HARRISON - In 3 Nephi Chapter 19:18-24 it says that when Jesus commanded the disciples to pray that they did pray unto Jesus. As far as I know this is the only scripture that tells us that they prayed unto Jesus and not unto the Father. Can you give me an explanation for this?

JOEL - Here are the scriptures in question:

16 And it came to pass that he spake unto the multitude, and commanded them that they should kneel down again upon the earth, and also that his disciples should kneel down upon the earth.
17 And it came to pass that when they had all knelt down upon the earth, he commanded his disciples that they should pray.
18 And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
19 And it came to pass that Jesus departed out of the midst of them, and went a little way off from them and bowed himself to the earth, and he said:
20 Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost unto these whom I have chosen; and it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them out of the world.
21 Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their words.
22 Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they believe in me; and thou seest that they believe in me because thou hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them.
23 And now Father, I apray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.
24 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire." (3 Nephi Chapter 19:16-24)

You will notice that Jesus did not tell them to pray to Him, only that they should kneel and pray. It was their own idea to pray to Jesus. To them Jesus is also God and as He explained in His prayer to the Father, "they pray unto me because I am with them"(verse 22).
So since He is their "Lord and God" and was right there with them, they probably assumed that they should pray to Him. I think Jesus refrained from correcting them because He probably saw it as a way for the disciples to worship Him. Earlier in verses 7-9 they did pray to the Father, demonstrating that they were aware of the proper way to pray, as they had been taught earlier(3 Ne. 13: 9).