Thursday, April 9, 2020

2 Nephi 32:8-9

If we pray always, god will consecrate our performances for the welfare of our souls.

8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the aSpirit which teacheth a man to bpray, ye would know that ye must cpray; for the devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must apray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall bpray unto the Father in the cname of Christ, that he will dconsecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the ewelfare of thy soul.

1. God knows all things and is the source of all truth (see Mosiah 4:9). Because our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to progress toward becoming like Him, He has encouraged us to “seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118). In our search for truth, we can trust Him completely, relying on His wisdom, His love, and His power to teach and bless us. God has promised to reveal truth to our minds and hearts through the Holy Ghost if we will diligently seek Him (see D&C 8:2–3).
2. To help us, Heavenly Father has taught us how to acquire spiritual knowledge. He has established the conditions we must follow in order to gain such knowledge. God’s divinely ordained pattern requires that we have an honest desire to know the truth (see Moroni 10:4–5) and are willing to live according to that which He has revealed (see John 7:17). Our sincere desire will lead us to seek truth through prayer (see James 1:5–6; 2 Nephi 32:8–9) and to diligently study the word of God (see 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 2 Nephi 32:3).
Many people say that after they have sinned they do not want to pray to Heavenly Father. Think for a moment about why this might be. Who would not want you to pray anytime, especially after you had sinned? Why? Look in 2 Nephi 32:8 for what the Holy Ghost teaches us to do regarding prayer. Ponder the following questions: Why do you think the Lord wants you to pray? Why do you think Satan does not want you to pray?
Read 2 Nephi 32:9, and look for how often we should pray and what blessings the Lord promises us if we pray. As you read this verse, it may be helpful to know that consecrate means to dedicate to the service of God or to make holy.
From 2 Nephi 32:9 we learn this principle: As we pray always, we will be able to do all the Lord would have us do for the welfare of our souls. 
Ponder what it means to pray always. As you read the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, underline one or more ways we can fulfill the command to “pray always”:

“There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone. …
“During the course of the day, we keep a prayer in our heart for continued assistance and guidance. …
“We notice during this particular day that there are occasions where normally we would have a tendency to speak harshly, and we do not; or we might be inclined to anger, but we are not. We discern heavenly help and strength and humbly recognize answers to our prayer. Even in that moment of recognition, we offer a silent prayer of gratitude.
“At the end of our day, we kneel again and report back to our Father. We review the events of the day and express heartfelt thanks for the blessings and the help we received. We repent and, with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, identify ways we can do and become better tomorrow. Thus our evening prayer builds upon and is a continuation of our morning prayer. And our evening prayer also is a preparation for meaningful morning prayer.
“Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to ‘pray always’ (Luke 21:36; 3 Nephi 18:15, 18; D&C 31:12). Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for His faithful children” (“Pray Always,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 41–42).
Write in your scripture study journal how you think following Elder Bednar’s instructions on how to “pray always” could help you in your life.
Read the following testimony from Elder Spencer J. Condie, who was then serving as a member of the Seventy, concerning feasting on the words of Christ: “You may be facing decisions regarding a mission, your future career, and, eventually, marriage. As you read the scriptures and pray for direction, you may not actually see the answer in the form of printed words on the page, but as you read you will receive distinct impressions, and promptings, and, as promised, the Holy Ghost ‘will show unto you all things what ye should do’ [2 Nephi 32:5]” (“Becoming a Great Benefit to Our Fellow Beings,” Ensign, May 2002, 45).
During the next 24 hours, try to incorporate what you have learned about how to “pray always” into your life. At the beginning of the next lesson, you will be invited to report your thoughts and feelings about this experience. Write in your scripture study journal how striving to “pray always” can make a difference in your prayers.
To better understand what it means to pray always, read the following statement by President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994):
President Ezra Taft Benson
“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.)” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson [2014], 52).
  • According to this statement, what does it mean to pray always?
  • What do you think it means that the Lord will consecrate our performance for the welfare of our souls? 
  • What are some ways in which you have tried to follow the commandment to pray always?
  • In what ways do you feel the Lord has blessed you as you have sought to pray always?
Sometimes people do not pray when they have sinned, because they feel unworthy to approach Heavenly Father. Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Seventy taught the following:
Elder J. Devn Cornish
“It is as tragic to think we are too sinful to pray as it is for a very sick person to believe he is too sick to go to the doctor!” (J. Devn Cornish, “The Privilege of Prayer,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 103).
Book of Mormon Central

Why Must One Pray Always to Endure to the End?

General Conference

Pray Always, Elder Bednar

Prayer, Pres. Eyring
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