Second Sunday of the month so I was up to teach the lesson in Elders Quorum. Pray Always from President Ezra Taft Benson. I went through this lesson a number of times and there was a story in the opening section From the Life of... that each time I heard it struck me. I skipped over it in the beginning and then got to a point in the second section of the lesson that lead me back to that story. I made the mistake of reading it myself and could hardly get through it. It was a simple story that illustrated the power of prayer in our families as a friend of the family related an experience at General Conference when she was sitting with the Benson family. She was a college roommate of one of the Benson children. Elder Ezra Taft Benson was announced as the next speaker and this girl was asked to pray for dad by the younger child sitting next to her. She realized it was a message being passed down the row and so she passed it along and watched as it carried on to Sister Benson who was already bowing her head at the end of the row. She went on to explain how from that point on whenever she watched conference and Elder/President Benson would speak she knew that there were prayers being offered by the Benson children where ever they were at the time. There is something about that story, and that was just a quick summary, but there is something about that story and what it illustrates that hits me deep. Perhaps it is past experiences, perhaps it is listening to my children pray and hearing them remember each other in their prayers. I don't know, but what I do know is prayer is powerful and it should be a priority in our lives.
Another thing that stood out to me was my responsibility as a father to lead my children by my example. To teach them to pray by praying with them, fervently and with faith. One of the Benson's sons, Mark said this: "When Dad knelt down to pray, he didn't rush things. There was meaning behind his words. It came through loud and clear that he was communicating with our Father in Heaven." I wonder what example I set for my children in that regard? I can do better.
Let me just share this last quote from President Benson: "It is my testimony, my brothers and sisters and friends, that God does hear and answer prayers. I have never doubted that fact. From childhood, at my mother's knee where I first learned to pray; as a young man in my teens; as a missionary in foreign lands; as a father; as a Church leader; as a government official, I know without any question that it is possible for men and women to reach out in humility and prayer and tap that Unseen Power; to have prayers answered. Man does not stand alone, or at least, he need not stand alone. Prayer will open doors; prayer will remove barriers; prayer will ease pressures; prayer will give inner peace and comfort during times of strain and stress and difficulty. Thank God for prayer. Even during hours of trial and anxiety, it is possible to draw close to the Lord, to feel of his influence and of his sustaining power - that one is never alone, if he will only humble himself before the Almighty. I am grateful for that testimony, for that assurance."
I know the Lord know us and that he hears and answers prayers. Those answers come in a variety of ways. I have witnessed answers come into my life through the service rendered to my family by others. I know they came through inspiration and as answer to prayer. The Lord is mindful of us and will not leave us comfortless. I will certainly remember to pray that in my next lesson I can check the emotions at the door... well, no, I'll just have other people read the stories that choke me up.
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