I Pray to Heavenly Father for Strength to do What is Right Sharing time

(You can find a copy of the Phone picture at my Skydrive: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=976904c8bfc9a79e&sc=documents&id=976904C8BFC9A79E%21105)
cell phone taken from http://www.clker.com/clipart-cell-phone.htm

I Pray for Strength to do What is Right Sharing Time

August 2013 Week 4 theme

What is this? (hold cell phone or a picture of one) A cell phone. What does it do? It helps us talk to someone that is far away and communicate with them. It helps us solve problems, feel comfort, get answers, and direction for where we need to go.

Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the Seventy shares a story about a cell phone. While traveling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with other church leaders their truck broke down and they needed to call for help, but couldn’t get any cell phone reception. They walked to the nearby village. The villagers told them that sometimes it was possible to make a call on a cell phone by climbing one of the tall anthills nearby. So the church leaders walked up a nearby anthill, but didn’t get a cell phone signal and couldn’t make the call. They walked up a second anthill, no signal. 3^rd anthill-nothing. Finally, the ninth anthill they climbed and were able to get a signal and call for help on the cell phone.  Friend November 2011, p.27

Unlike communication on a cell phone that can sometimes have a bad connection or signal (like the story), a busy signal or even extra roaming charges, communication through prayer with our Heavenly Father is always available and always free. Heavenly Father’s line is always clear, open and ready to hear our problems and give us help.

We are going to discover some ways we can communicate with Heavenly Father through prayer through a matching game. We will pick a picture on the chalkboard that will have a prophet that needed an answer to a prayer from Heavenly Father. Then we will match on the rolling chalkboard an answer from Heavenly Father that helped the prophet make the right decision. (The pictures and matching phones have color clues to help match them.

Praying to Understand truth

(On back of picture of Joseph Smith reading James, http://onthelordserrand.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/js-read.jpg)  Joseph Smith was confused about which church to join and didn’t know which was correct and true. What kind of prayer was offered to Heavenly Father? (Understanding truth prayer) Match with “Understanding truth” cell phone

Answer-(On “Understanding Truth” phone with First vision picture, Gospel in Art 403 or http://blog.chron.com/mormonvoice/files/2011/12/first-vision.jpg
on the cell phone) He had faith and prayed to ask God to understand truth. In answer to his prayer, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared and told Joseph that none of the churches were true. The Lord called Joseph to restore His true Church to the earth. When you have questions or problems, you can also pray to Heavenly Father. He blesses His children when we ask in faith and helps us understand true things. Taken from Friend December 2011 picture on page http://www.lds.org/friend/2011/12/joseph-smith?lang=eng&query=joseph+smith+confused+about+which+church+join

Praying for Reverence-

 (On back of picture of President Monson, Ensign July 2008, p. 4) President Monson spoke about a time when he was 11 and in primary. “One Sunday, the Primary President asked me to stay behind and visit with her. The two sat alone in the empty chapel and the President put her arm around me and began to cry. Surprised, I asked her why she was crying. She replied, “I don’t seem to be able to encourage the 11 year old boys to be reverent during the opening exercises of Primary. Would you help me, Tommy? I promised he would.” What kind of prayer do you think President Monson could have offered? (A Reverence Prayer) Match cell phone that is labeled, “Reverence”

Answer- (On “Reverence” cell phone with picture of reverent class Primary packet,3-66 or https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPhpuKP104j0wyC5qiCL2SBZQQUSkubggQBqPGS8TqNT7zPbNKGHENE-5-QiC38hpBbXQ-35mkNxSCP18RwBItXwrhr5A2cDZmsOBZxXdRH6oEvi-nM6op_pA5cfNKnU8Nk0tTBRCExE/s1600/reverent_children.jpg)
President Monson could have prayed how to help the class be more reverent.
"Strangely to him, but not to the Primary President, that ended the reverence problem. She had gone to the source of the problem—me. So President Monson needed help from the Lord to be reverent in Primary, haha! From “Primary Days,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, 65–68.

Praying for Safety-

(On back of Daniel in Lion’s den picture- Primary packet 1-14 or http://www.lds.org/images/Manuals/tchg-pix.nfo:o:12c.jpg)  Daniel was ordered not to do something that was right—he was told not to pray! Wicked men tricked the king into making a law that required anyone who prayed to be thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel still prayed three times a day. When the men caught Daniel praying, Daniel was cast into the lions’ den. Did the lions kill Daniel? What kind of prayer do you think Daniel offered in the den with the lions? (Safety prayer) Match with cell phone labeled, “Safety”

Answer- (On back of “safety” cell phone with picture of boy stuck on railroad, Primary packet 3-53). “Daniel prayed to Heavenly Father was protected by an angel sent from God. God blessed Daniel for keeping His commandment to pray.” We can pray when we are in danger, or need to be safe like Daniel did.http://www.lds.org/friend/2006/08/sharing-time-the-scriptures-show-the-way?lang=eng&query=daniel+prays

Praying for forgiveness-

(On back of picture of Enos praying in forest, Primary packet 3-49 orhttp://www.lds.org/images/Manuals/tchg-pix.nfo:o:18e.jpg)  One day while hunting in the forest, Enos remembered what he had often heard his father, Jacob, say about eternal life and the joy of the Saints. He felt like he had done many things wrong in his life. What kind of prayer did Enos offer to Heavenly Father? (Forgiveness prayer) Match phone that is labeled “Forgiveness”, (recall the previous pebble sharing time)

