Prayer

    (WHEN and WHERE)Prayer is the simple act of communing with our Heavenly Father but it is also, to some extent, a sacred way of living. For praying is not just something that we should do for a daily checklist - a morning, noon, night, and meal time effort. It's a holy act, meant to be in our hearts ALWAYS: on holy and unholy days accompanied by sacraments in houses of prayer, when its legal and when it's illegal, when we are overcome with fear or bitterness of hell(needing repentance), when we are merry or recognizing the joy of sacred events(needing to praise and give thanks), when we're in trouble, and before every endeavor - before we perform anything so it can be consecrated for the welfare of our souls. ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE. We need to give ourselves continually to prayer(and ministering of word), constantly without ceasing by rejoicing in hope and being patient in tribulation.We need to pray in private and public, in a grove, at an altar, in the temple, on the holy mountain, in a house of prayer, the wilderness, the fields, your house, your closet - build it, find it, organize it - wherever you are, pray. Our hearts and minds need to be living in a way so that every thought and action and breathe - no matter where or when - is a direct effort to communicate and serve with our Heavenly Father - until everything we are doing is being done in the name of the Lord.

    (WHAT)Aside from praying in the general sense for everything we do, the Lord has counseled us to specifically pray for a number of things. We must pray for physical and spiritual needs as well as physical and spiritual deliverance. We must pray for our descendants and our current relationships and our enemies. We must pray for others' faith to not fail them and for others to be blameless before Christ. We must pray for guidance and safety and wisdom. We must pray for Satan to depart and the ability to resist temptation. We must pray to not have to take flight in winter or on the Sabbath. We must pray to watch for signs of the second coming. We must pray for the sick, for one another to be healed, for strength. We must pray to give thanks, to give praise, and to proclaim we will only worship God.

    (HOW)Prayer is labor, so we must treat pray as if it is the work that will provide for our daily needs - for yourself and your family. While it is labor, we should also think of it as a counseling with the Lord - way for us to both consecrate our doings but also be guided in our choices for where and how we use our time. Prayer is also a song of the heart, so sing, sing, sing! Prayer is asking, seeking, and knock. When you ask, you receive. When you seek, you find. And when you knock, things are opened. Thus, asking brings blessings. Seeking brings knowledge, wisdom, and identity. And knocking brings opportunities. We should follow the Lord's example of prayer by 1)acknowledging Heavenly Father 2)in humility(not my will, but thine) 3)ask for physical needs 4)ask for spiritual needs/relationship needs 5)ask for guidance/safety/deliverance to glory *6)In Jesus' name. We must also keep in mind these steps: 1) Harden not your hearts 2)Ask in faith 3)Believe you'll receive through the Holy Ghost and 4)Keep the commandments diligently(for diligently keeping the commandments brings answers to prayers). We must study our choices and desires out first, then pray if they are right. If they are you will feel a burning of your bosom, if not you will feel a stupor of thought. We must CRY unto Him  with faith - nothing waivering(for nothing can be done without it) and you must truly believe you'll receive a personal, divine manifestation. Whether we are praying out loud or in our hearts(when you can't raise your voice, pour out your heart), we must pray humbly, soberly, with sincerity, with all energy of our hearts, with spirit and understanding, with supplication and thanksgiving, with obedience and a contrite spirit, with real intent(or it profits you nothing), with patience, with all the desire of our soul, without procrastination. We must not do it for show - to be heard of men or praised for wisdom, or with vain repetition. We must not ask for things we shouldn't - if you have the Spirit while you pray you'll know what to ask for and if you ask in the Spirit, it will be done. There is added power to prayer when you pray with others. If you give honor to your spouse, prayers will not be hindered. If you are abiding in Christ and His words(charity and scripture) - whatever you ask will be done. And even if you do not do any of these things, if you find yourself at a loss of how or what to pray for - the Spirit will make intercession for you.

