Who do you address your prayers to?

[WANDERER]

Hey I'm still confused..as I am about many things.

Who do you address the bulk of your prayers to?

a) Heavenly Father

b) Jesus

c) The Holy Spirit

d) The prayers reach all three regardless of Whom you address at the opening of your prayer

e) Non pollable option: It doesn't matter

Just wondering what people's thoughts are.

Edited September 14, 2008 by WANDERER

[MarginOfError]

I address my prayers to Heavenly Father. I do this for no other reason than Christ instructed us to do so.

[WANDERER]

Right. So this is in the category of weird questions to ask LDS people *blush*. I'm so clueless.

[jimuk]

We should address our prayers to heavenly father in the name of Jesus.

[WANDERER]

Would you use the word Lord?

[jimuk]

In the name of Jesus Christ our lord and savior.

I would normally finish a prayer thus " i ask these things father in the name of Jesus christ "

[MarginOfError]

Right. So this is in the category of weird questions to ask LDS people *blush*. I'm so clueless.

No, I don't think it's weird at all. It's a perfectly valid question that I've even heard LDS people ask.

So here is a non-doctrinal viewpoint from MOE. This carries no validation or endorsement from the Church whatsoever. But I'll propose it in the interest of discussion.

Let us assume LDS doctrine, that the Father developed a plan whereby His children could obtain a body, experience, and the chance to receive a glory similar to His own. To obtain these things, He requires that we live a life according to commandments that he has set. Unfortunately, we're all a bunch of delinquent children who can't seem to get it quite right. Thus, we aren't deserving of the reward he has for us.

Our good fortune is, however, that one person was able to live life entirely according to the laws of the Father. This person steps up and says to the Father, "I have met your requirements and am therefore free from your laws. I wold like to purchase all the others from you by paying the price of their shortcomings." The Father agrees, and releases all other souls to this person after the price is paid.

If the transaction were to look something like this, then we are no longer required to live by Heavenly Father's laws, but by Christ's laws, as we are now owned and indebted to Christ. As the happy coincidence goes on, Christ rather likes Heavenly Father's laws, and insists that we continue to follow them. He did put in there, somewhere, that we continue to pray to the Father in Christ's name. Since he owns me now, I'll do what he says.

So, by my reckoning, that's why we pray to the Father. Now, sit back and let's enjoy all the faults people can find with my logic and/or choice of words.

Did anyone bring popcorn?

[john doe]

We pray to the Father through His son Jesus Christ, who is our intermediary to Him. We do not pray to Jesus or the Holy Ghost(Spirit), or anyone else. This is the proper line of authority.

[Palerider]

when praying we are encouraged to use words like....thee,thy,thine....:)

[HiJolly]

No, I don't think it's weird at all. It's a perfectly valid question that I've even heard LDS people ask.

So here is a non-doctrinal viewpoint from MOE. This carries no validation or endorsement from the Church whatsoever. But I'll propose it in the interest of discussion.

Let us assume LDS doctrine, that the Father developed a plan whereby His children could obtain a body, experience, and the chance to receive a glory similar to His own. To obtain these things, He requires that we live a life according to commandments that he has set. Unfortunately, we're all a bunch of delinquent children who can't seem to get it quite right. Thus, we aren't deserving of the reward he has for us.

Our good fortune is, however, that one person was able to live life entirely according to the laws of the Father. This person steps up and says to the Father, "I have met your requirements and am therefore free from your laws. I wold like to purchase all the others from you by paying the price of their shortcomings." The Father agrees, and releases all other souls to this person after the price is paid.

If the transaction were to look something like this, then we are no longer required to live by Heavenly Father's laws, but by Christ's laws, as we are now owned and indebted to Christ. As the happy coincidence goes on, Christ rather likes Heavenly Father's laws, and insists that we continue to follow them. He did put in there, somewhere, that we continue to pray to the Father in Christ's name. Since he owns me now, I'll do what he says.

So, by my reckoning, that's why we pray to the Father. Now, sit back and let's enjoy all the faults people can find with my logic and/or choice of words.

Did anyone bring popcorn?

No criticism here, MoE.

HiJolly

[Guest tomk]

All of my public, vocal prayers are to Father in Heaven.

Personal private prayers begin with "Heavenly Father" but in intent and feeling they are directed at Jesus.

My private personal journal is a "written prayer" addressed to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

During the day, when I am struggling with temptation or feel to express gratitude, or any sort of quick prayer, those are also directed informally at Jesus.

[Moksha]

when praying we are encouraged to use words like....thee,thy,thine....:)

Knowest us thence that the varlet who doth not speaketh thy tongue of thy most noble King James doth verily commiteth an error most grievious. For sooth that thine prayers be recieveth not for thy common future tongue beith both vulgar and not pleasingeth to thine ear.

[NateHowe]

We pray to the Father, and the reasons have been well explained in this thread. I would just add that it's nice to be able to go straight to the top with matters we find important.

[drjme]

Knowest us thence that the varlet who doth not speaketh thy tongue of thy most noble King James doth verily commiteth an error most grievious. For sooth that thine prayers be recieveth not for thy common future tongue beith both vulgar and not pleasingeth to thine ear.

what art this quagmire, that spilleth from thine orifice, fair maiden? Speak not again this olde tongue, lest ye require a parley for thine offence.

