The Prayer of Faith

One of the most basic questions about prayer is how to pray.  In the Church we teach children to say specific phrases, to put their head and hands in a reverent position, and to begin and close in a certain way.  Surely that is important in helping them feel that prayer is something different than ordinary conversation.  But I think the most fundamental ingredient for prayer is something that cannot be seen and is hard to teach.  As James wrote, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick”—it is faith that is the driving force behind effectual prayer (James 5:15). 

                The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that true, effectual prayer must be accompanied by faith.  The angel told Alma the Younger, “The Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee” (Mosiah 27:14).  It was the faith in Alma’s prayers that brought such a powerful response from the Lord.  Alma the Younger learned to be like his father as he became a man of prayer and great faith.  When he was overcome with sorrow because of the sad state of the Zoramites, he prayed for strength.  We read that the Lord “also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith” (Alma 31:38).  We also read in the scriptures of the great faith of those Nephite prophets who sought that their records might come forth in a future day to bless the Lamanites.  Mormon told us that one of the reasons he had to make the record that we now have was so that “the prayers of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith” (3 Nephi 5:14).  His son Moroni similarly wrote of “those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land” and how the Lord “knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren.  And he knoweth their faith” (Mormon 8:23-24).  He further added his hope and faith to their wish: “And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith” (Mormon 9:37).  And the Lord in our day confirmed that this indeed happened: we have the Book of Mormon at least in part because of the faith in their prayers of the Nephite prophets.  “And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them according to their faith in their prayers….  Their faith in their prayers was that this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations should possess this land.”  And in case we missed the message in those two verses, He repeated it a third time: “And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people” (D&C 10:47, 49, 52).  The Lord remembered the faith they had in their prayers more than 2000 years later. 

                The Doctrine and Covenants also teaches this principle of the need for faith to accompany our prayers again and again.  He instructed the early Saints that “all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith” (D&C 28:13).  He promised them, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive” (D&C 29:6).  To Peter Whitmer Jr. he instructed to be “ever lifting up your heart unto me in prayer and faith” (D&C 30:6).  The Elders of the Church were told, “By the prayer of your faith ye shall receive my law” and that the prophet should be upheld by “the prayer of faith” (D&C 41:3, 43:12).  Missionaries were told that they would be taught by the Comforter “through the prayer of faith” (D&C 52:9).  In a time of great difficulty in the Church the Lord told them, “All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith” (D&C 103:36).  The message is clear: prayers must be offered in faith.