Temple Prayer Roles

[2bizE]

A friend of mine volunteers at a temple, and frequently takes calls from people who want names added to the prayer rolls in the temple. The names are added for about two weeks. They are written down and placed in a pouch, and then placed on the alter of the temple. The faith of the temple patrons is to provide strength to those names on the prayer rolls.

I find this practice rather weird. Does anyone know the origin and history of this practice? I'm inclined to think this practice is something that has developed over time, especially a time of the Mormon magic world view.

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

I don't know the exact origins of the name lists, but the history of the prayer circle concept is fascinating, especially how prayer circles were a sort of exclusive local fraternity and the circles were performed at regular locations outside the temple. Back when I was a bishopric counselor I had a bishop who kept a list of names who we had to mention in every bishopric meeting prayer.

I love this blog entry on the history from a standard examiner columnist, especially because of the use of Cal Grondahl cartoons:

http://cultureofmormonism.blogspot.com/ ... s.html?m=1

[Red Ryder]

Thanks for that link 5FM! Love the cartoons.

The purpose of the prayer circle, according to official church doctrine, has always been to teach “the true order of prayer.” Incidents such as an 1846 prayer circle that claimed to witness counsel from the late Prophet Joseph Smith would have been greeted with skepticism 100-plus years later. The decision to restrict prayer circles to a part of the temple endowment ceremony, according to Quinn, was an administrative decision spurred by the difficulty of a worldwide church to deal with future stake and ward prayer circle requests.

Looks like all of the fun stuff in Mormonism has continuously disappeared over time through administrative decisions.

The history of prayer circles once being a male-only procedure is quite ironic, since it is my experience that many of today’s prayer circles are populated by men only after they have received a stern, nodding beckon from their wives.

Yup! Never once did the thought cross my mind to stand in a prayer circle unless the wife gave the eyeball nudge from across the theater. I eventually got out of it forever by telling her I couldn't stand in the circle because I had unresolved negative feelings toward her mother! Ha ha ha.

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

I disagree with the author's statement that "Discretion and respect for temple ordinances prevents me from mentioning what occurs in a prayer circle, but in my opinion, it would not look out of place in other Christian gatherings". Ummm, what about the pay lay ale and tokens stuff?

[Thoughtful]

It reminds me of the wailing wall, or even using incense in temples to represent prayers ascending to God.

[Give It Time]

I believe in the power of prayer, group fasts, group prayer and meditation. I believe that there is some sort of something out there responding in some form or fashion and if it is in the best interest of all concerned, the prayer will be answered according to the supplicant's wish. I've had prayers answered "yes" and prayers answered for the highest good of all concerned.

I can see the reason for anonymity, but I do find, and have always found, the process too impersonal. That is one change I would make. Otherwise, a bunch of people in all kinds of places praying for my welfare. I like that thought.

I realize this one makes me an outlier, here.

[Anon70]

I believe in the power of prayer, group fasts, group prayer and meditation. I believe that there is some sort of something out there responding in some form or fashion and if it is in the best interest of all concerned, the prayer will be answered according to the supplicant's wish.

I do feel there is good in the "universe" and I believe in the power of positive thinking etc. while I wouldn't feel prayers are answered by it I have no difficulty in believing in harnessing positive energy and optimism from those around us.

[Give It Time]

I believe in the power of prayer, group fasts, group prayer and meditation. I believe that there is some sort of something out there responding in some form or fashion and if it is in the best interest of all concerned, the prayer will be answered according to the supplicant's wish.

I do feel there is good in the "universe" and I believe in the power of positive thinking etc. while I wouldn't feel prayers are answered by it I have no difficulty in believing in harnessing positive energy and optimism from those around us.

Very similar to what I believe.

[MerrieMiss]

There's a woman in our ward with cancer. Recently on facebook I saw that someone had added her name to a prayer roll and took a picture of it to show everyone - it wasn't a temple prayer roll. It wasn't even Mormon. It was some kind of non-denominational church. I had never thought abut other churches having prayer rolls before.

There's another woman in our stake who has terminal cancer and got to meet with an apostle who recently visited. She and her husband told everyone that she was put on the the super special prayer roll - there's the regular prayer roll at the temple that you can write a name or call in, but then there is another one with really special names on it. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

There's a woman in our ward with cancer. Recently on facebook I saw that someone had added her name to a prayer roll and took a picture of it to show everyone - it wasn't a temple prayer roll. It wasn't even Mormon. It was some kind of non-denominational church. I had never thought abut other churches having prayer rolls before.

There's another woman in our stake who has terminal cancer and got to meet with an apostle who recently visited. She and her husband told everyone that she was put on the the super special prayer roll - there's the regular prayer roll at the temple that you can write a name or call in, but then there is another one with really special names on it. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

I beleive it. Throughout Mormon history, the church and culture has embraced the concept of special or elite groups, fraternities, and ordinances. No reason to be skeptical that this would also apply to a special prayer roll for GA meetings.

[Give It Time]

There's a woman in our ward with cancer. Recently on facebook I saw that someone had added her name to a prayer roll and took a picture of it to show everyone - it wasn't a temple prayer roll. It wasn't even Mormon. It was some kind of non-denominational church. I had never thought abut other churches having prayer rolls before.

There's another woman in our stake who has terminal cancer and got to meet with an apostle who recently visited. She and her husband told everyone that she was put on the the super special prayer roll - there's the regular prayer roll at the temple that you can write a name or call in, but then there is another one with really special names on it. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

Never heard of it. Totally believable.

