Several places in the scriptures the prophets have warned us to avoid "vain repetition" in our prayers and have encouraged us to pray according to our needs and sincere feelings. This chapter contains classic examples both of what we should not do and what we should do when praying. The example of a wrong prayer is the memorized, rote prayer of the apostate Zoramites. (Alma 31:15-18.) The example of an effective prayer is the humble and sincere petition of Alma. (Alma 31:26-35.)