closing a prayer

[Guest tomk]

We're taught to close a prayer with "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Why did Heavenly Father ask us to close prayers this way?

Is there a reason why it is in the name of Jesus Christ?

Is Christ performing some sort of mediation for the prayer? Sealing the prayer somehow by invoking His name upon it?

Also - why have discrete, finite prayers that have a beginning, middle, and an ending? Why not just pray in our hearts the whole day continuously?

Ending a prayer seems like hanging up the phone call. What if I don't want to hang up? I prayed this morning and it left me with a feeling of peace that I never wanted to end.

Tom

[Guest]

By virtue of the Fall, we are separated from the Father. It is only through Christ that we can communicate with Him. It is only through the Atonement that we can get back to live with Him.

Prayers doesn't have to start and end in the same manner all the time. Jesus Christ and the prophets gave us a pattern for praying as a guide. It's like when we're learning how to draw, we are first given tracing paper to trace a picture until we get comfortable enough that we can start drawing our own designs.

But we are given instructions that we are to pray to our Father in the name of Jesus Christ... however you want to say it...

[applepansy]

Why not just pray in our hearts the whole day continuously?

I have an ongoing conversation with my Heavenly Father all day long on most days. Then on top of my continual conversation I have formal prayers.

We are commanded to pray continually.

Is Christ performing some sort of mediation for the prayer? Sealing the prayer somehow by invoking His name upon it?

Yes. I believe Christ is a mediator with the Father with us in all things.

[Guest tomk]

Prayers doesn't have to start and end in the same manner all the time.

For example?

[Guest tomk]

until we get comfortable enough that we can start drawing our own designs.

Huh?

[Guest]

For example?

Like you can always just say... "God, in Jesus' name, please give me the strength to put up with this guy trying to ruin my job".

That's a prayer.

[Guest]

Huh?

We teach children and investigators and such to start with Heavenly Father, then say your thanks, then ask for blessings, then close with in the name of Christ... while they're still learning what a prayer is all about. This teaches them that a prayer is to Heavenly Father in the name of Christ - and to remember to always be humble by thanking God for our blessings.

Then when they get the idea, they can go do it their own way using whatever pattern they want as long as it still fulfills the prayer to Heavenly Father in the name of Christ.

[Vort]

We're taught to close a prayer with "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

More precisely, we are taught to offer our prayers in the name of Christ.

Why did Heavenly Father ask us to close prayers this way?

Is there a reason why it is in the name of Jesus Christ?

We are to do all that we do in the name of Christ, including offering our prayers in his name, because we are expected to take upon ourselves Christ's name.

Is Christ performing some sort of mediation for the prayer? Sealing the prayer somehow by invoking His name upon it?

Some have suggested that Christ, as our advocate with the Father, pleads our cause to him prayer by prayer. I suspect this is more metaphorical than literal, but there you have it.

Also - why have discrete, finite prayers that have a beginning, middle, and an ending? Why not just pray in our hearts the whole day continuously?

Ending a prayer seems like hanging up the phone call. What if I don't want to hang up? I prayed this morning and it left me with a feeling of peace that I never wanted to end.

I don't see it as an either/or proposition. We need to have discrete periods of prayer and conversation with God, but we also need to direct our attention to other important life pursuits. During those "other" times, we should always have a prayer in our heart.

[uniderth]

Actually using "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen" is a fairly recent innovation. It became common usage during the time of Bruce McConkie. Most prayers before this simply ended with, "Amen." Look at the sacrament prayer for example, or baptism.

I think we over use Christ's name a bit. It is so sad to hear a testimony/talk/prayer ended with "Inthenameofjesuschristamen." I prefer to close everything by simply saying, Amen.

[Blackmarch]

We're taught to close a prayer with "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Why did Heavenly Father ask us to close prayers this way?

Is there a reason why it is in the name of Jesus Christ?

Is Christ performing some sort of mediation for the prayer? Sealing the prayer somehow by invoking His name upon it?

Also - why have discrete, finite prayers that have a beginning, middle, and an ending? Why not just pray in our hearts the whole day continuously?

Ending a prayer seems like hanging up the phone call. What if I don't want to hang up? I prayed this morning and it left me with a feeling of peace that I never wanted to end.

Tom

No we dont have any specific command to end that way. However for me its because we take upon us christ's name, and it is through christ that we are brought into gods presence and he represents us. I find that acknowledging christs role in bringing me to god at the end of the prayer flows nicely... But i dont think that theres anything that says it mustbbe at the end. There have been a couple times where i did that near the beginning and at the middle of my prayer.

As for having a prayer in your heart all the time? Absolutely. But we should also sacrifice some of time we have to intently focus on communing with God and prepare for answers... And as much as it would be nice to do that forever all the time, we cant do that yet in this life.

[cwald]

Actually using "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen" is a fairly recent innovation. It became common usage during the time of Bruce McConkie. Most prayers before this simply ended with, "Amen." Look at the sacrament prayer for example, or baptism.

I think we over use Christ's name a bit. It is so sad to hear a testimony/talk/prayer ended with "Inthenameofjesuschristamen." I prefer to close everything by simply saying, Amen.

