Does God Answer Prayers?
Key Scripture — Alma 9:26
“And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers.”
Alma 9:26 gives us one of the clearest portraits of why God answers prayers and what kind of God we are praying to. Every phrase is a window into His character, and His character is the reason our prayers matter.
1. God answers because He comes to us
Scripture phrase: “Not many days hence the Son of God shall come…”
Cross‑reference keyword: Incarnation
When God answers prayer, His first response is not an object, a solution, or a change in circumstance. His first answer is Himself. He draws near. He steps into the story. He comes among His people.
Prayer is not us reaching upward into silence; it is heaven already moving toward us.
Supporting Scripture — Alma 7:7
“For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.”
This is the perfect doctrinal parallel to your section’s theme:
- It declares that God’s nearness is the most important event in salvation history—“of more importance than they all.”
- It shows that God’s coming is the answer long before any blessing, healing, or deliverance occurs.
- It reinforces that God’s movement toward us is intentional, not reactive. He comes because He loves, because He covenants, because He hears.
Alma 7:7 is not merely prophecy; it is a pattern:
God answers by coming close.
Principles for Celestial Spiritual Growth
Each principle below is a Guided Link so you can expand any one into a full doctrinal block later.
- God’s presence is the primary blessing — Celestial growth begins when we stop seeking things from God and start seeking God Himself.
- Prayer is relational before it is functional — We grow when prayer becomes communion, not transaction.
- Christ comes into our condition, not around it — Celestial beings are formed by allowing Christ to step into the exact places we fear, hide, or avoid.
- Nearness is God’s covenant posture — Heaven’s movement toward us is the foundation of eternal progression.
- Receiving Christ precedes receiving answers — In the celestial pattern, the Person always comes before the provision.
- Incarnation is the model for divine response — God does not save from afar; He saves by entering, lifting, and transforming.
How this shapes our celestial spiritual growth
- We learn to measure answers by presence, not outcomes.
Celestial beings discern God’s nearness as the true miracle. - We become people who welcome God into every part of our lives.
Not hiding. Not compartmentalizing. Letting Him “come among His people”—including the parts of us that feel least ready. - We grow by yielding to the God who draws near.
Celestial growth is not self‑improvement; it is Christ‑indwelt transformation. - We practice a faith that expects God to come.
Not someday. Not abstractly. But into this moment, this weakness, this prayer. - We become like Him by being with Him.
Celestial glory is relational before it is radiant.
2. God answers because His glory is relational
“…in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten…”
Cross‑reference keyword: Only Begotten
Takeaway:
The glory of Jesus Christ is not a display of intimidation—it is the revelation of relationship. The “glory of the Only Begotten” is covenantal, familial, and personal. It is the glory of a Son who brings us to the Father. When we pray, our petitions are not processed by a system—they are received by a Father through His Son.
Selected Witness Scriptures for “The Glory of Jesus Christ”
These are chosen because they reveal relational glory, not merely radiant glory. They show that Christ’s glory is the glory that draws, invites, transforms, and binds us into family.
Old Testament — Exodus 33:18
“And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.”
Why this scripture matters for this section
Moses does not ask for power, miracles, or signs—he asks for God Himself. This is the heart of relational glory: the desire to know God, not merely to be helped by Him. Moses’ request reveals that glory is not spectacle; it is presence.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we seek God’s face, not His functions. For self, family, fellowship, and community, this teaches us to build a culture where we seek God’s presence, not merely His interventions.
New Testament — John 1:14
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Why this scripture matters
John testifies that Christ’s glory is incarnational—glory wrapped in nearness, glory that dwells “among us.” This is the glory that walks, eats, teaches, weeps, and redeems. It is relational glory embodied.
Principle for celestial growth
We become a people who reveal Christ’s nearness. In our homes and fellowships, we reflect His glory when we make room for compassion, presence, and shared life.
Book of Mormon — Alma 9:26
“And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers.”
