3 Nephi 18:15–39; 19:19–29

“Pray Always”

Jesus Christ praying in the Americas

Many people pray every day. Some prayers can be more meaningful than others. Jesus Christ not only taught His followers to “always pray unto the Father” (3 Nephi 18:19), but He also showed them how to pray. This lesson can help you follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ to pray always and to have more meaningful prayers.

Examples

Think of a talent, skill, or attribute you would like to develop. Identify people you know who have that talent, skill, or attribute. Using these thoughts, fill in the following blanks in a few different ways:

• If I wanted to learn about , I would follow the example of because .

Repeat the exercise by filling in the first blank of the following sentence with something you want to learn from the Savior and answering why in the final blank.

• If I wanted to learn about , I would follow the example of Jesus Christ because .

During His ministry in the Americas, the Savior taught the people by word and example.

Read 3 Nephi 18:16, 24, looking for an example Jesus set.

• What did the Savior want the people to learn from His example?

Before looking at the Savior’s teachings and example, evaluate your personal prayers.

Rate the following on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest:

• I pray every day.

• I communicate with and feel close to Heavenly Father when I pray.

• I feel a desire to improve my personal prayers.

As you continue to study 3 Nephi 18, seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to help you know what you can do to improve your personal prayers. Follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ as you seek to improve.

The Savior’s teachings about prayer

Read 3 Nephi 18:15, 18–23, looking for what the Savior taught about prayer. You could also read the Savior’s instruction on prayer from His sermon at the temple in 3 Nephi 13:5–13.

icon, record

1. Answer the following questions:

   • Which of Jesus’s teachings about prayer do you think could help you the most? Why?

The Savior’s example of prayer

Imagine what it would be like to hear Jesus Christ pray for you. What do you think He would pray for on your behalf? Think about the feelings you might have and how they could impact your own prayers.

Read both of the following passages from 3 Nephi 19 and one other passage of your choice. Look for what you can learn from the Savior’s example of prayer.

You could also watch the video “The Disciples Minister and Jesus Christ Prays for the People” from time code 3:05 to 7:18, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and follow along with the verses in 3 Nephi 19.

• 3 Nephi 17:14–17

• 3 Nephi 19:19–23

• 3 Nephi 19:27–29

• Matthew 26:39–42

• John 17:1, 4, 8–9

• Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5

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2. Answer the following questions:

   • What did you learn about prayer from the Savior’s example?

   • What did you learn about how the Savior feels about you?

   • How do you think following His example could make a difference in your prayers?

Our personal prayers

Select at least one of the Savior’s teachings or something He exemplified in prayer that you can incorporate into your personal prayers. Create a reminder and begin acting on it today. As you do, notice how it helps your prayers be more meaningful and how it influences your relationship with Heavenly Father.

You may want to add some of what you learned today to your journal entry “Learning about Jesus Christ in 3 Nephi.”

Optional: Want to Learn More?

How does prayer bless families?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency shared:

President Henry B. Eyring

When you pray with and for family members, you will feel your and the Savior’s love for them. That will become more and more your spiritual gift as you seek it. Your family members will feel it as you pray with greater faith. (Henry B. Eyring, “Women and Gospel Learning in the Home,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 60)

What can I pray for?

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

President M. Russell Ballard

I invite you to pray always. Pray for your family. Pray for the leaders of nations. Pray for the courageous people who are on the front lines in the current battles against social, environmental, political, and biological plagues that impact all people throughout the world: the rich and the poor, the young and the old.

The Savior taught us to not limit who we pray for. He said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” [Matthew 5:44]. (M. Russell Ballard, “Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 78)

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared:

Elder David A. Bednar

Petitioning Heavenly Father for the blessings we desire in our personal lives is good and proper. However, praying earnestly for others, both those whom we love and those who despitefully use us, is also an important element of meaningful prayer. Just as expressing gratitude more often in our prayers enlarges the conduit for revelation, so praying for others with all of the energy of our souls increases our capacity to hear and to heed the voice of the Lord. (David A. Bednar, “Pray Always,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 43)

Why do we pray to Heavenly Father?

We are instructed to pray to Heavenly Father. We do not pray to Jesus Christ or any other individual. To feel close to our heavenly parents, some individuals may feel a desire to pray to Heavenly Mother. Church leaders have addressed this by pointing to the example of Jesus Christ.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Dale G. Renlund

The Savior taught His disciples, “Always pray unto the Father in my name” [3 Nephi 18:19]. We follow this pattern and direct our worship to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ and do not pray to Heavenly Mother. (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny,” Liahona, May 2022, 70)

3 Nephi 19:18, 22. Why did the disciples pray to Jesus?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–1985) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

There was a special reason why this was done in this instance and on a onetime basis. Jesus had already taught them to pray in his name to the Father, which they first did. … Jesus was present before them as the symbol of the Father…. Seeing him, it was as though they saw the Father; praying to him, it was as though they prayed to the Father. It was a special and unique situation. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978], 560–61)