Yep. It's more about tradition and culture than about doctrine. Sometimes we need to step back and ask ourselves if our traditions have become our doctrine, or if our doctrine has become tradition.

[Vort]

Actually using "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen" is a fairly recent innovation. It became common usage during the time of Bruce McConkie.

I believe this is false. My mother, a generation younger than Elder McConkie, was taught as a girl to end her prayers like that. I believe that my grandparents, who were a bit older than Elder McConkie, were brought up the same way. This is by no means a recent innovation.

Most prayers before this simply ended with, "Amen." Look at the sacrament prayer for example, or baptism.

The prayers were offered in the name of Jesus Christ. Whether that proclamation came at the end or somewhere else seems irrelevant.

I think we over use Christ's name a bit. It is so sad to hear a testimony/talk/prayer ended with "Inthenameofjesuschristamen." I prefer to close everything by simply saying, Amen.

I don't find it sad. I find it inspiring, especially when it is clear that the speaker really is testifying or praying or otherwise speaking in Jesus' name.

I find it odd, and more than a little disturbing, that someone would complain and criticize the manner in which the Saints offer prayers to God.

[martybess]

To me my formal prayer like in public is almost like an ordinance. Think of the temple or giving a blessing. We state we are acting in his name and under his direction. My personal prayer is much different.

[martybess]

I think it be done like: Dear HF, in the name of JC we come before thee say your prayer and then, amen.

[uniderth]

I believe this is false. My mother, a generation younger than Elder McConkie, was taught as a girl to end her prayers like that. I believe that my grandparents, who were a bit older than Elder McConkie, were brought up the same way. This is by no means a recent innovation.

I never said that the term was never used before Bruce McConkie. And now that I look at the research again the use of "In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen" in prayers spikes about during the 1920's so a bit before Bruce McConkie. So I stand corrected on that point. However, it was in the time of Bruce McConkie that it became popular to close testimonies and talks with that phrase.

If you would like a link to the research I can send it to you.

Results:

I found that the vast majority of 19th century Mormon discourses were not terminated by invoking the name of Jesus Christ. Normally a discourse would be terminated by the utterance of “amen,” without the qualifying appellation (e.g., “God bless you all. Amen.” JD 10:32), or without any amen at all. However, invoking the Lords name became more popular with time and by the 1940’s all talks were closed in supplication. Below is time-line of notable occurrences in the history of this usage.

1853 – (2) Parley P. Pratt issues a discourse at the temple grounds in which he terminates in the orphan usage. As this is the only usage for the next 67 years, I tend to think this was a transcription error.

1857 – (3) Heber C. Kimball curses the leaders of the US government in the name of the lord. This is the only instance of “cursing” I found in my query.

1858? – (4) Orson Hyde has the first recorded concluding testimony. This does not happen again until the turn of the century.

1900 – (5) William H. Smart delivers the next closing testimony.

1920 – two uses of the orphan (only one other in the next 33 years).

1953 – (6) Bruce R. McConkie is the first to consistently use it as the orphan, but in doing so, he uses, “In the name of Jesus Christ.” as a sentence in and of itself. He continues to be the only one for the next five years to use it as the orphan (however, from there it grows in popularity until the end of the observed period).

- J. Stapley; "Invoking the name of the Lord, a quantitative history"

The prayers were offered in the name of Jesus Christ. Whether that proclamation came at the end or somewhere else seems irrelevant.

I agree. the placement of an invocation of the Lord's name is irrelevant. What is relevant is the invocation of the Lord's name upon something that the Spirit has not inspired or in a casual manner.

I don't find it sad. I find it inspiring, especially when it is clear that the speaker really is testifying or praying or otherwise speaking in Jesus' name.

I agree that when someone is speaking as inspired by the Spirit and invokes Christ's name it is inspiring. But for me I don't find it inspiring at all when someone invokes the name of Christ in a casual manner, out of repetitious habit, or without inspiration.

I think we all should examine ourselves and our motives for invoking the name of Christ.

D&C 63:61-64

61 Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips—

62 For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.

63 Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins, and I, the Lord, will own them; otherwise they shall be cut off.

64 Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit; and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation.

For me I want to be sure that what I have spoken has actually come from the Spirit before I use Christ's name.

I find it odd, and more than a little disturbing, that someone would complain and criticize the manner in which the Saints offer prayers to God.

We need to be careful. If someone wishes to use "In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen." to end their talk/testimony/prayer etc I am not going to complain about, criticize, or belittle them. It is my personal views that I need to be extremely careful how I use Christ's sacred name. I would hope there is nothing wrong with me sharing my personal feelings so long as I am doing so in a loving and respectful manner. I certainly don't believe that I am somehow better than anyone else or that I have the answers. All I have are personal experiences that might inspire thoughts in others so that they will turn to the Lord for answers.

[Guest tomk]

I've read every post so far and I like the different points of view that have been offered.