[Just This Guy]

I could be wrong here, but isn't the actual prayer used in a temple prayer circle very scripted? Between Christ's warning in Matthew 6:7 and general church practice, it always struck me as a very blatant "vain repetition."

[document]

"Discretion and respect for temple ordinances prevents me from mentioning what occurs in a prayer circle, but in my opinion, it would not look out of place in other Christian gatherings"

I also found this quote interesting. The prayer circle would be quite out of place in most Christian gatherings. I've worked for more than a dozen different congregations and I've never seen anything resembling a prayer circle with signs, tokens, special garb, etc. The closest I have seen was a praying in a circle while holding hands.

In regards to prayer rolls, I've seen that specific practice in a few places. The hospital springs to mind where people write down names on a sheet of paper and put it into a box. The chaplain prays daily over the people in the box. Although, in his case, he pulls out each individual name and includes them in his prayer.

We do something similar at church. Someone puts their name in a box and a coordinator gives the name and reason for prayers to a team of people who say a daily prayer for those people on the list. Usually there are a lot, so it is split into 4 or 5 teams. We call it "prayer angels".

[blazerb]

I don't know the exact origins of the name lists, but the history of the prayer circle concept is fascinating, especially how prayer circles were a sort of exclusive local fraternity and the circles were performed at regular locations outside the temple. Back when I was a bishopric counselor I had a bishop who kept a list of names who we had to mention in every bishopric meeting prayer.

I love this blog entry on the history from a standard examiner columnist, especially because of the use of Cal Grondahl cartoons:

http://cultureofmormonism.blogspot.com/ ... s.html?m=1

When I was in the MTC in the late 80's, a former mission president told us about his missionaries who, when faced with a threatening situation, engaged in a prayer "as taught in the temple." Apparently they were spared whatever bad thing they were facing. I can't even remember much of the story because all we could talk about on our way to the dorm that night was, "Is that allowed? Can we do a prayer circle outside the temple?"

We had a prayer circle in our ward when I was young, but it was not the ritualized practice we see in the temple. A bunch of people got together to pray together about the situation. I remember kneeling with a large group. Maybe something more was happening where I could not see it, but I thought I saw everything. I was paying attention because I had heard my parents talk about prayer circles in the temple. I thought something interesting would happen, but it was not that exciting.

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

I don't know the exact origins of the name lists, but the history of the prayer circle concept is fascinating, especially how prayer circles were a sort of exclusive local fraternity and the circles were performed at regular locations outside the temple. Back when I was a bishopric counselor I had a bishop who kept a list of names who we had to mention in every bishopric meeting prayer.

I love this blog entry on the history from a standard examiner columnist, especially because of the use of Cal Grondahl cartoons:

http://cultureofmormonism.blogspot.com/ ... s.html?m=1

When I was in the MTC in the late 80's, a former mission president told us about his missionaries who, when faced with a threatening situation, engaged in a prayer "as taught in the temple." Apparently they were spared whatever bad thing they were facing. I can't even remember much of the story because all we could talk about on our way to the dorm that night was, "Is that allowed? Can we do a prayer circle outside the temple?"

We had a prayer circle in our ward when I was young, but it was not the ritualized practice we see in the temple. A bunch of people got together to pray together about the situation. I remember kneeling with a large group. Maybe something more was happening where I could not see it, but I thought I saw everything. I was paying attention because I had heard my parents talk about prayer circles in the temple. I thought something interesting would happen, but it was not that exciting.

Yes, in the old old days, it was the full on robes of the priesthood, signs and tokens, etc. I wish I still had the reference, as I had come across a missionary journal from the 1850's where he discusses donning the garment in order to participate in the TOP, implying that it was only worn for the rituals back then.

[20/20hind]

I hated doing the prayer circle. I would look around the group and internally chuckle at the clothing until I realized I was in the same stuff..the hands over the head thing freaked me out to and then sometimes the guy doing the prayed would make it so long it would drive me nuts and I would get pissed.

I just never felt comfortable with the temple at all. I went monthly with wife until I just couldn't take it anymore. It's all just weirdness to the extreme

[Culper Jr.]

I could be wrong here, but isn't the actual prayer used in a temple prayer circle very scripted? Between Christ's warning in Matthew 6:7 and general church practice, it always struck me as a very blatant "vain repetition."

Yes, very scripted. I was an ordinance worker for a while and we were basically given a list of things we could pray for. The only person we could mention by name was the current prophet. We could pray for the temple presidency, the patrons, the youth, the military, the prophet and apostles, the missionaries, the leaders of the world... that's about it. We were supposed to choose two or three of these, and you always had to pray for the "persons whose names lie upon this altar." Everything had to be really general, no praying for anything specific. The hardest part wasn't the prayer itself, but chopping it up so that everyone could repeat it. Too much and people forget what you said, too little and it sounds weird.

[Phil Lurkerman]

I could be wrong here, but isn't the actual prayer used in a temple prayer circle very scripted? Between Christ's warning in Matthew 6:7 and general church practice, it always struck me as a very blatant "vain repetition."

Yes, very scripted. I was an ordinance worker for a while and we were basically given a list of things we could pray for. The only person we could mention by name was the current prophet. We could pray for the temple presidency, the patrons, the youth, the military, the prophet and apostles, the missionaries, the leaders of the world... that's about it. We were supposed to choose two or three of these, and you always had to pray for the "persons whose names lie upon this altar." Everything had to be really general, no praying for anything specific. The hardest part wasn't the prayer itself, but chopping it up so that everyone could repeat it. Too much and people forget what you said, too little and it sounds weird.

Dude, it sounds weird no matter how you chop it.