Over the years, I’ve had many conversations with others on whether or not we can reach out to Christ personally. In several of my books, I suggest that spending time with the Lord is one of the most powerful ways we come to know Him, and I believe that includes talking to Him directly.
I know some are uncomfortable with that idea (I was too at first), mainly because we’re instructed in scripture to pray to the Father, and also because our church culture has always discouraged direct communication with Christ. When I first started exploring the concept of speaking or praying to Jesus, I wondered if I was doing something wrong. But I couldn’t get past one key question: How can we ever come to know the Lord if we don’t feel like we can talk to Him? It seemed odd that, in a church called by His name (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), we’ve created a culture where speaking to Him is seen as inappropriate.
So I decided to dig a little deeper into the scriptures to see what I could find. And I was shocked at how much evidence I uncovered in support of this concept. I even found quotes from many different prophets and apostles. I offer my findings below as evidence that, while the Lord certainly expects us to continue praying to the Father in His name, He also invites us to talk to Him directly. In fact, I believe it’s the only way we can move from knowing about Him to truly knowing Him–and even loving Him with all our heart.
Book of Mormon/Pearl of Great Price:
1 Nephi 1:5 — “my father, Lehi…prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart”
1 Nephi 2:16 — “I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me”
1 Nephi 7:17 — “I prayed unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, according to my faith…”
1 Nephi 15:8 — “And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?”
1 Nephi 15:11 — “Do ye not remember [what] the Lord hath said?—If ye will ask me in faith….surely these things shall be made known unto you”
1 Nephi 16:24-25 — “[Lehi] did inquire of the Lord…And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father; and he was truly chastened”
1 Nephi 17:7-10 — Conversation between Nephi & the Lord on building a ship
1 Nephi 18:3 — “I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things”
2 Nephi 4:30-35 — Entire prayer to the Lord pleading for redemption, deliverance
2 Nephi 31:12 — “the voice of the Son came unto me” (also in v. 14)
**Just in case you’re wondering if we can safely assume that Jesus is the “Lord” of the Book of Mormon, I found the following verses as evidence of this: 1 Nephi 19:18; 1 Nephi 21:7 and 26; 2 Nephi 22:2; 2 Nephi 26:23-24; 2 Nephi 31:17; Mosiah 3:12; Mosiah 26:26; Alma 28:8; Alma 37:33; Alma 38:8; Alma 46:39; Helaman 13:6; 3 Nephi 7:16; 3 Nephi 10:10; 3 Nephi 22:5; Mormon 9:37; Ether 12:22 and 41; Moroni 7:2; Moroni 8:2; Moroni 9:26.
President Dallin H. Oaks also makes it clear: “The Father introduced His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Redeemer and gave us the command to “hear Him.” From this direction we conclude that the scriptural records of words spoken by “God” or the “Lord” are almost always the words of Jehovah, our risen Lord, Jesus Christ” (“The Teachings of Jesus Christ,” April 2023).
THE PATTERN CONTINUES:
Enos 1:11, 15, 18 — “And…my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings….I cried unto him continually….And the Lord said unto me…”
Alma 19:29 — Lamoni’s wife’s prayer: “O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!”
Alma 26:27 — “the Lord comforted us, and said:….”
Alma 27:7 — “Ammon said: I will go and inquire of the Lord…”
Alma 34:27 — “Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually…”
Alma 36:18 — “I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness”
Alma 37:33-37 — In v. 33, Jesus is called “the Lord Jesus Christ” and then in v. 37: “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good”
Alma 38:8 — “never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul” (see also v. 14)
Alma 58:11 — “the Lord our God did visit us…he did speak peace to our souls”
Helaman 3:27 — “the Lord is merciful unto all who will….call upon his holy name”
Helaman 10 & 11 — Direct conversation between the Lord and Nephi
3 Nephi 1:11-13 — Nephi “cried mightily unto the Lord.” We know Christ is the Lord here because He answers “on the morrow come I into the world.”
3 Nephi 19:18 — When Christ appears to the people, “they did pray unto Jesus, calling Him their Lord and their God” (for more, see verses 22-30).
Ether 3:1-16 — Entire prayer directed specifically to Christ (we know Jesus is the Lord because of v. 14 where He identifies himself and shows himself).
Ether 12:22 — Entire second half of chapter is a direct conversation between Moroni & the Lord (Christ is identified as “the Lord” in v. 22).
Moses chapter 1 — Same thing here: a direct conversation between the Lord & Moses (The church teaches HERE that it’s Jesus who appeared and is speaking to Moses)
Abraham 2:6, 8 — Abraham “prayed unto the Lord” and Jesus Christ appeared unto him (We know it’s Christ because He says in verse 8 that He’s Jehovah – see Truth 1 HERE).
Doctrine & Covenants (I especially love all the evidence I found in this book. It’s so clear!):
D&C 6:5, 14-15, 21 — “Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive….verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me….Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind….Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
D&C 6:21-23 — “[V]erily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things….Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?” (v. 21 shows it’s Christ talking)
D&C 8:9 — “And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.” (v. 1 identifies Christ as the speaker)
D&C 9:7-8 — “Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right….”
D&C 10:21 — “And their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and abominations … therefore they will not ask of me.”
D&C 11:5 — “Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you” (see also 12:5, 14:5, 27:18).
D&C 18:33-36 — Shows how Jesus Christ speaks to us
D&C 29:1-2 — “Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am…Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer.”
