Our Family Fast

I hope by the time you get this note you also got words of our family fast regarding the latest news on Joel and Meilani’s baby having Spina-bifida. It is such a serious condition that it will require much prayer on behalf of Joe and Meilani to be guided in their decision as what is best for the baby and the family. The Church of course will not tell us what to do in this situation, however they will always encourage us that it must be a prayerful decision that parents should make with consultation of the medical profession. You can see the wisdom of this counsel that after all we can do we must take it to the LORD in fasting and prayer and by the power of the Holy Ghost we will be guided in our decisions.

Today our Sunday School lesson was on Alma Chapter 30-33. WE learned the different between the Zoromites' prayer and Alma’s prayer. As you noticed the Zoromites were apostate members of the church and they have been lead away from the true order of prayer by setting up a rote-memory prayer that each person must recite as they communicate with God. They have completely forgotten to listen the prompting of the Spirit to direct them in their prayers. Perhaps because they have fallen away the Spirit has also departed from them that they have become past feeling. Some time I find myself in this mode as I pray because I often say the same phrase every time and I wonder if they were the prompting of the Spirit. The bottom line is in corresponding with Deity we must with all energy of heart listen to prompting that comes to our heart as we strive to harmonize our will with the will of the father.

The bible dictionary taught us that as soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7: 7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship.

Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

May we remember this teaching as we approach our Father in Heaven on behalf of Joel and Meilani that His will be done and that we can asked according to His will. Listen to the Spirit as we pray so that we are not as the Zoromites and use vain repetition and flowery words but we can ask God in the Spirit of humility and seek for blessing he is already willing to give us and is just waiting for us to say so.

Mark in the Gospel recorded that in some cases it takes prayer and fast in chapter 9: 27-29 “But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

We commend you all for turning to a loving Heavenly Father for direction, protections and counsel. This is a righteous tradition we wish all our family to pass on to the next generation and be steadfast and immovable as we face our Gethsemane and Golgotha on our life.

With Deepest affections to you all. (Tu'a 'ofa lahi atu)

Mom and Dad