3rd Nephi 19

This chapter contains some similar content to one of my favorite chapters of scripture: John 17. In this chapter as in John 17 Jesus prays for his disciples and their followers "those whom I have chosen" (3rd Nephi 19:20) "and also for all those that shall believe on their words" (3rd Nephi 19:23). This chapter contains many important lessons on prayer including how we should pray and what we should pray for. The lessons are simple, we just follow the example of Jesus and his disciples.

3rd Nephi 19: 24

And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples; and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire.

As these disciples we must continue to pray, without ceasing, or pray always as other scriptures have said. These disciples also had the words which they were praying given unto them. They were inspired as to what to pray for. Maybe if when we approach God we would ask to be instructed on what to pray for, or even just listen and feel for what is the right thing to ask God, and then act in faith on impressions that we receive then we will also be given the words that we should pray and we will not "multiply many words" but pray simply specifically and with inspiration. The final ingredient is one that I feel to be of great importance. These disciples were filled with desire. When we pray we must be filled with sincere desire for the things that we ask for. Again we can ask god to help us develop pure and righteous desires, or to give us greater desire.

In summary we need to pray continually without ceasing, with a sincere desire, for the things that God has instructed us to pray for.

I believe that God will instruct us personally on the things we should pray for but he has also given us examples of things we should pray for in the scriptures. I think we should all follow the Savior in this chapter and pray for the things that he prayed for:

3rd Nephi 19:21

Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their (the disciples) words.

I think that this includes praying not only for those that haven't received the gospel yet, but also for ourselves, that 1. we may believe the words of the apostles and prophets, and 2. that we may be filled with the Holy Ghost.

3rd Nephi 19:23

And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou Father, art in me, that we may be one.

We should all pray to have a greater belief in Christ and to be one with him.

3rd Nephi 19:28-29

...I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their (the disciples) words, even as they (the disciples) are purified in me. Father I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.

We should pray for faith in Christ. We should pray to be purified through Christ's atonement and through our faith in him and on the words of his prophets. We should pray that again that we can become one with him and that we will glorify him.

This is not a list of things that we have to pray for everyday but I think that as we strive to become like the Savior we should strive to have the same desires as he and pray for the things that he prayed for.

Personally something else that I thought as I read this chapter is that those of us who have been fortunate enough to have spiritual experiences with God and have a testimony that there is a god should be very grateful. Many times I have criticized others for not believing in God but I realized that I am quite lucky to have had God make his presence known to me through the Holy Ghost. We should thank him for those things and pray that others will also be able to believe.