Getting Different Answers to Prayer

Something I've learned as a Mormon is that two people can ask what is apparently the same question and get different answers, and both be getting them from God. They may use the exact same words, and still get different answers.

Let's look at a few examples.

One person with ovarian cancer asks God what to do, and God tells her to have surgery and chemotherapy. Another person with ovarian cancer asks God what to do, and God tells her to change her diet.

Both end up getting well.

Okay, let's throw a third woman into the mix. She has the same problem, gets her answer from God, and she follows it and dies.

Some people will argue that this is proof that there is no God.

No two women are the same. The first appears to have been in a health situation where she needed to have the surgery. The second appears to have been in a health situation such that changing her diet removed the causal mechanisms of the cancer. The third appears to have been in a situation where God wanted her to return to her heavenly home. Maybe she needed to do things for her family over there that she couldn't do here.

Logically speaking, the above paragraph is hypothesis.

Facts: There are women who have had surgery and been healed. There are women who have changed their diet and been healed. And there are women who have taken other paths and been healed.

And there are woman who have not been healed.

We do not know all the causal relationships. And we most definitely do not have access to God's mind as to why certain people die while others live, at least not in every case. Not in very many cases at all.

At best, we can sometimes get a glimpse of God's mind and will towards us in cases which involve us or people close to us.

The point is that we are all different. We should not expect to have the same experiences. We should not expect the exact same answers when we pray.

Another well-known example is when a guy prays about a certain girl and gets revelation that he should marry her. But she prays and gets revelation that she should not marry him.

He does not know her situation perfectly, nor does he know all of her needs and wants. It may well be that, given his needs and wants and what he knows of her, she would be right for him. And yet it may at the same time be that, given her needs and wants, he would be wrong for her.

Thus, different answers. They seem to be asking the same question, but they are not.

Let's try another example. Two people pray about the truth of a certain book of scripture, say the Book of Mormon. One receives an answer that he should read it and learn truth from it. The other receives an answer that he should not read it.

Now, I can't say that both are getting answers from God, but I have learned that I also can't say neither is. Nor can I say that either is not.

How can this be? Either the book is true or it isn't.

Well, a person who, for reasons we may or may not know, reads passages such as 3 Nephi 12: 48 (Matthew 5: 48 -- "Be ye therefore perfect, ....") and simply can't see any other course but straight A-plusses at school, a mission to Russia where he converts and baptizes Putin, and marriage in the temple to a former Victoria's Secret model, might have reason to think twice about reading the Book of Mormon.

Or, especially, if he reads about Ammon defending Lamoni's flocks (Alma 17) and thinks it means he should run around at work or at the store with a sword.

On another hand, when I started reading the Book of Mormon, every time I read the word "repent", I thought the Lord was accusing me of being evil for not being perfect. But after five years of regularly reading it, I figured out that my understanding of perfection was as wrong as my interpretation of the intent of the call to repentance. That is to say, I quit thinking that I had to meet yesterday's arbitrary ideals yesterday.

I found truth in the Book of Mormon through reading it.

Sure, my answer was to read it in spite of my improper interpretations.

Others may have different paths to the truth, paths that require them to believe for a time that the Book of Mormon, as they understand it, is false. That does not seem to me to be a permanent problem.

It is far more important for each person, as an individual, to come to trust God, to understand that He wants us each to receive as much happiness (and truth) as we, as individuals, are willing to receive.

Now, we should not be surprised if we get similar answers to those others get, but we really should not be surprised to get different answers.

And it would help all concerned if we were more supportive of each other in seeking truth, even when we get different answers.

Vocabulary and Grammar from the Sacrament

Japanese vocabulary and grammar for the ordinance of the Sacramental blessing of the bread:

永遠 (えいえん= e.i-e.n) : eternity

の (no) : genetive particle, like "of", but post-position instead of pre-position.

永遠の (eien-no) : of eternity => eternal

父 (ちち＝chi.chi) : father

なる (na-ru) : be, become

父なる(chichi-naru) : father (adjective, from "being father")

神 (かみ = kami) : god (god/angel/spirit/intelligence)

父なる神 (Chichi-naru Kami) : God, the Father

よ (yo) : directive/directional particle, like "to", but post-position

神よ (Kami yo) : "(Hey,) God!"; "Oh God, ..." -- addressing God

永遠の父なる神よ (eien-no chichi-naru kami yo) : "Oh, God, the Eternal Father"

私 (わたし = watashi) : I, me (Also pronounced "watakushi" (masculine) and "atasi" (feminine).)

