Tag: Prayer

The Holy Ghost Filleth with Hope and Perfect Love

~ Richard Rowley

Mormon succinctly describes the path to dwelling with God and His saints.

“And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.” (Moroni 8:25-26)

Questions:

-Are there other commandments, besides baptism, that when kept bring a remission of sins?

-How important is heartfelt prayer when it comes to staying on the path back to God’s eternal presence?

Cleave unto Charity, Which Is the Greatest of All

~ Richard Rowley

Moroni teaches that the pure love of Christ (charity) is the most important virtue to possess.

“…Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.” (Moroni 7:45-48)

Questions:

-Why is charity the most important virtue to obtain in this life?

A Bitter Fountain Cannot Bring Forth Good Water

~ Richard Rowley

The Nephite prophet, Moroni, teaches about the power of real intent when seeking to give service to God through one’s actions.   

“…I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also. For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing. For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness. For behold if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God. And likewise also it is counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such. Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift. For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.” (Moroni 7:5-11)

Questions:

-If a person’s heart is truly in the right place (in terms of striving to serve Christ and diligently seeking the guidance of His Spirit) will his or her actions be counted as righteousness – even when that person acts imperfectly and makes mistakes?

-When it comes to defining good works and evil works, how important is the state of one’s heart (in relation to God) when determining which is which?

Except Men Shall Have Charity They Cannot Inherit the Father’s Mansions

~ Richard Rowley

Thinking that he would have no more occasion to add to the Gold Plates, the prophet Moroni records a prayer to the Lord and bids farewell to his readers.

“…I…remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared. And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father. Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the Gentiles have not charity, because of our weakness, that thou wilt prove them, and take away their talent, yea, even that which they have received, and give unto them who shall have more abundantly.” (Ether 12:32-35)

“And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.” (Ether 12:36-37)

“And now I, Moroni bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things: And only a few have I written, because of my weakness in writing. And now I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be abide in you forever. Amen.” (Ether 12:38-41)

Questions:

-What is the sacrifice that God requires of his children now that the ancient practice of animal sacrifice, as prescribed in the law of Moses, has been done away?

-Is pride, and distain for others, an easy thing to let go of in order to offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit to the Lord?

-Would there be any hope for humanity if Christ chose to condemn us rather than doing all in His power to emphasize the good in us and lift us?

-Will a person ever be right with the Lord if they don’t take on His name and reflect His pure love in the way they live with and view others?

Remember That My Spirit Will Not Always Strive with Man

~ Richard Rowley

The Lord teaches the brother of Jared that it is a sin (and a spiritual hazard) to forgo praying to God as consistent action in one’s life.

“The Lord…chastened [The brother of Jared] because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord. And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his brethren who were with him. And the Lord said unto him: I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And these are my thoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance; for it shall be a land choice above all other lands.” (Ether 2:14-15)

Questions:

-Is prayer a form of seeking the Lord’s presence in your life?

-Is there any hope of drawing closer to the Lord without regular, diligent, and sincere prayer?

I Know That Ye Shall Have My Words

~ Richard Rowley

The prophet Moroni (writing around 401-421 A.D.) knew that you would have his words through the divinely inspired translation and distribution of the Book of Mormon. He describes the purpose of the ancient American prophets’ writing, which is to bring the modern-day descendants of Lehi to a knowledge of Christ, their Savior, and – more generally — to gather the house of Israel to Christ wherever they may be throughout the world.

“Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words. Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been…But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof. And these things are written that we may rid our garments of the blood of our brethren [the Lamanites] who have dwindled in unbelief. And behold, these things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of Christ, are according to the prayers of all the saints who have dwelt in the land. And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.” (Mormon 9:30-31, 34-37)

Questions:

-What does God’s Holy Spirit say to you about the above testimony from the prophet Moroni?

-How does it feel to hear from this American disciple of Christ who wrote the words almost 1,600 years ago?

For a free copy of the Book of Mormon please go to https://www.ComeUntoChrist.org/site/book-of-mormon

I Pray for Those Whom Thou Hast Given Me Out of the World

~ Richard Rowley

Christ prays for those whom the Father has given Him out of the world.

“I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.” (3 Nephi 19:29)

Questions:

-In what sense does the Father give Christ souls out of the world?

-What is the significance of Christ not praying “for the world”?

-Is being born again spiritually akin to being borne out of the ways of the world by the purifying influence of the Holy Ghost?

Hold up Your Light That It May Shine unto the World

~ Richard Rowley

Christ commands that the blessings of His Church be extended to all who desire to partake:

“And behold, ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not; But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name. Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed. And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.” (3 Nephi 18:22-25)

Questions:

-How many churches actively invite others to come and see what they have in the manner Christ describes above?

-Does the belief that some hold, where there are those predestined to be saved and those that are not, reduce the energy behind their extending the invitation to come and see?

-What will a typical person feel when attending a church that has authority to act in Christ’s name compared to one that does not?

Satan Desireth to Have You

~ Richard Rowley

Christ taught a group of the descendants of Lehi (visiting them shortly after His Resurrection) that prayer is an indispensable form of spiritual protection.

“Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you. Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.” (3 Nephi 18:18-21)

Questions:

-Are those who do not earnestly and consistently pray in Christ’s name inevitably under the control of Satan to one degree or another?

-Or, is it more that Satan works particularly hard on those who have covenanted to follow Christ, so that prayer becomes absolutely necessary (to survive spiritually) for those who have entered the covenant path?

-If Satan knows that those who don’t have the law (i.e. don’t have the gospel of Jesus Christ) won’t be judged accordingly, would he also understand that efforts to tempt and destroy such souls would have little eternal affect?

Ye Shall Pray in My Church

~ Richard Rowley

Christ taught the descendants of Lehi that prayer is an essential part of worship in the church setting.

“Verily, Verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him. And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.” (3 Nephi 18:15-16)

Questions:

-What kind of prayer did Christ give to set an example for those He is speaking to in the verses above? (See The Eye Hath Never Seen, Neither Hath the Ear Heard So Great and Marvelous Things)

-Imagine trying to pray as the Savior does. Would doing so lift the quality and meaning of your prayers?