    (WHY) There are so many reasons why we should pray. It is first and foremost an act of faith - and everything begins with faith. Through prayer you will find God - for He is with those that pray - and be blessed and ultimately saved for that is how God hears and forgives sins(salvation is coming to Christ, offering soul, fasting and praying, and enduring). Prayer is the beginning and sanctification of repentance. And when sins are forgiven miracles pour forth - following those who are praying and fasting: lands are healed, questions are answered, doors are opened, the lost are found, wonderful works are done, devils are cast out, sick are healed, eyes of blind are opened, deaf hear, dumb speak, poison has no effect, and you receive visions of things you wish to see. It is a commandment(and like all commandments, you will be chastened if you do not do it). Prayer(and fasting)is an act of service to God and it blesses others and makes it so that whatever is done in prayer glorifies Heavenly Father through Christ's name. When you consecrate your endeavors to the Lord then your performance will be for the welfare of thy soul. When you do it often it changes your countenance and you become stronger and stronger in humility, firmer and firmer in faith, and your soul is filled with joy and consolation as well as becoming worthy to escape bad things to come(prayer and thanksgiving are a protection against evils) and stand before the Lord, and the Spirit will be poured on you and so great will be your blessings even more than obtaining treasures of earth. The many, many blessings of prayer include: spirit of prophecy, teaching with power and authority, resisting temptation, led by the Spirit who will fill you with hope and perfect love, guidance and directing for thy good, humility, meekness, submissiveness, patience, full of love and all long suffering, mercy, even vengeance(if you can wear Heavenly Father down with your prayers He will avenge you), purifying and sanctifying of hearts, mighty power in faith, works and miracles, soul will be filled with love, you become a child of God - becoming like Him, purified as He is pure, lowliness of heart, receive knowledge and know truth and mysteries of God(which in turn will help you bring others to truth), you will come off conqueror/conquer Satan, and ultimately God gives liberally all things if you ask. Why should I pray? Because my soul hungers. It hungers for all the things that come through the power of prayer.

    (MISC)THE LORD HEARS PRAYERS. Over and over and over again in the scriptures are examples and testimonies that the Lord hears your prayers. Your prayers are recorded in the sacred book of names. You must observe to follow the answers to your prayers or you will receive a chastening. People who fast and pray do not boast of themselves. While Jesus was on the earth, the children wanted to pray with Him. We must teach our children to pray. If you don't get what you prayed for, you asked amiss. It is a sin for prophets to not pray for you, and they are blessed when they do. Blessings are a type of prayer - they help you rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulations. Sometimes before your prayers are answered, you are first smitten. Evil spirits teach you not to pray, the Spirit will always teach you to pray.

*Gen 4:26 - Pray after birth of a child
*Gen 21:33 - Abraham planted a grove and used it to pray
*Rom 10:13 - Call on the Lord = saved
*Moses 6:4 - Call on the Lord = blessed

*Moses 4:11 - Call on the Lord daily, humbly

*Ether 2:14 - Lord chastens brother of Jared for 3 hours because he didn't remember to call on  Him

*Gen 12:8 - Build an altar to pray

*Gen 20:7 - You are blessed when prophets pray for you, Num 21:7. It's a sin for prophets when they don't pray for you (1 Sam 12:23)

*Gen 25:22 - Rebekah prayed about children in her womb

*1 Sam 16:22 - Pray=Inquire, to have hidden things revealed, for understanding (1 Ne 16:24), for direction (Alma 27:7)

*2 Kings 19:4 - Pray for descendants

*2 Kings 19:20 - Lord hears prayers

*2 Kings 20:12 - Pray in private

*2 Chron 7:14 - Pray in humility, God will hear, forgive sins, and heal land (American needs this)

*2 Chron 15:4 - Turn to God when you're in trouble, seek Him with all your heart and you'll find Him. (Jer 29:13)

*Psalm 55:17 - Pray morning, noon and night and He will hear you (Dan 6:10)

*Prov 15:29 - He hears prayers of righteous

*Isa 56:7 - Holy mountain, house of prayer, altar, temple, for all people -Matt 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46

*Dan 6:10 - Daniel prayed, even when it was illegal

*Joel 2:32 - Prayer=Deliverance

*Jonah 2 - Jonah pray=deliverance from the whale

*Matt 5:44 - Pray for your enemies (Luke 6:28, 3 Ne 12:44)

*Matt 6:5-15 - Pray in secret, don't use vain repetition(Luke 18:10-14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47, Woe to those who pray for show - Matt 23:14), Lord's prayer teaches us how to pray: 1. Acknowledge Heavenly Father 2. Thy will be done (humility) 3. Give us bread (physical) 4. Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors (spiritual) Mark 11:25 5. Lead/deliver us (glory).

