled with is why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Why do children get cancer and where one will turn out OK, another will die - and both sets of parents are Christians praying their hardest for healing? There is obviously a lot more to that question, but I think you get the idea. 

@anatess2 and @estradling75, thank you - that makes sense. I, by nature, am not really confrontational, so it gets to me when people push too much. However, I understand that not everyone is that way. I will just have to take my own time on this and keep moving forward. 

@anatess2 and @estradling75, thank you - that makes sense. I, by nature, am not really confrontational, so it gets to me when people push too much. However, I understand that not everyone is that way. I will just have to take my own time on this and keep moving forward. 

You are in complete control of this.  Other people can try to push you hard, as is their personality, but it's completely in your control to kindly tell them to stop pushing and avoid them if they persist.  They can try to rush you but it is also completely within your control not to be rushed.  The good thing about attending church services and activities is that most everybody there is just trying to live their own lives according to their own understanding of what is good so that when you tell them in no uncertain terms it is not good for you or you're not ready, they usually listen.
The thing is - the best place for you to learn more about the restored gospel and how it is applied in daily life is by attending church services and activities.  So, if you are sincere in your desire to learn more, then it's the perfect time to practice some self-confidence and assertiveness while you learn at your own pace.  Missionaries will try to bring you to baptism but they can't force you to it so just tell them you're not ready and you'll tell them when you are so they won't have to ask again.
Hope that helps.

What of people that believe there is some truth to the BOM and that some of the LDS doctrines have merit, but also cannot jump full in? How would they fit in, or can they ever? I would currently fit into this category as I believe there is something to the BOM and that Joseph Smith had a sincere intention. The issues lie in that simply turning my back on traditional Christian Doctrine and beliefs is incredibly difficult, simply "jumping all in" is not a step I can take at this time. Simply believing in a Prophet is difficult as I do not come from a tradition that believes in them. Believing that God gave JS the initial vision and then the BOM is fairly easy, but the next steps further into the WoW, D&C, etc. become exceedingly more difficult. 
I truly am sincere in these questions, if this is taken as being too far or trollish please know that is not my intention, I am searching and have a desire to learn. 
 

I have actually read a lot of your thread, though not all of it. Perhaps I will start at the beginning and go through it again. Thank you for the insight. I would never actively speak out against the church or prophet, that is not my intention or place, I try to respect people that I do not agree with, so that would not be something I would do   But I thank you for that bit of advice, I can see how some people would not be able to control themselves. 

Mostly to not be ostracized or pushed too fast in one way or the other. Sometimes in other churches they tend to be over the top with trying to make you "one of us" that they go too far, and that ends up making me feel rushed or pushed. But also being able to attend services without actively pushing against the standards or protocol - that is not my intention. 

Like any large group we have a variety of personality types...  Which includes some pushy people and some standoffish people.  There is not much we can do if you encounter one of those, except enboolden you to say No to the overly pushy.
No is a very powerful word, and it should be respected.  If someone does not then that is a personal failing. 
As for the standoffish and others you might encounter...  Well we are a hospital for sinners run by sinners.  So you will find people in vary states as they are trying to progress and become what God would have them be.  So hopefully you can forgive and empathize when you see someone struggling even when you do not like how it impacts you personally

I have actually read a lot of your thread, though not all of it. Perhaps I will start at the beginning and go through it again. Thank you for the insight. I would never actively speak out against the church or prophet, that is not my intention or place, I try to respect people that I do not agree with, so that would not be something I would do   But I thank you for that bit of advice, I can see how some people would not be able to control themselves. 

Mostly to not be ostracized or pushed too fast in one way or the other. Sometimes in other churches they tend to be over the top with trying to make you "one of us" that they go too far, and that ends up making me feel rushed or pushed. But also being able to attend services without actively pushing against the standards or protocol - that is not my intention. 

You sound like me, several years ago.  I have a HUGE thread in this group about it.  Study and prayer helped me through, but to answer your question:  there is really a place for anyone here, providing they don't actively speak out against the Church and Prophet.  If they have a sincere desire to learn, regardless whether or not they agree, there is a seat for you.  Eventually, most of it made sense to me.  Some of it still doesn't, but I believe it will in time.  
Whether I "agree" with everything or not, my life has been blessed through making and keeping covenants, even the ones I don't truly understand.

Thank you everyone for your replies, they do help me and I will have to ponder further. @Vort, thank you your reply is helpful and I really will think on this further. 

Thank you everyone for your replies, they do help me and I will have to ponder further. @Vort, thank you your reply is helpful and I really will think on this further. 

Thank you!

Administrative policy book for all of the administrative-how-to-do-this stuff.  
The big "update" with it is that they took the old two books, and combined them into one online for everyone.  Honestly, it's not groundbreaking at all.