Lesson for February 26, 2017

Today’s lesson was given by Kristine Hansen on Teachings for our Time and a talk by Carol F. McConkie on “The Soul’s Sincere Desire.” It is about prayer and was given last October. When Kristine was 8 years old her Primary teacher had her class learn the words for the song, “Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.” She says that prayer is one thing that unifies us and Christ also unifies us. He taught us to pray. In prayer, we engage all three members of the Godhead. We pray to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, His Son, with the help of the Holy Ghost. We pray to God the Father and Him Only. He is the only living and true God. Kristine handed out a passage by Elder Talmage on prayer and Christ, said that a person should pray in private when none may intrude. Using wordy passages that are likely to impress are useless. Even the poor in spirit may pray. One who is uplifted can pray. God without our prayers would be God; but we without prayer cannot be admitted to the kingdom of God. So did Christ instruct: “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.” Sister McConkie said we pray through Christ as the Mediator, Advocate, and someone who speaks for you. He is there pleading for you. Kristine also quoted Paradise Lost by Milton and the part when Adam and Eve prayed to God after being cast out of Eden. He tells about when Christ intercedes for Adam and Eve pray and carries their prayers to God and tells about how His death will pay for man’s sins. Kristine says she imagines Christ takes her prayers to God the Father and says, “She is asking for forgiveness and I’ve already paid for her sins, so will you please forgive her?” Sister McConkie said Christ wants us to turn to him so we can be purified and comforted by Him as we pray in His name and try to become like He did. Yesterday we had a Relief Society conference when several sisters told of their many trials and how they have been lifted up through the power of prayer. Their trials were terrible, but they got through them by trusting in the Lord. The Holy Ghost will prompt us to pray for what we need. When we get answers to our prayers, we get help through the power of the Holy Ghost who will prompt us to pray for the right things. We have to tap in the right way. D&C 46:30 says if you are in the Spirit you will align your will with the will of God. 3 Nephi 19: 34 tells of the disciples who were given what to pray for and they didn’t multiply many words. Sister McConkie said President Eyring said he knew best when his desire was to have what God wanted him to desire. When we live in perilous times we should be still and know what God wants for us. Kristine handed out questions for seven different groups and had them discuss prayer. The sisters talked about having humility and realizing that God can help can help us to want to pray. Having a habit of prayer can help us want to pray. Reading our scriptures can help us want to pray. Sometimes knowing what the question is that we need to pray for can help us know what the focus should be and maybe a different way of looking at an issue. We also discussed getting an answer to prayer that we did not want. Sometimes when we get a dead end answer, the question then changes to what it should be if we are open to listening to the Holy Ghost. To pray always is to have a prayer in our heart always, and then we can be in a position to get the answer we should. One sister said she got a prompting to put two pairs of glasses in her temple bag and one pair broke. Her second pair also broke. Then her husband was able to fix them, but she felt blessed that the Holy Ghost had taken care of her that day. The question came up is there a balance between praying always and doing what is needed. The answer was to keep a prayer in the heart If you are in a spiritual desert, then prayer can help you return to a bounty, especially if you ask to know how you got there. Also persevering is important. Sometimes the Savior is standing next to us and praying for us while we go through trials.