*Matt 7:7 - Ask, seek, knock and you'll be given, you'll find, and doors will be opened (3 Ne 14:7, D&C 4:7, 6:5, 66:9, Matt 21:22, Mark 11:24, D&C 29:6, 3 Ne 13:5, 9, Luke 11:2, 3 Ne 18:20, Moro 7:26) ASK = Blessings, SEEK = Identity, KNOCK = Opportunities

*Matt 14:23 - Go to the mountain top to pray, Mark 6:46

*Matt 17:21 - The faithful who go out with prayer and fasting move mountains

*D&C 84:65-73 - Signs that follow those who believe (praying and fasting): wonderful works, cast out devils, heal sick, open eyes of blind, deaf hear, dumb speak, immune to poison, don't boast of themselves - Mark 9:29, cannot happen without prayer and fasting

*Matt 18:19-20 - Power in praying together

*Matt 19:13 - Children wanted to pray with Jesus

*Matt 21:13 - Temple is house of prayer

*Matt 24:20 - Pray that you don't have to take flight in winter or on Sabbath, Mark 13:18

*Matt 26:39 - Christ praying to have cup pass from Him, not my will but thine (like how he taught in Lord's prayer)

*Matt 26:41 - Watch and pray(always - D&C 31:12) that you can resist temptation, Mark 14:38, Luke 22:40,46, Eph 6:18

*Mark 13:33 - Watch and pray because you don't know the time of the Second Coming

*Luke 2:37 - Serve God by praying and fasting - Luke 5:33 -& blessing others Acts 13:3

*Luke 9:29 - Prayer changes your countenance

*Luke 18:1 - Parable about praying always: if you bug Him enough, you'll wear Him down and be avenged, D&C 88:120, 101:81

*Luke 21:36 - Pray always = worthy to escape bad things to come/able to stand before Lord

*Luke 22:32 - Pray for other's faith to fail them not

*John 14:13 - Whatever you ask will be done so Father can be glorified in Christ's name.

*John 15:7 - Whatever you ask will be done if you abide in Me and my words abide in you (be filled with charity and scripture)

*John 17 - Study the Intercessory Prayer

*Acts 6:4 - Give yourselves continually to prayer and to ministering the word

*Acts 6:6 - Blessings are a type of prayer

*Rom 8:26 - Even when you don't know how to or what to pray for, the Spirit will make intercession for you.

*Rom 12:12 - Constant prayer means you rejoice in hope and have patience in tribulation

*1 Cor 14:15 - Pray with the Spirit and understanding

*Phil 4:6 - Prayer is supplication with thanksgiving in Jesus' name, Col 3:17

*Col 4:12 - Prayer is labor

*1 Thess 5:17 - Pray without ceasing 1)Cry unto Him 2)Let your heart be full, drawn out in prayer, Alma 34:27

*1 Thess 5:23 - Pray for others to be blameless before Christ

*1 Tim 2:8 - Pray everywhere

*James 1:6 - Ask in faith, nothing waivering

*D&C 42:68 - If you lack wisdom, ask, God will give it to you liberally

*D&C 46:7 - Ask God in all things, He'll give liberally, do all things with prayer AND thanksgiving (protection against evils)

*James 4:3 - If you ask and don't receive, ye asked amiss

*James 5:14 - Let elders of Church pray for the sick

*James 5:16 - Pray for one another to be healed

*1 Pet 3:7 - Give honor to your spouses so your prayers won't be hindered

*1 Pet 3:12 - Lord is with those that pray, know that He hears you and has your petitions-1 John 5:15

*1 Pet 4:7 - End of all things is at hand, be sober and watch with prayer

*1 John 3:22 - Receive answers to prayers when you keep the commandments

*Rev 5:8 - 4 Beasts and 24 Elders carried prayers of saints to the Lord

*1 Ne 15:11 - 1)Harden not your hearts -Alma 22:16(humble yourselves/repent-Alma 34:19) 2)Ask in faith 3)Believe you'll receive through the Holy Ghost 4) Keep the commandments diligently

*2 Ne 4:35 - God gives liberally to those who ask, ask not amiss

*2 Ne 26:15 - After smitten by Gentiles, prayers of the righteous will be heard and those who've dwindled in unbelief will not be forgotten.

