Prayers for Peace
Open talk in Gospel LibraryIdeas for Opening the Lesson
- Begin by inviting class members to silently think of a time when they needed peace but could not change their circumstances. Then ask them to listen during the lesson for truths in President Eyring’s talk that explained how the Lord gave peace even in turmoil.
- Write the Savior’s promise on the board: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” Ask the class what makes the Lord’s peace different from the peace the world offers. Use their responses to introduce the talk.
- Start by asking, “What do people usually do when life feels chaotic?” After a few responses, explain that President Eyring taught that faithful disciples had flooded heaven with heartfelt prayers and that prayer opened the way for divine peace.
- Invite someone to read John 14:27 from the talk. Then ask class members to share one word or phrase from that verse that stands out to them. Use those impressions to begin discussing how the Savior fulfilled that promise today.
- Open with a brief object lesson by showing a storm image and then a calm image. Ask how both could exist in the same life at different times. Then explain that President Eyring taught that even when the world was in commotion, the Lord still answered sincere prayers with peace.
- Ask class members to consider the difference between saying prayers and pouring out the soul. Then introduce President Eyring’s teaching that fervent prayer did not require many words or flowery language, but sincere hearts drawn out to God.
Topics
Trust the Savior’s promise of peace
President Eyring taught that the Savior gave His Apostles a promise that still comforted disciples facing difficulty. He said that Christ’s peace was real and available even when hearts were troubled and afraid. He testified that the Savior continued to offer that same peace today.
He said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
- What did the Savior’s promise of peace mean to you personally?
- How was the Lord’s peace different from the kind of peace the world usually offered?
- When have you felt your heart become less troubled because of faith in Jesus Christ?
- What helped you trust the Savior’s promise when circumstances did not immediately improve?
- How could we help our families rely more on the peace Christ gave?
- What changes might we make so that we sought the Savior’s peace more intentionally?
Pray amid a troubled world
President Eyring described a world in commotion, with war, instability, and increasing wickedness. He said that in response, faithful Saints across the world had turned heavenward in public and private prayer. He emphasized that disciples sought help, comfort, direction, and personal peace for those they loved.
Yet despite turmoil and difficulty, faithful Latter-day Saints in hardship across the world have flooded heaven with prayers.
- Why do you think times of turmoil often led people to pray more earnestly?
- How have world events affected the way you prayed for yourself or others?
- What did President Eyring say people were seeking from the Lord in their prayers?
- How can we avoid fear while still being aware of serious problems in the world?
- What experiences have shown you that prayer was a better response than panic?
- How could our quorum or Relief Society pray more unitedly for those in hardship?
Pour out your soul sincerely
President Eyring taught that fervent prayer did not depend on many words or impressive language. He said the Lord asked for diligence in prayer through sincere, heartfelt communication. He emphasized that disciples should pour out their souls and let their hearts be drawn out continually to God.
Opening the windows of heaven through fervent prayer does not require the use of many words or flowery language. Rather, the diligence in prayer which Heavenly Father requires of us is to “pour out [our] souls” in private places and have our hearts “drawn out in prayer unto him continually.”
- What was the difference between flowery language and pouring out the soul?
- Why do you think the Lord valued sincerity more than many words?
- How have your prayers changed when you spoke to Heavenly Father more honestly?
- What can help us pray more from the heart in private prayer?
- How could we teach children or new members that meaningful prayer did not require perfect words?
- What might need to change in our personal prayers so they became more sincere and heartfelt?
Pray in secret with real intent
President Eyring used the Savior’s Sermon on the Mount to teach that prayer should be personal, sincere, and free from vain repetition. He said that Heavenly Father already knew our needs and rewarded private devotion. His message highlighted reverent, authentic prayer rather than outward display.
“When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
- What did the Savior’s counsel about praying in secret teach you about your relationship with Heavenly Father?
- How could private prayer strengthen public faithfulness?
- What are some signs that prayer may have become repetitive instead of heartfelt?
- How have you seen the Lord reward sincere private prayer openly?
- What distractions most interfere with meaningful private prayer in your life?
- How can we make secret prayer a more protected priority in our daily routine?
Offer silent prayers of the heart
President Eyring taught that the Lord heard even nonverbal prayers. Using the account of Alma’s people, he showed that when they could not pray aloud, they poured out their hearts and the Lord knew their thoughts. He testified that God still heard the secret prayers of the heart.
“And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.”
- What comfort did you find in knowing that God knew the thoughts of our hearts?
- When have you offered a silent prayer and felt that the Lord heard you?
