When I was young, we didn’t go to church regularly. We definitely didn’t have family prayer regularly. I think the longest I remember us going to church was in Heidelberg, Germany during my high school years. During that time, I remember kneeling down as a family. My mother prayed.  Out of the blue, I heard my mother pray for me by name. I was so moved, I cried. I was overcome with emotion. I felt her love so powerfully.

While reading the Book of Mormon, I read the part that really touched me.

14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.
15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.
16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;
17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.
18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.”

3 Nephi 17:14.19

My own experience gives me some small insight into what the multitude standing outside the temple, listening to Jesus, must have felt as he prayed for them, I think, individually. It touches me. It makes me feel closer to my mother and to the Lord.

I wanted to share that with you to remind you, our children need as much comfort and guidance we can provide during this unsettling time. If you aren’t doing it already, pray for your children by name in their presence. I think it not only draws them closer to you but to the Lord.