*2 Ne 32:8 - Evil spirits teach you not to pray, Spirit teaches you to pray

*2 Ne 32:9 - Pray before every endeavor, consecrate it to the Lord, performance will be for the welfare of thy soul.

*Enos 1:4 - My soul hungered - prayer and supplication all day and night

*Omni 1:26 - Salvation = 1)Come unto Christ 2)Offer your soul 3) Fast and pray 4) Endure to the end

*Alma 17:3 - Fasting and praying brings spirit of prophecy, let's you teach with power and authority, Alma 5:46

*Mos 24:12 - When you cannot raise your voice, pour out your heart.

*Mos 27:14 - Prayers of servants of Lord are answered, others blessed by it, Alma 10:23

*Alma 13:28 - Blessings of prayer: resist temptation, led by Spirit, humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long suffering.

*Alma 31:22 - Don't do vain, repetitious prayers - Alma 38:13, or praying to be heard of men, praised for wisdom

*Alma 34:17 - Use prayer to repent, brings mercy

*Alma 37:37 - Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings - he will direct thee for good

*Hel 3:35 - When you fast and pray oft, you wax stronger and stronger in humility, firmer and firmer in faith, souls filled with joy and consolation to the purifying and sanctifying of hearts. *D&C 88:76

*Hel 10:5 - When God knows you won't ask amiss, you have mighty power in faith and works and miracles

*3 Ne 17:15 - Even Jesus prays, 3 Ne 18:16 - Pray as He prays, 3 Ne 19:24 - When filled with desire, can't stop praying.

*Moro 7:6 - If you're not praying with real intent it profits you nothing

*Moro 7:48 - Purpose of prayer is to pray with all energy of heart that your soul will be filled with love, to become children of God, to become like Him, purified as He is pure.

*Moro 8:26 - Repentance, lowliness of heart, meekness - bring Holy Ghost filling you with hope and perfect love - all of which can only endure by diligence of prayer.

*Moro 10:3-5 - Prayer brings truth, knowledge

*D&C 5:24- God grants you visions of the things you wish to see when you humble yourself in might prayer and faith with sincerity of heart.

*D&C 6:11- Ask and thou shalt know mysteries, exercise thy gift to find mysteries and bring many to truth

*D&C 8:10- Remember you can do nothing without faith, so ask in faith, but don't trifle, don't ask for things you know you shouldn't ask for.

*D&C 9:8-Study it out in your mind, then pray about it-if it's right you'll have a burning in your bosom

*D&C 10:5- Pray always that you may come off conqueror; yea that you may conquer Satan

*2 Ne 32:9 - Pray always, faint not, don't perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place you've prayed so that He can consecrate thy performance for the welfare of thy soul.

*D&C 19:28- Pray out loud and in your heart, pray in public and in private

*D&C 19:38- Pray always, spirit will be poured upon you, so great will be your blessing even more than if you obtained treasures of earth.

*D&C 25:12 - Song of the heart/of the righteous is prayer unto me, answered blessings on your head

*D&C 42:14 - Spirit is given with the prayer of faith, if you don't have Spirit - don't teach.

*D&C 46:30 - If you ask in the Spirit, you ask according to the will of God, so it will be done.

*D&C 50:30 - If you have the Spirit, you'll know what to ask in prayer

*D&C 52:15 - Prayer requires obedience and a contrite spirit

*D&C 59:9 - Go to the house of prayer, offer sacraments on holy day(to be unspotted from the world)

*D&C 68:8-Teach your children to pray.

*D&C68:33-If you don't "observe" your prayers in the season, there will be a chastening

*D&C 88:2(98:2)-Prayers are heard by the Lord and recorded in sacred book of names

*D&C 88:119(109:8)-Organize and establish a house of prayer

*D&C 112:10- Be humble and the Lord will answer your prayers

*D&C 136:28- When you are merry, say a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

*Moses 1:20 - When you are overcome with fear or bitterness of hell, pray and ask for strength and command Satan to depart and proclaim you will only worship God of glory.

*Moses 5:8-Do everything you do in the name of the Lord - repent always

*JSH 1:14 - Joseph's first attempt to pray vocally about his problem led to First Vision

*JSH 1:29-Joseph went to pray to repent and had faith that he would have a personal divine manifestation.

*D&C 54:10- Be patient, those who sought God early will find rest for their souls.

