The qualification placed upon our prayers is simple.
“And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you” (3 Nephi 18:20, italics added).
Centuries later Mormon repeated this teaching of the Savior’s, this time with a slightly different emphasis:
“Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you” (Moroni 7:26, italics added).
“Ye ask,” James directs us, “and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).
Nephi likewise stated:
“I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee” (2 Nephi 4:35).