Why Satan Can't Read Your Mind

The Lord commands us to "… pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private" (D&C 19:28). 

I believe this scripture is telling us that there's a time to pray vocally, and a time not to.  I would think those times when it's appropriate to pray vocally include church meetings, family prayer and other instances in which more than one person is participating in the prayer. 

However, there are also times when we should pray in our heart.  I would think these times are more individualized in nature.

Perhaps for those who have received their endowments, the concept that Lucifer is able to hear vocal prayers carries added significance.  

We also learn in the scriptures that "there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and intents of thy heart."  (D&C 6:16)

Thus, it stands to reason that if we want Satan to hear something, vocalize it.  Conversely, if we only want God to hear something, utter it non-vocally.

"It is clear, then, that Satan and his followers, who have been cast out of God’s presence and are dead to His Spirit, are excluded from those who, by the spirit of prophecy and revelation, may know the thoughts and the intents of our hearts.

So, in his wisdom and mercy, God has provided a channel of communication between him and his children on earth that Satan, our common enemy, cannot invade. This is the channel of secret prayer. The significance of this to the Latter-day Saint is profound, for by this means we are able to communicate with our Heavenly Father in secrecy, confident that the adversary cannot intrude.

Often, we talk too much. We say things that need not be said or should not be said; for in saying them, we may open a crevice which enables Lucifer to wedge his way into our lives. We learn from 2 Nephi that Satan “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (2 Ne. 2:27; emphasis mine)

Satan and his followers are persistent in their quest to drag us down to their level. They will use any device or artifice to accomplish their end. If they see from our words or actions evidence of animosity or hatred or discord among us, they may capitalize on them in ways which will be detrimental to us.

Wisdom suggests, therefore, that we suppress words and actions which might enable Satan to harm us or whose tendency might be to create discord or enmity." (Elder Francis M. Gibbons, The Dual Aspects of Prayer, Ensign (CR), November 1991, p.78)

Indeed, as the hymn states,

There is an hour of peace and rest,

Unmarred by earthly care;

’Tis when before the Lord I go

And kneel in secret prayer.

[Chorus]

May my heart be turned to pray,

Pray in secret day by day,

That this boon to mortals giv’n

May unite my soul with heav’n.

The straight and narrow way to heav’n,

Where angels bright and fair

Are singing to God’s praise, is found

Thru constant secret prayer.

When sailing on life’s stormy sea,

’Mid billows of despair,

’Tis solace to my soul to know

God hears my secret prayer.

When thorns are strewn along my path,

And foes my feet ensnare,

My Savior to my aid will come,

If sought in secret prayer.

Some observations:

a.      Sometimes, we find it difficult to pray because evil is present in our home. If so, before you begin your silent prayer, pray OUT LOUD that evil may be cast from your area, that the spirit of the Lord may be clearly heard and discerned, and that light and truth may exist in your area, pushing away that which is darkness and evil. Then, when you feel light, when you feel warmth, begin your silent prayer.

b.      Silent prayer requires a tremendous amount of focus or discipline. Rarely are you going to succeed in giving, say, a 20-minute silent prayer right off the bat without some amount of mental drift. Therefore, approach silent prayer like weightlifting (for in a sense, silent prayer is SPIRITUAL weightlifting). Start with smaller weights, for example, focusing in silent prayer for 2-3 minutes. Then the next time, try to do a silent, focused prayer for 3 minutes. Take it step by step.

c.      In order to stay focused, you may want to try this technique: Visualize Father on His throne, looking down at you, listening attentively. Focus on HIM. By doing so, you will see Him in your mind's eye (as distinguished from actually being in His presence). 

It is no small thing to visualize yourself approaching the throne of a God. When Father is with you, evil is nowhere present. It cannot be.

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