Master of the Universe

President Nelson encouraged us in the last general conference to “think celestial” as we make choices in this life. He suggested that as we strive to do so, we will improve the quality of our prayers: “As you think celestial, your heart will gradually change. You will want to pray more often and more sincerely. Please don’t let your prayers sound like a shopping list. The Lord’s perspective transcends your mortal wisdom. His response to your prayers may surprise you and will help you to think celestial.” As a parent, I certainly understand what a “shopping list” kind of approach to a relationship feels like. It seems that often, especially for our older children, their “shopping list” for their parents (“do my laundry”, “buy me new shoes”, “give me fast food”, etc.) is the only thing they want to converse with us about. And, of course, that doesn’t really lend itself to building bonds and strengthening relationships. So, I should recognize that in my prayers I should not do likewise in simply listing off to my Father in Heaven all of the things that He needs to do for me or for others. This is not to say that we shouldn’t ask—He has commanded us to do so—but we should petition with humility and reverence and with a trust that He knows best. We must rid ourselves of the kind of entitlement attitude that so many today have and instead pray with complete deference like the Savior, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).  

President Nelson referenced Joseph Smith’s prayer in Liberty Jail, and I think he gave us a powerful example of the kind of humility we should have before the Lord, even when we desperately want help in our situation. He prayed, “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?” Even in the act of pleading for help, Joseph recognized the Lord’s goodness. He continued, “O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:2, 4). Joseph knew that the Lord had the power to help him and that all things were in His control, and he humbly petitioned the Lord to use that power. Even in his extremity he prayed with deference for the Lord and not an attitude of anger or entitlement. In our prayers we should likewise recognize the goodness and greatness of God and our limited understanding before Him. There may be reasons in His wisdom that our prayers cannot be answered exactly like we want, and we must recognize as President Nelson said that His “perspective transcends your mortal wisdom.”

Recently I have been rereading the book My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok, a Jewish novel set in the 1950s that highlights some of the terrible persecution of Jews in Russia along with the personal struggles of Asher’s family in New York. One of the phrases that is used repeatedly throughout the book is this name for God: “Master of the Universe.” For example, as the father struggled with problems in their family he prayed in angst, “Master of the Universe, what are you doing?” Another character, having lost his family to persecutions against the Jews in Russia, commented, “Sometimes I think the Master of the Universe has another world to take care of, and He neglects this world.” Even though he was struggling to understand how God could have let his family be killed, he still spoke with deference about the Lord and recognized simply that he did not understand. This name of Deity is a powerful one to remind us of the omnipotence of God and our nothingness before Him. We should indeed recognize that our Father in Heaven is the Master of the Universe, and we will not always understand what He does. But, as President Nelson invited us, we can diligently seek to pray more earnestly as we strive to come unto Him.