私達 (わたしたち = watashi-tachi) : we, us (those who are in the same class/group as me)

は (ha => "wa") : topical particle (post-position) (Pronounced as "wa" when used as particle.)

私達は (watashi-tachi wa) : we (grammatical subject form, sort-of)

子 (こ = ko) : child

御子 (おんこ = On-ko) : (honorific child =>) the Son

イエス (i.e.su) : Jesus

キリスト (ki.ri.su.to) : Christ

名 (な = na) : name

御名 (みな = Mi-na) : honorific name

に (ni) : indicative particle (in, through, by, of, for) (post-position)

による (ni yo-ru) : to be through, in, or by something (verbal)

によって (ni yo-t.te) : through (adverbal)

イエスキリストの御名によって (Iesu Kirisuto no Mi-na ni yotte) : ... in the name of Jesus Christ

貴方 (あなた = a.na.ta) : you (honorific)

貴方に (anata ni) : you (grammatical object form), "to you"

願う (ねがう = ne.ga-u) : desire, wish, hope

求める (もとめる = mo.to-me.ru) : seek, desire

願い求める (nega-i-motome-ru) : seek/ask/request (a favor)

ます (ma-su) : increase (polite ending of verbs)

わたしたちは御子イエス・キリストの御名によってあなたに願い求めます (watashi-tachi wa On-ko Iesu Kirisuto no Mi-na ni yotte anata ni nega-i-moto-me-masu) : "... we ask (thee) in the name of (thy) Son, Jesus Christ ...".
(Note that "Anata" here can be ambiguous, applying to someone of higher rank/class, or, as in the case of a wife, to a close familiar of higher rank such as a husband. It is not, however, the general familiar that "thee" was when the Bible was first translated to English.)

この (ko.no) : this (adjective)

パン (pa.n) : bread (via Portuguese)

を (wo => "o") : objective particle (post-position) (The "w" is almost never pronounced.)

頂く (いただく = i.ta.da-ku) : partake (receive) (Used especially with food, but not limited to food. Often used in polite grammar. The set phrase, 「いただきます。」 ("Itadakimasu.") is often spoken before eating a meal to express gratitude for the food -- both specific and abstract.)

このパンを頂く (pan-wo itada-ku) : partake of this bread (May be used to modify the following noun or noun-phrase.)

全て (すべて = su.be-te) : all, a complete set

全ての (subete-no) : all (of something)

人 (ひと = hi.to) : person

人々 (ひとびと = hito-bito) : people


が (が = ga) : true subjective particle (post-position)

このパンを頂く全ての人々が (kono pan wo itada-ku subete-no hito-bito ga) : "All (people) who partake of this bread" (Constructed as the subject of the sentence.)

体 (からだ = ka.ra.da) : body


記念 (きねん = ki.ne.n) : memorial

御子の体の記念に (Onko no karada no kinen ni) : "... in remembrance of the body of (thy) Son ..."

これ (ko.re) : this (noun)

頂ける (いただける = i.ta.da-ke.ru) : can be partaken

ように (yo.u-ni) : in some way, "that"

これを頂けるように (kore wo itada-keru yō-ni) : that (they) may partake

御子の体の記念にこれを頂けるように (On-ko no karada no kinen ni kore wo itada-keru yō-ni) : " "... that (they) may (eat) in remembrance of the body of (thy) Son ..."

