Cry Unto the Lord

As I have contemplated the example of Alma teaching his sons, I have made a goal to write letters to my children more often. I have decided I will devote my Sunday posts to thoughts directed towards my children. I hope that they will encourage them in some small way to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ. I plan to still post the majority of the content here but they will have a little different feel than my other posts and the personal parts of the letters will be excluded. I am realizing just how difficult it will be to help my children remain unspotted from the world as they continue to grow older, and I hope this effort will perhaps help them combat the enticings of the world.    

To my daughter,

You are growing up into a wonderful young woman and I know that you have great potential to do good in the world in your life! You have a loving heart and a desire to help others and I am proud of you for that. As you seek to follow Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, He will lead you through all your challenges. 

When Alma and Amulek taught a group of Zoramites, recorded in Alma 32-34 in the Book of Mormon, they were discouraged and felt they could not worship God because they were poor and were not allowed to enter the church. One of the main messages that both Alma and Amulek gave them was that they could pray to God anywhere and for anything. Alma quoted the words of the prophet Zenos in Alma 33 who mentioned praying to the Lord at these places:

·        “In the wilderness” (v4)

·        “In the field” (v5)

·        In his “house” (v6)

·        In his “closet” (v7)

·        “In the midst of thy congregations” (v9)

He wanted the people to know that wherever they were, whether in the forest or the field, all alone in the closet or in the midst of a large group of people, they could pray to God and He would hear them. Have you ever thought of praying when you were outside or in a big group of people or even alone in your closet? I want you to know that you too can pray anywhere you are and at any time—whether in your mind or out loud, whether kneeling or sitting or standing or even walking, you can pray to God and He will hear you.

Amulek similarly encouraged the Zoramites to pray, and he showed them that they could pray for any reason. These were his words recorded in Alma 34:

•      “Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks” (v20)
•       “Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening” (v21)
•        “Cry unto him against the power of your enemies” (v22)
•        “Cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness” (v23)
•        “Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them” (v24)
•        “Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase” (v25)

His message was that you can pray for any purpose, whether for help in your work or in your house, for support against enemies or against temptation, you can pray to the Lord. You too can pray for help with schoolwork or jump rope, for more love for your brother or patience with your father. You can pray to a friend who is in need or just to express gratitude for all the wonderful blessings Heavenly Father has given you.

It is interesting to note also that the word Amulek used was not just to “pray” but to “cry” to the Lord. That might seem like a funny word to use, but what he meant was that we should talk to Heavenly Father with all the feeling of our heart, so much that it is almost as if we are crying. Have you ever cried to the Lord? I love this verse that he gave in summary: “Ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you” (Alma 34:26-27). Pour out all your feelings to the Lord like you pour out the syrup on your pancakes, and always have a prayer in your heart to our Heavenly Father, no matter what you are doing. I urge you to seek to pray more and to pray more sincerely. Don’t think of prayer as something just to do quickly before doing something else (like eating), but rather as a constant conversation with your Father in Heaven that is throughout the day. I know that as you seek to draw near to Him through more sincere prayer, He will hear you and you will feel of His Spirit more. I know that through sincere prayer the Lord will guide you in the right way. 

Love,

Dad