*Isaiah 29:8-9 - Desire with soul to remember and seek God early

Understanding

 To have understanding is an incredible gift. Wisdom and understanding are sisters in all that they do(but with all things remember faith comes first – for you must have faith to gain great wisdom and understanding that reaches to heaven), but whereas wisdom is having a fear/reverence for the Lord, understanding is all about ACTING on that reverence for God. Wisdom is knowing that keeping the commandments are the right choice, but understanding is actually living and keeping the commandments in your daily life. You should always first seek wisdom, and then through wisdom apply your heart to getting all understanding (Much like how the Lord first founded the earth by power and wisdom and then established and stretched heaven through understanding). We should always be praying for understanding, not just for ourselves but for others to be filled with it as well. We should be praying for all the things understanding brings for to have understanding means that you have counsel with God, that you are seeking Him, that you are trying to judge and discern between good and evil and then departing from evil. It is not only receiving inspiration but acting on it, it is meditation of the heart(a heart discovering itself, a heart of understanding always seeks more knowledge), it is knowledge of the holy, it is a willingness to hear reproof (for if you refuse reproof you despise your own soul), it helps you be slow to wrath(great understanding), it helps you interpret visions, it is hating covetousness and thereby prolonging your days, it is the ability to find good, it is an excellent spirit, it is a wellspring of life, it opens your eyes to hope of His calling and glory of His riches, it turns children into men, and is better than gold and silver – so in summary, it is happiness. Examples of understanding are King Solomon who was gifted wisdom, understanding, and a large heart. Captain Moroni was a man of perfect understanding. All of the righteous women in the scriptures had great understanding of listening to the Spirit. Many prophets had understanding of visions. Jesus had it, astonished people with his understanding of the scriptures and opened others’ understanding to them as well. And, of course, God is a being of infinite understanding, which is indeed a reason to rejoice. You can gain understanding by studying them and following their examples. Also by pondering and considering scriptures (people stumble without it) they will be opened in ways never imagined, for the Lord has written them according to your own understanding(but it is also important to learn the language of understanding of the authors of the scriptures – brings another level to your own understanding), and by searching them diligently your understanding will be enlightened and your soul will be enlarged. Even outside of the scriptures, God will always speak to you in the plainness of your language of understanding – it is important that you come to recognize how God speaks to you for it is often through small ways (ie, Liahona) and yet if you recognize it, it will bring about great things, for God is always showing His great power in ways that look small to the understanding of men. You gain also gain understanding by going to the temple, which will help you perfect the understanding of your ministry – in theory, principle, doctrine, in keys given to you,  and in all things in the kingdom of God. You can also gain understanding through the power of repentance, if you truly understand repentance then make sure you are doing it. And in all these things, make sure you are seeking understanding through the Spirit, for the Spirit is what brings light and quickens all understanding, wisdom, might, counseling, knowledge and reverence. People without understanding are like mules needing their mouths bridled, they are fools who do mischief and joy in folly. When you don’t retain knowledge of God, you lose understanding you have a life alienated from God and become spiritually blind and deaf, living in darkness and ignorance. Prophets are always sent to these people to try and bring back understanding. Even when you have understanding, you must trust in the Lord’s understanding and not your own. You must love God with all your understanding, you must pray, sing, and teach with all your understanding(especially as a duty to new converts). Always remember that the peace of God passes all understanding, it keeps hearts and minds in Christ, for hearts comforted by the peace of God are knit together in love and riches of understanding.

*Deut 4:6 - to keep and understand the commandments makes you wise.

*Kings 3:9 - Pray for an understanding heart to judge they people(to discern between good and bad)

*Deut 32:28 - No understanding means you are devoid of counsel

*1 Kings 4:29 - King Solomon gifted from God wisdom, understanding and largeness of heart (Dan 1:17, Prov 2:6)

*2 Chron 26:5 - seek God (as long as you do, you'll prosper) Zech, had understanding in visions

*Job 28:28 - Understanding is departing rom evil. Wisdom is fear of the Lord.

*Job 32:8 - Inspiration of Almighty gives you spirit of understanding

*Job 38:36 - God gives wisdom and understanding to heart through nature

*Psalm 32:9 - Don't believe the horse/mule who have no understanding so mouths must be bridled

*Psalm 49:3 - Mouth speak wisdom, meditation of heart should be understanding

*Psalm 111:10 - Wisdom is fear of Lord, understanding is doing commandments

*Psalm 119:130- Words of Lord give light and understanding to the simple.

