544. We are to pray in the morning and evening of every day.
545. We are to live with the spirit of prayer always in our hearts.
546. We are to call upon the Lord while He is near.
544. We are to pray in the morning and evening of every day.
[O]bserve that great commandment given of the Master, always to remember the Lord, to pray in the morning, and in the evening, and always remember to thank him for blessings that you receive day by day. . . . It is the commandment of the Lord that we shall remember God morning and evening, and as the Book of Mormon tells us, "at all times." We should carry with us the spirit of prayer throughout every duty that we have to perform in life. Why should we? One of the simple reasons that appeals to my mind with great force is that man is so utterly dependent upon God CR1914Oct:6; DGSM:33
quoted by Mormon
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma instructs his son Helaman, about 73 B.C.) Alma 37:37
I think every Latter-day Saint ought to go to his knees night and morning in secret prayer. . . . I grew up in a home where we had family prayers every night and morning. A good time to have morning family prayer is just before the morning meal. And a good time for the evening prayer is just before the evening meal. CR1961Oct:61
quoted by Mormon
Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. (Amulek teaches the people to pray, about 74 B.C.) Alma 34:19-21
The Church urges that there be family prayer every night and every morning. It is a kneeling prayer with all or as many members of the family present as possible. ("Prayer," New Era, March 1978, p.15) MPSG1983:129
No prayer is unheard. The place and time of prayer are of less importance. Morning, noon and night, prayer is always fitting. However, it is well to be orderly, and to beget habits of prayer, and certain hours of the day should therefore be set aside for prayer, both in private and in the family. (A Rational Theology, pp. 76-77) TLDP:480-81
Related Witnesses:
And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God. (Alma organizes the Church of Christ and ordains priests, about 148 B.C.) Mosiah 18:23
quoted by Mormon
And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. (King Benjamin addresses his people, about 124 B.C.) Mosiah 4:11
Author's Note: Marion G. Romney spoke in the 52nd Primary conference, April 1958, saying: "To this day, my conscience won't let me go to bed at night or leave my room in the morning without saying my prayers on my knees, if I am where I can get on my knees. If I am where I can't get on my knees, I say them as I lie in my bed."
545. We are to live with the spirit of prayer always in our hearts.
"Pray always." (See 2 Nephi 32:9.) So it is written—meaning: Pray regularly, consistently, day in and day out; and also, live with the spirit of prayer always in your heart, so that your thoughts, words, and acts are always such as will please Him who is Eternal. Amulek speaks of praying "both morning, mid-day, and evening," and says we should pour out our souls to the Lord in our closets, in our secret places, and in the wilderness. (See Alma 34:17-29.) Jesus commanded both personal and family prayer: "Watch and pray always," he said: and also, "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." (3 Nephi 18:15,21) ("Why the Lord Ordained Prayer," EN1976Jan:11) TLDP:491
How impressive are those few simple words in regard to prayer [D&C 19:28,38] They enter into a man's life and comprehend his whole existence, at least from the years of his accountability until he passes into the grave. He must pray under all circumstances. Prayer is not reserved for the Sabbath day or for any particular occasion. It is not only to be used at the general conferences of the Church, but the spirit of prayer must be in our hearts unceasingly. We must pray in our families; we must pray in secret; we must pray in our hearts. The spirit of prayer must be with us when we retire at night and when we arise in the morning. It must be upon us when we leave our homes for our daily employment; in the office; in the shop; in the field; in the mountains or in the valleys; or wherever we are. We are told . . . that if that spirit is upon us the Lord will bless us, and the blessings which will come in answer to prayer will be of more importance to us than treasures of the earth. CR1904Apr:42-43
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
I do not know any other way for the Latter-day Saints than for every breath to be virtually a prayer for God to guide and direct his people, and that he will never suffer us to possess anything that will be an injury to us. I am satisfied that this should be the feeling of every Latter-day Saint in the world. If you are making a bargain, if you are talking in the house, visiting in the social party, going forth in the dance, every breath should virtually be a prayer that God will preserve us from sin and from the effects of sin. (In Tabernacle, Ogden, Utah, June 11, 1864, JD10:313) DBY:43-44
It is the commandment of the Lord that we shall remember God morning and evening, and as the Book of Mormon tells us, "at all times." We should carry with us the spirit of prayer throughout every duty that we have to perform in life. Why should we? One of the simple reasons that appeals to my mind with great force is that man is so utterly dependent upon God CR1914Oct:6
Related Witnesses:
Pray without ceasing. (Paul writes to the Church at Thessalonica, comprised of Jews and many pagan converts, A.D. 50) 1Thess.5:17
We should call upon the Lord in mighty prayer, and make all our wants known unto Him. For if He does not protect and deliver us and save us, no other power will. Therefore our trust is entirely in Him. Therefore our prayers should ascend into the ears of our Heavenly Father day and night. ("An Epistle from the President of the Twelve Apostles," Millennial Star, Dec. 1886, p. 806) TLDP:481
quoted by Mormon
Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. (Amulek teaches the people to pray, about 74 B.C.) Alma 34:19-21
receiving the Word of the Lord
And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private. . . .
38. Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof. (A commandment of God for Martin Harris, March 1830) D&C 19:28,38
Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward. (Revelation for Thomas B. Marsh, Sept. 30, 1830) D&C 31:12
Pray always that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work. (Revelation in respect to the lost 116 manuscript pages, 1828) D&C 10:5
receiving the Word of the Lord
What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place. (The Lord speaks by revelation to Joseph at Kirtland, Ohio, May 6, 1833) D&C 93:49
recorded in Luke
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Jesus tells of the signs that shall precede his second coming) Luke 21:36
546. We are to call upon the Lord while He is near.
receiving the Word of the Lord
And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—
63. Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
64. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;
65. And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation. (Revelation, Dec. 27/28, 1832) D&C 88:62-65
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: . . . (Isaiah says come and drink, salvation is free; seek the Lord while he is near, 740-659 B.C.) Isaiah 55:6
quoted by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Repent ye, repent ye, and embrace the everlasting covenant, and flee to Zion, before the overflowing scourge overtake you, for there are those now living upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things, which I have spoken, fulfilled. Remember these things; call upon the Lord while He is near, and seek Him while He may be found, is the exhortation of your unworthy servant. (Letter to the editor of a newspaper published in Rochester, New York, Jan. 4, 1833) HC1:315-16; TPJS:18
Related Witnesses:
We should live so near to the Lord, be so humble in our spirits, so tractable and pliable, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, that we will be able to know the mind and will of the Father concerning us as individuals and as officers in the Church of Christ under all circumstances. And when we live so that we can hear and understand the whisperings of the still small voice of the Spirit of God, let us do whatsoever that Spirit directs, without fear of the consequences. It does not make any difference whether it meet the minds of carpers or critics, or of the enemies of the kingdom of God, or not. Is it agreeable to the will of the Lord? Is it compatible with the spirit of the great latter-day work in which we are engaged? Is the end aimed at likely to advance the Church and to strengthen it in the earth? If its trend is in that direction, let us do it, no matter what men may say or think. CR1903Oct:86
God is a personal being of body—a body limited in extent. He cannot, therefore, at a given moment be personally everywhere. Time and space surround him as they surround us. Nevertheless, it is known that God, by his power, will and word, is everywhere present. The Lord must, therefore, be in possession of other agencies whereby his will may be transmitted at his pleasure to the uttermost confines of space. The chief agent employed by God to communicate his will to the universe is the holy spirit, which must not be confused with the Holy Ghost, the personage who is the third member of the Godhead. The holy spirit permeates all the things of the universe, material and spiritual. By the holy spirit the will of God is radio-transmitted, broadcasted as it were. It forms what may be called the great system of communication among the intelligent beings of the universe. The holy spirit vibrates with intelligence; it takes up the word and will of God as given by him or by his personal agents, and transmits the message to the remotest parts of space. By the intelligent operation and infinite extent of the holy spirit, the whole universe is held together and made as one unit. By its means there is no remoteness into which intelligent beings may escape the dominating will of God. By the holy spirit, the Lord is always with us, and "is nearer than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet." . . .
By the holy spirit, which fills every person, man may obtain information from the Lord. By its means comes the messages which transcend the ordinary methods of acquiring knowledge. By it man may readily communicate with God, or God with him. When a person utters his prayer in faith, it is impressed upon the holy spirit, and transmitted, so that God may read the man's desire. (A Rational Theology, pp. 72-74) TLDP:363
Related Witnesses:
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
If we draw near to him, he will draw near to us; if we seek him early, we shall find him; if we apply our minds faithfully and diligently day by day, to know and understand the mind and will of God, it is as easy as, yes, I will say easier than it is to know the minds of each other, for to know and understand ourselves and our own being is to know and understand God and his being. (In Tabernacle, April 17, 1870, JD13:312) DBY:42
