Heavenly Father Answers Prayers

Compiled by Keira

Purpose: to develop a sincere desire to pray and to know that we will always receive an answer
because Heavenly Father loves us.

Possible scriptures:

Prov. 15:29; Matthew 7: 7-11; (3 Ne. 14:7; D&C 4:7; D&C 6:5; D&C 66:9); Matt. 21:22 (Mark 11:24); John 14:13 (John 16:23; D&C 88:64); 1 Ne. 15:11 (Alma 22:16; D&C 18:18); 2 Ne. 4:35; 2 Ne. 26:15; 2 Nephi 32:8-9; 3 Ne. 18:20 (Moro. 7:26); Moro. 10:35; Doctorine & Covenants 46:30; Doctorine & Covenants 88:63-65; Doctrine & Covenants 120:10

Possible Songs: Sweet Hour of Prayer, Hymns 142; How Great Thou Art, Hymn 86;
Joseph Smiths First Prayer, Hymn 26; Be Thou Humble, Hymn 130; I Pray In Faith, Childrens Songbook page 14; A Childs Prayer, Childrens Songbook page 12.

Possible Materials: Wordart for the quote by Elder Peterson; Picture of David O. McKay;
a picture of a girl pioneer (I like this one or this one, even though its a handcart); A picture of Hannah (I had to make my own!); A picture of Oliver Cowdery and Joseph translating. Picture of Joseph Smith in Carthage (I love this one but I think its copyrighted). Index cards of 7 ways Heavenly Father answers our prayers.

Preparation: Begin with prayer. Consider if your family members feel comfortable going to

Heavenly Father in prayer. Reflect on your own experiences of receiving answers to prayer. Read the suggested scriptures and any articles listed in Resources. Children: Listen to the story Shoes, From the June 1997 Friend and the story of David O. McKay from the August 2004 Friend. Watch the first two minutes of the video Samuel, and the story of Alma and Amulek.

Lesson:
Introduction: Watch the video O Remember, Remember, then share this quote by H. Burke
Peterson: I want you to know that I know that whenever one of Heavenly Fathers children kneels and talks to him, he listens. I know this as well as I know anything in this world that Heavenly Father listens to every prayer from his children. I know our prayers ascend to heaven. No matter what we may have done wrong, he listens to us. I also believe he answers us. I dont believe he ignores his children when they talk to him. (PrayerTry Again, Ensign, June 1981, p. 73.)

Discussion: Ask if the members of your family believe Heavenly Father answers Prayers. Does he
listen to everyones prayers, even when someone has made mistakes? Does he always answer the way we would like him to? Ask, What are some ways Heavenly Father answers our prayers? Read Resource story one, then discuss each of these topics in turn
1. He grants our prayer (Read Church History story on shoes). 2. He gives us something better (Read Resource story 2).

Compiled by Keira. For more lesson ideas go to http://searchforseven.blogspot.com

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

He makes us wait, and then our prayers are granted (tell the story of Hannah) He grants comfort and peace through the Holy Ghost (Read Church History story Davids Prayer). He sends people to help (Share the story of Alma and Amulek). We learn his will through scriptures or the words of the prophet (Tell the story of Joseph in Carthage). A thought enters our mind, or we just know. (Tell the story of Oliver Cowdery)

From the Resource Book: Read story one (found below) and ask, Did the father of this story listen
to everyone? Did he always answer the way his children would like him to? What were some of the answers he gave (Yes, no, wait, and comfort)? Why do you think the children went to their father? How is this story like prayer? Activity: Role play. Give each child a role in the story and have them act out the parts.

From Church History: Read, Shoes, from the June 1997 Friend (here is a summarized version for
younger children). Discuss how sometimes our prayers take time to answer.

From the Resource Book: Read story two (also found below) and ask, At first, did it seem like the
familys prayers were being answered? Sometimes we do not recognize the answers to our prayers because we need to gain more knowledge to help the answers become clear.

From the Old Testament: Read Samuel 1:1- 2:11. Tell the story of Hannah. Talk about how Hannah

cried unto the Lord, how he blessed her, and how she thanked Him and kept her promise. Does it sound like Hannah simply prayed and got what she wanted? Or is it more likely that this had been a continual prayer for her, and it took some time? Activity: I made a picture of Hannah where her arms are closed in prayer and open to show a baby.

