Lessons for Our Day From the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ - 2024
Lesson No. Nineteen

The Prayer of Faith - Alma 33-34

The prayer of faith – In Alma 33:1 the humble Zoramites ask “how they should plant the seed, or the word...in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.” Alma answers: The word or the seed is planted in our hearts by the prayer of faith. We pray in faith if we sincerely pray with a desire to be heard of God, believing the He does hear and answer prayers. Our ability to pray in faith is increased by studying the scriptures and the prophets, all of which testify of Christ. (See Alma 33:2-21)

To pray in faith we must understand and believe two fundamental doctrines about prayer:

1. God is our Father and we are His children – With this understanding “prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought in correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but are made conditional upon our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Prayer).

2. Prayer is a two-way communication between Parent and child – This is a very unique concept. “Although prayer has a role in many religions and cultures, rarely is prayer considered to be a two-way communication between God and man” (Preach My Gospel [Previous Edition], p. 39). One of the great blessings found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that we believe that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and that He hears and answers our prayers. We teach this doctrine to our youngest children, and they most often naturally grow up believing it is true.

“Lord, teach us how to pray” – As we grow spiritually our desire to have spiritual knowledge and experiences increases, but we must understand that, “No one can know spiritual truths without prayer” (Preach My Gospel, 94). Therefore, we desire to pray with greater and greater faith. The seldom remembered 8th verse of the hymn 145, Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire expresses our Spirit guided desire to learn how to pray in faith:

- O thou by whom we come to God,
- The Life, the Truth, the Way!
- The path of prayer thyself hast trod;
- Lord, teach us how to pray.

I love the hymns of the Church and have noticed that many of them in the LDS Hymn Book were written by members and nonmembers alike during the early days of the Restoration. The 1985 edition has blessed many lives, and a new edition is in the works.

“More Holiness Give Me” is the desire of most committed Latter-day Saints – It is also the title and first line of Hymn # 131 in the LDS Hymn Book. This hymn has always been one of my favorites. It became much more meaningful to me when I learned that it was originally

named My Prayer by its composer Philip Paul Bliss. Please read, or better sing, the words of this hymn with the thought in mind that these words are personally “my prayer” also.

1. More holiness give me, More strivings within,
More patience in suff’ring, More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior, More sense of his care,
More joy in his service, More purpose in prayer.

2. More gratitude give me, More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory, More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows, More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial, More praise for relief.

3. More purity give me, More strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains, More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom, More used would I be,
More blessed and holy—More, Savior, like thee.

A marvelous flood of light – As I was preparing this Lesson I noticed that a great majority of the hymns in the LDS Hymn Book were written and composed after 1820. This is another powerful evidence of the marvelous flood of light that began with the restoration of the gospel. (See Current Lesson 39) These composers, including many nonmembers like Philip Paul Bliss, were righteous, inspired men and women who loved the Lord. You will be inspired if you google and read the life story of Philip Paul Bliss.

Testimony – I believe Philip Paul Bliss, and many other inspired composers, who have passed on, have accepted the doctrine of the restoration and are now members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. What President Joseph Fielding Smith said at the funeral of Elder Richard L. Evans about the Restored Church as it is organized in the spirit world can be said of these good men and women: “But the same Church, which has an even more perfect and effective organization among the righteous dead, has gained another pillar of strength to use in the great labors that are performed there” (Ensign, Dec 1971).

On a personal noted; I have spent the last five nights in the hospital, and as the result of the prayers and faith of many family and friends the issue has been resolved. This experience has reminded me that prayers are heard and answered. It has increased my desire to pray in greater and greater faith, and to do as Amulek taught, “let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you” (Alma 34:27). I am also reminded that Amulek taught that we must support those who stand in need so that our prayers will be answered. (See Alma 34:28-29)

Released on July 28th. 2024.