Pray On!

A prominent feature of the Savior’s American ministry is prayer. On the first day, after healing the sick, Jesus invited the children to come forward. Surrounded by children, who were in turn surrounded by adults, Jesus knelt and offered a prayer so transcendent that no one who was there could recreate it. They were all filled with joy. (See 3 Nephi 17:11-18.)

Later, Jesus taught them to pray constantly. “Ye must watch and pray always,” He said. “Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 18:15, 18-19). He said to pray in their families and in their congregations, and especially to pray for those who were new or who were struggling spiritually. (See 3 Nephi 18:21-23, 30.) He told them to pray as they had seen Him pray. (See 3 Nephi 18:16, 24.)

When He returned the following morning, He commanded the gathered mulitude to kneel down, and He instructed His twelve disciples to pray. (See 3 Nephi 19:16-17.) In a scene reminiscent of His recent experience in Gethsemane, three times He “went a little way off from them and bowed himself to the earth…and prayed unto the Father” (3 Nephi 19:19-20, 27, 31; see also Matthew 26:39-45, Mark 14:35-41, Luke 22:41-46). During the third prayer, once again, the people “did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed. Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man” (3 Nephi 19:33-34).

Meanwhile, His disciples “did still continue, without ceasing, to pray” (3 Nephi 19:24, 30). He said, “Pray on,” and they kept praying (3 Nephi 19:26). Finally, it was time to move on to the next activity. “He commanded the multitude that they should cease to pray, and also his disciples.” But He added this important clarification: “They should not cease to pray in their hearts” (3 Nephi 20:1). Formal, focused prayer is important, and we need to practice persisting in prayer as we strive to commune with God. But even when the formal prayer ends and other activities must begin, we can carry a prayer in our hearts always.

Today, I will pray on. I will ensure that my formal prayers are long enough to accomplish their purpose. I will also pray in my heart throughout the activities of the day.