Enos Prays
Lesson 9
I love the story of Enos. Whenever I read about Enos or hear him mentioned in General Conference I am reminded of how important it is to really bear my soul in thoughtful prayer – often.
Attention activity:
Raise your hand when you know what I am.
I am not a person, place, or object.
I can be so quiet that no one else can hear, or loud enough that everyone in the room can hear.
I can be used when you are alone or in a group.
I am used any time, any place, under any circumstance.
I am used for gratitude, guidance, comfort, forgiveness, protection, help, good health, or for any other blessing you need for yourself or for someone else.
You use me to talk with Heavenly Father.
What am I?
What are some questions that you have about prayer?
(Write their questions on the board)
Give the kids each the worksheet to use after they watch the video and while you re-tale the story.
Watch the video on Enos and then re-tale the story. [I really like the way Discovering Sunday School tells the story but I’m going to tell it in my own words]
The story of Enos:
Enos was a faithful young man who believed his father’s words. He thought often of the things that his father had taught him and evaluated whether or not he was living the way he should. One day, before he went about his jobs, he felt the need to kneel in prayer and ask for forgiveness.
Enos fell to the ground and “cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication” for his own soul.
What does “mighty prayer and supplication mean”?
Have you ever prayed in this way?
After a full day of prayer, a voice answered that Enos’ sins were forgiven.
He knew that the Lord would not lie so his guilt immediately went away.
How long did Enos pray?
Why do you think Enos got such a strong answer to his prayer?
After Enos’ sins were forgiven, he asked the Lord how. The Lord said that Enos’ sins were forgiven because of his faith in Christ he had been made whole.
Once he had heard these words, he felt a strong desire for the welfare of his people and so he continued in prayer. This time praying that the Nephites would be blessed and know the truthfulness.
Again, after a period of time, and thoughtful prayer, the Lord answered Enos’ prayer and told him that as long as they were faithful he would continue to bless them.
Following his prayer for the Nephites, Enos felt he needed to pray for the Lamanites.
Why would Enos pray for his enemies?
Who could you pray for like Enos prayed for the Lamanites?
The Lord told him the fate of the Lamanites and the Nephites.
He was told that the Lamanites would survive and that the Nephites would die away because of their sins. The Lord also told him that the Lamanites would try and destroy the records of Enos’s people.
Why were these records so important?
What did the Lord promise Enos?
When Enos had finished this mighty prayer, he spent the rest of his life teaching the people of Nephi and prophesying of the things to come. He even tried to convert the Lamanites. But they continued to try and destroy the Nephites.
Why did Enos have the faith to preach the gospel his whole life even when the words he shared were not well received and the Lamanites continued to try and kill his people?
What does that tell you about the power of prayer?
How can you make your prayers more sincere and not just words?
Making our prayers more sincere is a challenge even as a grown up. We can feel like we are just saying our prayers in the morning and evening to knock things off of our to do list. Sometimes we even get busy and don’t say our prayers as often as we should. A sincere prayer is a powerful tool. It is the way we can communicate with our Heavenly Father. By communication, I mean have a conversation. The Lord has promised us he will answer our prayers but we have to take the time to listen to him. Even when we don’t get an immediate answer, we can recognize the answer later when it comes if we are sincere.
Activity
Hand each child a fan paper. Have them fold it into a fan. Then have them unfold it. On the left side ask them to write down everything they are thankful to Heavenly Father for and then on the right side ask them to write down everything they can ask Heavenly Father for. Then fold it back into a fan and fold it in half. Tie a ribbon at the fold. Explain to them that the fan will help them as they prepare for their prayers. They can read through the fan and think of any other things they are grateful for or need to ask for. It will also serve as a reminder that you always thank the Lord before you ask him.
How does the Lord answer prayers?
When should you pray?
Why should you pray every day and not just when you need something?
Do you think that that was Enos’s only prayer?
Make sure we have answered all of the questions on the chalkboard that the children had about prayer.
In closing I’d like to share my testimony on prayer…
I know that God listens to us when we pray – whether we are praying with great faith, in a quick moment, on our knees or while standing in a line. He listens to us and knows the needs of our hearts. I also know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Not always the way we want, when we want or how we want, but He does answer them. If we are not following all of the steps of prayer – that includes taking time to listen – we will not recognize the answers when they come. It is a two part conversation. We can’t ask and then rush away and expect to hear the answer. Only if we listen will we understand and catch the answer. Prayer is a wonderful and beautiful part of my day. It is the part that helps me get out of bed in the morning. It is the part that gets me through a meeting that I’m conducting. It is what gives me comfort while my girls are at school and Scott is at work. It is my foundation. Knowing that God loves me, listens to me and answers me is what makes me who I am. The mother that I am is because of prayer.
Journal prompt: What does prayer mean to you?
