Prayer

Yesterday, Sister Karen taught us a wonderful lesson based on her own experiences with prayer. First she quoted:

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation ^ataken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be ^btempted above that ye are able; but will with the ^ctemptation also make a way to ^descape, that ye may be able to ^ebear it.

This scripture doesn't tell us how we can avoid being tempted above that we are able. Then she quoted:

Alma 13:28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and ^awatch and pray continually, that ye may not be ^btempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be ^cled by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, ^dmeek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

We can see here that Alma teaches us what we can do: that we must watch and pray continually.

Alma 34:39 Yea, and I also ^aexhort you, my brethren, that ye be ^bwatchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the ^ctemptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you ^dno good thing.

In this scripture, Alma re-emphasizes the importance of being watchful unto prayer continually.

If we like, Alma teaches more about prayer in Alma 34:

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is ^amighty to save.

19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in ^aprayer unto him.

20 Cry unto him when ye are in your ^afields, yea, over all your flocks.

21 ^aCry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your ^aenemies.

23 Yea, ^acry unto him against the ^bdevil, who is an enemy to all ^crighteousness.

24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

26 But this is not all; ye must ^apour out your souls in your ^bclosets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your ^ahearts be ^bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your ^cwelfare, and also for the welfare of ^dthose who are around you.

Prayer is very sacred and important:

1. The atonement took place while Jesus was saying a prayer.

2. Ordinances of the gospel (baptism, confirmation, etc) are performed through prayers.

3. The sacrament is blessed through prayer.

4. Repentance is not complete without prayer.

Prayer is the basic building block of the gospel.

Sister Karen shared with us her personal practices when it comes to prayer:

1. Pray every day in a quiet place at the same time, when she is not hurried and can have a clear mind.

2. Kneel whenever possible, without her shoes.

3. Pray until the spirit is felt.

4. If the spirit is not felt, start thanking the Lord for very specific reasons.

5. At the end of the prayer, stay on her knees with her eyes closed and listen.

Sister Karen testified that if we feel the spirit on a regular basis in our lives, we can know that we are right with God.