“All through my life the counsel to depend on prayer has
been prized above almost any other advice I have received,” said President Ezra
Taft Benson. “It has become an integral part of me, an anchor, a constant source
of strength, and the basis for my knowledge of things divine.
“‘Remember that whatever you do or wherever you are, you are
never alone’ was my father’s familiar counsel to me as a boy. ‘Our Heavenly
Father is always near. You can reach out and receive His aid through prayer.’ I
have found this counsel to be true. Thank God we can reach out and tap that
unseen power, without which no man can do his best.”1
President Benson said that we should
“let no day pass” without personal prayer (section 1). How have you been
blessed as a result of personal prayer?
“I have knelt with him and heard him pray.
“His prayers were always interesting. Almost without
exception, they consisted for the most part of expressions of thanks. He asked
for very little. He expressed gratitude
for very much.
“He thanked the Lord for life, for family, for the gospel, for
faith, for sunlight and rain, the bounties of nature, and the freedom-loving
instincts of man. He thanked the Lord for friends and associates. He expressed
love for the Savior and gratitude for His atoning sacrifice. He thanked the
Lord for the opportunity to serve the people.”5
How often do we have prayers that are just gratitude?
Jesus Christ has taught that we should pray always.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught us a pattern for
prayer:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Why
would Jesus tell us to include these things in our prayers?
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:9–13.)
He further instructed, “Men ought always to pray, and not to
faint.” (Luke
18:1.)
“Watch and pray,” He said, “that ye enter not into
temptation.” (Matt.
26:41.)
In this dispensation He admonished, “Pray always lest that
wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place.” (D&C
93:49.)
The Savior declared to Joseph Smith, “In nothing
doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who
confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.” (D&C
59:21.)
How
does confessing God’s hand in all things help keep us from temptation? How does
prayer keep us from the power of evil?
If
we would advance in holiness—increase in favor with God—nothing can take the
place of prayer. And so I adjure you to give prayer—daily prayer—secret
prayer—a foremost place in your lives. Let no day pass without it. Communion
with the Almighty has been a source of strength, inspiration, and enlightenment
to men and women through the world’s history who have shaped the destinies of
individuals and nations for good.9
Why
does it become easy to let daily prayer lapse?
We need as families to kneel in family prayer, night and
morning. Just a few words added to the blessing on the food, which is becoming
the custom in some parts, is not enough. We need to get onto our knees in
prayer and gratitude.11
Prayer has been and is the ever-present anchor for strength
and a source of direction in our family activities. I remember kneeling at the
bedside of our young children, helping them with prayers in their younger
years, and later seeing the older brothers and sisters helping the younger
ones. We had family prayer night and morning, with children given the opportunity
to lead, and had special prayers to meet particular problems. Mention was made
in family prayer, for instance, of children with [Church] assignments. … We
asked for help when one of the children faced a difficult examination in high
school. Special mention was made of members of the family [who were] away. …
This special mention of particular concerns in our family prayers gave
confidence, assurance, and strength to members of the family facing difficult
problems and assignments.12
President Benson mentions several blessings
that come to families who pray together regularly. When have you seen family
prayer lead to these blessings?
What can we do to make family prayer a
priority?
Here are five ways to improve our communication with our
Heavenly Father:
1. We should pray frequently. We should be alone with our
Heavenly Father at least two or three times each day—“morning, mid-day, and
evening,” as the scripture indicates. (Alma 34:21.)
In addition, we are told to pray always. (See 2 Ne. 32:9;
D&C
88:126.) This means that our hearts should be full, drawn out in prayer
unto our Heavenly Father continually. (See Alma 34:27.)
2. We should find an appropriate place where we can meditate
and pray. We are admonished that this should be “in [our] closets, and [our]
secret places, and in [our] wilderness.” (Alma 34:26.)
That is, it should be free from distraction, in secret. (See 3 Ne.
13:5–6.)
3. We should prepare ourselves for prayer. If we do not feel
like praying, then we should pray until we do feel like praying. We should be
humble. (See D&C
112:10.) We should pray for forgiveness and
mercy. (See Alma
34:17–18.) We must forgive anyone against whom we have bad feelings. (See Mark 11:25.)
Yet the scriptures warn that our prayers will be vain if we “turn away the
needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart [not] of
[our] substance.” (Alma 34:28.)
How can you apply these first three
points?
What are good ways to implement
these points?
4. Our prayers should be meaningful and pertinent. We should
avoid using the same phrases in each prayer. Any of us would become offended if
a friend said the same words to us each day, treated the conversation as a
chore, and could hardly wait to finish in order to turn on the television set
and forget us. …
For what should we pray? We should pray about our work,
against the power of our enemies and the devil, for our welfare and the welfare
of those around us. We should counsel with the Lord regarding all our decisions
and activities. (See Alma
37:36–37.) We should be grateful enough to give thanks for all we have.
(See D&C
59:21.) We should confess His hand in all things. Ingratitude is one of our
great sins.
The Lord has declared in modern revelation: “And he who
receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things
of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.” (D&C
78:19.)
We should ask for what we need, taking care that we not ask
for things that would be to our detriment. (See James 4:3.)
We should ask for strength to overcome our problems. (See Alma
31:31–33.) We should pray for the inspiration and well-being of the
President of the Church, the General Authorities, our stake president, our
bishop, our quorum president, our home teachers, family members, and our civic
leaders. Other suggestions could be made, but with the help of the Holy Ghost we will
know about what we should pray. (See Rom. 8:26–27.)
5. After making a request through prayer, we have a
responsibility to assist in its being granted. We should listen. Perhaps while
we are on our knees, the Lord wants to counsel us
How can you apply these last two
points?
What are good ways to implement
these points?
It
is soul-satisfying to know that God is mindful of us and ready to respond when
we place our trust in Him and do that which is right. There is no place for
fear among men and women who place their trust in the Almighty, who do not
hesitate to humble themselves in seeking divine guidance through prayer. Though
persecutions arise, though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance,
for God will speak peace to the soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is
life’s greatest blessing.
‘What gospel principle is taught in this
passage? How can I apply this in my life?’
If
you had one thing to teach someone else about prayer, what would it be?
What
is the one thing you would suggest that they apply in their lives from this
lesson?