From Church History: Read Davids Prayer, From the August 2004 Friend. Discuss how
sometimes answers to prayer are just a feeling of comfort.

From the Book of Mormon: Read Alma 8:14-27. Do you think Alma prayed that hed find someone
to help him? How was Amulek and answer to Almas sorrows?

From Church History: Read Doctrine and Covenants 121. Explain that although God didnt take
away the problem, peace, understanding, and answers came from relating to the scriptures.

From Church History: Read Doctrine and Covenants 8:1-3. Tell the back-story of how Oliver
Cowdery desired to translate.

Further discussion: What difference does it make to know that Heavenly Father will really listen to
your prayers? Do we talk to strangers differently than our friends? It is the same with prayer. Share how much peace it brings knowing that each member of the family can call upon God when they need help, even when they think theyre alone.

Challenge: Encourage each family member to make their prayers more meaningful this week with
the knowledge that Heavenly Father loves them and will answer each prayer.

Resources:

Family Home Evening Resource Book, Lesson 7; Gospel Principles Chapter 8 (End); Come, Follow Me Sunday School lesson on seeing the Lords hand; O Remember, Remember, By Elder Henry B. Eyering; Shoes, Friend , June 1997; Davids Prayer, Friend, August 2004. See also: But If Not by Elder Dennis E Simmons of the Seventy, and, Hannah, from a Bible Study by Vickie Kraft on Bible.org (it made me cry).
Additional aides below.

Compiled by Keira. For more lesson ideas go to http://searchforseven.blogspot.com

Story 1 from the Family Home Evening Resource Book

It was Saturday morning, and father was home. He had brought some work from the office to complete and went into the study to be alone. Soon his little daughter came into the room crying. Someone had broken her new doll. Her father told her not to worry: he would fix her doll. She thanked her father and ran happily back to play. Next his son came in. He asked his father for money to buy a new model boat to take sailing with his friends. His father took time to explain that the boy had already received his weekly allowance two days ago with the understanding that it was to take care of such things. His teenage daughter came in next. She wanted a new dress for the coming dance. Her father told her that she would have to wait. He told her that if she saved as much as she could herself, he would help her buy the new dress. His teenage son interrupted the father next. The son was doing his homework and needed help with a problem. His father gave him some suggestions, but did not work the problem for him. A few minutes later, his son returned to say, Thank you for the idea you gave me. It worked! Finally, the youngest child came in. His father looked down at the boy and asked kindly, What do you want, son? I dont want anything, the little boy answered as he reached his arms around his fathers neck and kissed him. I just wanted to be with you.

Story 2 from the Family Home Evening Resource Book

Brother Robinson had just moved his small family into their new cabin home near the forest where he worked. He was grateful for his daughter and his beautiful wife, who would soon have their second child. The family knelt in prayer together one night around the dinner table. They thanked Heavenly Father for their blessings and asked for his protection. As the family sat at the table together, they could hear the frightening sounds of the wind as it whistled through the trees in the nearby forest. Suddenly the wind uprooted a giant tree. Five different trees fell, one knocking down the other. One tree crashed through the roof of their small cabin, breaking the boards over their heads. One of the boards fell on Brother Robinson and cut his head. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but Brother Robinsons family had to leave their home and return to live with relatives in the city for the winter. Brother Robinson had to leave them and return to the logging camp to continue working. Brother Robinson recalled his feelings at the time, My home was in shambles, and I was separated from my family. I felt as if the Lord had not heard our prayers, and I wondered how he could have allowed this to happen to us. Brother Robinson continued, Later I realized how wrong I was in thinking that the Lord had not heard our prayers, for the snowstorms were so terrible that year that many families were snowed in all winter. We would have been left to ourselves with no help or supplies and no doctor to deliver the baby. I could have lost my wife or our new baby girlor both! I realized then that the Lord had heard and answered our prayer for our protection.
Compiled by Keira. For more lesson ideas go to http://searchforseven.blogspot.com