Why this scripture matters
Alma ties Christ’s glory directly to His mercy, justice, and redemption. His glory is not distant light—it is saving light. It is the glory of a Son who lifts, forgives, and restores.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow by receiving and extending redeeming mercy. Families and communities become celestial when mercy becomes our reflex, not our exception.
Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 76:20
“And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness;”
Why this scripture matters
Joseph and Sidney’s vision reveals that Christ’s glory is revelatory—it opens the heavens, expands understanding, and anchors testimony. Glory is not merely brightness; it is truth made visible.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow by receiving revelation through the Son. In our homes and fellowships, we cultivate environments where revelation is expected, welcomed, and acted upon.
Pearl of Great Price — Moses 1:39
“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
Why this scripture matters
God defines His glory in relational terms: bringing His children home. His glory is not self‑exalting—it is child‑exalting. His glory is the work of lifting, saving, and exalting His family.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when our work mirrors God’s work. We build celestial families and communities when our efforts aim to lift, gather, heal, and exalt one another.
Why these scriptures together strengthen this section
- Exodus 33 shows that glory is God’s presence.
- John 1 shows that glory is God’s nearness.
- Alma 9 shows that glory is God’s mercy.
- D&C 76 shows that glory is God’s revelation.
- Moses 1 shows that glory is God’s work of exaltation.
Together they teach:
The glory of Jesus Christ is the glory of relationship—God drawing near, God revealing Himself, God redeeming, God teaching, God exalting.
This is why our prayers matter.
This is why humility matters.
This is why covenant matters.
This is why community matters.
Closing summary for the entire section
“The glory of the Only Begotten” is the glory of a Son who brings us to the Father. It is relational, covenantal, and familial. It is the glory that appears when leaders humble themselves, when families kneel together, when communities seek God’s presence, and when individuals cry out for the living God.
This section teaches us:
- God answers because He is near.
- He reveals because He is relational.
- He guides because He is covenantal.
- He manifests because He is merciful.
- He glorifies because He is a Father.
The glory of Jesus Christ is the glory that binds heaven and earth, Father and child, covenant and community.
On the remaining scriptures in “Glory of Jesus Christ”
The rest of the scriptures in the topical guide reinforce the same truth from different angles:
- Prophetic visions (Ezekiel, Isaiah, Revelation) show His glory as overwhelming reality.
- Transfiguration (Matthew 17) shows His glory as divine identity.
- Second Coming passages (Matthew 24, 3 Nephi, D&C 45) show His glory as triumphant return.
- Temple‑filling glory (Exodus 40, D&C 110) shows His glory as sanctifying presence.
- Restoration visions (D&C 93, JS–H 1:17) show His glory as revelatory light.
- Covenant promises (1 Nephi 22, Jacob 4, Alma 5) show His glory as redemptive hope.
All of them point to one truth:
The glory of Jesus Christ is the glory of the Only Begotten—a glory that reveals the Father, redeems the children, and restores the family of God.
3. God answers because His nature is grace, equity, and truth
“…full of grace, equity, and truth…”
Takeaway:
These three attributes describe how God hears us:
- Grace — He gives what we do not deserve.
- Equity — He treats us with perfect fairness, understanding, and impartiality.
- Truth — He responds according to eternal reality, not our illusions or distortions.
When we pray, we are not appealing to mood, chance, or randomness. We are appealing to a God whose very nature is goodness, fairness, and clarity.
Selected Witness Scriptures for “Grace”
These were chosen because they reveal Grace as God’s nature, not merely His gift. They show that grace is how He hears, how He responds, and how He transforms.
Old Testament — Proverbs 3:34
“Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.”
Why this scripture matters for this section
Grace is not random—it is relational. God gives grace to the humble because humility opens the heart to receive divine help. This verse reveals that grace is not merely pardon; it is God’s posture toward the teachable.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we choose humility. In self, family, fellowship, and community, humility creates an atmosphere where grace can flow freely.
