Gratitude

"A grateful heart … comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives."
The Divine Gift of Gratitude by President Thomas S. Monson October 2010 General Conference

"To find gratitude and generosity when you could reasonably find hurt and resentment will surprise you. It will be so surprising because you will see so much of the opposite: people who have much more than others yet who react with anger when one advantage is lost or with resentment when an added gift is denied."
Remembrance and Gratitude by President Henry B. Eyring October 1989 General Conference

"My deepest gratitude is for the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior,Jesus Christ. The Atonement is the foundation upon which all gospel truths reside."
Gratitude for the Goodness of God by Elder Robert D. Hales April 1992 General Conference

"The wellsprings of gratitude and love overflow within me.

Gratitude for exceptional, beloved parents who have given their five sons the priceless heritage of a righteous example; and to those four brothers, for their strength and testimony.

Gratitude to a beloved, cherished companion and wife and to our lovely children. Jeanene has ever been a model of pure testimony, love, and devotion; she is a tower of strength to me.

Gratitude to the precious youth that I know, especially those met in missionary service.

Among these I find some of my most cherished personal friends.

And gratitude to these brethren and to our beloved prophet, who I know is the mouthpiece of God to all His children on earth. I deeply love President Kimball."                                                                    Gratitude by Richard G. Scott April 1977 General Conference

"Let me recommend that periodically you and I offer a prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude. Ask for nothing; simply let our souls rejoice and strive to communicate appreciation with all the energy of our hearts."                                                                                                                        Pray Always by Elder David A. Bednar October 2008 General Conference

"How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God’s providence and love and express that gratitude to Him."
Thanks Be to God given by Elder Russell M. Nelson April 2012 General Conference

"With … tender feelings of gratitude for all who have influenced my life in past years, I commit myself to the future."
The Opportunity to Testify by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf October 2004 General Conference

"My thanks to all you wonderful members of the Church … for proving every day of your life that the pure love of Christ “never faileth.”
Because of Your Faith Elder Jeffrey R. Holland October 2010 General Conference

"I’m so thankful for the valiant and precious children that have been entrusted to us. I love them dearly and appreciate so much their willingness to support me in this new calling. I have been blessed with goodly parents."
Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies Elder Neil L. Andersen April 1993 General Conference

"How thankful I am, how thankful we all must be, for the women in our lives. God bless them. May His great love distill upon them and crown them with luster and beauty, grace and faith. And may His Spirit distill upon us as men and lead us ever to hold them in respect, in gratitude, giving encouragement, strength, nurture, and love, which is the very essence of the gospel of our Redeemer and Lord."
The Women in our Lives by President Gordon B. Hinckley October 2004 General Conference

Gratitude

I found these quotes changed my thought process. As I heard the words from our Prophet and Apostles I tried to find gratefulness in the difficulties that I face in my life. I especially liked President Eyring’s words about finding gratitude when we could find hurt and resentment. The quotes from gratitude helped remind me to have a constant prayer of thanks in my heart.

Prayer

"The special language of prayer follows different forms in different languages, but the principle is always the same. We should address prayers to our Heavenly Father in words which speakers of that language associate with love and respect and reverence and closeness. The application of this principle will, of course, vary according to the nature of a particular language, including the forms that were used when the scriptures were translated into that language. Some languages have intimate or familiar pronouns and verbs used only in addressing family and very close friends. Other languages have honorific forms of address that signify great respect, such as words used only when speaking to a king or other person of high rank. Both of these kinds of special words are appropriately used in offering prayers in other languages because they communicate the desired feelings of love, respect, reverence, or closeness." 
The Language of Prayer by Dallin H. Oaks General Conference April 1993

"Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul."

Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer by Richard G. Scott given in April 2007 General Conference

"Our prayers follow patterns and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. He taught us how to pray. From His prayers we can learn many important lessons."
Lessons From the Lord's Prayers by Elder Russell M. Nelson by April 2009

"Simply stated, prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth. “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part” (BibleDictionary, “Prayer,” 752). We are commanded to pray always to the Father in the name of the Son (see 3 Nephi 18:19–20). We are promised that if we pray sincerely for that which is right and good and in accordance with God’s will, we can be blessed, protected, and directed (see 3 Nephi 18:20; D&C 19:38)."
Pray Always by Elder David A. Bednar by April 2008 General Conference

"Heartwarming is the example of the mother in America who prayed for her son’s well-being as the ship on which he served sailed into the bloody cauldron known as the Pacific theater of war. Each morning she would arise from kneeling in prayer and serve as a volunteer on those production lines which became lifelines to men in battle. Could it he that a mother’s own handiwork might somehow directly affect the life of a loved one? All who knew her and her family cherished the actual account of her sailor son, Elgin Staples, whose ship went down off Guadalcanal. Staples was swept over the side; but he survived, thanks to a life belt that proved, on later examination, to have been inspected, packed, and stamped back home in Akron, Ohio, by his own mother!"
The Prayer of Faith by Thomas S. Monson April 1978 General Conference

"Being a guest in so many different homes over the last few years has certainly convinced me that a special spirit is clearly evident when a family prays together."
Our Father Which Art in Heaven by L. Tom Perry October 1983 General Conference

"That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. Pure intelligence can be spoken into the mind. The Holy Ghost communicates with our spirits through the mind more than through the physical senses. ⁴ This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions. ⁵ We may feel the words of spiritual communication more than hear them and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes. ^6"
Prayers and Promptings by Elder Boyd K. Packer October 2009 General Conference

"Parents should teach their children to pray. The child learns both from what the parents do and what they say. The child who sees a mother or a father pass through the trials of life with fervent prayer to God and then hears a sincere testimony that God answered in kindness will remember what they saw and heard. When their trials come, they will be prepared."
Write Upon My Heart by Elder Henry B. Eyring October 2000 General Conference

"We can declare to others the sure Way, the saving Truth, the joyful Life. ² We can personally repent in any way we need to repent, and when we have done all, we can pray. In all these ways we can bless one another and especially those who need our protection the most—the children. As parents we can hold life together the way it is always held together—with love and faith, passed on to the next generation, one child at a time."        A Prayer for the Children by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland April 2003 General Conference

"The first is gospel information. The most important, life-changing information that I know of is the knowledge that we are truly children of God our Eternal Father. This is not only doctrinally correct, it is spiritually vital. Said the Savior in His powerful intercessory prayer, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). To know Heavenly Father and to understand our relationship to Him as our Father and our God is to find meaning in this life and hope in the life to come. Our families need to know He is real, that we are in fact His sons and His daughters and heirs to all that He has, now and forever. Secure in that knowledge, family members will be less likely to look for devilish diversions and more likely to look to God and live (see Num. 21:8)."
Like a Flame Unquenchable by Elder M. Russell Ballard April 1999 General Conference

Prayer

I really loved what Elder Richard G. Scott said about prayer being a supernal gift from our Heavenly Father. It seems so unwise to neglect such a beautiful gift that we have been given. I loved the stories that I read as I found quotes on this topic. There were so many heart-warming stories that truly testified of the power of sincere prayer. I also loved Elder Perry’s comments on the different feelings he has experienced as he has entered the home where family prayer is a daily occurrence.

Personal Application

I chose for prayer to be my focus through our semester. I had fallen into the habit of saying basically the same quick prayer morning and night. As I began learning and being reminded of the importance and power of prayer, my whole thought process began to change. I was reminded once again of the way prayer could change my life. I also found ways that praying worked better for me, so that I did not fall back into the bad habit of saying a quick prayer and jumping into bed. I have realized that, as night when I am exhausted is not the best time for me to say my long and personal prayers with my Heavenly Father. I have started out my mornings, or during the school year when my children are off to school. I have also discovered that in the car alone is a wonderful time for me to have long conversations with my Heavenly Father. As I have been more diligent with this I have also discovered that I have a prayer in my heart, and find myself thanking my Heavenly Father for the little blessings though out the day. I am so grateful foe the strengthening of prayer I have had over the past 14 weeks.