In the Book of Mormon we read that after the people had heard Alma's discourse about faith they asked him about whether they should believe in one God and they inquired about how to plant the seed of faith in their hearts. Alma taught them that they did not need to be in a synagogue in order to worship God. The prophet Zenos had his prayers heard while in the wilderness, in the field, in his house, and in his closet. God is merciful unto His children who pray to Him, regardless of where they are. He hears us when we are in the midst of our afflictions. Alma 33:1-11 "Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith. And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them. Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship? For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me. Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me. And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer. And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me. Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them. Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations. Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction. And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son."
In the New Testament we read that faithful followers of Christ will be hated and persecuted because of His name. But those who stand firm until the end will be saved. Mark 13:13 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
A verse with a thought booklet reminds us to be still and know that the Lord is God. Sometimes in our busy and noisy lives we lose sight of the Lord. We need to take time to slow down and find a quiet place to pray and meditate and allow ourselves to feel God's presence. Psalms 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
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