New Testament — John 1:17
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Why this scripture matters
Grace and truth are not abstract virtues—they are embodied in Christ. He is the living intersection of mercy and reality. His responses to our prayers are always both gracious and true.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we align mercy with truth. Families and communities become celestial when compassion and honesty walk together.
Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 25:23
“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
Why this scripture matters
This verse teaches that grace is not the reward for effort—it is the power that makes effort meaningful. Grace is God’s enabling strength, His covenantal generosity, His willingness to lift us beyond our limits.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow by relying on divine enabling power. In our homes and fellowships, we learn to labor with God, not merely for God.
Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 93:20
“For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.”
Why this scripture matters
Grace is not static—it is incremental, relational, and transformational. As we walk with God, He increases our capacity, light, and spiritual maturity “grace for grace.”
Principle for celestial growth
We grow line upon line through covenantal obedience. Families and communities flourish when they walk in increasing light together.
Pearl of Great Price — Moses 7:59
“And Enoch beheld the Son of Man ascend up unto the Father; and he called unto the Lord, saying: Wilt thou not come again upon the earth? Forasmuch as thou art God, and I know thee, and thou hast sworn unto me, and commanded me that I should ask in the name of thine Only Begotten; thou hast made me, and given unto me a right to thy throne, and not of myself, but through thine own grace; wherefore, I ask thee if thou wilt not come again on the earth.”
Why this scripture matters
Even Enoch—prophet, seer, and city‑builder—confesses that all divine work is accomplished through God’s grace, not human strength. This reveals the deepest truth: grace is the engine of every holy thing.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we acknowledge our dependence on God. Communities become Zion when they rely on divine grace rather than human pride.
Why these scriptures together strengthen this section
- Proverbs 3 shows grace as God’s posture toward the humble.
- John 1 shows grace embodied in Christ.
- 2 Nephi 25 shows grace as saving and enabling power.
- D&C 93 shows grace as progressive transformation.
- Moses 7 shows grace as the source of all divine work.
Together they teach:
Grace is not merely what God gives—it is who God is.
And because His nature is grace, equity, and truth, His answers to prayer are always:
- generous,
- fair,
- aligned with eternal reality.
This is why we can trust Him.
Closing summary for this entire section
This section reveals that God answers prayer because His nature is grace, equity, and truth. Grace ensures He responds with generosity. Equity ensures He responds with fairness. Truth ensures He responds with clarity.
This means:
- We never pray into chaos—we pray into character.
- We never appeal to chance—we appeal to covenant.
- We never seek favor from a moody deity—we seek help from a God whose nature is eternally consistent.
For self, family, fellowship, and community, this section teaches us to:
- live humbly,
- act fairly,
- speak truthfully,
- and rely on grace continually.
This is the spiritual architecture of a celestial people.
On the remaining scriptures in “Grace”
The rest of the topical guide passages reinforce the same threefold truth:
- Grace as divine generosity (Genesis, Psalms, Acts, Romans).
- Grace as enabling power (2 Corinthians, Jacob 4, Ether 12).
- Grace as covenantal transformation (D&C 93, Moroni 10).
- Grace as universal invitation (Titus 2, 2 Nephi 2).
- Grace as relational nearness (Luke 2, 1 Peter 5).
- Grace as sustaining strength (Hebrews 4, Mosiah 18).
- Grace as the pattern of Christ’s life (2 Nephi 2, Alma 5, Alma 13).
All of them point to one truth:
Grace is the atmosphere of God’s presence, the logic of His covenant, and the power behind every answered prayer.
4. God answers because He is patient, merciful, and long‑suffering
“…full of patience, mercy, and long‑suffering…”
Cross‑reference keyword: Mercy
Takeaway:
This is the heart of why we dare to pray at all. We pray to a God who:
- waits for us,
- bears with us,
- forgives us,
- welcome us again and again.
Our imperfect prayers do not exhaust Him. Our repeated needs do not annoy Him. Our weakness does not repel Him.
