2 Nephi 4:13-15
Summary
Laman and Lemuel are upset with Nephi because of their father's words to them about their disobedience. Nephi is constrained from giving them any more instruction, but continues his record. This record can then be used by future generations to find their way back.
It struck me that this can apply to us. When we get stuck in our own traditions and our own wants we harden ourselves and distance ourselves to where the spirit stops instructing us. In order to get further instruction we need to go to the scriptures get get those instructions and to get the spirit to begin instructing us again.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
Mighty Prayer
I was listening to the December 2006 Ensign article What I Have Learned about Mighty Prayer by Mary Jane Woodger on the way to work this morning. A quote from President Hinckley in it made me think. “The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries—we place our order and hang up."(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 469)
I think most of us have had the concern at one time or another about repetitious prayers or prayers that seem to barely reach to the ceiling let alone to Heavenly Father. One piece that I think I miss frequently is meditating.
The world has perhaps made the concept of meditation seem hokey, but I think if done properly and with the right spirit it is a critical part of prayer. I have heard several talks over the last couple of years on meditating. I think meditating could be defined as the part of prayer when we listen. I think the word meditate indicates something a bit more focused than listening, but I think listening is something we all understand and it is a good place to start.
In my opinion, meditation is not the chanting that we sometimes see on TV, but a simple, focused listening and pondering or focused observing.
This article was a nice reminder that prayer is a communication channel and is a two way channel. We must listen and not just rattle off our requests and leave.
I think most of us have had the concern at one time or another about repetitious prayers or prayers that seem to barely reach to the ceiling let alone to Heavenly Father. One piece that I think I miss frequently is meditating.
The world has perhaps made the concept of meditation seem hokey, but I think if done properly and with the right spirit it is a critical part of prayer. I have heard several talks over the last couple of years on meditating. I think meditating could be defined as the part of prayer when we listen. I think the word meditate indicates something a bit more focused than listening, but I think listening is something we all understand and it is a good place to start.
In my opinion, meditation is not the chanting that we sometimes see on TV, but a simple, focused listening and pondering or focused observing.
This article was a nice reminder that prayer is a communication channel and is a two way channel. We must listen and not just rattle off our requests and leave.
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