*Psalm 147:5 - Lord's understanding is infinite (Alma 26:35 -reason to rejoice)

*Prov 2:3 - Incline ear to wisdom, apply thine heart to understanding

*Prov 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: lean not unto thine own understanding

*Prov 3:13 - Happy is the man that finds wisdom/gets understanding

*Prov 3:19 - Lord founded earth through wisdom, established heavens through understanding *Jer 51:15 - made earth by power, established by wisdom, stretched heaven by understanding

*Prov 4:7 - Wisdom is principal thing, then with all wisdom get understanding

*Prov 7:4 -  Wisdom and understanding are sisters

*Prov 9:10 - Understanding is knowledge of the holy

*Prov 10:13 - Wisdom is found with understanding, but without understanding its a rod for your back

*Prov 10:23 - Fools do mischief as sport, no understanding/wisdom

*Prov 13:15 - Good understanding gives favor

*Prov 14:29 - Slow to wrath is great understanding

*Prov 15:14 - A heart of understanding seeks knowledge, Prov 15:21 - walks uprightly, those without wisdom find joy in folly.

*Prov 15:32 - Understanding is a willingness to hear reproof, if you refuse instruction you despise your own soul.

*Prov 16:16 - wisdom is better than gold, understanding is better than silver.

*Prov 16:22 - Understanding is a wellspring of life

*Prov 17:27 - Understanding is an excellent spirit

*Prov 18:2 - Understanding is a heart discovering itself (fools don't delight in it)

*Prov 19:8 - Keep understanding and you'll find good

*Prov 21:30 - You will find no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord

*Prov 28:16 - Hate covetousness and it will prolong your days

*Isaiah 11:2 - Jesus had the spirit of understanding (2 Ne 21:2)

*Isaiah 27:11 - Lord uses people of no understanding to give consequences to those who wither in faith

*Isaiah 29:14 - Wisdom and understanding lost, God restores church to bring it back (1 Cor 1:19, 2 Ne 27:26)

*Jer 5:21 - Prophets sent to those without understanding (spiritually blind and deaf) (Isa 40:14 - Prophets shows way of understanding)

*Mark 12:33 - More than any burnt offering/sacrifices is to love God with all heart, with all understanding, with all soul, with all strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

*Luke 2:47 - Christ astonishes others by his understanding and answers to the scriptures

*Luke 24:45 - Christ opened their understanding so that they could understand the scriptures

*Rom 1:28-31 - If you don't retain knowledge of God, your mind becomes reprobate without understanding - leading you to be a covenant breaker, implacable, unmerciful, without natural affection, proud, disobedient, inventor of evil things, despiteful, backbiter, deceit, full of envy, covetousness, and wickedness

*1 Cor 14:15 - Pray and sing with understanding

*1 Cor 14:19 - Rather speak 5 words of understanding to help teach others than 10,000 words in unknown tongue.

*1 Cor 14:20 - Understanding turns children into men.

*Eph 1:18 - Eyes of understanding help you be enlightened to know hope of His calling and riches/glory of His inheritance.

*Eph 4:18 - Without understanding in your life, your life is darkened, it is a life alienated from God full of ignorance and blindness

*Phil 4:7 - The peace of God passeth all understanding, keeps hearts and minds in Christ

*Col 1:9 - Pray for others to be filled with understanding

*Col 2:2 - Hearts comforted are knit together in love and riches of understanding

*2 Tim 2:7 - Pondering/considering words of prophets will give thee understanding

*1 Ne 13:29 - When you remove plain, easy to understand scriptures, people stumble and Satan has power over them. (1 Ne 14:23)

*1 Ne 6:29 - Liahona - small thing, easy to understand, brings about great things

*2 Ne 21:2 - Spirit of Lord brings spirit of understanding (and wisdom and counsel and knowledge and reverence)

*2 Ne 31:3 - God speaks in plainness, in your language for your understanding. *WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE HE USES TO SPEAK TO YOU?