His patience is the atmosphere in which our prayers rise.
Selected Witness Scriptures for “The Mercy of God”
These were chosen because they reveal mercy as God’s disposition, not merely His action. They show that mercy is how He feels toward us, how He receives us, and how He responds to our prayers.
Old Testament — Psalm 103:13
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.”
Why this scripture matters for this section
Mercy is not mechanical—it is parental. This verse reveals God’s heart: He feels toward us the way a tender father feels toward a struggling child. His mercy is not reluctant; it is instinctive.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we treat one another with parental compassion. In self, family, fellowship, and community, mercy becomes the glue that keeps relationships whole.
New Testament — Luke 6:36
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
Why this scripture matters
Jesus does not merely describe God’s mercy—He commands us to imitate it. Mercy is the family resemblance of the children of God. It is the ethic of heaven.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when mercy becomes our reflex, not our exception. Families and communities become celestial when mercy shapes our tone, our judgments, and our responses.
Book of Mormon — Alma 42:15
“And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.”
Why this scripture matters
Alma reveals that mercy is not God’s soft side—it is His divine nature working in harmony with justice. Mercy is not indulgence; it is covenantal compassion that honors both truth and redemption.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we let justice and mercy have full sway in our hearts. This creates homes and fellowships where accountability and compassion coexist.
Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 76:5
“For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.”
Why this scripture matters
The Lord declares His own nature. Mercy is not something He occasionally does—it is who He eternally is. This is why He answers prayers with patience and long‑suffering.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we trust God’s merciful character more than our fearful assumptions. Communities flourish when they anchor themselves in God’s reliability.
Why these scriptures together strengthen this section
- Psalm 103 shows mercy as parental tenderness.
- Luke 6 shows mercy as the ethic of God’s children.
- Alma 42 shows mercy as covenantal and just.
- D&C 76 shows mercy as God’s self‑declared nature.
Together they teach:
God answers prayer because His heart is merciful, His patience is endless, and His long‑suffering is personal.
This is why we dare to pray.
This is why we return again and again.
This is why we trust Him with our weakness.
Closing summary for this entire section
This section reveals that God answers because He is patient, merciful, and long‑suffering. His patience means He waits for us. His mercy means He forgives us. His long‑suffering means He bears with us through every stage of becoming.
For self, family, fellowship, and community, this section teaches us to:
- cultivate patience with one another’s growth,
- extend mercy freely and repeatedly,
- bear long with weakness,
- and create spiritual environments where people can return without shame.
This is the culture of a celestial people.
On the remaining scriptures in “God, Mercy of”
The rest of the topical guide passages reinforce the same truth from multiple angles:
- Mercy as covenant loyalty (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 7).
- Mercy as tender compassion (Psalms 25, 69, 103).
- Mercy as divine delight (Micah 7).
- Mercy as Christlike imitation (Luke 6).
- Mercy as salvation’s foundation (Titus 3, Alma 12, Alma 42).
- Mercy as universal invitation (Alma 32, 2 Nephi 4).
- Mercy as covenantal restoration (D&C 97, D&C 61).
- Mercy as eternal kindness (3 Nephi 22).
- Mercy as God’s instinctive compassion (James 5, 1 Peter 1).
All of them point to one truth:
God’s mercy is not a moment—it is His nature. And because His nature is mercy, He answers.
5. God answers because He is quick to hear
“…quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers.”
Cross‑reference keyword: Prayer
Takeaway:
This is the climax of the verse. God is not slow, reluctant, or indifferent. He is quick—not in the sense of instant outcomes, but in the sense of immediate attention.
The moment we pray, heaven bends toward us. The answer may unfold over time, but the hearing is immediate.
This means:
- Our cries are not lost.
- Our needs are not ignored.
- Our prayers are not background noise.
We pray to a God who is eager to respond.
Supporting Witness Scriptures for “Quick to Hear”
These two passages were chosen because they reveal God’s immediate attentiveness to prayer—His readiness to hear, His nearness to the oppressed, and His eagerness to respond.
