547. We are to pray in all places wherein we find ourselves.
548. We are to have secret prayer.
549. We are to pray in public as well as in secret.
550. We are to hold family prayer morning and night.
547. We are to pray in all places wherein we find ourselves.
quoted by Mormon
Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
20. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
22. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
23. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
24. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
25. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
26. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
27. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let 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. (Amulek teaches the people to pray, about 74 B.C.) Alma 34:19-27
Amulek speaks of praying "both morning, mid-day, and evening," and says we should pour out our souls to the Lord in our closets, in our secret places, and in the wilderness. (See Alma 34:17-29.) Jesus commanded both personal and family prayer: "Watch and pray always," he said: and also, "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." (3 Nephi 18:15,21) ("Why the Lord Ordained Prayer," EN1976Jan:11) TLDP:491
quoted by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
We would say to the brethren, seek to know God in your closets, call upon him in the fields. Follow the directions of the Book of Mormon, and pray over, and for your families, your cattle, your flocks, your herds, your corn, and all things that you possess; ask the blessing of God upon all your labors, and everything that you engage in. (Times and Seasons, June 1842) TPJS:247; DGSM:33
[Man] must pray under all circumstances. Prayer is not reserved for the Sabbath day or for any particular occasion. It is not only to be used at the general conferences of the Church, but the spirit of prayer must be in our hearts unceasingly. We must pray in our families; we must pray in secret; we must pray in our hearts. The spirit of prayer must be with us when we retire at night and when we arise in the morning. It must be upon us when we leave our homes for our daily employment; in the office; in the shop; in the field; in the mountains or in the valleys; or wherever we are. We are told . . . that if that spirit is upon us the Lord will bless us, and the blessings which will come in answer to prayer will be of more importance to us than treasures of the earth. CR1904Apr:42-43; DCSM:38-39
548. We are to have secret prayer.
You should enter your secret closets, and call upon the name of the Lord. Many of you have learned how to pray; then fail not to let your prayers ascend up into the ears of the God of Sabaoth; and He will hear you. I think sometimes that we do not fully comprehend the power that we have with God in knowing how to approach Him acceptably. All that these men holding the Priesthood, and all that our sisters need do, is to live near to God, and call upon Him, pouring out their soul's desires in behalf of Israel, and their power will be felt, and their confidence in God will be strengthened. (At Nephi, Utah, Jan. 27, 1883, JD24:55) TLDP:488
recorded in Matthew
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Jesus' Sermon on the Mount; he teaches how to pray) Matthew 6:6
quoted by Mormon
And when thou prayest thou shalt not do as the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. 6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (The resurrected Jesus teaches the Nephites how to pray, A.D. 34) 3 Nephi 13:5-6
I say also to all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that if they will attend to their prayers, make the hearthstone of the home an altar for prayer, where the words from sincere hearts appeal to our father in Heaven, pray honestly, morning and evening, with the family and in secret; I promise them that they will never apostatize from this Church. . . .
Let us pray early and late, and let the prayer not only be by the lips but from the heart. Let us pray in secret and in public. CR1908Oct:78
receiving the Word of the Lord
And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private. . . . (A commandment of God for Martin Harris, March 1830) D&C 19:28
One of the requirements made of the Latter-day Saints is that they shall be faithful in attending to their prayers, both their secret and family prayers. The object that our Heavenly Father has in requiring this is that we may be in communication with Him, and that we may have a channel open between us and the heavens whereby we can bring down upon ourselves blessings from above. CR1944Apr:11
We must pray in our families; we must pray in secret; we must pray in our hearts. The spirit of prayer must be with us when we retire at night and when we arise in the morning. It must be upon us when we leave our homes for our daily employment; in the office; in the shop; in the field; in the mountains or in the valleys; or wherever we are. We are told . . . that if that spirit is upon us the Lord will bless us, and the blessings which will come in answer to prayer will be of more importance to us than treasures of the earth. CR1904Apr:42-43; DCSM:38-39
receiving the Word of the Lord
Behold, I manifest unto you, Joseph Knight, by these words, that you must take up your cross, in the which you must pray vocally before the world as well as in secret, and in your family, and among your friends, and in all places. (Revelation given in response to the earnest desire of Joseph Knight, Sr. and four other brethren to know of their respective duties, April 1930) D&C 23:6
And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. (Revelation on Church Organization and Government, explains the duties of priests, April 1830) D&C 20:47
quoted by Mormon
But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. (Amulek teaches the people to pray, about 74 B.C.) Alma 34:26
I cannot think that a Latter-day Saint will hold enmity in his heart if he will sincerely, in secret, pray God to remove from his heart all feelings of envy and malice toward any of his fellow men. Guidance? Yes, God will be there to guide and direct him who will seek him in faith with all his might and with all his soul. . . .
