Doctrinal Mastery: 2 Nephi 32:8–9

“Ye Must Pray Always”

In a previous lesson, “2 Nephi 32:8–9,” you learned that if we pray always, Heavenly Father will consecrate our performance for the welfare of our souls. This lesson can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for 2 Nephi 32:8–9, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to realistic scenarios.

Explain and memorize

Review the doctrinal mastery scripture reference “2 Nephi 32:8–9” and the key scripture phrase “Ye must pray always.” Make up a brief story to connect each of the numbers in the scripture reference to the key phrase—for example, “Addi prayed 32 hours a day.” It is OK if what you make up is not logical. The point is to help you connect the reference to the key scripture phrase.

1. Complete the following:

   Imagine that you are talking with a friend who does not feel worthy to pray. Use phrases from 2 Nephi 32:8–9 to help them understand why we need to pray always. Include in your explanation what you think it means to pray always.

Practice application

2. Select one of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Write as much as you can remember about the principle. When you finish, compare what you wrote with the corresponding section from paragraphs 5–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023). See if there is anything you want to add to what you wrote.

3. Think about possible questions or concerns you or someone else may have about praying. (To think of possible questions or concerns, you could ask yourself, “What are some reasons people may not pray?” or “How could someone make their prayers more meaningful?”) Select one question or concern you would like to focus on, and write it down. Use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to help someone with that question or concern, writing down how each principle could help them. You can use the following as a guide.

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

• What divinely appointed sources would you use to respond?

Use a divinely appointed source to help you prepare a response. You could send a message to a parent or Church leader asking for help with possible answers. You could also search the scriptures or materials on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. For some concerns, the following statement by President Brigham Young (1801–1877) may help:

It matters not whether you or I feel like praying, when the time comes to pray, pray. If we do not feel like it, we should pray till we do. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 45)

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

• What do you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that relates to this question or concern?

• What eternal truths from 2 Nephi 32:8–9 could help someone with this question or concern?

Act in faith

• What would you suggest this person do to act with faith in Jesus Christ? Why?

• What would you invite this person to remember that could help them act in faith?