We Can Pray To Heavenly Father: Lesson

Lesson
We Can Pray to
34 Heavenly Father
Purpose To strengthen each childs desire to pray to Heavenly Father as Jesus Christ
did.
Preparation 1. Prayerfully study 3 Nephi 17 through 19.

2. Prepare to sing or say the words to I Thank Thee, Dear Father (Childrens
Songbook, p. 7).
3. Prepare a sheet of paper for each child as follows:
I Thank Thee I Ask Thee
4. Materials needed:
a. A Book of Mormon.
b. A pencil or crayon for each child.
c. Picture 3-60, Girl Praying (62310); and picture 3-61, Jesus Praying with
the Nephites (62542).
5. Make the necessary preparations for any enrichment activities that you will
be using.
Suggested
Lesson
Development Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Follow up with the children if you encouraged them to do something during
the week.
We Can Talk with Our Heavenly Father

Attention activity Display picture 3-60, Girl Praying.
How can we talk with our Heavenly Father?
Why do we pray to our Heavenly Father?
When can we pray to our Heavenly Father?
166
Because Heavenly Father loves us so much, he has made it possible for us to
talk with him. He wants us to thank him for our blessings. He also wants us to
ask for his help whenever we need it.
We Can Thank Our Heavenly Father

Discussion Explain that when we pray, we should thank Heavenly Father for our blessings.
What are some blessings Heavenly Father has given us that we can thank
him for? (Responses could include our homes, our families, the beautiful
world, food, and clothing.)
When we talk to Heavenly Father, we use special words. When we thank him,
we say, We thank thee.
Allow the children to tell the class how they would thank Heavenly Father for
a specific blessing. Ask each child to think of something to thank Heavenly
Father for, using the words I thank thee.
Story Have the children listen while you tell in your own words the following story
about Jean and how she remembered to thank Heavenly Father:
It was a time of war in England. It was dark and Jean was frightened. Her
grandmother lived in a small village near London, and Jean was on her way
to visit her. She had to pedal her bike for two miles to reach the main road.
Jean prayed with all her heart that she might be safe.
As she pedaled her bike and prayed, a strong cold wind almost took her
breath away. Again Jean prayed for safety and the ability to see the way.
Suddenly a light appeared over the hill. Jean pedaled toward the light. The
light stayed in front of her for the rest of the way.
Jean was very thankful. She knew Heavenly Father had answered her prayer.
Whenever she was reminded of it, she thanked Heavenly Father again. (See
Lucile C. Reading, The Light, Childrens Friend, Aug. 1965, p. 45.)
Emphasize that just as Jean remembered to thank Heavenly Father, each of
us should remember to thank him for all that he gives us and for the help we
receive.
Song and Sing or say with the children the words to the first verse of I Thank Thee, Dear
discussion Father.
I thank thee, dear Father in heaven above,
For thy goodness and mercy, thy kindness and love.
I thank thee for home, friends, and parents so dear,
And for evry blessing that I enjoy here.
Ask the children to share other blessings for which they have thanked
Heavenly Father.
We Can Ask Heavenly Father for Help

Picture and Point to picture 3-60, Girl Praying.
testimony
Bear your testimony that no matter what kind of problem we have, we can ask
Heavenly Father for help whenever we need it.
What are some of the things we can ask Heavenly Father to help us with?
167
(Allow time for the children to think. Responses could include help with giving
a talk or doing schoolwork, help in understanding and learning to obey the
commandments, special protection, and help to get well.)
Have the children tell of times when they prayed for someone else, such as
family members, friends, or neighbors.
Special words we use when we ask Heavenly Father for help are I ask thee.
Have the children repeat these words.
Song Sing or say the words to the second verse of I Thank Thee, Dear Father.
Ask the children to listen to the words and tell what they might ask Heavenly
Father for.
Help me to be good, kind, and gentle today,
And mind what my father and mother shall say.
In the dear name of Jesus, so loving and mild,
I ask thee to bless me and keep me thy child.
We Should Pray Often, As Jesus Christ Did

