Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

Lessons from the Book of Mormon as taught by S.J. Hollist, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lesson 37 - Jesus Teaches how to Pray

“Lesson 37: Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites to Pray,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),132

Pray can help us to not enter into temptation.

Read 3 Nephi 18:15–25, 19, and 20:1. Also read Alma 13:28–29, Matthew 26:41, and Doctrine and Covenants 31:12, 61:39.

Jesus wants us to pray always "lest ye enter into temptation" (3 Nephi 18:15, 18).

"Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in" Jesus's name (3 Nephi 18:19; 3 Nephi 19:6–8).

If you pray in faith for what is best for us, "it shall be given unto you" (3 Nephi 18:20). Heavenly Father always knows what is best for us. Sometimes this is different from what we want.

"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed" (3 Nephi 18:21).

Jesus Christ said we should pray for those who are not members of the Church, and "suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not" (3 Nephi 18:22–23).

To “hold up your light that it may shine unto the world” (3 Nephi 18:24) means to be a good example to others.

The twelve disciples of Jesus Christ taught the Nephites who were gathered to "pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus" (3 Nephi 19:6). Kneeling shows respect for Heavenly Father. We should show reverence while praying.

As the disciples prayed, they desire "that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them" (3 Nephi 19:9). This gift was given to them through baptism (3 Nephi 19:13–14).

Jesus, when he prayed to Heavenly Father, said "Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost unto these . . . it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them . . . I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me . . ." (3 Nephi 19:20, 28). Expressing thanks is such an important part of our prayers, because it shows our gratitude for the things God has done for us. What are some things you are thankful for?

We can pray unceasingly and "not cease to pray in [our] hearts" (3 Nephi 20:1). We should always have a prayer in our hearts "lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him" (3 Nephi 18:15, 18).

“There is a great tendency for us in our prayers and in our pleadings with the Lord to ask for additional blessings. But sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings already received” - Ezra Taft Benson, thirteenth President of the Church (God, Family, Country, p. 199).

The basic parts of a prayer: