Praying to Jesus Christ
In
humility, our Savior, Grant thy Spirit here, we pray . . .
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Our
formal prayers should always be addressed to God, the Father.
We should close in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
We receive inspiration through the Holy Ghost.
(2
Nephi 32:9, 3 Nephi 18:19, 3 Nephi 20:31)
But
there is a misunderstanding among those of us who are members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that we must never
communicate with Jesus Christ under any circumstance. We can pour out
our hearts to Jesus Christ in a prayer-like manner!
If
we fail to express gratitude to Jesus Christ directly for his great
atoning sacrifice, then we are no better than 9 of the 10 lepers who
failed to thank Jesus after he had healed them.
Furthermore, some
members claim that our focus should largely be on the Father rather
than on the Son. Please remember:
Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me (John 14:6).
What would God, the
Father, say if he spoke to us directly?
This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17:5).
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Stephen pleads to Jesus
as he is being stoned.
Acts 7
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[55] But he,
being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven,
and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
[56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man
standing on the right hand of God.
[57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and
ran upon him with one accord,
[58] And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses
laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
[59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit.
[60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this
sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
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Jesus Christ is our Lord
An
angel testified to the shepherds:
Luke 2
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[11] For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord.
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Alma cries to
our Lord Jesus Christ during a fierce battle:
Alma 2
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[30]
And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being exercised with
much faith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I
may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people.
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King Lamoni
cries to the Lord for mercy.
Alma
18
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[41]
And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, have mercy;
according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of
Nephi, have upon me, and my people.
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The Lamanite
Queen cries to Jesus.
Alma 19
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[29]
And it came to pass that she [Abish] went and took the queen by the
hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as
she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with
a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful
hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people! |
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Alma
the Younger cries to Jesus Christ in repentance:
Alma 36
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[18] Now, as my
mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus,
thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of
bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
[19] And now,
behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I
was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
[20] And oh,
what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was
filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
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Elder Neal A. Maxwell
taught
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In one way or
another, sooner or later, all mortals will plead, as Alma did at his
turning point, "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me" (Alma
36:18).
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught
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When confronting our transgressions
and our souls are harrowed up with true pain, may we all echo the
repentant Alma and utter his life-changing cry: “O Jesus, thou Son of
God, have mercy on me.” (Alma 36:18).
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See:
Jeffrey
R. Holland Place
No More for the Enemy of My Soul |
The Nephites Pray
Directly to the Resurrected Christ
3 Nephi
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[15] And it came
to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples,
behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.
[16] And it
came to
pass that he spake unto the multitude, and commanded them that they
should kneel down again upon the earth, and also that his disciples
should kneel down upon the earth.
[17] And it
came to pass that when they had all knelt down upon the earth, he
commanded his disciples that they should pray.
[18] And
behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him
their Lord and their God.
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The Brother of Jared
prayed directly to Jesus Christ in Ether 3.
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Worshipping Jesus Christ
[31]
O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul?
2 Nephi 4
[26]
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we
prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our
children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their
sins.
[29] And now behold, I
say unto you that the right way is to believe in
Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel;
wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your
might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye
shall in nowise be cast out.
2 Nephi 25
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THE DOCTRINE
AND COVENANTS OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 109
Prayer
offered at the dedication of the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, March 27,
1836. HC 2: 420–426. According to the Prophet’s written statement, this
prayer was given to him by revelation.
[34]
O Jehovah, have mercy upon this people, and as all men sin forgive the
transgressions of thy people, and let them be blotted out forever.
[41]
And whatsoever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that
city receive not the testimony of thy servants, and thy servants warn
them to save themselves from this untoward generation, let it be upon
that city according to that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of thy
prophets.
[42]
But deliver thou, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, thy servants from their
hands, and cleanse them from their blood.
Jehovah is another
name for Jesus Christ. Reference: "The
Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles." |
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The
Lord Jesus taught in D&C 25:12:
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For
my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the
righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing
upon their heads.
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Every
hymn or primary song is a prayer unto Jesus! The following are examples
of hymns addressed directly to Jesus.
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83
Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah
Majestically
1. Guide us, O thou
great Jehovah,
Guide us to the promised land.
We are weak, but thou art able;
Hold us with thy powerful hand.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Feed us till the Savior comes, [Alto and Tenor: Savior comes.]
Feed us till the Savior comes.
2. Open, Jesus, Zion's
fountains;
Let her richest blessings come.
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Guard us to this holy home.
Great Redeemer, Great Redeemer,
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day, [Alto and Tenor: welcome day!]
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day!
3. When the earth
begins to tremble,
Bid our fearful thoughts be still;
When thy judgments spread destruction,
Keep us safe on Zion's hill,
Singing praises, Singing praises,
Songs of glory unto thee, [Alto and Tenor: unto thee,]
Songs of glory unto thee.
Text:
William Williams, 1717–1791. First verse trans. by Peter Williams,
1722–1796. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
Music:
John Hughes, 1873–1932
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104
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
Prayerfully
1. Jesus, Savior, pilot
me
Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
2. As a mother stills
her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist'rous waves obey thy will
When thou say'st to them, Be still!
Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
3. When at last I near
the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on thy breast,
May I hear thee say to me,
Fear not; I will pilot thee.
Text:
Edward Hopper, 1818–-1888
Music:
John Edgar Gould, 1822–-1875
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105
Master, the Tempest Is Raging
Fervently
1. Master, the tempest
is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?
[Chorus]
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.
2. Master, with anguish
of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o'er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!
3. Master, the terror
is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven's within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
Text:
Mary Ann Baker, ca. 1874
Music:
H. R. Palmer, 1834–1907
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103
Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer
Reverently
1. Precious Savior,
dear Redeemer,
Thy sweet message now impart.