Clearly, the Son plays an important role in prayers we offer to the Father. He is our Advocate with the Father, in our prayers, in everything! We come to the Father THROUGH His mediation -- mediation made possible through the Atonement.

That much seems more clear to me now. Thank you.

So it would seem that ENDING in the name of Jesus Christ is not so much a matter of protocol as it is a matter of the nature of prayer itself. I have heard it said that the purpose of prayer is to align our will with the will of the Father. He already knows our needs and wants and things we want to ask Him for before we begin the prayer. So the prayer is not to inform Him, but to express -- desire for Him to bless us as He sees fit. We can ask for things in faith, believing that He will answer in His own way and in His own time -- but He cannot answer in a way contrary to His nature or what is BEST for our progression inside of an eternal framework (not just 80 or 90 years worth of time).

[Vort]

If you would like a link to the research I can send it to you.

I would, thanks. The snippet you included suggested that the study was done using speech transcriptions from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. If this is the case, that would not necessarily reflect usage patterns of the general population in common prayer.

I agree. the placement of an invocation of the Lord's name is irrelevant. What is relevant is the invocation of the Lord's name upon something that the Spirit has not inspired or in a casual manner.

I agree that when someone is speaking as inspired by the Spirit and invokes Christ's name it is inspiring. But for me I don't find it inspiring at all when someone invokes the name of Christ in a casual manner, out of repetitious habit, or without inspiration.

I think I understand your point here, but I am not sure I agree. Obviously, our actions should be informed by the Spirit at all times, but the reality of life is that few if any of us manage to reach that standard. Yet despite that, we are Saints and have taken upon ourselves Christ's name. We are instructed -- commanded -- to do all we do and offer all our offerings in the name of Christ.

I cannot imagine that it would be appropriate for us to pray at any time for any thing and intentionally fail to do so in Christ's name. Thus, even our less-inspired-seeming prayers, private or public, are and ought to be given in Jesus' name.

[uniderth]

Vort, I PM'd you the link.

I think I understand your point here, but I am not sure I agree. Obviously, our actions should be informed by the Spirit at all times, but the reality of life is that few if any of us manage to reach that standard. Yet despite that, we are Saints and have taken upon ourselves Christ's name. We are instructed -- commanded -- to do all we do and offer all our offerings in the name of Christ.

It is an interesting situation. We have scriptures commanding us to do all our offerings in the name of Christ but we are also told to use the name of Christ carefully by the Spirit or we are taking it in vain. That brings some further questions into my mind.

If we pray according to our own desires, and not according to the Spirit, and invoke the name of Christ, are we truly using his name in vain? In other words, is it acceptable to tag our own will with Christ name?

If we are not able to reach the level where our will aligns with Christ's should we use his name as a way to get to that level?

Can we truly be called disciples of Christ if our will does not align with His?

On the other hand in our imperfect sinful state can anyone really ever have their will in perfect alignment with Christ?

If since we can never be fully in line with Christ because of our sinful state, and if having such an alignment is not required to invoke the name of the Lord, is it then even possible to take His name in vain(invoking it upon actions which are not in line with his will)?

Hmmm...

I don't really expect an answer to those questions, I don't want it to go off topic. They were mainly for my own benefit.

I cannot imagine that it would be appropriate for us to pray at any time for any thing and intentionally fail to do so in Christ's name. Thus, even our less-inspired-seeming prayers, private or public, are and ought to be given in Jesus' name.

Would it be appropriate to invoke Christ's name were someone to pray for the opportunity to rape and murder someone?

Are there ever times when it is inappropriate to invoke Christ's sacred name and if so where is the line drawn? If not then why does D&C 63 warn us to be careful how we use Christ's name?

I hope I'm not coming across as negative.

[Guest tomk]

The Lord knows the heart of the person.

But I think we also know inside if we are sincere. Our conscience tells us what is right and wrong (but we can choose to ignore it).

[mordorbund]

Invoking the name of Christ in prayer is a practice from the Adamic period that has never been revoked. After offering a sacrifice, Adam was instructed by an angel concerning the purpose of animal sacrifice:

And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.

Because of the reconciling Atonement, anytime we call upon the Father we are to do so in the name of His Son.

[Iggy]

Totally Off Topic -

waves - Hi Tom, long time no see- how are you and your sweet little family? Good to see you.

End of Off Topic Greeting.

[Guest tomk]

Totally Off Topic -

waves - Hi Tom, long time no see- how are you and your sweet little family? Good to see you.

End of Off Topic Greeting.

No worries ... and it is nice to be back. :)

[usar]

that is right because of the fall of man and the atonement access way is paved through Jesus Christ !

QUOTE=anatess;653850]By virtue of the Fall, we are separated from the Father. It is only through Christ that we can communicate with Him. It is only through the Atonement that we can get back to live with Him.

Prayers doesn't have to start and end in the same manner all the time. Jesus Christ and the prophets gave us a pattern for praying as a guide. It's like when we're learning how to draw, we are first given tracing paper to trace a picture until we get comfortable enough that we can start drawing our own designs.

But we are given instructions that we are to pray to our Father in the name of Jesus Christ... however you want to say it...