The act of prayer — communication between man and God — can often be misunderstood or even neglected. In the hustle of daily life, prayers are sometimes hurried and routine. But a powerful reminder of the power and purpose of prayer is found in the teachings of the resurrected Lord to the Nephites and righteous Lamanites in 3 Nephi 17-19. Each chapter includes utterances from the people to their God, or between the Savior and His Father. Jesus Christ even offered a prayer in 3 Nephi 19 that might be compared with the great intercessory prayer recorded in John 17:20-23.
The joy these people felt seeing and hearing their Lord pray must have been indescribable. In fact, one verse, 3 Nephi 17:16, explains: "After this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father."
In his April 1993 general conference address, Elder David E. Sorensen of the Seventy spoke of Jesus Christ's teachings on prayer in 3 Nephi. "The Savior puts great emphasis on prayer in the Book of Mormon. He repeatedly and personally prayed with and for the Nephites. And after He did this, He asked them to follow His example.
"Christ taught the Nephites that prayer is more than just a means to receive our Father in Heaven's generosity; rather, prayer itself is an act of faith as well as an act of righteousness. Prayer is the defining act of the worshipper of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. This is because the act of prayer itself can change and purify us, both individually and as a group. As our Bible Dictionary states, 'The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.' " (Bible Dictionary, p. 753.)
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