Pray always = Keep your radio line always open

D&C 10:5

Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

Astronauts communicate with the Earth with a radio. They can either push a button to transmit only what they want to say, or while actively working, they can flip a switch so that everything is transmitted. With the second option, they aren't required to speak every second, but they are connected so that they can speak.

When we pray always, we don't necessarily have to always be talking. We just have to have that line of communication always open. Amulek taught this well when he and other missionaries were teaching the Zoramites (Alma 34):

19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.

21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.

23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

I remember a time during my Freshman year at BYU when I would walk around with a prayer always in my heart. I remember specifically one time when I was walking between two buildings and realizing that there were absolutely no thoughts at all in my mind. That is, no words were forming. I just felt the joy from seeing the beauty around me and from my life in general. I was truly happy, and I expressed my joy to Heavenly Father. But there were no words. I didn't need to say anything. I knew that He understood, and the gratitude for what He had given me filled my entire soul.

What does it take to pray always? I can think of a number of ways to accomplish this:

  • Gratitude
  • Service
  • Learning and Studying (not just religious)
  • Feelings, especially of joy
  • Living righteously and fulfilling covenants

So, which are we? Do we only turn on our radio when we want to talk to the Father, or do we have the line always open?

How do we keep that line open?

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