May thy Spirit, pure and fervid,
Enter ev'ry timid heart;
Carry there the swift conviction,
Turning back the sinful tide.
Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
May each soul in thee abide.
2. Precious Savior,
dear Redeemer,
We are weak but thou art strong;
In thy infinite compassion,
Stay the tide of sin and wrong.
Keep thy loving arms around us;
Keep us in the narrow way.
Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
Let us never from thee stray.
3. Precious Savior,
dear Redeemer,
Thou wilt bind the broken heart.
Let not sorrow overwhelm us;
Dry the bitter tears that start.
Curb the winds and calm the billows;
Bid the angry tempest cease.
Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
Grant us everlasting peace.
Text and music:
H. R. Palmer, 1834-1907
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172
In humility, our Savior
Meekly
1. In humility, our
Savior,
Grant thy Spirit here, we pray,
As we bless the bread and water
In thy name this holy day.
Let me not forget, O Savior,
Thou didst bleed and die for me
When thy heart was stilled and broken
On the cross at Calvary.
2. Fill our hearts with
sweet forgiving;
Teach us tolerance and love.
Let our prayers find access to thee
In thy holy courts above.
Then, when we have proven worthy
Of thy sacrifice divine,
Lord, let us regain they presence;
Let thy glory round us shine.
Lyrics by
Mabel Jones Gabbott, Music by Towland H. Prichard
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The
following hymn teaches that we can "commune" with our Saviour
166
Abide
With Me; 'tis Eventide
1.
Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
The
day is past and gone;
The
shadows of the evening fall;
The
night is coming on.
Within
my heart a welcome guest,
Within
my home abide.
[Chorus]
O
Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold,
'tis eventide.
O
Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold,
'tis eventide.
2.
Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
Thy
walk today with me
Has
made my heart within me burn,
As
I communed with thee.
Thy
earnest words have filled my soul
And
kept me near thy side.
3.
Abide with me; 'tis eventide,
And
lone will be the night
If
I cannot commune with thee
Nor
find in thee my light.
The
darkness of the world, I fear,
Would
in my home abide.
Text:
M. Lowrie Hofford, 1825-1888
Music: Harrison Millard, 1830-1895
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To
have a daily, personal relationship with the Master, we must be His
disciples. “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served,
and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and
intents of his heart?”
Elder
James E. Faust: A
Personal Relationship with the Savior |
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Do
Modern Prophets Teach that We Worship Jesus Christ?
President Gordon B. Hinckley testified:
I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the eternal, living God.
I believe in him as the Firstborn of the Father and as the Only
Begotten
of the Father in the flesh. I believe in him as an individual, separate
and distinct from his Father.
I believe that he
was born of Mary and that Heavenly Father was his
father. I believe that in his mortal life he was the one perfect man to
walk the earth. I believe that through his atoning sacrifice, the
offering of his life on Calvary’s Hill, he paid for our sins if we will
forsake evil and follow him. I believe that through his atonement,
without any price on our part, each of us is offered the gift of
resurrection from the dead. None so great has ever walked the earth.
He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I
believe in him. I love him. I worship him as I
worship his Father. I thank him and kneel before his
wounded feet and hands and side, amazed at the love he offers me.
Reference: The Godhead
President Hinckley also taught:
"I worship the God of heaven who is my Eternal Father. I worship the Lord Jesus
Christ who is my Savior and my Redeemer."
Reference: Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 509
President Hinckley spoke in the October 1999 General Conference about
new temples.
Hundreds
and hundreds of thousands of nonmembers have attended the open houses
associated with these new temples. They have done so with reverence and
respect. In many cases, the temples are, without question, the finest
buildings in the cities in which they are located. People marvel at
their beauty. But among many things, they are most impressed with
pictures of the Savior they see in these holy houses. They will no
longer regard us as a non-Christian people. They must know that the
central figure in all of our worship is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reference: Welcome
to Conference
President Hinckley dedicates the
Conference Center:
Today
we shall dedicate it as a house in which to worship God the Eternal
Father and His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reference: This Great Millennial Year
___________________________________________________________________________________
President Spencer W. Kimball proclaimed in the April 1979
General Conference:
"I invite the honest in heart everywhere to join with us in worshiping our divine
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "
Reference: Fortify Your Homes Against Evil
President Kimball wrote in
1978:
The
Lord has said, “I am the Almighty.” “I am Jesus Christ.” “I am
Jehovah.” He is the one we worship. We sing about him in nearly every
song. We pray about him in all our prayers. We talk about him in all
our meetings. We love him, and we adore him. And we promise and
rededicate ourselves over and over and over that we will from this
moment forth live nea rer to him and to his promises and to the
blessings which he has given us. I say this to you with all of our
affection and love.
Reference: The Privilege of Holding the Priesthood
___________________________________________________________________________________
Elder
Dallin H. Oaks began a talk with this greeting:
My dear brothers and sisters, I rejoice with you in the privilege of
coming together on this beautiful Sabbath day to worship our Father in
Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ and to be instructed by
their servants.
Reference: The Light and Life of this World
___________________________________________________________________________________
Other church leaders and authors have expressed similar teachings in
official LDS Church publications.
Anselm Spring wrote:
It is amazing to
think that the influence of a single being can be present everywhere.
Yet when we
worship Christ, we recognize that in all of his creations
he is present, that all forms
of life are sacred and should be treated with great reverence. Is it
strange to think that a meadow can bear testimony? This meadow bears a
testimony to me. Through my simple walks here, I have learned to know
the Master Creator and to rejoice in what he shares so freely with me.
Reference:
The
Meadow
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