*WoM 1:9 - Mormon made record according to the understanding God had given him

*Mosiah 1:2 - Learn language of fathers and prophets (men of understanding)

*Mosiah 12:27 - Wisdom is applying your hearts to understanding

*Alma 17:2 - Sound understanding comes from searching scriptures diligently to know word of God(Christ = Word)

*Alma 32:28 - The Word enlarges soul and enlightens understanding and becomes delicious to you

*Alma 48:11 - Capt Moroni was a man of perfect understanding

*Ether 3:5 - Lord shows great power that looks small to the understanding of men

*D&C 1:24 - God gives commandments to us in our language and weakness for our understanding

*D&C 20:68 - Duties of members are to expound teachings to new converts to increase their understanding before they take sacrament/receive the spirit.

*D&C 29:50 - If you understand repentance, you better be doing it.

*D&C 32:4 - Give heed to scriptures and pray always that the Lord will unfold their understanding

*D&C 76:9 - To the faithful their wisdom will be great and their understanding will reach to heaven

*D&C 76:12 - By the power of the Spirit eyes are opened, understanding enlightened to see and understand things of God (D&C 88:11 - Understanding is quickened through light)

*D&C 76:89 - Glory of telestial surpasses all understanding

*D&C 97:14(12-14) - Go to the temple to give thanks, to be perfected in the understanding of your ministry (in theory, principle, doctrine, in all things in the kingdom of God, and in the keys given to you)

*D&C 110:1 - Veil taken from mind, eyes of understanding opened (Spirit of the Lord rested on me)

*Abr 1:14 - Hieroglyphics given for understanding

*JSH 1:74 - Minds enlightened, scriptures open to understanding in ways never before attained/thought

Education

You can always increase education by counseling with the Lord, to not counsel is to be a fool and learning is in vain. Parent's education to you is "an ornament of 'grace' unto the head" or "a divine means of help or strength given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ." (BD). Education leads to good works, salvation and God - it is life.  In order to grow in knowledge, you must 1) always rejoice 2) be filled with the love of God and 3) repent. The glory of God is intelligence (light and truth). You gain education through His Spirit, and it gives you the "mind of Christ." *My education should be intricately connected to charity and humility. If I'm not rejoicing and repenting and reaching out to others, then everything I "learn" is in vain. The more I do those things, the more light and truth I will have until I have the mind of Christ and become like God.

*Prov 5:1 A wise man knows how to "increase" his learning, he attains "wise counsels" You can always increase your learning by counseling with the Lord.
*Prov 1:7-9 Parents teachings are "an ornament of 'grace' unto thy head" divine means of help or strength given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.
*Prov 3  Education the Lord gives, esp verse 11
*Prov 4:13 Instruction is life
*Dan 1:17  God gives knowledge, it is a gift, learning and wisdom is a skill
*Matt 7:8 Education  is asking, seeking, knocking
*John 5:39 Search the scriptures
*John 8:32 Education is truth and freedom
*Eph 1:17-18 Through Jesus Christ you can be educated with his hope and riches
*Col 1:9-10 Keep the Spirit with you, keep the commandments, you will gain knowledge
*2 Tim 3:15-16 The scriptures are given to educate us, which leads to good works, salvation, and God
*2 Ne 9:28 Education without counsel from the Lord is foolishness, vanity, frailty, and part of "that cunning plan of the evil one" and it will profit nothing unless you consider yourself a fool before God and go to the depths of humility and then he will open doors
*2 Ne 9:42 We learn line upon line, precept upon precept
*2 Ne 28:30 If you take counsel, he will give you more
*Mos 1:5, Alma 37:8 Scriptures are pivotal educators, to read, understand his mysteries and have his commandments always before your eyes
*Mos 4:2 In order to grow in knowledge of creator, "that which is just and true" you need to 1) always rejoice 2) be filled with the love of God and 3) repent
*Alma 38:9 Wisdom is knowing the way (Christ) you are saved (Christ)
*D&C 6:7 Education makes you rich (have eternal life)
*D&C 19:23 Learn of Christ, walk by the Spirit
*D&C 55:4 Education is pleasing and important to the Lord
*D&C 88:78 With teaching comes grace, divine strength, and help. Education is study and faith and from each other and from the best books.
*D&C 90: 15-16 My business and mission: study, learn, become acquainted with all good books, languages, tongues, and people.
*D&C 93:36 The glory of God is intelligence (light and truth)
*D&C 93:53 Education (learning history, countries, kingdoms, laws of God and man) is all for salvation of Zion
*D&C 107:99 Learn your duty
*D&C 130:19 You keep your knowledge and intelligence (learned through diligence and obedience) in the world to come
*D&C 131:6 It is impossible to be saved in ignorance
*D&C 136:32-33 Education comes through humility, a contrite heart, then the Spirit will come and enlighten and eyes and ears will be open
*Moses 6:6 Adam and Eve taught their children to read and write
*Moses 6:23 You can teach it, educate faith
*Abraham 1:2 Possess greater knowledge, be a greater follower of righteousness. Have a desire to receive instructions.
*Alma 10:15 Education could also be used for evil means (the education of men, not Christ - Col 2:8)
*2 Ne 32:7-9 Those who will not search knowledge = those in unbelief, wickedness, ignorance, and stiffneckedness. Hearken to the Spirit, it will teach you to pray, it will consecrate your performance.
*1 Cor 2:11 You gain education through your Spirit
*1 Cor 2: 9-16 God has prepared a great education for those that love Him, reveals it through His Spirit, gives you the mind of Christ.
*1 Cor 8:1-3 Knowledge puffs up , but charity edifieth. Educate yourself with charity.
*1 Cor 14:20 Be men in understanding, children in malice
*Acts 7:22 Moses was a mighty educated man
*Matt 5:6 Hunger and thirst after righteousness
*Prov 3:15 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding"