Teacher Point out that Jesus Christ prayed to Heavenly Father many times when he lived
presentation on the earth. After his resurrection, he also prayed to Heavenly Father. When
Jesus visited the Nephite people, he taught them and blessed them. He also
prayed for the people and taught them that they should pray too.
Picture Show picture 3-61, Jesus Praying with the Nephites.
Explain that the Book of Mormon tells us that Jesus Christ gathered the people
around him and had them kneel down. When they had knelt on the ground, he
also knelt and prayed to Heavenly Father. He gave such a beautiful prayer that
the people were filled with joy when they heard his words.
After Jesus Christ had taught them many wonderful things, he taught them that
they should pray as he did.
Scripture Read 3 Nephi 18:16.
discussion
What does this verse of scripture tell us that Jesus Christ taught the Nephite
people? (He taught them to pray.)
Explain that Jesus Christ left the Nephite people, but he returned a second
time. When he returned, he prayed again to Heavenly Father to thank him for
helping his Nephite disciples. He also asked Heavenly Father to bless the
people. Jesus Christ prayed many times while he was with the Nephites.
Some of his prayers are recorded in the Book of Mormon. The Book of
Mormon tells us that some of the prayers that he gave were so beautiful
that they could not be written down.
Explain that each of us should do as Jesus Christ taught the Nephites and
pray often to Heavenly Father.
When can we pray to Heavenly Father? (Allow responses, and discuss the
different times the children can pray, including each morning and night, at
mealtimes, with their families, or whenever they have problems or need
special help.)
What special words do we use when we talk to Heavenly Father?
168
Lesson 34
Have the children repeat I thank thee and I ask thee. Encourage the
children to use other proper language for prayer. They might practice using
thee, thou, and thine.
Summary
Activity Give the children the papers you have prepared and a pencil or crayon. Ask
each child to draw a picture on each half of the paper showing what he is
grateful for and what he would pray for.
Teacher testimony Share your testimony of prayer with the children. Emphasize that it is a great
blessing to be able to pray to Heavenly Father to thank him and ask him for
help. Invite the children to say their prayers daily, and remind them that they
can pray anytime and in any place that they want to.
In preparation for the closing prayer, have the children suggest things that
the person giving the prayer might thank Heavenly Father for. Also have them
suggest things they might ask for.
Give the closing prayer yourself, remembering to use the ideas the class has
suggested.
Enrichment
Activities Choose from the following activities those that will work best for your children.
You can use them in the lesson itself or as a review or summary. For additional
guidance, see Class Time in Helps for the Teacher.
1. Recite the following poem, doing the actions. Then repeat it with the children,
doing the actions.
We thank thee, God, for sunshine bright, (arms up, fingers touching to
make a sun)
For birds that sing in morning light, (arms outstretched as birds flying)
For happy children everywhere, (smile)
And for Heavenly Fathers loving care. (head bowed, hands folded, as
for prayer)
2. Tell in your own words the following story of how a little boys prayer was
answered.
An eight-year-old boy was on the operating table in a hospital. His parents
had died, but he had learned to pray. He knew the operation was serious.
He asked the doctor who was going to operate on him, Doctor, before you
begin to operate, wont you pray for me? The surgeon looked at the boy
amazed and said, Why, I cant pray for you.
Then the little fellow asked the other doctors who were helping, and they
each replied in the same way. Then the boy said, If you wont pray for me,
wont you please wait while I pray for myself? He got up on the operating
table on his knees, folded his hands, and said, Heavenly Father, I am only a
little orphan boy, but I am awful sick and these doctors are going to operate.
Please help them to do it right. And now, Heavenly Father, if thou wilt make
me well, I will be a good boy. Thank you for making me well.
When he finished praying, there were tears in the eyes of the doctors and
nurses. The boy lay down on the table and said, Now I am ready. (Adapted
169
from George Albert Smith, Sharing the Gospel with Others, sel. Preston
Nibley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1948], pp. 14445.)
3. Make a one-week prayer chart for each child on one half of a piece of paper
so that he can mark it morning and night when he says his prayers. On the
other half of the paper, have each child draw a picture of himself praying.
Invite each child to place his prayer chart in his home where he can see
it and remember to mark it morning and night.
4. Review with the children the first article of faith.
170

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Lesson

Preparation 1. Prayerfully study 3 Nephi 17 through 19.

I Thank Thee I Ask Thee

We Can Talk with Our Heavenly Father

We Can Thank Our Heavenly Father

We Can Ask Heavenly Father for Help

We Should Pray Often, As Jesus Christ Did

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