Purpose: To teach that prayer is one of the greatest blessings we have and that through prayer we can talk with our Heavenly Father and seek His guidance often.
Possible scriptures: Psalm 55:17; Matthew 6:9–13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 1:5; 2 Nephi 32:8–9; Alma 34:17-27; Alma 37:37; 3 Nephi 18:19–21; Moroni 10:3–5;
Possible Songs: I Pray in Faith – Children’s Songbook #14; A Prayer – Children’s Songbook #22b; A Prayer Song – Children’s Songbook #22a;; Children All Over the World – Children’s Songbook #16; Did You Think to Pray? – Hymns #140; Heavenly Father, Now I Pray – Children’s Songbook #19; I Love to Pray – Children’s Songbook #25b; Love Is Spoken Here – Children’s Songbook #190; We Bow Our Heads – Children’s Songbook #25a; Sweet Hour of Prayer – Hymns #142
Possible Materials: a bag that says “I am thankful for…” and a bag that says “Please bless that…” along with pictures of items that could go inside them or blank paper strips for your family to write their own responses; a picture of Enos; either the figurine from “When I Begin To Pray,” The Friend Oct 1982 or from “Fasting and Prayer,” September 2000.
Preparation: Begin with prayer. Take a self-evaluation. Have your prayers been meaningful lately? Have you paused at the end of your prayers? Is there something you could work on? Read the suggested scriptures. Read through the lesson, including any links, and carefully select the most relevant material for your family. Children: Watch the video about Enos and the video about Daniel in the lion’s den. Then look around your house and collect things you and your family are thankful for.
Lesson:
Discuss how last week’s challenge went.
Introduction: Pull out a bag that says “I am thankful for…” and ask the family what are some things they’re thankful for. Pull out pictures of some ideas (i.e. clothes, house, family, food, scriptures, etc.) For older children, hand out pencils and slips of paper and ask them to them write their own responses to include in the bag. When the family is done naming things, ask them how we show our Heavenly Father we are thankful for what he gave us. Tell them that everyone likes to be told, “Thank you.” We can tell Heavenly Father thank you when we pray to Him. How Do we pray? What are the parts of a prayer? When they talk about asking for blessings, pull out a second bag, labeled, “Please Bless That…” and pull out pictures of things we often need (health, we will listen, safety, our friends, etc.) Place papers with “Heavenly Father,” and “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,” on either side of the bags.
From a General Authority: Watch this video about Elder Eyering. Every night, he looked for ways Heavenly Father had helped him that day. How do you think that changed his prayers? It is easier to say prayers with a thankful heart if we spend some time before we start to pray. We can think about our day and looking for how Heavenly Father helped us, or even just thinking about some of our favorite things. We should also take time before we pray to think about who the prayer will include (i.e. for a congregation or a whole family) and any special things the members of the prayer may be seeking. For younger children, explain that the word “ponder,” means to think carefully.
From the Scriptures: Hold up a picture of Enos. Discuss or read the story of Enos found in Enos chapter 1. Enos was pondering, too! he was thinking about the things his dad had taught him. Enos knelt down do pray. We show reverence and respect to Heavenly Father when we hold our bodies still and reverently. For younger children, use one of the figures from The Friend to demonstrate how we hold our body while we pray. Talk about being able to pray whenever you need to; It doesn’t have to be in the morning or at night. Also point out that Enos waited after his prayer to hear the Lord’s answer. For older audiences, focus on what and *who* Enos prayed for. Help them realize that you should pray for your enemies as well your friends.
From the scriptures: Ask the family why we pray? there are many good answers, but a big reason why we pray is because it is a commandment from God! Hold up a picture of Daniel. Read Daniel 6:4-27. Discuss how Daniel never quit praying, even when it was hard. Because Daniel chose to obey God’s commandments instead of the king, God protected him.
From World History: Hold up a picture of General George S. Patton. Tell your family that this is General George S. Patton. He was a General during World War II. His armies had a lot of success, but they were in a tight spot. Weather and time were not on their side if they were going to win the war. They were running out of resources and a lot of the soldiers were getting sick. The army needed the rain to stop! General Patton knew his army could win the war if the weather would just cooperate. He had done his part to be ready, and still it rained. So he asked the chaplain (that is a religious leader for the army) to write a prayer for his soldiers to say. All of the army under General Patton prayed, and when it came time for them to attack, the weather was clear. General Patton again prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for the good weather. Ask a family member to read the prayer from the top part of the image from Historyonthenet.com. Talk to your family that “thee,” “thy,” and “thou,” mean “you and your.” When we use these words, we are showing reverence to Heavenly Father.
Further Discussion:
As a family, read the sections under “What is Prayer?” and “Why Do We Pray?” from Gospel Principles, chapter 8, as well as 3 Nephi 18:15 (see also D&C 10:5); Alma 38:14; Alma 34:17–27; 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Look for things we should include in our prayers. Answers may include requesting strength to resist the temptations of Satan and his followers and to live the gospel so that we may keep on his straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, confessing our sins to God and asking forgiveness, seeking guidance and help in our daily lives, along with protection for families and friends, neighbors, crops and animals, daily work, and other activities and protection from our enemies, expressing love to our Heavenly Father and gaining a desire to feel closer to Him, thanking Him for our welfare, comfort and all things He gives us.
Read the section “When Should We Pray?” from Gospel Principles, chapter 8. Discuss times that we pray, which includes when we wake up; when we go to bed; meals; as a family; in church; when we need strength; when we are scared, or lonely, etc; when we need answers; when we don’t feel like praying; and “continually.”
Read Matthew 6:7-8 (also 3 Nephi 13:7) and Alma 31:12-35. Explain that “vain repetitions” means saying the same thing over and over again. Heavenly Father wants us to think about what we say. Alma gives 2 different prayers. Compare them. They both express gratitude, but are very different. Talk about which one meant more to both the one saying the prayer and to Heavenly Father.
Recent Conference talks to consider in your discussion: Faith to Act and Become, by Elder Ciro Schmeil; Remember Your Way Back Home, by Elder José A. Teixeira
Challenge:
Challenge each member of your family to pay closer attention to his or her prayers – before, during, and after. Ask them to watch for how deeper prayers have helped them and their relationship with Heavenly Father. For each prayer said as a family this week, take time before the prayer to talk about what we should remember to add to our prayers.
Giving due credit: as usual, I read and learned from the Sunbeams Manual Lesson 4 (Nursery Manual lesson 3) and Gospel Principles Chapter 8. I read multiple accounts of General Patton’s request for prayer, but an incredibly thorough retelling is found in the article “When Patton Enlisted the Entire Third Army to Pray for Fair Weather” History on the Net © 2000-2021, Salem Media. Furthermore, the message given in the January 2006 New Era entitled The Special Language of Prayer, by Dallin H. Oaks gives deeper insight into the language of prayer.
