Lessons on Missionary Service
Lesson No. Thirteen
Prayer - A Vital Part of Missionary Service
Enos was an exemplary missionary – Enos went to the forest to pray for forgiveness of his sins. In answer to his prayer the voice of the Lord came to his mind forgiving him of his sins. (See Enos 1:1-8)
After his conversion, like all good missionaries, Enos “began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them. And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold the voice of the Lord came into my mind again saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments” (Enos 1: 9-10).
After Enos received answer to his prayers for himself and his brethren the Nephites, he writes that his “faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites. And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith” (Enos 1:11-12).
Missionaries pray fervently with great desire for their personal salvation and the salvation of others – Enos wrote “of the wrestle I had before God” (Enos 1:2). Wrestling in mighty prayer requires great effort and is a form of work. (See LDS Bible Dictionary, Prayer, p. 753)
Like many members of the Church today Enos was taught the gospel in his home. The teachings of his father “concerning eternal life…sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered” (Enos 1:1-4).
Missions are the time for missionaries to grow in the knowledge of the gospel. It is a time to be diligent in keeping the commandments and learn to make obedience a habit. It is a time to receive and retain a remission of sins. (See Mosiah 4:6, 11-12).
We retain a remission of sins from day to day by ministering to others both spiritually and temporally. (See Mosiah 4:26). No wonder that the Church today is focused on “ministering”, and ministering is what missions are all about.
Enos prayed “for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them” (Enos 1:9). Missionaries pray for their family, for their companions, for the Brethren, and for members of the Church in the areas where they are assigned.
Finally, Enos “prayed unto God with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites” (Enos 1:11). Like Enos, Alma “labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer” (Alma 8:10) for the people of Ammonihah who had cast him out. Missionaries are to pray for those who reject them.
Missionaries pray frequently – Enos wrote that he prayed all day long and into the night. (See Enos 1:4) This does not mean that Enos did not get off his knees during this time. The lesson for members and missionaries alike is that we must retain the spirit of prayer at all times and live as we pray.
Missionaries learn to pray. They have many formal prayers each day. They have individual prayer when they arise, followed by companionship prayer as they study. They bless the food at each meal. They pray before they leave their apartment morning, noon, and evening. They pray with members and with investigators. They pray individually and as a companionship before retiring. During the day these formal prayers are interspersed with righteous thoughts and diligent work.
Testimony – Enos did what all return missionaries should do, he spent the rest of his life testifying of the “truth which is in Christ” and he “rejoiced in it” (Enos 1:26). One of the great blessings of missionary service is that it sets the pattern for the rest of the missionary’s life. Missionaries learn how to pray, to exercise faith in Christ, to be diligent in keeping the commandments, to teach the gospel, to serve others, and do a myriad of other things that brings success and happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.