--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is, I think, that so many of…" description: "\"The problem is, I think, that so many of us pray as if we are ordering groceries. We pick up the telephone and say, 'Is this the right place to place m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/gordon-b-hinckley-331_dictating_the-problem-is-i-think-that-so-many-of-u_2012237.jpg" --- # The problem is, I think, that so many of us pray as if we… ![“The problem is, I think, that so many of us pray as if we are ordering groceries. We pick up the telephone and say, 'Is this the right place to place my order?' and we proceed right to dictating our order. When we have then ended that list, we hang up.” quote by Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/gordon-b-hinckley-331_dictating_the-problem-is-i-think-that-so-many-of-u_2012237.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/gordon-b-hinckley-331_dictating_the-problem-is-i-think-that-so-many-of-u_2012237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/gordon-b-hinckley-331_dictating_the-problem-is-i-think-that-so-many-of-u_2012237.jpg) > “The problem is, I think, that so many of us pray as if we are ordering groceries. We pick up the telephone and say, 'Is this the right place to place my order?' and we proceed right to dictating our order. When we have then ended that list, we hang up.” [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques treating prayer like a shopping list, urging deeper, relational communication rather than transactional requests. **In simple terms:** Prayer is often treated like ordering groceries. Key Takeaway Shift prayer to relational dialogue. Themes faith communication spirituality Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual advice When to use this quote - personal meditation - group worship - journaling - counseling Key Concepts prayer relationship with divine intentionality Questions to Reflect On - How can you make prayer more relational? - What does sincere prayer look like? A Different Perspective Transactional prayer may miss deeper connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dictating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictating/) [Dictating Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictating-order-3598770/) [Ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ended/) [Groceries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groceries/) [Hang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hang/) [Hang ups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hang-ups/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/list/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Ordering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordering/) [Ordering Groceries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordering-groceries-3598769/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick/) [Picks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picks/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Pray Ordering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-ordering-3598768/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Proceed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceed/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-place/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Telephone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telephone/) [Telephones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telephones/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-pray-817349/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [“The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the phone and ordering groceries -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-trouble-with-most-of-our-prayers-is-that-we-give-them-as-if-we/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Whoever is reading this should think about there loved ones before you commit suicide and think of what your little brother,mom,grandma,or anyone would say/think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whoever-is-reading-this-should-think-about-there-loved-ones-before/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Prayer doesn’t work in the way that you think. If you pray for good health and it is genuine, you might be coming into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/prayer-doesn-t-work-in-the-way-that-you-think-if-you-pray-for-good/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [The more we pray, the more we think to pray, and as we see the results of prayer-the responses of our Father to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-more-we-pray-the-more-we-think-to-pray-and-as-we-see-the-results/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Be humble, talk little, think and pray much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/be-humble-talk-little-think-and-pray-much/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [When I cannot read, when I cannot think, when I cannot even pray, I can trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/when-i-cannot-read-when-i-cannot-think-when-i-cannot-even-pray-i-can/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [“I think it's important to go (to church every Sunday) and sit and think about something other than yourself, pray for the sick, consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/i-think-it-s-important-to-go-to-church-every-sunday-and-sit-and-think/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [The Devil hinders me. You know I say Just what I think, and nothing more nor less, And, when I pray, my heart is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-devil-hinders-me-you-know-i-say-just-what-i-think-and-nothing/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Being a Christian doesn't mean I don't get stressed or upset when training doesn't go well. But even if I have those reactions, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catriona-le-may-doan/being-a-christian-doesn-t-mean-i-don-t-get-stressed-or-upset-when/) [Catriona Le May Doan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catriona-le-may-doan/) > [I think we pray, we make a clear-headed decision, and then we quit being so mean to each other. We've got to stop that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-think-we-pray-we-make-a-clear-headed-decision-and-then-we-quit/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God created today, He had you and me in mind and He has included us in His Divine plan. We have the choice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/god-created-today-he-had-you-and-me-in-mind-and-he-has-included-us-in/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [The key is dictating what the fans do rather than letting them dictate what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/the-key-is-dictating-what-the-fans-do-rather-than-letting-them/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [“Of course I will be dictating to you, Savannah. But please do not worry. I can assure you, I am quite good at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/of-course-i-will-be-dictating-to-you-savannah-but-please-do-not-worry/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Personal religious convictions have no place in political campaigns or in dictating public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/personal-religious-convictions-have-no-place-in-political-campaigns/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [How do these people have any credibility? How do they get away with this? It's mind boggling that its gotten to a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastardi/how-do-these-people-have-any-credibility-how-do-they-get-away-with/) [Joe Bastardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastardi/) ## More by Gordon B. Hinckley > [“Now we are at war. Great forces have been mobilized and will continue to be. Political alliances are being forged. We do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/now-we-are-at-war-great-forces-have-been-mobilized-and-will-continue/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value. Let your first interest be in your home. The baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/do-not-trade-your-birthright-as-a-mother-for-some-bauble-of-passing/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Some husbands regard it as their prerogative to compel their wives to fit their standards of what they think to be the ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/some-husbands-regard-it-as-their-prerogative-to-compel-their-wives-to/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [There have been times when a particularly heavy dose of such cynicism has caused me to reflect that surely this is the age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-have-been-times-when-a-particularly-heavy-dose-of-such-cynicism/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of tolerance, with forbearance one for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-must-work-harder-to-build-mutual-respect-an-attitude-of-tolerance/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/who-can-calculate-the-wounds-inflicted-their-depth-and-pain-by-harsh/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [If you will make your first concern the comfort, the well-being, and the happiness of your companion, sublimating any personal concern to that loftier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/if-you-will-make-your-first-concern-the-comfort-the-well-being-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/get-on-your-knees-and-pray-then-get-on-your-feet-and-work/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I have now been an officer in this Church for a very long time. I am an old man who cannot deny the calendar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-have-now-been-an-officer-in-this-church-for-a-very-long-time-i-am/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Books represent the accumulated workings of the human mind, the endless treasures of man's thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/books-represent-the-accumulated-workings-of-the-human-mind-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The Voice of Heaven is a still small voice. The voice of peace in the home is a quiet voice. There is need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-voice-of-heaven-is-a-still-small-voice-the-voice-of-peace-in-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We wear on our faces the results of what we believe and how we behave, and such behavior is most evident in the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-wear-on-our-faces-the-results-of-what-we-believe-and-how-we-behave/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [You are great young people. I have said again and again, we have the finest generation of young people ever in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-are-great-young-people-i-have-said-again-and-again-we-have-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Work without vision is drudgery. Vision without work is dreaming. Work plus vision-this is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/work-without-vision-is-drudgery-vision-without-work-is-dreaming-work/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [There is no association richer than the companionship of husband and wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-no-association-richer-than-the-companionship-of-husband-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) [Explore all 669 Gordon B. Hinckley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## More Dictating quotes > [How do these people have any credibility? How do they get away with this? It's mind boggling that its gotten to a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastardi/how-do-these-people-have-any-credibility-how-do-they-get-away-with/) [Joe Bastardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastardi/) > [Personal religious convictions have no place in political campaigns or in dictating public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/personal-religious-convictions-have-no-place-in-political-campaigns/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [“Of course I will be dictating to you, Savannah. But please do not worry. I can assure you, I am quite good at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/of-course-i-will-be-dictating-to-you-savannah-but-please-do-not-worry/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [The key is dictating what the fans do rather than letting them dictate what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/the-key-is-dictating-what-the-fans-do-rather-than-letting-them/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [The small and bullying leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States, to the point where all the United States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-small-and-bullying-leader-of-russia-is-now-dictating-terms-to-the/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [As the author you know how you want it to appear on screen and it's always the content dictating the form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/as-the-author-you-know-how-you-want-it-to-appear-on-screen-and-it-s/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [ We are not dictating. We are not telling them \[Saudi Arabia\] how they should do it or who they should look like. We are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-are-not-dictating-we-are-not-telling-them-saudi-arabia-how-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I find dictating in the mass media particularly good because you're writing for voice anyway; you're writing for people to say a line and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-find-dictating-in-the-mass-media-particularly-good-because-you-re/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [For so long, companies were run using a command-and-control, 'top down' hierarchical method that involved dictating down the command chain and maintaining order. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-allen/for-so-long-companies-were-run-using-a-command-and-control-top-down/) [Kevin Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-allen/) > [The ways of change are dictated by the circumstances of each country, each place and each time. I don't think that arrogant intellectuals should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/the-ways-of-change-are-dictated-by-the-circumstances-of-each-country/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [If any generation of men ever possessed the right of dictating the mode by which the world should be governed for ever, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-any-generation-of-men-ever-possessed-the-right-of-dictating-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The doctor begins to lose freedoms; it's like telling a lie, and one leads to another. First you decide that the doctor can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-doctor-begins-to-lose-freedoms-it-s-like-telling-a-lie-and-one/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ \[Hospitalized and pressing the nurse's button before dictating letters to her secretary:\] This should assure us of at least forty-five minutes of undisturbed privacy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/hospitalized-and-pressing-the-nurse-s-button-before-dictating-letters/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [There's a difference between, you know, God loves unconditionally in my feeling and religion loves conditionally. Religion spends an awful lot of time dictating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/there-s-a-difference-between-you-know-god-loves-unconditionally-in-my/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [I truly want what you truly want-nothing different and nothing more. Don't you see that is My greatest gift to you? If I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-truly-want-what-you-truly-want-nothing-different-and-nothing-more/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) [Browse all 48 Dictating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem is, I think, that so many of us pray as if we are ordering groceries. We pick up the telephone and say, 'Is this the right place to place my order?' and we proceed right to dictating our order. 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