Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people.

There are many great lessons in this verse. First, Lehi was a prophet, and his prayer was for his people. One of the most common ways people reject prophets is that they put the words of dead prophets above those of living ones. But the guidance and revelations that come to prophets on our behalf are the most important revelations of all. President Ezra Taft Benson said,

The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us today. God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece” ^[1]in Conference Report, Korea Area Conference 1975, 52.

James 5:16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

There is power in praying with all our hearts. There is also power in praying for others, which means some of the most powerful prayers are those where we are praying for others with all our hearts. Such was the case with Lehi, and the answer he received was spectacular.

David A. Bednar:

Petitioning Heavenly Father for the blessings we desire in our personal lives is good and proper. However, praying earnestly for others, both those whom we love and those who despitefully use us, is also an important element of meaningful prayer. Just as expressing gratitude more often in our prayers enlarges the conduit for revelation, so praying for others with all of the energy of our souls increases our capacity to hear and to heed the voice of the Lord.

We learn a vital lesson from the example of Lehi in the Book of Mormon. Lehi responded in faith to prophetic instruction and warnings concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. He then prayed unto the Lord “with all his heart, in behalf of his people” (1 Nephi 1:5; emphasis added). In answer to this fervent prayer, Lehi was blessed with a glorious vision of God and His Son and of the impending destruction of Jerusalem (see 1 Nephi 1:6–9, 13, 18). Consequently, Lehi rejoiced, and his whole heart was filled because of the things which the Lord had shown him (see 1 Nephi 1:15). Please note that the vision came in response to a prayer for others and not as a result of a request for personal edification or guidance.

David A. Bednar, Pray Always, LDS General Conference, October 2008,  Saturday Afternoon

Answers that come when we pray for others are often more specific, too.^[2]When Enos prayed for his own soul, he received comfort, and a voice telling him his sins are forgiven, but when he prayed for others, this was the result: Enos 1:9-17 9 Now, it came to pass that when … Continue reading

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chas Hathaway is the author of the books Scripture Study Made Awesome, Marriage is Ordained of God, but WHO Came Up with Dating? and Giraffe Tracks. Learn more at chashathaway.com. Please participate in the conversation by adding comments and sharing with friends on the web!

Gospel Living Made Awesome is not an official work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If Chas says something stupid, it's his own fault.