I Have Poured Out My Soul

When Hannah went to the tabernacle of the congregation seeking the blessing of the Lord, she prayed fervently for the ability to have a son. She said to Eli “I… have poured out my soul before the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:15). She prayed with such depth of feeling that she likened it to emptying out her soul before Him. This is language that we see as well in the Book of Mormon in several examples of heartfelt prayer. Perhaps the most well-known is that of Enos who said this: “I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them” (Enos 1:9). He yearned for the blessings of the Lord for his people with all his soul. Mormon similarly described Alma’s petitions to the Lord to know what to do about the iniquity in the church this way: “And it came to pass that after he had poured out his whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying: Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon” (Mosiah 26:14-15). He too poured out his soul before God as he sought with all his heart to know what to do. After Ammon witnessed the beginning of the miraculous conversion of the Lamanites and the Spirit of the Lord coming upon them, he was filled with gratitude and also prayed with fervor: “He fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy” (Alma 19:14). Just as the Spirit was poured out upon the Lamanites, so too he poured out his soul before God.

                We find other examples as well in the Book of Mormon of leaders who did pour out their souls to God. During the great war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, Moroni fervently petitioned the Lord for help: “And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored. And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty” (Alma 46:16-17). Helaman in the same war likewise pled with the Lord in prayer for strength against an innumerable enemy as he led the stripling warriors: “Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies” (Alma 58:10). When Nephi, the son of Helaman, was filled with sorrow because of the wickedness of his people he too poured out his soul to God: “And it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God upon the tower.” As he started to speak to them he said, “Yea, because I have got upon my tower that I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my heart, which is because of your iniquities!” (Helaman 7:11,14). Mormon also sorrowed because of the wickedness of his people and turned to the Lord in prayer: “I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them” (Mormon 3:12). Even when he was without faith that they would change he still poured out his soul to God.

                These examples are reminders to us that as we should pray more fervently in the face of challenges and as we struggle through the trials of life. Even these prophets, some of whom had seen angels or the Lord Himself, still fervently prayed and let out all their feelings to the Lord in mighty supplication before Him as they sought His blessings. Their examples invite us to pour out our own hearts to the Lord in prayer just as Amulek’s words to the Zoramites: “But this is not all; 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).