Pray Ye to the Lord For Me

Simon Magus is best-known for his desire to purchase priesthood power with money. After seeing Peter and John give the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, he sought to purchase the same power with money. Peter famously rebuked him in these words, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” But he then invited him to repent, suggesting that he could get his heart right before God through sincere prayer to Him: “Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” Simon’s answer was this: “Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me” (Acts 8:17-24). That is the last the Simon Magus is heard of in the New Testament, though many traditions have risen up around him. I think that his response to Peter is instructive for us: instead of accepting to repent, he essentially asked Peter to do it for him. But that was impossible! Just as he wanted to gain priesthood power without the spiritual work required, he wanted forgiveness of God without repenting himself. There are some things that no one else can do for us and for which there are no shortcuts; to become worthy before God to receive His greatest blessings for us, we have to choose ourselves to pray and repent and humble ourselves before Him. Simon, like the five foolish virgins, sought oil of someone else without being willing to pay the price for it himself. They had said to the five wise virgins, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” But just as it was impossible for Peter to repent for Simon, it was impossible for these wise virgins to give their oil—the only way to obtain that was to “buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:8-9).

                I believe that this story of Simon is important for parents. Like John, most of us parents who are striving to follow the Savior and stay on the covenant path would say, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4). That good desire can make us want to do spiritual things for our them that they really need to do for themselves. For example, it is certainly a good thing for us to pray with our little children as we teach them what it means to pray and talk to their Heavenly Father. But eventually there comes a point when the real value of prayer will only come to them as they do this for themselves. Similarly, in our scripture study we can read to them and there is undoubtedly some value in that, but the greatest benefit to them will come as they read and participate for themselves (something much harder to make happen!). Similarly, when I was growing up, it was common in Fast and Testimony Meetings for parents to take their small children to the stand and whisper in their ear what they should say, giving them the words of testimony that they should bear. This was all done with good intentions, but wisely the Church later discouraged that behavior, suggesting that we should get up of our own accord and bear our own testimonies (and that Primary and home were better places for children to practice such things). The point is that a true witness from the Lord, like the oil of the ten virgins, can only be obtained and felt individually. Though as parents we can cultivate those testimonies and share our own, each child will have to choose themselves to read and pray and seek out the Lord. As much as we might want to, we simply cannot repent for them. We cannot search the scriptures for them. We cannot partake of the Sacrament for them or seek the Lord for them. But we can do those things for ourselves and bear our witness firmly to them like Helaman of old did to his two sons: “O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world…. Remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins…. And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:9-12).