The gospel of Jesus Christ is "beautifully simple and simply beautiful," and nothing is more simple yet more powerful than prayer, expressed Elder Glen L. Rudd of the First Quorum of the Seventy, who was sustained as a General Authority at the April 1987 conference.
Speaking Saturday afternoon, Elder Rudd began with some observations about service in the priesthood.
"No boy or man fully possesses the priesthood until he learns to serve others and the Lord. It is true that someone with authority may bestow the priesthood by the laying on of hands, but until we do something by way of service to others, the priesthood lies dormant within us and is of little value."
Elder Rudd, who serves in the presidency of the North America West Area, then emphasized the necessity "of keeping the simple doctrines of the gospel simple. I strongly feel that the gospel was given to us in a simple, plain and clear manner.
"Nothing," he added, "is more simple than prayer." It can become "one of the most beautiful, lovely, simple acts that we can do."
Elder Rudd then, with added emphasis, bore his testimony that the Lord hears and answers prayers.
"We are obligated to thank Him," he continued. "We are obligated to converse with Him in such a way that there are no obstacles between us and our Father in Heaven.
"From the very beginning the Lord has instructed His earthly children to remember Him in prayer."
He then related the story of a member of the Council of the Twelve who found himself in the company of a young boy some 40 years ago. The boy told the apostle that he knew he traveled in boats and airplanes all the time, but never was harmed.
"Do you know why it is you don't ever get killed or get hurt?" the boy asked.
"No, why is that?" the apostle responded.
The little Primary boy said, "That's because I pray for you."
"There is far more power in simple prayer than many of us think possible," Elder Rudd added.
He then talked about the power of prayers offered in behalf of loved ones or Church leaders.
"I am sure He hears the simple prayers of all people. I am also certain that a loving Heavenly Father appreciates the sincere, regular prayers of the faithful much more than the hurried, urgent appeals given only in times of crisis."
Praying as a family is also a special opportunity, Elder Rudd said. "Nothing binds a family together more, and nothing puts us in a position to receive His blessings more than compliance with that wonderful commandment and privilege. Praying as couples or individually is equally as important, he added.
"May the Lord bless us and help us all to serve Him with simple, child-like faith, simple forgiveness and repentance, and especially with simple prayer, that we may enjoy the strength, power, and beauty that comes from the plain and simple things of the gospel," Elder Rudd concluded.