- How did the story of Alma’s people strengthen your faith in quiet or wordless prayer?
- Why might this doctrine matter especially in moments of pain, confusion, or urgency?
- How could we become more aware of opportunities to pray in our hearts throughout the day?
- What did this teaching suggest about the Lord’s closeness to us?
Receive strength to bear burdens
President Eyring taught that the Lord did not always remove affliction immediately, but He strengthened His people so they could bear it. In the account of Alma’s people, the Lord eased burdens and helped them submit cheerfully and patiently. President Eyring used this example to show how prayer brought sustaining grace.
“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease.”
- What did this account teach about how the Lord answered prayers in hardship?
- Why do you think the Lord sometimes strengthened us instead of removing the burden right away?
- When have you felt the Lord make a burden lighter even though the trial remained?
- How could prayer help us submit more cheerfully and patiently to the Lord’s will?
- What experiences have taught you that divine help often came as strength rather than escape?
- How can we support others who are praying for relief but are still carrying heavy burdens?
Pray always, not only in crisis
President Eyring taught that continual prayer invited constant peace and support from the Lord. He emphasized that disciples should not wait for emergencies before turning to God. He said that consistent prayer in both joyful and painful seasons would be rewarded in the Lord’s time and way.
It is significant that their spiritual strength came from continued prayer rather than waiting to pray until a moment of crisis when they desperately needed divine help.
- Why was it important to pray before a crisis came?
- How did regular prayer prepare us spiritually for future challenges?
- What patterns have helped you make prayer more constant in your life?
- How can we remember to pray during good times, not just hard times?
- What blessings have come from daily, consistent prayer in your life?
- What could you do this week to become more constant in prayer?
Gain revelation through constant prayer
President Eyring pointed to the sons of Mosiah as examples of disciples who became spiritually strong through much prayer and fasting. He said their constancy brought the spirit of prophecy and revelation. His teaching showed that prayer did more than comfort; it also opened the way for spiritual power and guidance.
We read in the book of Alma, “They had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation.”
- What did the example of the sons of Mosiah teach about the relationship between prayer and revelation?
- How has prayer helped you receive guidance for serving others?
- Why do you think spiritual strength grew through much prayer and fasting?
- How could more consistent prayer improve our ability to hear the Spirit?
- What experiences have shown you that revelation often came after faithful prayer?
- How might our ministering or teaching improve if we sought revelation more deliberately?
Recognize peace as God’s answer
President Eyring testified that many times God answered prayers with feelings of peace. He taught that this peace rested upon individuals, families, and homes according to faith and good works. He emphasized that divine peace was a real answer from a loving Father who heard prayer.
I know that God the Father lives. He loves us. He hears our prayers, and many times He will answer with feelings of peace.
- Why might peace itself be one of the Lord’s most important answers to prayer?
- How have you recognized peace as an answer from Heavenly Father?
- What was the connection President Eyring made between faith, good works, and peace?
- How can we distinguish divine peace from temporary emotional relief?
- What can we do to invite more of God’s peace into our homes?
- How could we testify more confidently that God answered prayers with peace?
Remember personal witnesses of peace
President Eyring shared his experience at his wife’s funeral, where the Lord answered his prayer with peace, hope, and assurance through the Holy Ghost. He said this answer allowed him to envision a joyful reunion ahead. His personal witness illustrated the reality of the Savior’s promise in moments of deep loss.
It was because the Lord had answered my prayer for peace with an assurance from the Holy Ghost, which allowed me to envision the happy reunion ahead with her.
- What did President Eyring’s experience at his wife’s funeral teach about the Holy Ghost and peace?
- How did his testimony strengthen your faith in the Lord’s power to comfort us in grief?
- When have you received peace from the Holy Ghost during a painful experience?
- How did eternal perspective increase peace in times of loss?
- Why was it valuable that President Eyring shared such a personal witness?
- How can we bear testimony of the Lord’s peace in ways that strengthen others?
Additional Discussion Questions
- What truths in this talk would you share with someone whose heart felt troubled or afraid?
- How did President Eyring connect prayer with both peace and spiritual strength?
- What phrases from the talk most changed the way you thought about prayer?
- How can we make our homes places where heartfelt prayer is more natural and frequent?
- What role did faith in Jesus Christ play throughout this message?
- How did the scriptures President Eyring used deepen his message about peace?
- What might keep people from praying fervently, and how can those obstacles be overcome?
- How can we help one another remember to pray continually during ordinary daily life?
- What did this talk teach about the Lord’s awareness of our personal circumstances?
- What invitation from this talk do you feel prompted to act on this week?