Answer- (On “ Forgiveness” cell phone with picture or pebble in shoe, Friend, February 2003 p.43 or http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/2003/Feb2003Friend.pdf). “Kneeling in humble prayer, Enos confessed his sins. All day Enos lifted his voice unto the Lord, praying for forgiveness. When night came, he continued to plead with the Lord.  As he continued to cry unto the Lord in prayer, he heard a voice say to him, “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.” We can pray to Heavenly and say sorry for our wrongdoings and ask Him to forgive us.http://www.lds.org/friend/1983/07/enoss-prayer?lang=eng&query=enos+prays

Praying for direction-

(On back of picture of Lehi’s family and Liahona) http://bookofmormonresearch.org/files/2010/08/liahona-mormon.jpg   Lehi obeyed God’s commandment to take his family into the wilderness. One morning, the Lord provided a ball of curious workmanship, which Lehi found at the door of his tent One day as Nephi went to hunt for food, his bow broke. Without his bow, he was unable to get any food for the family. Hungry and unhappy, his brothers and even his father complained. Nephi made a new bow of wood. Then he asked his father where to look for food. What kind of prayer do you think Lehi offered to Heavenly Father? (Match with “Direction” cell phone)

Answer- (On back of “Direction” cell phone with direction picture, Friend Mar. 2003, p.3 http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/2003/Mar2003Friend.pdf) Lehi prayed for direction and which way would lead to food. Lehi prayed about it, and the Lord told him to look at the ball. The ball showed them the way. Nephi now followed its directions and found food for the family. We can pray for help to know which way to go in our lives like where should we go to college, who to marry, who to be friends with, etc http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=e64194859a4bb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=21bc9fbee98db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Prayer for comfort

 (On the back of picture of Spencer W. Kimball) http://mormonlit.byu.edu/images/KimballSpencerW.jpg  This story is about Spencer W. Kimball before he became a prophet. He told the story, “I had had many phone calls from Salt Lake City. They hadn’t ever worried me like this one. “Spencer, this is Brother Clark speaking. The Brethren have just called you to fill one of the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.” Like a bolt of lightning it came. My mind seemed to be traveling many paths all at once—I was dazed, almost numb with the shock; a picture of my life spread out before me. “Not me, Brother Clark! You can’t mean that!” I was virtually speechless. My heart pounded fiercely. What kind of prayer do you think Spencer W. Kimball offered to Heavenly Father? (Match with “Comfort” cell phone)

Answer-(On back of “Comfort” cell phone with picture of father/son embrace, Prodical son, Primary packet 2-46) He prayed and received comfort from Heavenly Father that things would be okay and found comfort in the scriptures. Ensign February 2004 The Breaking of the Day Has Found me on My Knees by Spencer W. Kimball

Praying for courage to share truth-

 (On back of Abinidi picture http://bycommonconsent.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/fribergabinadi.jpg)  God sent a prophet named Abinadi to Noah’s people. King Noah was wicked and Abinadi told his people to repent. When he heard what Abinadi said, King Noah was angry. He sent men to bring Abinadi to him so that he could kill him. Abinadi was taken to the king. King Noah and his priests asked him many questions. They tried to trick him into saying something wrong and say that Jesus wasn’t the Savior. What kind of prayer did Abinadi offer? (Match with “Courage to share truth” cell phone)

Answer- (On back of cell phone “Courage to share truth” with picture of girl sharing the Book of Mormon to friend Friend February 2003, p.3 http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/2003/Feb2003Friend.pdf

 Abinadi could pray for strength to tell the truth. In fact, Abinadi was not afraid to answer their questions. He knew that God would help him. Abinadi was filled with the Holy Ghost and was able to tell his message of truth and no one could touch him until he was finished. We can pray for Heavenly Father to help us tell the truth/stand up for what we believe in, and share our truth with those around us. Even if it is hard sometimes. 

Praying for Thankfulness-

(On back of Jaradite boats picture, Primary picture packet 1-69)- The Lord told the brother of Jared to build barges to take his people to the promised land. The Jaredites went into the barges with their animals and food. The Lord made a furious wind blow the barges toward the promised land. The Lord protected them in the rough sea. After 344 days on the water, the barges landed on the shore of the promised land. What kind of prayer do you think the Jaredites could offer after arriving safely to the Promised land? (Match with “Thankfulness” cell phone)

Answer- (On back of “Thankfulness” cell phone with picture of pilgrim praying next to girl praying Friend November 1999 cover or Ensign January 2012, p. 17) They thanked the Lord and when the Jaredites came out of the barges, they knelt down before the Lord and cried tears of joy. We can thank Heavenly Father for the good things that happen to us. We can thank Him that these prophets took the time to engrave these stories(which wasn’t easy) on plates so we can read them and learn about Jesus. Taken from: http://www.lds.org/friend/1990/05/the-lord-leads-the-jaredites-to-a-promised-land?lang=eng&query=jaredites

CONCLUSION:

M. Russell Ballard said “Through prayer, we can show our love for God. And He has made it so easy. We may pray to Him any time. No special equipment is needed. We don’t even need to charge batteries or pay a monthly service fee.” http://www.lds.org/liahona/2003/05/sweet-power-of-prayer?lang=eng&query=phone+prayer I believe that we CAN communicate with Heavenly Father through a celestial cell phone. He always has time to talk to us and will answer our questions and problems. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.