Pray “oft”
Pray “Oft”
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
February 5th, 2024
Welcome to February and the raining season here in northern California. Please try to stay warm – and PLEASE drive safely whether in a car or on a bike. We have had four car accidents in the last three weeks. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. Two of our vehicles will be in the repair shop for four weeks and one vehicle is not repairable. Losing these vehicles greatly impacts our productivity as missionaries. They cannot be easily or quickly replaced. Please slow down and drive defensively. I am concerned at the frequency of car accidents in the last few weeks. If you are responsible for driving a vehicle, please take the assignment seriously. We can and must do better. Nothing is more important to us than your safety.
I have enjoyed the opportunity of studying the Book of Mormon as part of this year’s Come Follow Mecurriculum. Nephi is one of my heroes in the Book of Mormon. I have learned much about faith and obedience from Nephi. We see that Nephi’s spiritual and physical strength came largely from prayer. He chose to follow his father into the wilderness because of a witness he received from a prayer (1 Nephi 2:16). So powerful and faith filled was this prayer, that the answer changed his heart forever. Nephi’s acceptance of the answer to this prayer allowed the Lord to use him in fulfilling His divine purposes.
Later, when Nephi is commanded to build a ship to carry his family to the promised land, he teaches us another lesson about prayer:
“And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.” (1 Nephi 18:3)
I love this verse of scripture! Nephi teaches us that there are wonderful blessings and knowledge available to us as we go to the Lord “oft” in prayer.
I invite you to pray often -- to find opportunities each day to kneel in prayer expressing gratitude for your blessings and seeking the guidance and strength you desire from the Lord. As you go through your day, I hope you carry a prayer in your heart of gratitude, protection, and inspiration. I testify the Lord hears each prayer we offer – and that our prayers are answered according to His wisdom and love for us. Like Nephi, I know our faithfulness and discipleship to the Lord can be strengthened through prayer.
Thank you for your faithfulness, goodness, and discipleship. We love you! Sister Quinn and I pray the Lord’s choicest and abundant blessings upon each of you.
Love,
President Quinn
(707) 758-6380
