Thankful Thursday: Sweet Hour of Prayer

The other morning I was out of bed for more than an hour before anyone else in the family. This isn't totally unheard of, so I began my usual morning routine. Wake up DD4. Make a lunch or two. Say my prayers. And an hour later I realize that maybe I'd better go make sure DD4 really is awake and getting ready for school.


So what was I doing on my knees for an hour? Well, more sleep might have been nice, but I wasn't sleeping. Lately I can always find plenty to pray about, and enjoy it too!  I feel blessed to sometimes have the luxury of plenty of time to pray.

Source

 There is a story in The Book of Mormon about the prophet Enos, son of the prophet Jacob.  He was out hunting one day when he began pondering the things that his father had taught him about eternal life.  His soul hungered, and he kneeled down right there in the wilderness and began to pray.  He prayed all day, and into the night.  He prayed about his own sins, and then he prayed for his brethren, the Nephites, and after that he prayed for his enemies, the Lamanites.   I used to wonder how Enos could spend the whole day and the whole night praying, but I'm starting to understand:

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
Believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
I'll cast on him my ev'ry care
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Text: Attr. to William W. Walford, 1772-1850, alt.
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868, alt.
Psalm 55:16-17, 22

This post is a part of a Book of Mormon Forum Blog Hop.  To read more about how The Book of Mormon touches lives go to: http://beinglds.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-of-mormon-forum-general-conference.html