Prayer in Mormonism

Last updated

For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), prayer is a means of communicating with God. [1] Such communication is considered to be two-way, with the praying individual both expressing thoughts to God and receiving revelation, or communication from God, in return. [1] As such, individuals who pray privately often include time to listen and ponder, during or after a prayer is uttered. [2] Communication from God is received through the Holy Ghost, which speaks to the mind and heart of an individual. [3] Prayer is one of the central teachings of the church, and adherents believe that they are commanded to pray often. The LDS Church teaches that humankind has been commanded to pray since its first generation. [4] There are no restrictions as to who can pray, and the LDS Church teaches that all should pray and that God hears and listens to all prayers. [5] Members are taught to begin to pray from a young age, [6] and young children are sometimes asked to offer public prayers. Individuals who are not members of the LDS Church are also encouraged to pray both publicly and privately. [7]

Contents

Form

Partially because prayer is considered to be a conversation with God, personal prayers are not memorized, and "vain repetitions" are discouraged. [5] Nonetheless, prayers do have a general form: they are addressed to God the Father and offered in the name of Jesus Christ. [8] Members believe that God, whom they believe is their Heavenly Father, [9] desires to bless them, and that Jesus Christ, whom they believe to be the only begotten son of God in the flesh, [10] advocates before God on their behalf. Prayers are not offered to anyone other than God the Father. [11]

The LDS Church teaches English speaking members to use "special language" when praying, including "the pronouns thee, thou, thy, and thine instead of you, your, and yours" to indicate respect; members are taught that "prayers should be simple, direct, and sincere" and that "our Heavenly Father, who loves all of his children, hears and answers all prayers, however phrased." [12] Some members of the LDS Church have publicly expressed difficulty in accepting the use of antiquated pronouns. [13] [14]

Other than addressing God the Father, using specific preferred language for English speakers, and praying in the name of Jesus Christ, what is said during prayer depends on the individual's needs, wants, or desires. Prayers may be of any length in duration. Prayer is an opportunity to express gratitude for blessings received, to request additional blessings, to counsel with God, or to otherwise converse with God. It is tradition that prayers are concluded with the word "amen." [5] Though frequently offered kneeling down with folded arms, Latter-day Saint prayers are not given facing in a particular direction and may be offered kneeling, sitting, or standing at any time of the day or night. [15]

Members are taught to pray with faith and with real intent, [16] which means to pray believing to receive and with the intention to act in accordance with any direction received from God through prayer. [17] Though blessings are requested through prayer, prayer is to be an opportunity to align the individual's will with God's, not to seek to change God's will. Thus, prayers are often filled with questions, and praying members frequently use prayer to seek to know what blessings God would have them request. Believing that God knows all and makes his will known to individuals, members use prayer to counsel with God about life decisions. [18] [19]

Use

Prayers are offered privately, in families, and in public. Private prayers can be expressed both vocally or silently through thoughts. Individuals are commanded to pray always, directing their thoughts to God, [20] and personal prayers are frequently offered in the morning, before meals, [21] and at night. Latter-day Saints are promised that if they pray righteously before activities, such activities will be for their benefit. [22]

Group prayers, whether in the family or in public, are offered vocally. One individual is selected as the voice of the prayer. There are no restrictions or traditions as to who should pray, and even small children are selected to pray in family and other group settings. The individual selected as voice offers the prayer on behalf of all present, and others in the group say "amen" at the conclusion of the prayer, which signifies "That is my prayer too."

Families typically offer prayers together before family meals, in the morning, at night, and to start or end family events, such as family home evenings. Families are also encouraged to pray together to seek answers to questions or other divine counsel. In these scenarios, those participating in the prayer will each listen for an answer from God and then discuss with the rest of the family.

Outside the family, public prayers are offered at the beginning and end of virtually all Church functions or gatherings of Church members. For example, prayers are offered at the beginning and/or end of sacrament meetings, leadership meetings, trainings, conferences, and Sunday School. Outside of official Church functions, prayers are frequently offered at barbecues, service activities, camp-outs, or any other event at which members gather.

Prayer in Latter-day Saint teachings

The LDS Church teaches that prayer is listened to and answered by God and that God commands that his children pray to him. It teaches prayer can provide inspiration, revelation, healing, wisdom and understanding, hope, charity, discernment, strength to resist temptation, forgiveness from sins, compassion, solace from grief, peace, and abilities beyond normal capacities.

The Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price all teach the importance of prayer and how to pray to God. The Book of Mormon encourages believers to "cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save .... Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them" and that "your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you." [23] The Book of Mormon teaches that faithful prayer always includes living as one has prayed by serving and helping others, so that the prayer is not in vain or hypocritical. [24] Alma also teaches, "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; ... let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." [25]

Prayer circles

As part of the LDS Church's temple endowment ceremony, participants conduct a prayer circle, which Joseph Smith called the "true order of prayer". [26] The ritual involves one person offering a prayer while surrounded by a circle of participants. The members of the circle repeat the words of the prayer. Until 1978, prayer circles were also performed outside of temples. [27]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Prayer". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  2. ↑ "Questions & Answers: How can I know God is listening to my prayers?". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  3. ↑ "Doctrine and Covenants 9". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  4. ↑ "Prayer". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  5. 1 2 3 "How to Pray | ComeUntoChrist.org". www.comeuntochrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  6. ↑ "Teach Children Proper Steps and Language for Prayer - Church News and Events". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  7. ↑ "10 Meaningful Benefits of Prayer | ComeUntoChrist". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  8. ↑ "How to Pray | ComeUntoChrist". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  9. ↑ "Father in Heaven". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  10. ↑ "Lesson 7: Jesus Christ—God's Only Begotten Son in the Flesh". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  11. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". faq.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  12. ↑ Oaks, Elder Dallin H. Oaks Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ImageElder Dallin H. "The Language of Prayer". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  13. ↑ Riess, Jana (2022-12-23). "The 'thee' and 'thou' of Mormon prayer". Religion News Service. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  14. ↑ "Thee, Thy, Thou - Archaic English - Essential To L D S Prayer". Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  15. ↑ "Alma 34". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  16. ↑ "Moroni 10". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  17. ↑ Martino, James B. (July 2013). "A Sincere Heart and Real Intent" . Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Viewpoint: "Counsel with the Lord in All Thy Doings" - Church News and Events". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  19. ↑ "Alma 37". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  20. ↑ "Alma 37". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  21. ↑ "Blessing on Food - The Encyclopedia of Mormonism". eom.byu.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  22. ↑ "2 Nephi 32". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  23. ↑ Alma 34:18–27
  24. ↑ Alma 34:28
  25. ↑ Alma 37:37
  26. ↑ Nelson, Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles ImageElder Russell M. "Sweet Power of Prayer". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  27. ↑ "from the desk of Denver Snuffer: Spencer W. Kimball 1978". 2017-02-16. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2023-03-08.

Related Research Articles

In Mormonism, the Melchizedek priesthood, also referred to as the high priesthood of the holy order of God or the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, is the greater of the two orders of priesthood, the other being the Aaronic priesthood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacrament (LDS Church)</span>

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, most often simply referred to as the sacrament, is the ordinance in which participants eat bread and drink water in remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Normally, the sacrament is provided every Sunday as part of the sacrament meeting in each LDS Church congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)</span> Sacred rites and ceremonies within the Latter Day Saint movement

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the term ordinance is used to refer to sacred rites and ceremonies that have spiritual and symbolic meanings and act as a means of conveying divine grace. Ordinances are physical acts which signify or symbolize an underlying spiritual act; for some ordinances, the spiritual act is the finalization of a covenant between the ordinance recipient and God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second anointing</span> Rare Latter-day Saint ordinance

In the Latter Day Saint movement the second anointing is the pinnacle ordinance of the temple and an extension of the endowment ceremony. Founder Joseph Smith taught that the function of the ordinance was to ensure salvation, guarantee exaltation, and confer godhood. In the ordinance, a participant is anointed as a "priest and king" or a "priestess and queen", and is sealed to the highest degree of salvation available in Mormon theology.

In the Latter Day Saint movement, a patriarchal blessing or evangelist blessing is administered by the laying on of hands, with accompanying words of counsel, reassurance and lifelong guidance intended solely for those receiving the blessing. The words are spoken by an ordained patriarch (evangelist) of the church, but are believed to be inspired by the Holy Ghost,. These blessings are given in both the Community of Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The patriarchal/evangelist blessings are modeled after the blessing given by Jacob to each of his sons prior to his death.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has several unique teachings about Judaism and the House of Israel. The largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement, the LDS Church, teaches the belief that the Jewish people are God's chosen people and it also teaches the belief that its members share a common and literal Israelite ancestry with the Jewish people.

The status of women in Mormonism has been a source of public debate since before the death of Joseph Smith in 1844. Various denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement have taken different paths on the subject of women and their role in the church and in society. Views range from the full equal status and ordination of women to the priesthood, as practiced by the Community of Christ, to a patriarchal system practiced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to the ultra-patriarchal plural marriage system practiced by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other Mormon fundamentalist groups.

Religions with the belief in a future judgment, a resurrection of the dead or a purgatory often offer prayers on behalf of the dead to God.

Fast offering is the term used in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to denote money or usable commodities donated to the church, which are then used to provide financial or other assistance to those in need. The local bishop or branch president is responsible for the use of the fast offering resources, and is usually assisted by other local church leaders to identify individuals and families to receive assistance and to disburse the resources.

