Zenos listed four places where God had heard him. Amulek specifically connected the last one, closets, with the first, wildernesses. We need to share the most uncomfortable parts of our lives with God in order to learn from Him and receive His grace.
Prayers and Pride
Alma lamented the memorized prayer of the Zoramites, which was an expression of pride. We can make our prayers more humble by thinking of others, acknowledging our weakness, recognizing context, focusing on service, and being receptive to guidance.
“Give Thanks in All Things”
Alma and his fellow church leaders "[gave] thanks in all things." Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained that gratitude is not transactional. Instead, it is "an expression of hope and testimony." We can be grateful even for blessings we have not yet detected.
In the Wilderness
We can learn a lot about navigating our wildernesses from Zeniff and Limhi. 1. Wandering is expected. 2. You may find unexpected treasures along the way. 3. You may be better off than you were before. 4. You will be motivated to put your trust in God.
The Plan of Salvation
God has a fabulous plan for us. Book of Mormon prophets call it by various titles, including the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation. As Patrick Kearon observed, these titles remind us that God intends to save us.
Mercy
1. God is merciful. 2. He extends "arms of mercy" toward us. 3. The Savior's bowels are filled with mercy because of what He suffered. 4. He earned the right to offer us mercy. We claim that mercy by repenting. 5. Mercy is central to God's plan for us.
Letters to the Seven Churches
John wrote letters to seven congregations of the church. In those letters, he described the Savior, gave feedback, and listed some blessings of exaltation. Taken together, the letters can motivate us to repent and receive the blessings God offers us.
Developing Christlike Attributes
Peter listed a number of attributes that we should strive to develop with God's help: faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. The Book of Mormon provides insight into each of these Christlike attributes.
Thanksgiving
We should "live in thanksgiving daily," even when we're going through difficult times. We should include expressions of gratitude in every prayer. When we are happy, we can express that joy with a "prayer of praise and thanksgiving."
Ask Not Amiss
Jesus promised that our prayers will be answered. James added a caution: we need to pray with the right motives. Bishop Keith B. McMullin taught that the Spirit can help us understand what to ask for, so that our prayers can be aligned with God's will.