[HoosierGuy]

Easy - Heavenly Father/Father in Heaven. We pray thru Jesus Christ. He hears our prayers and gives them to our Father. So, they both hear our prayers. That's the way I understand it.

[Guest tomk]

I think soul-deep honesty is the key.

I try not to concern myself so much with THEE, THINE, THY. Because when I do....I lose my focus. Do I use THEE, THINE, THY in my prayers? Yes. But not to the point where if a YOU or YOUR slips in there I fall apart over it.

What makes a prayer efficacious, in my opinion, is not using THEE, THINE, THY when I am supposed to, but pouring out my heart to God about what is going on in my life, and striving to align my will with His counsel.

[NateHowe]

I find that the formal language of prayer, when practiced until natural, enhances the communication. It helps us to think more specifically about what we are trying to say to the Father. Here are some simple guidelines:

1. As the subject of the phrase or sentence, we address God as Thou. Generally, the verb of such a sentence has a "t" or "st" added to the end.

"Thou art holy."

"We pray that Thou wilt bless us."

"Thou makest a way for us to escape temptation."

"Thou lovest Thy children."

"Thou hast prepared a place for us in Heaven."

In each example, God is the one doing or being something.

2. As the object of a phrase or sentence, we address God as Thee. We don't change the verb with a formal ending.

"We thank Thee."

"We praise Thee."

"May we represent Thee more effectively."

"We offer Thee our hearts."

In each example, God is the one being thanked, praised, represented, etc. He is not performing the action.

3. When God possesses something, we use the pronoun Thy.

"Help us to understand Thy will."

"We are thankful for the Atonement of Thy Son."

"Please help us to share Thy truth."

In each example, God possesses something - His will, His Son, and His truth.

4. Any or all of these forms can be combined in the same sentence.

"We thank Thee for Thy Son."

"Please give us Thy power, that we may testify that Thou art with us."

"Wilt Thou bless Thy children with a greater knowledge of Thee?"

5. A pet peeve as a final sidenote. Many Latter-day Saints end their prayers by saying, "In the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Amen." There is nothing particularly wrong with that, although it can become a vain repetition. The problem comes when these people give talks or lessons. Addressing the congregation, they use their usual ending, including the phrase "Thy Son." Christ is not the son of the congregation - He is the Son of God. We can only use the phrase "Thy Son" in reference to Christ when we are talking to the Father.

[WANDERER]

Um thanks Pale...but not for me...while some may think of it as a King James dialect...in my head I imagine it as Shakespearean and it gives me the giggles (I know the era is wrong). It's not that I find it funny that people do...it's just me doing it that's funny. It just seems to distance things...I keep thinking soliloquy.

But then I haven't grown up with people who practice this as any part of my experiences. I think the last time I explored the idea it was along the lines of not every Bible can be written in King James version because language doesn't allow it...therefore they don't have the words to pray in this way either unless they borrow english ones. Is it in keeping with the reasons for writing the King James Bible? Is it just another latinisation for modern times? Was that the intent? Anyway that's my personal take on it. No one has to agree with me. Yes I know...save the whales, paternity leave, human rights issues and all of that..and keep alive the dream that Heavenly Father should be easily accessible to all who seek him...I'm such a banner bearer. Yes at times, it has a slight pukeability factor...but that's who I am.

[Mirium]

MOE I loved the way you explained it. It made alot of sense.

I always pray to Heavenly Father, always but if I feel a need to draw near to my Saviour or if I'm feeling alone I may write a letter directly to my Saviour in my journal.

Is it ok to do this or should write to Heavenly Father in my journal too?

[MarginOfError]

With no clear directive regarding to whom you should write your letters, I'd say write them to whomever you want. I have a hard time picturing Christ banishing you from his presence at the final judgment because you wrote him a letter. Besides, if he did, he'd be justifying the fact that I never call my mother, and I doubt even He can withstand that wrath of angry mothers.

[Moksha]

The belief that archaic language is inherently holier has a huge pretend factor at its core. Our thoughts to God's thoughts is one without the medium of sound.

[NateHowe]

I do not believe in keeping old things, including formal prayer language, simply because they are old. Language is the foundation of our thoughts, and the more precise our language is, the more precise our thoughts are. The formal second person form expresses our relationship with and our respect for God in a more accurate way. Is archaic language generally holier? No. But this part of older English has no adequate modern adaptation or substitute.

[MarginOfError]

This discussion of which form of speech to use when praying is largely cultural. In the Slavic areas of the world (at least in Ukraine and Russia), the formal forms of speech are never used. All prayers are given on the familiar. And in those cultures, if a person were to speak to God using the formal, it would be considered very odd and a sign that the person felt exceptionally estranged from God--perhaps even severely depressed.

[WANDERER]

I don't think praying in thees and thous is up for debate...how other people pray to God is their decision and such things should be respected.

Culturally: LOL at, "Isn't Austrayan good enough for ya to pray in mate?" I reckon that might be it in a nutshell.

[Gwen]

for me the issue of formality of verbage boils down to how you view the relationship (and how you personaly express that). there are times and places for different levels of formality. for example, proper capitalization and punctuation here is kinda optional for me. lol if i was writing an email to the prophet i'd capitalize and spell check a bit better. and sometimes actual old fashioned penmanship is called for.....like very personal letters of affection.......or when your printer is misbehaving...grrr.