Ex-Mormon or post-Mormon refers to a disaffiliate of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any of its schismatic breakoffs, collectively called "Mormonism". Ex-Mormons—sometimes referred to as exmo or postmo—may neither believe in nor affiliate with the LDS Church. In contrast, Jack Mormons may believe but do not affiliate; and cultural Mormons may or may not affiliate but do not believe in certain doctrines or practices of the LDS Church. The distinction is important to a large segment of ex-Mormons, many of whom consider their decision to leave as morally compelling and socially risky. According to 2014 Pew data, around 1/3 of adults raised LDS no longer adhere to the faith and in 2008 only 25% of LDS young adults were actively involved. Many ex-Mormons experience troubles with family members who still follow Mormon teachings. Aggregations of ex-Mormons may comprise a social movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Symbolism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</span>

Symbolism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the process whereby objects or actions have been invested with an inner meaning expressing church ideas. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its membership have adopted a number of symbols that differ from those typically used in Christianity.

Hymns are an important part of the history and worship of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Aminadab is a person in the Book of Mormon who appears in the Book of Helaman. He had been a member of the Nephite church but left it and became associated with the Lamanites. In the Book of Helaman, after Nephi abdicates the Chief Judgment Seat to Cezoram, he and his brother Lehi go to preach to the Lamanites, who imprison them. After a heavenly incident, Aminadab clarifies to the surrounding Lamanite captors that Nephi and Lehi are conversing with angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beliefs and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</span> Beliefs and practices in the LDS Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints focuses its doctrine and teaching on Jesus Christ; that he was the Son of God, born of Mary, lived a perfect life, performed miracles, bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane, died on the cross, rose on the third day, appeared again to his disciples, and now resides, authoritatively, on the right hand side of God. In brief, some beliefs are in common with Catholics, Orthodox and Protestant traditions. However, teachings of the LDS Church differ significantly in other ways and encompass a broad set of doctrines, so that the above-mentioned denominations usually place the LDS Church outside the bounds of orthodox Christian teaching as summarized in the Nicene Creed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy water in Eastern Christianity</span>

Among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern-Rite Catholic Christians, holy water is blessed in the church and given to the faithful to drink at home when needed and to bless their homes. In the weeks following the Feast of Epiphany, clergy visit the homes of parishioners and conduct a service of blessing by using the holy water that was blessed on the Feast of Theophany. For baptism, the water is sanctified with a special blessing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia</span> Presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a presence in Russia before the rise of the USSR, with the first baptisms occurring in 1895. Preliminary missionary efforts began before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the Russian government officially recognized the church in 1991. Membership increased in the 1990s and early 2000s. Missionary efforts were impacted by the 2016 Yarovaya law, which prohibited proselytizing outside of official church property. Current membership statistics are not available for Russia, but the church reported 19,946 members in 2009. As of February 2023, there were three stakes and three missions in Russia. In 2018, Russell M. Nelson announced that a temple would be constructed in a major city in Russia.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, marriage between a man and a woman is considered to be "ordained of God". Marriage is thought to consist of a covenant between the man, the woman, and God. The church teaches that in addition to civil marriage, which ends at death, a man and woman can enter into a celestial marriage, performed in a temple by priesthood authority, whereby the marriage and parent–child relationships resulting from the marriage will last forever in the afterlife.

Foreordination, an important doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teaches that during the pre-mortal existence, God selected ("foreordained") particular people to fulfill certain missions ("callings") during their mortal lives. For example, prophets were foreordained to be the Lord's servants, all who receive the priesthood were foreordained to that calling, and Jesus Christ was foreordained to enact the atonement.

Exaltation is a belief in Mormonism that after death some people will reach the highest level of salvation in the celestial kingdom and eternally live in God's presence, continue as families, become gods, create worlds, and make spirit children over whom they will govern. In the largest Mormon denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, top leaders have taught God wants exaltation for all humankind and that humans are "gods in embryo". A verse in the LDS Church's canonized scripture states that those who are exalted will become gods, and a 1925 statement from the church's highest governing body said that "All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother ... [and are] capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian fellowships of "the Remnants" movement</span> American Mormon denomination (2013-)

Remnant fellowships are a loosely organized branch of the Latter Day Saint movement formed by individuals who accept alleged divine revelations received by Denver Snuffer Jr.. The Remnant Fellowships generally feel called to personal and social renewal preparatory to Christ's eventual second coming. According to movement beliefs, participants anticipate a coming time when remnants remain within the full restored covenant with Jesus Christ: an allusion to a belief that "The Bible, Book of Mormon, and modern revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith, prophesy that the gospel of Jesus Christ would shift from the Gentile stewards of the gospel back to Israel in the last days." The movement places a renewed focus on individual communion with God, gifts of the spirit, tangible expressions of faith, and the eventual establishment of Zion. While the movement has no official name, the term "Snufferite" has been used to denote followers. Other designations include covenant of Christ movement and Denver Snuffer movement. Participants sometimes reference each other as "covenant Brother," "covenant Sister".

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.