Lesson 25 Teacher Material

Prayer and Personal Revelation

The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, “Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 18:19). The Book of Mormon illustrates important principles regarding prayer and personal revelation. This lesson can help students assess the quality of their prayers and identify what they can do to improve their prayers. Students will also have the opportunity to consider what they can do to increase their capacity to receive personal revelation.

Suggestions for Teaching

Amulek teaches the Zoramites the importance of prayer.

Note: As you discuss ways to improve personal prayers during this lesson, remind students that any effort to pray is praiseworthy. You may want to explain that the following self-assessment is intended to empower students to come closer to God through prayer, not to discourage them in their efforts to pray. The self-assessment will help prepare students to discuss what Amulek teaches about prayer in Alma 34:17–28.

Display the following statements, and invite students to evaluate themselves using a scale of 1 to 5 (1=strongly disagree, and 5=strongly agree).

1. I have personal prayer daily. 

2. My prayers are meaningful and heartfelt. 

3. I pray for my physical and spiritual needs. 

4. I ask for help to overcome the temptations of the devil. 

5. I pray for other people. 

6. I always strive to have a prayer in my heart. 

Encourage students to think about their answers as you discuss Amulek’s teachings on prayer.

Choose one of the following options:

1. Display the following image of a man praying on the Rameumptom:

   

2. Show the Book of Mormon video “Alma and Amulek Teach about Faith in Jesus Christ (Alma 31–34)” until time code 4:15.

Invite students to briefly describe the Zoramites’ approach to prayer and to share what they think about this approach.

Remind students that Amulek later taught important principles about prayer to a humble group of Zoramites. Invite students to review Alma 34:17–28 and identify truths that can be likened to our current circumstances.

As part of this discussion, you could also ask students to share how they might rewrite some of these verses into modern language that relates to their situations (see the “Record Your Thoughts” activity in section 1 of the preparation material).

Students may share truths similar to the following: Our Father in Heaven wants us to call upon Him in prayer at all times and in all places. We should pray for both our temporal and spiritual concerns. Prayer needs to be heartfelt and sincere. We should pray privately. We should pray for other people. We should not only pray for others but also seek to serve them.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Discern when you should slow down to learn more deeply. Deep learning cannot be rushed. As you listen to students’ comments and follow the direction of the Holy Ghost, you can discern when it is important to slow down and allow students to more fully examine their own thoughts, feelings, questions, or concerns. Consider the following examples:

• If a student states that prayer has made a significant difference in his or her life, you could ask, “Can you provide an example of what you mean?”

• If a student expresses concern that he or she feels distant from Heavenly Father, you could say, “This is such an important matter. Let’s take some time as a class to share what has most helped us to draw closer to Heavenly Father.”

• If a student makes a comment that indicates he or she is bothered by the class discussion, you could say, “I’m not sure I understand your concern. Could you share a bit more of what you are thinking and feeling?”

(See Gospel Teaching and Learning: A Handbook for Teachers and Leaders in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion [2012], 64.)

As students share principles and their modern-day rewrites of the Alma 34 verses, consider which of the following questions you could ask to best help your students take effective, righteous action.

• Why is it important to involve Heavenly Father in all aspects of our lives? What difference can you see in your life when you engage in sincere and frequent prayer?

• What obstacles may be keeping you from engaging in sincere prayer? How could you remove these obstacles?

• When have you “cried” or “poured out” your heart to God, and what effect did this have? How can we intentionally “let [our] hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually”? (Alma 34:27).

• Why is prayer such a powerful force to overcome the power of the devil? (It may be helpful to read 2 Nephi 32:8 and 3 Nephi 18:15, 18.) How has prayer helped you to resist temptation?

• What blessings have come into your life as you have prayed for and served other people? When have you felt the prayers of others in your behalf? Who do you know who may need your faith, prayers, and service?

Consider sharing the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

I expect that all of us already know that prayer is essential for our spiritual development and protection. But what we know is not always reflected in what we do. And even though we recognize the importance of prayer, all of us can improve the consistency and efficacy of our personal and family prayers. (“Ask in Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 94)

Ask students to reflect on their responses to the self-assessment at the beginning of the lesson. Encourage them to evaluate their own personal efforts and record what they can do to improve their communication with God.

Nephi seeks and obtains personal revelation.

Display the following statements by President Julie B. Beck, former Relief Society General President, and President Russell M. Nelson, and ask students to explain why they think these messages about revelation may be especially important for young adults today.

The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. (“And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 11)

It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. …

I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation. (“Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 90)

Write the following incomplete statements and scripture passages on the board:

• Nephi increased his capacity to receive revelation by …

• (Read 1 Nephi 10:17–19; see also 1 Nephi 2:16.)

• Laman and Lemuel decreased their capacity to receive revelation by …

• (Read 1 Nephi 15:2–4, 8–11; see also 1 Nephi 2:11–12.)

Invite students to work in pairs or small groups and study the scripture passages about either Nephi or Laman and Lemuel and then complete one of the statements on the board. Students’ answers may include the following:

Nephi increased his capacity to receive revelation by desiring to know truth, trusting in what he knew about God, exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, and diligently seeking answers from God.

Laman and Lemuel decreased their capacity to receive revelation by hardening their hearts, not believing the Lord would answer them, arguing with each other, and failing to ask God their questions.

• How were the lives of Nephi, Laman, and Lemuel influenced by their capacities to receive revelation? How might increasing your capacity to receive revelation influence your life? (You might invite students to review Alma 12:9–10.)

Provide students with time to ponder and write their thoughts about the following questions. As they ponder, you might display President Nelson’s statement from section 2 of the preparation material.

• What have you learned in this lesson from the examples of Nephi, Laman, and Lemuel about receiving revelation? What should you stop doing or start doing to increase your capacity to receive revelation?

Consider concluding the lesson by encouraging one or two students to share how receiving revelation has blessed their lives.

For Next Time

Ask students to consider a current trial they are facing or someone they know is facing. As they prepare for the next class, encourage them to identify truths that can help us face our trials with faith, courage, and hope.