また (ma.ta) : and

進む (すすむ = su.su-mu) : proceed, move forward

進んで (su.su-n.de) : proceeding (adverb), moving forward => willingly

受ける (うける = u-keru) : receive, accept

進んで御子の御名を受け (susu-nde On-ko no Mi-na wo u-ke) : willingly (taking upon them) the name of (thy) Son => "... that (they) are willing to (take upon them) the name of (thy) Son,"

いつ (i.tsu) : when

いつも (i.tsu-mo) : whenever, at all times

覚える (おぼえる = o.bo-e.ru) : remember, recall

いつも御子を覚え (itsu-mo On-ko wo obo-e) : always remembering (thy) Son => "... that they do always remember Him,"

与える (あたえる = a.ta-e.ru) : give, present with (equal rank)

くださる (ku.da-sa.ru) : give (from higher rank to lower rank)

くださった (ku.da-sa.t.ta) : gave

戒める (いましめる = i.ma.shi-me.ru) : command, order (verb)

戒め (imashi-me) : command(s) (noun) => commandment(s)

守る (まもる = ma.mo-ru) : obey, protect, keep

こと (ko.to) : thing, that

御子が与えて下さった戒めを守ることを (On-ko ga ata-ete kuda-satta imashi-me wo mamo-ru koto wo) : that (they will) keep the commandments which (thy Son) gave them (Constructed as the object of the sentence.)

** Note that "koto wo" actually collects several phrases as objects through the grammatical construction, including the quasi gerund forms (obo-e, u-ke) and the word "mata".


証明 (しょうめい = sho.u-me.i) : proof, witness (noun)

証明する (しょうめいする = shōmei-suru) : witness (verb), testify

あなたに証明して (anata ni shōmei-shite) : witessing to (thee) => that (they may) witness unto (thee)

御霊 (みたま = mi-ta.ma) : (the) spirit, the Holy Spirit

受けられる (u-ke.ra.re.ru) : to be received, can receive

いつも御子の御霊を受けられるように (itsu-mo Onko no Mitama wo u-kerareru yō-ni) : that (they) may always receive the Spirit of (thy) Son => "that they may always have (His) Spirit (with them)"

祝福 (しゅくふく = shu.ku.fu.ku) : blessing

祝福する (shukufuku-suru) : bless (verb)

清める (きよめる = ki.yo-me.ru) : purify

聖める (きよめる = ki.yo-me.ru) : sanctify

ください (ku.da-sa.i) : (Please.)

このパンを祝福し、聖めてください。 (kono pan wo shukufuku-shi, kiyo-mete kuda-sai.) : (Please) bless and sanctify this bread.

アーメン (a.a.me.n) : amen

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Additional Japanese vocabulary and grammar for the ordinance of the Sacramental blessing of the bread: 

水 (みず = mi.zu) : water

(Old kana: みづ。 Also, compare 湯 (ゆ = yu): hot water.)

For reference:
葡萄 (ぶどう = bu.do.u) : grape
酒 (さけ = sa.ke) : (rice) wine
酒 (しゅ = shu) : distilled (alcoholic) spirits
葡萄酒 (ぶどうしゅ = budō-shu) : grape distillates, ergo, grape wine

この水を頂く全ての人々が (kono pan wo itada-ku subete-no hito-bito ga) : "All (people) who drink of this water" (Constructed as the subject of the sentence.)

為 (ため = ta.me) : the good/sake (of), the cause (of), the benefit (of)

為に (ために = tame-ni) : for the sake/benefit of, because of

この人々のために (kono hito-bito no tame-ni) : for the sake of these people


流れる (ながれる = na.ga-re.ru) : flow (verb)

流す (ながす = na.ga-su) : (cause to) flow, wash (verb, separate from "cleanse")

For reference:
洗う (あらう = a.ra-u) : wash, cleanse
洗い流す (ara-i naga-su) : wash clean

流される (ながされる = na.ga-sa.re.ru) : be caused to flow, (honorific) cause to flow

血 (ち = chi) :

流された血 (naga-sareta chi) : blood which has been shed

この人々のために流された御子の血 (kono hito-bito no tame-ni naga-sareta On-ko no chi) : the blood of the Son, which was shed for these people => "the blood of (thy) Son which was shed for (them)"

覚えている (おぼえている = o.bo-e.te.i.ru) : be remembering

いつも御子を覚えていることを (itsu-mo On-ko wo obo-eteiru koto wo) : that (they) are always remembering the Son => "that (they) do always remember (Him)"

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Note that, as in the English prayers, this uses vocabulary and grammar that would not ordinarily be used outside these prayers.

Hopefully, I will be able post a series of blogs that show how to say these kinds of things in ordinary prayers and conversation, later.