3 Nephi 18:15, 20–21

Jesus Christ taught the Nephites the importance of prayer.

15 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. …

20 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.

21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.

Pray always

“We should be alone with our Heavenly Father at least two or three times each day—‘morning, mid-day, and evening,’ as the scripture indicates. (Alma 34:21.) In addition, we are told to pray always. (See 2 Ne. 32:9; D&C 88:126.) This means that our hearts should be full, drawn out in prayer unto our Heavenly Father continually. (See Alma 34:27.)”

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994), “Pray Always,” Ensign, Feb. 1990, 2.

Lest ye be tempted

This is one of many scriptures that teach how praying can help us escape Satan’s temptations (see also D&C 10:5; 31:12; and 61:39). Here are some other blessings the scriptures promise when you obey the command to pray always. What blessings have you received?

You will be worthy to stand in the presence of God (see Luke 21:36).
The Lord will consecrate your efforts (see 2 Nephi 32:9).
The Spirit will be poured upon you (see D&C 19:38).
You will be given strength to endure (see D&C 88:126).
Things will work out for your good (see D&C 90:24).

Whatsoever ye shall ask

In the scriptures the Lord repeatedly promises to answer our prayers if we will but ask. What can you learn from these scriptures about how to ask and receive answers? What other scriptures can you find that teach about this?

Which is right

“Here the Savior reminds us that faith, no matter how strong it is, cannot produce a result contrary to the will of him whose power it is. The exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is always subject to the order of heaven, to the goodness and will and wisdom and timing of the Lord. That is why we cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “‘Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,’” Ensign, May 1994, 100.

Always in my name

Praying in Christ’s name means more than just ending our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. The Bible Dictionary teaches: “We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when His words abide in us (John 15:7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent His mind but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart” (“Prayer”).