Hi ward family, I hope everyone is doing well. As the last few weeks have been a bit different and trying, I would like to give a thought on this past weeks lesson. There is a lot of unknowns right now and it is hard to not have some level of anxiety. With this all going on I would like to remind each of you about the power of prayer. In Enos 1:4-6, Enos knelt down and prayed, after praying all day he heard a voice saying his sins were forgiven. Just as Enos knelt in prayer we to can talk with our heavenly father through prayer and receive the guidance and comfort we need. As we pray remember to not only pray for ourselves but to pray for those around us that we will know what and how to help. Our prophet asked us to fast for “Relief from COVID-19”, with fasting comes prayer, use this opportunity to exercise your faith through prayer.
“Shake the hand of every child.”
While President Thomas S. Monson was serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he spoke to a gathering of Primary children in a Samoan village. Afterward, he was prompted to personally greet each of the 247 children who attended. However, he realized he would not have time; he tried to put the thought of greeting the children out of his mind but could not.
He finally turned to the children’s teacher and said, “I would so much like to shake the hand of each boy and each girl. Would this be possible?”
The teacher smiled and spoke to the children in Samoan. They nodded their heads eagerly in response. The teacher then told Elder Monson that when he had learned that one of the Twelve Apostles was to visit Samoa, he had promised the children that if they would pray sincerely and have faith, Elder Monson would visit their village and would be prompted by the Holy Ghost to shake the hand of every child (see Thomas S. Monson, “Friend to Friend: Talofa Lava,” Friend, May 1972, 12–13).
Just as these Samoan children had faith that there prayers would be answered so should we. I have a testimony of the power of prayer and what prayer can do if we have faith and keep the commandments of God.
I close in the name of Jesus Christ and thank you for you time. Dave Frandsen
Riverdale 7th Ward 