Noel Hausler recommended I do an episode on Mormon prayer, so that it was I have done!
How do Mormons pray? What do they think about prayer? What do they feel about the way people of other faiths pray? I'll share my opinion in this brief introduction to the topic of Mormon prayer and prayer in general. This episode was requested by my friend in the Antipodes, Noel Hausler.
I guess growing up the rote prayer I prayed the most was Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Should I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Followed by God bless mother and daddy, Mom and Pop, Maw Maw and paw Paw, Kishkumen, Dr. Shades, Jersey, Moksha, Res Ipsa, IWMP, Philo, EA, etc. well, if I had known you all back then. I can’t remember the exact words, but there was a rote blessing for meals as well. Also the Lord’s Prayer.
As an adolescent, I think I began more pouring my heart out to God. I remember praying before my tonsillectomy, and then when I was a bit older, I was hospitalized with what turned out to be mesenteric lymphadenitis. The doctor was planning an appendectomy for the next morning as I had what was called rebound pain. There were no CT scans then. I poured my heart out to God. Doctor came in the next morning and told my mother that he had never seen anyone’s white blood cell count drop as fast as mine had overnight. No appendectomy praise the lord. That was the first time I remember having a consciousness that God had indeed heard and answered my prayers.
As I aged, I learned ACTS which stood for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, I believe modeled after the Lord’s Prayer. Not that I would stress over praying in that pattern.
Back in the mid-90s God answered prayer in a huge way. At times prayer to Heavenly Father, Father God, or Father. Maybe to Jesus or Holy Spirit if I’m thanking them or petitioning the HS for something within the context of how the HS works. I think the best prayers are the ones where you just pour your heart out to God.
Then, at times just reflecting on this encouraging passage.
Romans 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
In our local PCA church we do the palms up thing during the benediction.
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” Jude 1:24
“the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 ESV
I guess growing up the rote prayer I prayed the most was Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Should I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Followed by God bless mother and daddy, Mom and Pop, Maw Maw and paw Paw, Kishkumen, Dr. Shades, Jersey, Moksha, Res Ipsa, IWMP, Philo, EA, etc. well, if I had known you all back then. I can’t remember the exact words, but there was a rote blessing for meals as well. Also the Lord’s Prayer.
As an adolescent, I think I began more pouring my heart out to God. I remember praying before my tonsillectomy, and then when I was a bit older, I was hospitalized with what turned out to be mesenteric lymphadenitis. The doctor was planning an appendectomy for the next morning as I had what was called rebound pain. There were no CT scans then. I poured my heart out to God. Doctor came in the next morning and told my mother that he had never seen anyone’s white blood cell count drop as fast as mine had overnight. No appendectomy praise the lord. That was the first time I remember having a consciousness that God had indeed heard and answered my prayers.
As I aged, I learned ACTS which stood for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, I believe modeled after the Lord’s Prayer. Not that I would stress over praying in that pattern.
Back in the mid-90s God answered prayer in a huge way. At times prayer to Heavenly Father, Father God, or Father. Maybe to Jesus or Holy Spirit if I’m thanking them or petitioning the HS for something within the context of how the HS works. I think the best prayers are the ones where you just pour your heart out to God.
Then, at times just reflecting on this encouraging passage.
Romans 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
In our local PCA church we do the palms up thing during the benediction.
Thank you much, msnobody! I love getting this insight into the evolution of your prayer life. You have taught me a lot in one post!
Thank you both. Sometimes all we can do is pray his word back to him.
"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” Jude 1:24
“the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 ESV
