We Can Pray to Heavenly Father

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Lesson 34: We Can Pray to Heavenly Father “Lesson 34: We Can Pray to Heavenly Father,” Primary 3: Choose the Right B, (1994),166

PURPOSE

To strengthen each child’s desire to pray to Heavenly Father as Jesus Christ did.

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How can we talk with our Heavenly Father?

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Why do we pray to our Heavenly Father?

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When can we pray to our Heavenly Father?

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. 

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When we pray, we should thank Heavenly Father for our blessings.

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What are some blessings Heavenly Father has given us that we can thank him for?

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Some ideas are:  Our

homes  Our families  Our clothing  Our food  Our beautiful world

When we talk to Heavenly Father, we use special words. When we thank him, we say, “We thank thee.”  How would you thank Heavenly Father for a specific blessing.  Can you think of something to thank Heavenly Father for, using the words I thank thee. 

Listen to 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. 

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Whenever she was reminded of it, she thanked Heavenly Father again.

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See Lucile C. Reading, “The Light,” Children’s Friend, Aug. 1965, p. 45.

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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.

Thank you Heavenly Father for everything

I THANK THEE, DEAR 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 ev’ry blessing that I enjoy here.

What other blessings have you thanked Heavenly Father for?

I testify to you, that no matter what kind of problem you have, you can ask Heavenly Father for help whenever you need it.

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What are some of the things we can ask Heavenly Father to help us with?  giving

a talk  doing schoolwork  understanding and learning to obey the commandments  special protection  help to get well

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Does anyone have a time when they prayed for someone else, such as family members, friends, or neighbors they would like to share with the class?

Special words we use when we ask Heavenly Father for help are “I ask thee”.  Let’s all repeat these three words together. 

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Let’s sing the second verse of “I thank thee, Dear Father.”

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Listen to the words and tell what they might ask Heavenly Father for.

I THANK THEE, DEAR FATHER (2ND VERSE)

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.

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Jesus Christ prayed to Heavenly Father many times when he lived on the earth.

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After his resurrection, he also prayed to Heavenly Father.

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When Jesus visited the Nephite people, he taught them and blessed them.

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He also prayed for the people and taught them that they should pray too.

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Let’s read 3 Nephi 18:16

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16 And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.

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What does this verse of scripture tell us that Jesus Christ taught the Nephite people?  He

taught them to pray.

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The Savior told the people to kneel down.

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Then he knelt and prayed to Heavenly Father.

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The Savior’s prayer was so marvelous that it could not be written.

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It filled the Nephites with joy.

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After his prayer Jesus said the Nephites would be blessed because of their faith.

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He felt so much love and happiness that he wept.

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He told them to pray always and to pray as they had seen him pray.

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The Savior told all the Nephites to pray to Heavenly Father in his name.

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He also commanded them to pray with their families.

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Christ told all the Nephites to kneel on the ground.

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He told his disciples to pray.

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While they were praying, Jesus went a little way off from the people and knelt down and prayed to Heavenly Father.

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Jesus thanked Heavenly Father for giving the Holy Ghost to his disciples.

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Then he asked for the Holy Ghost to be given to anyone who believed the disciples’ words.

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Jesus blessed his disciples while they were praying.

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He smiled at them, and they became as white as his face and clothing.

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Jesus prayed again for his disciples.

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He was pleased with their great faith.

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Each of us should do as Jesus Christ taught the Nephites and pray often to Heavenly Father.

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When can we pray to Heavenly Father?  each

morning  at night  at mealtimes  with their families  whenever they have problems or need special help

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What special words do we use when we talk to Heavenly Father?

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Let’s repeat them together:

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“I thank thee”

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“I ask thee.”

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When you pray, try to remember to use the proper language for prayer.

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Other words you might want to use include “thee,” “thou,” and “thine.”

*Summary

On these papers I’m handing out, I want you to draw a picture of something you are grateful for (Thank thee) and something you want to pray for (Ask thee)

Testimony I want to share my testimony with you of the power of prayer.  I testify to you that it is a great blessing to be able to pray to Heavenly Father to thank him and ask him for help.  I want to invite you to say your prayers daily, and remind you that you can pray anytime and in any place that you want to. 

Testimony

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Does anyone have suggestions for things the person saying the closing prayer might thank Heavenly Father for?

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Does anyone have suggestions for things the person saying the closing prayer might ask Heavenly father for?

OUR CLOSING PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN BY The Teacher

THE END

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THE LESSON AND SCRIPTURE STORY ARE FROM LDS.ORG. THE VIDEO USED WAS EDITED FROM BOOK OF MORMON STORIES CHAPTERS 44, AND 46. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS PRESENTATION FOR COMMERCIAL USE. FEEL FREE TO ALTER THE PRESENTATION FOR USE IN CHURCH OR HOME TO SUIT PERSONAL PREFERENCE. THIS PRESENTATION IS INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT, NOT REPLACE, THE LESSON MANUAL AND SCRIPTURES. TEACHERS SHOULD REFER TO THE MANUAL, SCRIPTURES AND OTHER RESOURCES WHEN PREPARING AND CONDUCTING THE LESSON.