Deuteronomy 26:7
“And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:”
Why this scripture matters for this section
This verse reveals the pattern of divine attentiveness:
cry → hearing → seeing → acting.
God does not wait for perfect prayers or perfect people. He hears the afflicted, the burdened, the overwhelmed. His hearing is immediate, even when His deliverance unfolds over time.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we become attentive to the cries around us. For self, family, fellowship, and community, this means cultivating spiritual sensitivity—listening quickly, responding compassionately, and noticing affliction before it becomes desperation.
Isaiah 65:24
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
Why this scripture matters
This is one of the most breathtaking declarations of divine readiness. God is not merely responsive—He is anticipatory. He is already moving toward us before we even form the words. This reveals a God whose heart is always leaning toward His children.
Principle for celestial growth
We grow when we anticipate needs rather than merely react to them. In families and fellowships, this means becoming proactive in compassion—seeing needs early, stepping in quickly, and embodying the readiness of heaven.
Why these scriptures together strengthen this section
Together, these two witnesses reveal a unified truth:
- Deuteronomy 26 shows God hearing the afflicted the moment they cry.
- Isaiah 65 shows God hearing before the cry even forms.
They teach that:
God’s attentiveness is immediate, intimate, and proactive.
He is not distant.
He is not distracted.
He is not delayed.
He is quick to hear because His heart is quick to love.
Closing summary for this entire section
This section reveals that God answers because He is quick to hear. His hearing is immediate, even when His timing is deliberate. He bends toward us the moment we pray.
For self, family, fellowship, and community, this section teaches us to:
- listen quickly and compassionately,
- respond with readiness rather than reluctance,
- anticipate needs before they become crises,
- and create spiritual environments where every cry is honored.
This is the attentiveness of a celestial people.
Unified Witness:
So… Does God Answer Prayers?
Summary of the Dissection of Alma 9:26
According to Alma 9:26, the answer is yes—and the reason is not found in our worthiness, eloquence, or spiritual performance. The reason is God Himself.
Alma 9:26 gives us a five‑fold revelation of the God who hears:
1. He answers because He comes to us.
The Son of God “shall come”—His first answer is always His presence. Prayer is not us reaching upward into silence; it is heaven already moving toward us.
2. He answers because His glory is relational.
His glory is “the glory of the Only Begotten”—the glory of a Son bringing us to a Father. Our prayers are not processed by a system; they are received within a family relationship.
3. He answers because His nature is grace, equity, and truth.
He hears us with generosity, fairness, and clarity. We never pray into chaos—we pray into character.
4. He answers because He is patient, merciful, and long‑suffering.
He waits for us, bears with us, forgives us, and welcomes us again and again. Our weakness does not repel Him; it draws forth His compassion.
5. He answers because He is quick to hear.
He is not slow, reluctant, or indifferent. He bends toward us the moment we pray—hearing immediately, responding wisely, acting in perfect timing.
The Unified Witness
- God draws near.
- God receives us as children.
- God responds from His own goodness.
- God bears with our weakness.
- God listens with eagerness and love.
Our prayers matter because we matter to Him.
This is the witness of Alma 9:26.
This is the witness of scripture.
This is the witness of every soul who has ever cried out and been heard.
Testimony
I bear witness that God hears us. I have learned that He may not always give me what I want, but He always provides what I need. Life is either a blessing or a lesson, and in both, the Lord is shaping me into something higher, holier, and more whole.
I testify that prayer works—not as a vending machine of outcomes, but as a covenant alignment. When we are in line and in alignment with Heavenly Father through His Son, Christ Jesus the Nazarene, heaven draws near. Answers come. Strength comes. Peace comes. And even when the path is steep, His presence becomes the miracle.
I know He is patient with me, merciful toward me, and quick to hear my cries. I know He walks with us, teaches us, and lifts us. And I know that every sincere prayer rises into the heart of a God who loves His children.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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