I know we have all been very much

I know we have all been very much interested in the remarks of the brethren who have spoken. ¶

An Important Commandment on Prayer

I desire to begin the remarks that I shall make, where Bishop Smith left off, in his reading of Sec. 68 of the Doctrine and Covenants : ¶

And a commandment I give unto them (that is, unto the parents in Zion), that he that observeth not his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof, let him be had in remembrance before the judge of my people. ¶

I do not suppose that we have read that verse in this section any too much, and I wonder sometimes if we realize how important this command really is. No man can retain the Spirit of the Lord, unless he prays. No man can have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, unless in his heart is found this spirit of prayer. We are commanded in the scriptures to seek the Lord, to praise his holy name, to labor diligently, that his spirit may abide with us. The disciples came to the Master, and said unto him, "Lord, teach us to pray." And he did so, and there are some good people in the world, who, because the Lord gave that prayer, feel that on all occasions and at all times when they pray, they should use that prayer and nothing else. But that prayer was given only to teach, and not with the idea that no other words should be used, no other thoughts should be expressed, but to impress upon the disciples that they should make their prayers concise and to the point, and ask for those things which they most desired in righteousness, at all times thanking the Lord for his mercies and goodness unto them. ¶

Now I want to dwell upon this passage for a moment or two. It states here that "he that observes not his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof" is to be had in remembrance. What is the season of prayer? ¶

All Seasons Are for Prayer

Some of us may have the idea that the season of prayer is when we arise in the morning, and when we are about to retire at night when our work is done, and that there is no other season for prayer. But I say unto you, and I have good backing for it, that the season for prayer is always. Let me read it to you. You know I like to prove what I say ; I like to bring witnesses to bear on that which I express, and I do not ask the people to accept that which I say unless it is. in harmony, absolutely, with what the Lord has said either directly or through his prophets. We read in the Book of Mormon the word of Alma to the poor Zoramites who had departed from the truth, and having been cast out of their synagogues, because they were poor, and feeling that they could only pray one at a time as they ascended in the rameumptom, as it is called, they knew not what to do. Alma taught them as follows : ¶

Yea, cry unto him for mercy, for he is mighty to save; yea, humble yourselves and continue in prayer unto him; cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks; cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening; yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies; yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them; cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets and your secret places and in your wilderness; 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. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose this is all, for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need; I say unto you, if ye do not anything of these things, behold, your prayer is vain and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who deny the faith. ¶

I think that is very excellent doctrine, and I read it to impress upon your minds the season of prayer. The season of prayer is in the morning before the family separates. A good time for prayer is when you assemble at the table before you partake of the morning meal, and let the members of the family take turn in the praying. That is the season of prayer. The season of prayer for the merchant is in the morning when he goes to his place of business and before he begins his day's work, over his merchandise. The time of prayer for the shepherd, is when he is out with his flocks watching over them. The time for the farmer to pray is when he goes with his plow into the field, when he goes to sow his grain, and when he goes to gather his harvest. And if a man will pray as he is commanded to do in this passage of scripture which I have read, then he more than likely will be found in all things righteously keeping the commandments of the Lord. He will not be found scheming to take advantage of his neighbor in some trade or bargain, but in all things dealing justly, because he has prayed in the morning and has in his heart the spirit of prayer throughout the day, that the Lord will bless him in the increase of his goods, of his fields, of his flocks, or whatever it may be he is engaged in. So that is the season of prayer. ¶

Who Does Not Pray Is to Be Held in Remembrance Before the Judge

But there is something more in this. It says, that the person in Zion or any of her stakes, for that is the way it' reads further up in this revelation, who does not pray before the Lord in the season thereof, is to be held in remembrance before the judge of the people. ¶

The Teachers to See That the People Pray

Now who is the judge of the people? It is your bishop. It is the duty of the teachers who come into your home to teach you and see that you pray. If you are not a praying man or a praying woman, then they have the right according to the law to take that message to the bishop of the ward, and tell him that you are not praying in your homes, and he can hold you in remembrance, and if you refuse to pray when you are taught ; if you will not hearken to the counsels of the teachers or of the common judge, then he has the right according to the law to take action against you for your fellowship in the Church, if he deems it wise. That is within his rights. The Lord has said it, and he said it because he wanted to impress upon our minds the importance of prayer. ¶

It would be a wonderful thing, of course, if all our brethren holding the lesser Priesthood would magnify their callings, and if the bishops in the wards would see that they do, and give them some labor to perform. That ought to be done. ¶

What is the duty of the teacher? As we read here in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which was given the day the Church was organized, it is the duty of the teacher to visit the homes of the people, to teach them, to see that there is no iniquity in the Church; that there is no fault-finding one with another, no backbiting, no false speaking one against another, and, more than that, to see that the members, of the Church perform their duty. That great responsibility rests upon the teacher. He is to see that the members pray, that they fast upon the fast day, that they are paying their tithing in the season thereof, that they are attending their fast meeting in the ward,* week by week, and all these things are required of the teacher as he visits in the homes of the people. And if the teacher does not see to these things; then the sin lieth at his door. ¶

Duties of the Priests

What are the duties of the priest? The duty of the priest is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and administer the sacrament. He is to visit the house of each member and exhort all to pray, vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties. That is the duty of the priest. ¶

Now the good bishops in the wards should see that their priests go into the homes of the people, and do this very thing, teaching the members in the spirit of prayer. When they find an individual member of the Church who fails in any one of these particulars, it is the right of these teachers or priests to make the report to the bishop, the common judge. However, they are to labor diligently, and with long suffering, in faith and humility, with these members who do not see the necessity of keeping the commandments of the Lord, and after they have done all in their power, and can do nothing further to bring the non-praying members to repentance, the common judge may cite them before him, and he has the right to take action against them for their fellowship. Of course, our duty is to save souls. We must, not be hasty in casting any out. So, I say, after the teachers or the priests have done all that can be done, then the drastic measures may be meted out. ¶