D&C 37:2 — Speaking of those in Colesville, “they pray unto me in much faith”
D&C 30:6 — “And be you afflicted in all afflictions, ever lifting up your heart unto me in prayer and faith, for his and your deliverance…”
D&C 39:16 — “[T]he people of Ohio call upon me in much faith”
D&C 42:68 — “Therefore, he that lacketh wisdom, let him ask of me, and I will give him liberally & upbraid him not.” (V. 1 shows it’s Christ speaking)
D&C 65:4-5 — “Pray unto the Lord, call upon his holy name….Call upon the Lord”
D&C 88:62 — “And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near“
D&C 109:34, 42-44 — Part of prayer is to the Father, but part is directly addressed to Jehovah
The OLD TESTAMENT also has “prayed unto the Lord” 13 times and “cried unto the Lord” 40 times. (I didn’t focus my study on the New Testament because Jesus is there in person with the people.)
QUOTES FROM PROPHETS & APOSTLES THAT TALK ABOUT DIRECT COMMUNICATION with CHRIST:
Brigham Young: “The greatest and most important of all requirements of our Father in heaven and of his Son Jesus Christ, is…to believe in Jesus Christ, confess him, seek to him, cling to him, make friends with him. Take a course to open and to keep open communication with your Elder Brother or file-leader—our Savior” (Journal of Discourses, 8:339).
Russell M. Nelson: “As we seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. It takes conscious and consistent effort to fill our daily lives with His words, His teachings, His truths….Ask the Lord to teach you how to open the heavens to bless your life and the lives of those you love and serve” (“Hear Him,” April 2020).
Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “If we are humble and teachable, He will take us by the hand and lead us home. However, we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way. We have to ask some difficult questions, like “What do I need to change?” “How can I improve?” “What weakness needs strengthening?” (“What Lack I Yet?” October 2015).
Elder Uchtdorf again: “Let us earnestly seek the light of personal inspiration. Let us plead with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the Holy Spirit” (“Your Potential, Your Privilege,” April 2011).
Elder Gary E. Stevenson: “Ask the Lord to teach you how to hear Him better” (“Nourishing and Bearing Your Testimony,” October 2022).
M. Russell Ballard: After calling Him “the Lord Jesus Christ,” Elder Ballard later says that when we speak of Christ, others should “ask the Lord in prayer to confirm the truth of your testimony” (“Remember What Matters Most,” April 2023).
Elder Ballard again: “Brothers and sisters, fear will be replaced with faith and confidence when members and the full-time missionaries kneel in prayer and ask the Lord to bless them with missionary opportunities.… From my own experience I can testify to you that the Lord will hear your prayers” (“Put Your Trust in the Lord,” October 2013).
Ezra Taft Benson: “Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world. Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. Like Paul they will be asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6)” (“Born of God,” July 1989).
Richard G. Scott: “You always need to confess your sins to the Lord.… For your peace now and for everlasting happiness, please repent. Open your heart to the Lord and ask Him to help you. You will earn the blessing of forgiveness, peace, and the knowledge you have been purified and made whole. Find the courage to ask the Lord for strength to repent, now” (“Finding Forgiveness,” April 1995).
Boyd K. Packer: “The Lord has a way of pouring pure intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, to warn us. You can know the things you need to know instantly! Learn to receive inspiration…. I often ask the Lord for direction from Him…. I bear witness, that the Lord lives. I know His voice when He speaks” (“Prayers and Answers,” October 1979).
Gordon B. Hinckley: “[W]e have every reason to thank the Lord for His blessings…. Let us get on our knees and plead with the Lord for direction… Pray together. There is no substitute for family prayer when all kneel together before the Lord” (“Thanks to the Lord for His Blessings,” April 1999).
ADDITIONAL QUOTES ON HAVING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAVIOR:
M. Russell Ballard: “I would like to encourage you with all the strength of my soul to learn to build a real relationship with the Savior of the world” (“You—The Leaders in 1988,” Ensign, March 1979, 69-73, adapted from an address delivered to students at Brigham Young University, 16 May 1978).
Lorenzo Snow: “The Lord wishes to establish a closer and more intimate relationship between Himself and us” (Journal of Discourses (London: F.D. Richards, 1855), 23:193).
Emily Belle Freeman: “Jesus Christ came to lift us. He wants to help us become. This is the why of the temple. We must remember: it’s not the course alone that will exalt us; it’s the companion—our Savior. And this is the why of covenant relationship” (“Walking in Covenant Relationship with Christ,” October 2023).
Tamara W. Runia: “Everyone is diving with their own degree of difficulty. And your Savior is the only one who truly knows the difficulty you are diving with. I want a relationship with the one person who gets me, who knows my heart and how hard I’m trying!…May we love Him continually and choose Him, again and again” (“Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy,” April 2025).
F. Enzio Busche: “[The] real treasure … [is to] develop a close relationship with Christ, the Savior, the Redeemer, the Messiah, Jehovah, the Only Begotten of Elohim, and let him and his Spirit take possession of our lives. … I am speaking about the treasure of having found Christ, of being able to know him—not merely to know all about him, but really to know him” (“The Only Real Treasure,” December 1979).
James E. Faust: “Recently, … a seasoned group of outstanding missionaries was asked, ‘What is the greatest need in the world?’ One wisely responded: ‘Is not the greatest need in all of the world for every person to have a personal, ongoing, daily, continuing relationship with the Savior?’… We should earnestly seek not just to know about the Master, but to strive, as He invited,to be one with Him” (“A Personal Relationship with the Savior,” November 1976).
