- I noticed some characteristics about how prayer is depicted in the temple.
- We are taught that Adam built an altar and offered sacrifice with the prayer, “Oh God, hear the words of my mouth.”
- It struck me that this prayer consisted of a simple request to be heard but nothing further. Adam seems to have waited for some indication that he was being heard before continuing in the conversation. Is that perhaps the most fundamental difference between the true order of prayer and a childish wishlist thrown wantonly at the ceiling?
- It also struck me that Satan responded to Adam by presenting himself as “the god of this world” and while he was not the god Adam was trying to communicate with, is it accurate for us to assume that as Satan was seeking to imitate (and replace) God that this is a model of proper prayer—Adam opens the line of communication then waits for an indication that the communication is being received before offering his specific desires. (“We are looking for messengers” in this case.)
- I recall times in my mission where I felt that I was constantly in a state of prayer even while simply walking down the street because I was trying to stay open to communication from God, not simply bombard Him with my words.
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