Honoring Father and Mother

Honoring your father and mother is the only commandment with a promise, and the only one with a warning. Live or die. The earth is a waste if we do not honor our families. If you despise your parents, you are despising their names and hence your birthright and all the sacredness that comes with it. Honoring your parents is preparing you to meet the Lord. If I truly want to live - in all senses of the word - then I must obey my parents (living physically, spiritually, and eternally).

*Ex 20:12, Eph 6:2 - only commandment with a promise (Matt 15:4) and a warning - you will surely die if you do not (Ex 21:17)
*Deut 21:18-21 Children put to death who do not obey so that "evil" does not remain.
*Ezek 22:7 - It is a sin even to make light of parents
*Mal 1:6 - If you do not honor your parents, you despise their names.
*D&C 2 - The earth is a waste if we do not honor our families.
*John 8:49, D&C 19:24 - Christ sets the example.
*Col 3:20 - It is well pleasing to the Lord.
*Alma 56:47, 57:21 - The stripling warriors were honoring their parents - that's why they lived, they were obeying the commandment with a promise.
*Luke 1:17 - By honoring and being obedient, you are preparing to meet the Lord.

Birthright

The first thing Nephi tells us is that he was born of goodly parents. His birthright then becomes his crowning characteristic, his inheritance to all the "blessings and power" of his lineage along with all its "prerogatives and opportunities". He is who he is because of those who have gone before him and thus understands "a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." Your birthright is sacred, it is where you find a place of repentance, where you can return to God. It includes access to all priesthood blessings and the duty to share those blessings of everlasting priesthood. When we use the Atonement, we become joint heirs with Christ, gaining a heavenly birthright. Therefore, the more I come to know my birthright, both physical and spiritual lineage, the more I will understand Christ and the Atonement and who I am. It will become my crowning characteristic: to know my responsibilities and opportunities (repentance and priesthood) and inherit the birthright of everlasting priesthood, immortality and eternal life.

*Gen 25:30-34, 27:36 - Jacob and Esau: Esau willing to sell it, despising its reponsibilitieis and duties, yet wept over his lost blessings.
*Num 3:10 - there are different birthrights, different responsibilities/appointments ex. Aaron and sons
*1 Chron 5:2 - Priesthood goes through the birthright
*Heb 12:16-17 - To reject the birthright is to be profane (irreverence/contempt for God/sacred things), to inherit the birthright is to find a place of repentance (returning to God)
*D&C 86: 9-10 - Birthright includes the inheritance of the priesthood blessings which must remain on earth until the restoration of all things includes being "hid from the world with Christ in God"
*D&C 113:8 - authority of the priesthood
*Abr 1:4 - Abraham sought out his birthright
*Abr 2:11 - with the priesthood comes the duty to share the blessings of salvation, of life eternal
*Ex 40:15 - birthright = everlasting priesthood
*Rom 8:17 - There is a heavenly birthright - being joint heirs with Christ, if we suffer with Him, use the Atonement.