Sermoncitos, a family tradition
Prepare for Prayer
The neighbor boys, near us some time ago, liked to trap birds. Their little sister really believed in prayer. She prayed hard that the birds would not get caught. After a couple of days she appeared to have complete confidence her prayers would be answered. Her mother asked her how she could be so sure. The little girl answered, “I know my prayer will be answered because I went out three days ago and kicked the traps to pieces.”
Justice Tom C. Clark, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, had this to say about prayer, “...There has been quite a crusade recently for public prayer by our children. But little has been said in support of prayers at home. Private prayer in the home would be much more effective. It would, I believe, have great weight with children and adults if begun at an early age and practiced every day. Especially effective it is when a child is taught to lead the family daily prayer and leadership is rotated around the family circle. A juvenile prayer leader at home is unlikely to be a problem child in the community....”
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Find the whole verse in James 5v16. Alma prayed for his son and the Lord sent an angel to help him. My father prayed for me and the Lord worked things out so I was blessed to find a way back into the fold. The lions made friends with Daniel as a result of his prayers. David knelt at the stream, chose five stones, said a prayer and the giant to forgot to wear a helment. “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice rise like a fountain night and day.” (Alfred Tennyson)
If you cannot pray over a thing and cannot ask God to bless you in it, don’t do that thing. “The prayer that begins with trustfulness, and passes on into waiting, will always end in thankfulness and praise.” (A. Maclaren)
Prayer is the Key
President Marion G. Romney taught that "prayer is the key that unlocks your heart and lets Christ in." How important is it to pray for our loved ones? "Pray one for another," counseled the apostle James, for "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16) Each of us have family members that are in need of our faith and prayers. A simple casual passing thought in an evening prayer is better than no thought at all, but many of our children, our siblings, parents, cousins, etc, warrant our most fervent prayers in their behalf. I know, from personal experience, that the Lord blesses our loved ones in response to our prayers for them. I know as we pray for our loved ones we too are blessed. Our love for them grows and they sense a greater love for us as well...Roy has written today about prayer. Please apply the message and pray for one another that we may strive for happier and heathier lives for us, and for our loved ones.
Nathan Howard
Pray Always
Matthew 20:30-34. Jesus left Jericho with a large crowd following him. As they passed, 2 blind men started calling to Him for mercy. The people were irritated with their insistent petitions, and told them to hold their peace. After all, the Lord was busy and should not be disturbed. However, Jesus stopped walking, came up to them and asked, “what will ye that I should do unto you?” They asked for their sight and he gave it to them. From this we learn that not only is the Lord willing to help us, but he requires that we ask. “And whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that you shall receive, behold, it shall be given unto you” (3 Nephi 18:20; Matthew 21:22).
Jesus commands us to pray to the Father in His name: “Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Mathew 6:9)
Alma admonished the people: “receive the Holy Ghost, take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you” (Alma 34:38).
We should praise God and be grateful for life and the blessings we receive from Him. “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25). “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Jesus said, “Pray for your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and children may be blessed” (3 Nephi 18:21). “Give us this day our daily bread” (Mathew 6:11).
From the beginning of the world there has been the commandment to pray. An angel of the Lord commanded Adam and Eve to repent and call upon God in the name of the Son (Moses 5:8). “...ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him (3 Nephi 18:15). “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Mathew 6:12, 13).
Jesus said, “...ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together...but ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name” (3 Nephi 18:22, 23). “O God the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ” (Moroni 5:2). And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church... Behold, I am the light; I have set an example for you (3 Nephi 18:16). “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever” (Matthew 6:13).
We pray for you that you may always remember your covenants and walk in the path that leads to happiness. May you continually have His Spirit by remembering to pray always. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer
From the beginning of the world there has been the commandment to pray. An angel of the Lord commanded Adam and Eve to repent and call upon God in the name of the Son (Moses 5:8). “...ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him (3 Nephi 18:15).
Upon finding himself in the lone and dreary world, Adam built an altar and offered prayer. Satan challenged his practice and tried to teach him alternative concepts of God and prayer. His Although we are assured that he resisted the temptation to use reason to design a pattern of worship that might better match his circumstances, we know that his descendants have been very creative. The website “www.adherents.com” lists over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc. Each has a unique concept of creation and the characteristics of the creator and thus, a different style of prayer.
Our concept of prayer is based on revelation. We pray to the Father in the name of the Son, and expect an answer by the power of the Holy Ghost. “Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; And whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that you shall receive, behold, it shall be given unto you” (3 Nephi 18:19, 20.
At that same website, you can find links to prayers for every purpose. Many religions hire specialists to pray for you or to write prayers that you can recite. Yesterday I was at a funeral where the petitions asking Mary to pray for us sinners was recited over and over and over. Some people repeat the Lord’s name over and over during the petition. Jesus also gives guidance about this. “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (3 Ne. 13: 7).
As we pray to our Heavenly Father, we should tell hom what we really feel in our hearts, confide in him ask him for forgiveness, plead with him, thank him, express our love for him. We should always ask that his wil lbe done, remembering that what we desire may not be best for us. It takes practice to become effective with prayer. I pray that you may practice and increase your ability to stay in touch with the creator. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.