Prayer & Sacrifice

Guide to the Scriptures ~ Prayer

Enrique R. Falabella:

When my son Daniel was six years old, he saw that I was worried because I had to attend a stake conference. I was unsure about what to teach the Saints. He came up to me and said, “Daddy, that’s really easy.” That’s how children see everything.

“Let’s see, Son,” I told him. “Since it’s easy, tell me what I can talk to them about.”

“Talk to them about prayer,” he told me.

“That’s a good subject,” I told him, “but they’ve heard a lot of talk about prayer; what could I tell them that’s new?”

“That’s easy too, Daddy. First tell them, ‘Before you start to talk to Heavenly Father, think about the things you want to tell Him.’”

“That sounds like a magnificent idea,” I replied. “And then?”

“Well, once you’ve thought of it, tell it to Him! When you finish, wait and see if He has something to tell you.” (LDS General Conference, October 2007)

 
Moses 2:27 ~

 27 And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten Created I him; male and female created I them.

Moses 3:8 ~

 8 And I, the Lord God, planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there I put the man whom I had formed.

Moses 4:12 ~

 12 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the [forbidden] fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

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As a result, Adam and Eve were drive out of the garden…

Moses 5:5-8 ~

 5 And [the Lord] gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord there God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord.  And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.

 6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?  And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

 7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

 8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.

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When we worship the Lord “and call upon God in the name of the Son” it is called prayer.

Through prophets we continue receiving commandments which frequently require sacrifice. Today we sacrifice by fasting, paying our tithing, and attending and serving in the church.  We are promised that “Sacrifice [will bring] forth the blessings of heaven.” – Praise to the Man, LDS Hymn 27. Blessings are often answers to prayer.

Adam worshiped the Lord.  This means he showed reverence for Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Love filled Adam’s heart for our Heavenly Father.  Today we remember our Savior’s redeeming sacrifice as we partake of the sacramental bread and water.

The prophet Isaiah expressed his faith in sacrifice and prayer by saying:

Isaiah 58:6-11 ~

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

 8 ¶Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

 9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am….

 11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.