Faith | In the middle of a classroom test, he asked God for the answer

Growing up in a large family of children, we always knew our parents loved the Lord and showed this by their words and deeds.

One of our favorite stories we would ask our father (Ray) to repeatedly tell us was when he was a young fourth grader attending elementary school with 12 children in his class in our small community. He was an excellent student, studied hard, and although he was small in stature, he loved playing any kind of sports during recess.

One day, he was actually excited to get back to class after a rousing game of baseball during recess because he knew that day the class would be taking the 48 states and their capitals test (Alaska and Hawaii weren’t states at that time). Ray knew he would get 100 percent because of all the effort he had put into learning them.

Ray’s pencil fairly flew as he set about to accomplish the required task. Suddenly, as he reached the final state, sheer panic came over him. What state had he forgotten and what was the capital of that state?

Now, sadness overcame the panic.

He had studied so hard and wanted that perfect score so badly. He had been taught well by loving parents that when you need help, the person you turn to is the Lord.

Yes, Ray knew that’s what he should do.

He leaned over his paper on his desk, scratched his head, closed his eyes, and silently pleaded with the Lord to help him remember the missing state and capital.

As his prayer ended, he opened his eyes and saw something fall from his hair onto the paper. It was a little rock from the playground where he had been playing at recess.

As Ray pondered seeing that little rock, he thought, “Little rock, little rock, Ohhh, Little Rock, Arkansas!”

That was the answer he needed. He thanked the Lord for answering his prayer.

I, too, know that if we go to the Lord with our problems whether they be small or large, he will answer those prayers in ways we might never think. They, also, may not be on our timeline, but they will be answered of this we may be sure.

The other part of prayer that my father always included in his account of the little rock was how he thanked the Lord after his prayer was answered.

Showing appreciation to others for what they have done or given us is always appropriate, but even more important is thanking the Lord every single day for all he has given us, which is everything.

American religious leader Thomas S. Monson stated, “Prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace. Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us. Speak to Him in prayer and then listen for the answer. Miracles are wrought through prayer.”

The miracle of prayer is that when you reach out to our Heavenly Father, He hears you (see Jeremiah 29:12-13). To always have someone to turn to in good times and in bad down the road of life is so comforting. We can know most assuredly that God is there and wants to help us in whatever we are doing, even if it’s an answer to a small boy’s fervent prayer for a school test.

If we keep praying, we will see this for ourselves.

Guest Spiritual Life writer Laura Copeland is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com.