God Hears our Prayers

By Scott Johnson

I ove the story that President Gordon B. Hinckley told about a young boy and his Primary teacher.  One evening when he was eating dinner with his family, Artel Ricks heard his parents talking about tithing.  They said that tithing was one tenth of our money that we give to Heavenly Father to show Him that we love Him.  The little boy loved Heavenly Father and so he made up his mind to pay his tithing.  

He went to his room and found his piggy bank.  He carefully counted out his tithing.  The boy then went to the only place in the house that he could have some privacy—the bathroom.  He went into the bathroom and locked the door so he could be all by himself.  He knelt down on the floor and held the coins up in the air in his open hand.  He began to pray to Heavenly Father.  He said, “Heavenly Father, I want to pay my tithing.  Please come down and take it.” 

He waited and waited.  Nothing happened.  He was sure that Heavenly Father would come and take his tithing, but He hadn’t.  He was so upset!  What had gone wrong?  

A few days later, Artel went to Primary.  In his Primary class, his teacher said, “I feel like I need to teach you something different from the lesson I planned.”  She then went on to explain that, when you pay your tithing, you give the money to your Bishop because he is a servant of God.  The boy was so happy.  That day he not only learned to whom he should pay his tithing, but more importantly, he learned that Heavenly Father knew who he was and cared enough to answer the prayer of a boy through the words of his Primary teacher.

I love this story because it reminds me that Heavenly Father loves each one of us.  He cares for us and often answers our prayers through other people.  I know this is true.  He loves you and will answer your prayers.  It may not always be in the way you expect, but it will always be with great love. 

This story is told in:

Hinckley, Gordon B. "You Are a Child of God." Ensign May 2003: 117-119.

Ricks, Artel. "Coins for the Lord." Ensign December 1990: 47.