FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE Families and Prayer
By President Henry B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency
Once, as I sat by my father’s bedside through the night, he
talked about his childhood. He spoke of the love of his parents in difficult
times and of the love of his Heavenly Father and the Savior. I knew he was
dying of cancer, so it did not surprise me that at times he mixed up his
feelings for his Heavenly Father with the love and kindness of his earthly
father. My father had often said that when he prayed, he thought he could see
in his mind the smile of Heavenly Father.
His
parents had taught him by example to pray as if he spoke to God and that God
would answer him in love. He needed that example to the end. When the pain
became intense, we found him in the morning on his knees by the bed. He had
been too weak to get back into bed. He told us he had been praying to ask his
Heavenly Father why he had to suffer so much when he had always tried to be
good. He said a kindly answer came: “God needs brave sons.”
And so
he soldiered on to the end, trusting that God loved him, listened to him, and
would lift him up. He was blessed to have known early and to never forget that
a loving God is as close as a prayer.
That is
why the Lord taught parents, “And they shall also teach their children to pray,
and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (D&C 68:28).
The
gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored—with the Book of Mormon and all the
priesthood keys that can bind families—because Joseph Smith as a boy prayed in
faith. He gained that faith in a loving and faithful family.
Twenty
years ago the Lord gave families this counsel in “The Family: A Proclamation to
the World” from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles
of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and
wholesome recreational activities.”1
We owe
an overwhelming debt of gratitude to the family of Joseph Smith the Prophet for
his upbringing. His family exemplified not only faith and prayer but also
repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome
recreational activities.
The
generations that come after you may call you blessed for your example of prayer
in your family. You may not raise a great servant of God, but you can by your
prayers and your example of faithfulness help the Lord Jesus Christ raise up
good and beloved disciples.
Of all
that you might choose to do to help the Lord, prayer will be at the heart of
it. There are apparently ordinary people who, when they pray, inspire others to
open their eyes to see who is there. You can become such a person.
Think
of what that can mean to those who kneel with you in family prayer. When they
feel that you speak to God in faith, their faith will increase to also speak
with God. When you pray to thank God for blessings they know have come, their
faith will grow that God loves them and that He answers your prayers and will
answer theirs. That can happen in family prayer only when you have had that
experience in private prayer, time after time.
I am
still being blessed by a father and a mother who spoke with God. Their example
of the power of prayer in families is still blessing the generations who came
after them.
My
children and grandchildren are blessed every day by the example of my parents.
The faith that a loving God hears and answers prayers has been passed to them.
You can create such a legacy in your family. I pray that you will.
Celebrate
the 20th Anniversary of the Proclamation on the Family
“The
Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches principles that are just as timely
today as when it was first presented on September 23, 1995. Consider inviting
the individuals or families you teach to celebrate the proclamation’s 20th
anniversary by:
1.
Listing principles it contains that have special significance
for them. (See how President Eyring does this with prayer in the message
above.)
2.
Discussing how each principle can bless them today and in the
future.
3.
Setting specific goals to incorporate those principles into
their lives and to share them with others.
Youth
Working
at Prayer
President
Eyring teaches that your family can be blessed by your strong relationship with
Heavenly Father. You can improve your relationship with Him by improving your
prayers! Here are a few ideas of how to do so:
Before
you begin your prayer, take a few moments to think about what you want to say.
Consider questions you might have or things that have been bothering you—you
can even write them down so you don’t forget. Use this time too to clear your
mind from the ruckus of the day so you can focus on the gentle impressions of
the Holy Ghost. If your mind tends to wander while you pray, try to visualize
Heavenly Father listening. Speak in specifics. Also, leave a few minutes at the
end of the prayer to listen to the promptings of the Spirit. You might write
down your impressions in your journal.
Remember
that prayer has been called “a form of work” (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer”), so don’t worry if it takes
practice or seems hard! Your effort in praying can help you forge a
relationship with God that will bless generations.
Children
A
Prayer Reminder
President
Eyring teaches that it’s important to pray with your family. You can be an
example to your family by praying every day. You can also remind your family to
pray together every day. Print the card below and put it where your whole
family will see it. This way you can always remember that Heavenly Father wants
to hear from you!
“Trusting in Prayer”
cji
9/1/15
Granting all of life
is a gift
Father’s most
cherished
able to allow us to
choose
within a mortal body
here
thus trusting in
prayer to know
feeling Father’s
loving touch
being lifted beyond
ourselves
able then to care and
share
bringing Father’s
love to all
trusting in prayer
and faith
doing good works
always
choosing obedience
always
presenting value to
Father
for his precious gift
to us!
Copyright © 2015 –
cji
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