The Armor of God (Part 8: Prayer)

“Praying always” (Ephesians 6:18)

Sometimes lost at the end of this long list of very visual armor is the simple admonition to pray always. Too often, I feel, we may overlook the protection and power that come from prayer.

Elder M. Russell Ballard taught, “one of the most important ways to clothe yourselves in the armor of God is to make sure that prayer—earnest, sincere, consistent prayer—is part of your daily lives” (link to talk).

PRAY ALWAYS

When we put on the whole armor of God we must remember to don what I feel is an immensely protective force field. We can read about the power it provides in scripture.

“Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work” (Doctrine & Covenants 10:5).

The footnote for “come off conqueror” references self-mastery. Pray for the strength to conquer whatever challenges you face each day, whether they be internal or external. Elder Tad R. Callister asks,

“[Who] in Book of Mormon times would have let their sons march out to the front of battle without a breastplate and shield and sword to protect them against the potentially mortal blows of the enemy? But how many of us…march out the front door each morning to the most dangerous of all battlefields, to face Satan and his myriad of temptations, without [our] spiritual breastplate and shield and sword that come from the protective power of prayer?”

Another scripture I found repeats this admonition.

“What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest that wicked one have power in you” (Doctrine & Covenants 93:49).

Praying always does not mean that we need to continually be kneeling. Whatever our circumstances we can “pour out [our] hearts to [the Lord]; and He [will] know the thoughts of [our] hearts” (Mosiah 24:12). We truly need heaven’s help in this battle of life. Through prayer we can gain access to that help and protection.

WATCH AND PRAY

Amulek, in the Book of Mormon, exhorts us to “be watchful unto prayer continually, that [we] may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower [us]“ (Alma 34:39).

Prior to His suffering in Gethsemane the Savior taught of the need for prayer when He told His disciples to “watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). 

After His resurrection He repeated this same counsel to the Nephites—twice. 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him….[and again] Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 18:15, 18-19).

Later, in a revelation through Joseph Smith to Thomas B. Marsh we again read, “Pray always, lest you enter into temptation” (Doctrine & Covenants 31:12).

This injunction to pray is repeated over and over as a way to find protection from the continual assault of the adversary. Elder Lynn G. Robbins taught,

“This entreaty of the Savior to avoid temptation consists of two acts of faith: to watch and to pray. The Guide to the Scriptures teaches us that to watch means ‘to be vigilant, to [be on] guard,’ which is wise advice in defending ourselves against a very real and ever-lurking enemy. And the corollary to the Savior’s wise advice to pray to avoid temptation is that without prayer, we will not have the spiritual strength or stamina to win this battle on our own” (link to talk).

In the Bible we see the great courage of Daniel. His enemies, through the king, have instilled a decree “that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of [the] king, he shall be cast into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:7). Daniel is a man who has built a relationship with the Lord and is not afraid of the king. In fact, Daniel realized that he would need the Lord’s help even more, as he knowingly defies the mandate of the king—so he prays.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10).

Despite his obedience and faithfulness to God’s laws he was still subject to the laws of the land. He was found guilty of praying to Someone other than the king and was thrown into the lion’s den. However, because of his faith and prayers, the Lord “sent his angel, and…shut the lions’ mouths” (Daniel 6:22). His life was spared, his trust in the Lord increased, and his faith in the power of prayer expanded.

PROTECTION FROM REBELLION

The Book of Mormon prophet, Lehi, was a wealthy man. He warned the people in Jerusalem of their wickedness, and they wanted to kill him. Through the Lord's tender mercy Lehi was commanded in a dream to take his family into the wilderness, and he obeyed. 

“And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 2:4).

This must have been a very sudden, unexpected change for the family. We learn that Laman and Lemuel, his two oldest sons, “did murmur against their father” (1 Nephi 2:12) but followed him into the wilderness. Lehi’s son, Nephi, did not. murmur, but it was because of where he turned for help. Nephi explained, 

“I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers” (1 Nephi 2:16).

If Nephi was crying unto the Lord it may have been due to questioning thoughts he had about his father's dream—thoughts  or feelings of doubt. When faced with these doubts Nephi prayed (and I’m sure it wasn’t the first time he had gone to the Lord for direction). I love the scripture that illustrates to me the manner in which Nephi prayed.

“Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers” (Doctrine & Covenants 112:10).

Through his humble petition Nephi's heart was softened—which means it must have previously been hardening. Through his prayer he was protected from the same hardening and doubt his brothers dealt with from this point on. Such is the protection provided through prayer.

POWER THROUGH PRAYER

I have heard it said that the Lord is influenced by our faith. The way we ask anything of the Lord is through prayer. The power of sincere prayer can have amazing, even miraculous, results.

In the Book of Mormon we read the account of Aaron (one of the sons of king Mosiah) teaching Lamoni’s father about the Plan of Salvation. The king told Aaron that he would be willing to forsake his kingdom for the joy of the gospel (see Alma 22:15). Aaron told him that to receive this joy he must pray.

“And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:

“O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee” (Alma 22:17-18).

This king recognized a greater power than he had and humbled himself because of Aaron's words. Through this king’s prayer of faith he and “his whole household were converted until the Lord” (Alma 22:23).

Men cannot stop the work of God, but it is through the works of men that He will move His work forward. Another story is of Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni—sons of king Mosiah, and Alma the Younger (son of Alma the prophet) who were converted to the truth after a lifestyle of wickedness; including active persecution against the church. Alma the Elder prayed for his son (many times, I am sure). 

On one day, in particular, Alma the Younger and these sons of Mosiah “did go about secretly…seeking to destroy the church [when] behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them….And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth” (Mosiah 27:10-12). The angel tells them that his appearance is because of “the prayers of [the Lord’s] people, and also the prayers of [the Lord’s] servant, who is [Alma’s] father." The angel continued speaking to these wayward sons saying, “therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith” (Mosiah 27:14, emphasis added).

The prayers of the faithful must have touched the merciful heart of the Lord, giving these rebellious souls another chance. Because of faithful prayers their hearts were changed.

“And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them.

“And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer” (Mosiah 27:35-36).

Through much prayer, scripture study, fasting and obedience (see Alma 17:2-3) they were blessed with their own miracle. We read,

“And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord…

“And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away” (Alma 23:5-6).

Bear with me while I share a few examples of the power of righteous people petitioning the Lord, and His answer to them. 

In the Old Testament we read about the prophet Abraham. One day he is visited by holy men and learns that the Lord is going to destroy the city of Sodom—the city where his nephew, Lot, is living. According to the Lord’s own words, Abraham is a righteous man (see Genesis 18:17-19). 

Abraham asks the Lord if He will spare the city of Sodom, if he (Abraham) can find 50 righteous people, and the Lord says He will. Abraham then asks if He will spare Sodom for 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally 10 righteous people (see Genesis 18:23-33). The Lord said, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (Genesis 18:32). 

It does not specifically say that Abraham prayed, but I am assuming he did because the way to ask the Lord for something is through prayer. Because of Abraham’s obedience, and his petitioning, the Lord’s heart was softened as shown by him being willing to not destroy it per Abraham's request.

Now, I want to turn to a story in the Book of Mormon. Mormon was also a righteous man, and “being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore [he] was visited of the Lord” (Mormon 1:15).

At the young age of 16 Mormon began leading the Nephite army. Describing the people he is leading, Mormon recounts, “And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again, and I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually” (Mormon 2:15).

He was leading a very wicked army, and their day of grace was passed, and the spirit of the Lord will no longer help them in their battles. Yet Mormon keeps leading them. It doesn’t specifically say that he prayed to the Lord, but he must have prayed for them, because we read,

“And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people—Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared” (Mormon 3:2).

I don’t think the Lord would have just come to Mormon with this statement unless Mormon had asked. I am sure Mormon had many heartfelt prayers in behalf of those he led. I find it significant that in the previous chapter their day of grace had been passed, but through the petitioning of a righteous, obedient servant the Lord was willing to give them another chance.

Another story can be found in the book of Esther. Esther feels that she should go talk to the king to save her people; at the risk of losing her own life. She asks that her people fast for her for 3 days before she approaches. Again, it does not specifically mention prayer, but prayer combined with fasting can bring about miracles. I believe that such was the case in this situation. Esther approaches the king and is able to save her people (see Esther 4-5).

PATTERNS OF POWERFUL PRAYER

I listened to a talk by Diana Hoelscher entitled “Prayers That Reach Heaven”. In it she pointed out examples of patterns of prayer found in the scriptures where someone has been able to receive a powerful answer to their prayer. 

One example is in the book of Enos. What I remember about Enos when I was younger is that he said a really long prayer, and received an answer. I think the pattern that he followed before praying made much more of a difference than the amount of time he spent praying. 

Notice the pattern:

Enos went to hunt beasts in the forest. As he went he prepared to pray by pondering on the words that his father had taught him “concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints” (Enos 1:3). He was in a quiet place where he could be alone. He “kneeled down…[and] cried unto [God]” (Enos 1:4) out loud. Afterwards he listened, because “there came a voice unto [him]” (Enos 1:5).

Another example of the heavens opening came because of the petition of a young boy who had a question and knew not where to turn. In his confusion he turned to the scriptures to find answers. He read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5). Young Joseph prepared to pray by "reflect[ing] on [this scripture] again and again" (Joseph Smith History 1:12). Alone in a quiet grove he knelt down, and began to pray vocally (see Joseph Smith History 1:14-15). He recounts, 

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me….

“When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith History 1:16-17).

Joseph is then blessed to get a glimpse of what he was foreordained to do. With the task of helping to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ—something that I am sure never crossed his mind—millions have been brought to a knowledge of the truth.

Using the patterns above: pondering before we pray, going somewhere quiet where we can be alone, kneeling down, praying vocally, and listening; we will find that our prayers can reach heaven. As I have taken time to do these things it helps me think about who it is that I am talking to, and it changes my focus. I am able to be more sincere and heartfelt in my gratitude and in my petitions. I have also felt much closer to heaven.

President Marion G. Romney taught, 

“We are children of God. As such, we have the potentiality to rise to his perfection. 

“No one shall ever reach such perfection unless he is guided to it by Him who is perfect. And guidance from Him is to be had only through prayer” (link to talk).

As we take time to commune with the Lord each day—setting aside time specifically to pray, rather than as a last-minute afterthought—we can arm ourselves with the protection, direction, and guidance that we so desperately need in this battlefield of life.

The Armor of God

Elder M. Russell Ballard taught,

“I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of dozens of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the user greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil.

“It is a common expression to talk about the 'chinks' in a person’s armor. The definition of the word chink is 'a small cleft, slit, or fissure.' Should an arrow strike exactly one of the chinks in one’s armor, a fatal wound can result” (link to talk).

No piece of armor is more important than the other. They are all essential to our spiritual protection. 

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12).

As we lay aside the natural man, standing as men and women of God, putting on the whole armor of God, and leave our entangling nets of this world, we can be protected and will be led more powerfully than ever before to become who we are meant to be.