. . . . Inspiration. It is not imagination, if we approach God sincerely seeking light and guidance from him, our minds will be enlightened and our souls thrilled by his Spirit. Washington sought it; Lincoln received it; Joseph Smith knew it; and the testimony, the evidence of the Prophet Joseph's inspiration is manifest to all who will but open their eyes to see and their hearts to understand. CR1961Apr:8
549. We are to pray in public as well as in secret.
receiving the Word of the Lord
And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private. (A commandment of God for Martin Harris, March 1830) D&C 19:28
receiving the Word of the Lord
Behold, I manifest unto you, Joseph Knight, by these words, that you must take up your cross, in the which you must pray vocally before the world as well as in secret, and in your family, and among your friends, and in all places. (Revelation given in response to the earnest desire of Joseph Knight, Sr. and four other brethren to know of their respective duties, April 1930) D&C 23:6
Difficult as it seems, I have found when praying, other than in private and secret, that it is better to be concerned with communicating tenderly and honestly with God, rather than worrying over what the listeners may be thinking. The echoing of "amen" by the listeners is evidence of their accord and approval. Of course, the setting of prayers needs to be taken into account. This is one reason why public prayers, or even family prayers, cannot be the whole of our praying. CR1979Oct:4-5
Let us pray early and late, and let the prayer not only be by the lips but from the heart. Let us pray in secret and in public. CR1908Oct:78
550. We are to hold family prayer morning and night.
The Church urges that there be family prayer every night and every morning. It is a kneeling prayer with all or as many members of the family present as possible. Many have found the most effective time is at the breakfast and at the dinner table. Then it is least difficult to get the family members together. These prayers need not be long, especially if little children are on their knees. All of the members of the family, including the little ones, should have opportunity to be mouth in the prayer, in turn. ("Prayer," New Era, March 1978, p.15) MPSG1983:129
Our Father in Heaven has given us the blessing of prayer to help us succeed in our all-important activities of home and life. I know that if we pray fervently and righteously, individually and as a family, when we arise in the morning and when we retire at night, and around our tables at mealtime, we will not only knit together as loved ones but we will grow spiritually. We have so much need for our Heavenly Father's help as we seek to learn gospel truths and then live them, and as we seek his help in the decisions of our lives. It is especially in our family circles where our children can learn how to talk to Heavenly Father by listening to their parents. They can learn about heartfelt and honest prayer from such experiences. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 116) TLDP:491
I think every Latter-day Saint ought to go to his knees night and morning in secret prayer. . . . I grew up in a home where we had family prayers every night and morning. A good time to have morning family prayer is just before the morning meal. And a good time for the evening prayer is just before the evening meal. CR1961Oct:61
No family that fails to attend to family prayers in the proper season can keep up with the progress of the Kingdom of God. Such families fall behind in everything. They become dark in their minds, dull in their spirits and lose what little faith they may possess. They are guilty of gross ingratitude, and this is a great sin. The Spirit of God is grieved and will withdraw itself from every person who does not appreciate the goodness of God to him and who fails to render Him that worship and thanksgiving which are due to Him as our Creator and Protector. (Gospel Truth, 2:168-69) TLDP:491
I say also to all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that if they will attend to their prayers, make the hearthstone of the home an altar for prayer, where the words from sincere hearts appeal to our father in Heaven, pray honestly, morning and evening, with the family and in secret; I promise them that they will never apostatize from this Church. . . . CR1908Oct:78
Related Witnesses:
Gordon B. Hinckley
I know of no single practice that will have a more salutary effect upon your lives than the practice of kneeling together as you begin and close each day. Somehow the little storms that seem to afflict every marriage are dissipated when, kneeling before the Lord, you thank him for one another, in the presence of one another, and then together invoke his blessings upon your lives, your home, your loved ones, and your dreams.
God then will be your partner, and your daily conversations with him will bring peace into your hearts and a joy into your lives that can come from no other source. Your companionship will sweeten through the years; your love will strengthen. Your appreciation for one another will grow. CR1971Apr:83
quoted by Mormon
Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed. (The resurrected Jesus commands the Nephite people to pray, A.D. 34) 3 Nephi 18:21
[D]o not forget to call upon the Lord in your family circles, dedicating yourselves and all you have to God every day of your lives; and seek to do right, and cultivate the spirit of union and love, and the peace and blessing of the Living God will be with us, and He will lead us in the paths of life; and we shall be sustained and upheld by all the holy angels and the ancient patriarchs and men of God, and the veil will become thinner between us and our God, and we will approach nearer to him, and our souls will magnify the Lord of hosts. (In Provo Tabernacle, Nov. 1879; JD20:361) MPSG1983:128
Do you have prayers in your family? . . . And when you do, do you go through the operation like the grinding of a piece of machinery, or do you bow in meekness and with a sincere desire to seek the blessing of God upon you and your household? That is the way that we ought to do, and cultivate a spirit of devotion and trust in God, dedicating ourselves to him, and seeking his blessings. (At American Fork, Utah, Nov. 1879; JD21:118) DGSM:33
One of the requirements made of the Latter-day Saints is that they shall be faithful in attending to their prayers, both their secret and family prayers. The object that our Heavenly Father has in requiring this is that we may be in communication with Him, and that we may have a channel open between us and the heavens whereby we can bring down upon ourselves blessings from above. CR1944Apr:11
Family prayer in any home will draw the family closer together and result in better feeling between father and mother, between parents and children, and between one child and another. If children pray for their parents, it makes them more appreciative of their parents, and as they pray for one another, they feel closer to one another and part of each other, especially as they realize that they are talking to their Father in heaven while on their knees in family or secret prayer. Then is when we forget our differences and think of the best in others, and pray for their well-being and for strength to overcome our own weaknesses. There is no doubt that we are better people when we try to tune in to the spirit of our Father in heaven so that we might communicate with him and express our desire to do his will as we pray for his blessings. CR1967Oct:55-56
