JESUS taught his disciples that they should always pray!

"AND he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Saying,

"There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" ~ New Testament | Luke 18:1 - 8

     JESUS also taught his disciples concerning prayer and the types of men who pray and how they pray.

"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing far off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."" ~ New Testament | Luke 18:9 - 14

Jesus taught that, 'We should pray always that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man.' (Luke 21:28) That was both an invitation and a commandment as to how we as mortal men might find our way through this life and home to God. Jesus never taught his followers not to pray and he always prayed unto the Father himself. Jesus and the Spirit of God teaches man to always pray. So what spirit is it that teaches a man 'not to pray?' Nephi, who is known for his plainness and straight forwardness as a prophet of God taught that 'if yoe would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, he would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.' (2 Nephi 32:8)

So who are you going to listen to? The Publican, Priest and Evangelist that teaches a man not to pray? Or are you going to listen to Jesus, the Spirit and the Prophets and Apostles of God who teach as Jesus taught that a man ought to pray to God at always, at all times, in all things and in all places?

Jesus, when he visited the Nephites in American after his resurrection taught them thus:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him." ~ Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 18:15

Yes, the last prophet of God recorded in the Book of Mormon left a challege to pray to God.

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the btruth of all things. And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is. And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them." ~ Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:3-8

Now I have seen and heard 'priests' and 'evangelists' step forward and preach for men not to pray about the Book of Mormon. And they give their various reasons for telling you not to pray nor rely upon the power of the Spirit of God. One man says in his argument not to pray, that Moroni's promise says that a 'burning in your bosom' will come to you but that the devil can make your bosom burn. I don't know about the devil's power to do that but Moroni did not say that the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God would prove to you the truth of the Book of Mormon precisely in that way. In the whole of the Book of Mormon there is no phrase in it that speaks of 'burning in your bosom'. In fact the word 'bosom' is not in the scriptural text of Book of Mormon at all.

Now there are many ways that the Holy Ghost speaks to men and lets them know the truth. And these are spoken of in the Sciptures. Jeremiah says, "... that the word was felt in his heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones ..." And others speak of it as the wispering of a still small voice, or a swelling up within one's self, or of a good warm feeling. The Holy Spirit can even come and apear as an angel of light. But so can the devil. So how do you discern. The Holy Ghost when it communicates with you communicates spirit to spirit within you or if he should appear unto you a test is to offer to shake his hand. If it is the devil he will attempt to deceive you and put forth his hand, but you will fell nothing there, for he has not flesh and bone to fell. But if it is the Holy Ghost or an Angel of Spirit from God, the will not deceive you by putting forth their hand, they will just deliver their message without extending their hand to you. And if it just happen to be one of the few who have been resurrected or translated with a body of flesh and bone, they would be of God. And like Jesus Christ and Thomas, you can extend forth your hand and fill his hand and body that it is physically tangible and there and then you will know that it is of God.

Satan, Lucifer, the Devil is the great deceiver and he will tempt man and pretend to the powers of heaven but he does not have them and he can be decerned. But never stop praying unto God just because of the fear of the devil. Lucifer even appeared unto Jesus in the wilderness and tempted him three times with the weakness of the flesh, offering him bread to eat when he was in his starved condition. Jesus saw the kingdoms of the earth and the devil told Jesus all these could be his if he would but worship him, Lucifer. But Jesus did not desire 'power' and he would not be fooled by Satan and commanded him to 'get thee hence.' Lucifer even tempted Jesus in his 'pride' to prove himself that he was the Son of God by casting himself from the top of the temple to the groud, for said Satan, if he be the Messiah God would send down his angels to save him.

So the devil is given the power to tempt men, he even tempted the Lord Jesus Christ. And what gave Jesus the power to resist him was that the Spirit of the Holy Ghost abode with him and by the power and communication with heaven, which is held up and supported by prayer, Jesus could decern Satan and command him to depart even though he had taken upon himself the body or a mortal man.

So do not let any one to tell you not to continue to humbly pray to God at all times, in all things and in all places. Pray always, DO NOT STOP PRAYING. Do not be led by some false Pharasee, Priest or Evangelist who is working with and by the power of the devil to tempt you not to pray. That is one sure sign unto you that he is not speaking as empowered by God, for he has told you 'NOT TO PRAY!'

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Verse 1.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Verse 2.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
Believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Text: Attr. to William W. Walford, 1772-1850, alt.          'Our Father Who art in Heaven'