Question about Praying

[Elgama]

My husband says the mission president here (not sure if its current the recent mission president) directed missionaries to pray outside the restaurant before they go in - which seems to fit with the direction most members get through personal revelation for some reason its obviously irreverant to do so.

-Charley

Originally Posted by TheLutheran

I cannot think of a valid or justified reason not to.

I should have posted "For me, I cannot think of a valid or justified reason not to."

[ztodd]

It seemed like we all did on my mission ten years ago. Actually we would bow our heads and say our own individual silent prayers- we didn't pray together in restaurants. We had plenty of "together" prayers throughout the rest of the day.

[applepansy]

Originally Posted by jazzy225

I have lived here in Utah for a long time and I know many LDS families and families of other beliefs. I have also seen many of these families in local restaurants.

My question is:

I have noticed that all of the LDS families I know, do not pray in restaurants.

I have been in local wards and stake houses, and lds do pray before meals there.

Why not in restaurants? I do see young lsd at BYU praying before their meals, but not at public restaurants.

Just curious..

Pray before meals in public doesn't always have to be obvious. As a child I was taught to say a silent prayer to myself. That doesn't mean you have to obviously fold your arms and bow your head, close your eyes. Just pause a moment and talk to God.

applepansy

[jazzy225]

Originally Posted by Misshalfway

Who said anything about being ashamed?

Look what the search of ashamed came up with.


1. Ashamed, humiliated, mortified refer to a condition or feeling of discomfort or embarrassment.

Almost everyone mentioned being uncomfortable in their posts about praying in public.


For a church who claims to be the "only true" church and claims complete authority, it seems funny, that most LDS would take the position of praying in their vans/buses before they eat at a restaurant.

Every true Christian I know, prays in public before they eat or at any function (public or not). It reinforces what they believe and represents to others what they believe.

Nothing like seeing a 20 top praying. It makes what they believe even more powerful..They don't care what other people think.

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by jazzy225

Look what the search of ashamed came up with.


1. Ashamed, humiliated, mortified refer to a condition or feeling of discomfort or embarrassment.

Almost everyone mentioned being uncomfortable in their posts about praying in public.


For a church who claims to be the "only true" church and claims complete authority, it seems funny, that most LDS would take the position of praying in their vans/buses before they eat at a restaurant.

Every true Christian I know, prays in public before they eat or at any function (public or not). It reinforces what they believe and represents to others what they believe.

Nothing like seeing a 20 top praying. It makes what they believe even more powerful..They don't care what other people think.

For me its nothing to do with what someone else thinks its what God thinks is priority for me - as Latter Day Saints personal revelation is important too us. The Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints is worldwide, I have yet to see any manner of religious person praying inside the restaurant in the UK it is deemed inappropriate,, even Muslims will step outside at prayer time, although quite frankly my husband says having lived in the bible belt he never saw a single person praying in a restaurant there either - so the personal revelation not to seems pretty widespread. For me prayer is sacred its not to be misused and praying inside a restaurant is misusing a gift God has given me. And personally I think in the UK praying in a restaurant would set back missionary work a lot.

-Charley

[abqfriend]

A "true" Christian has no bearing on whether or not one prays in a retaurant or not.
Otherwise-what would be the focus of our faith?-our prayer posture?

I may have my differences with others on this board, but I would not judge anyone by whether or not they pray in a restaurant or not.


-Carol

Originally Posted by jazzy225

Look what the search of ashamed came up with.


1. Ashamed, humiliated, mortified refer to a condition or feeling of discomfort or embarrassment.

Almost everyone mentioned being uncomfortable in their posts about praying in public.


For a church who claims to be the "only true" church and claims complete authority, it seems funny, that most LDS would take the position of praying in their vans/buses before they eat at a restaurant.

Every true Christian I know, prays in public before they eat or at any function (public or not). It reinforces what they believe and represents to others what they believe.

Nothing like seeing a 20 top praying. It makes what they believe even more powerful..They don't care what other people think.

[jazzy225]

Originally Posted by Elgama

For me prayer is sacred its not to be misused and praying inside a restaurant is misusing a gift God has given me.
-Charley

Public Prayer

At times we may be asked to offer a public prayer, perhaps in a Church meeting or class. When we receive this opportunity, we should remember that we are communicating with Heavenly Father, not giving a public sermon. We should not worry about what others may think of what we say. Instead, we should offer a simple, heartfelt prayer.


Pulled off lds.org.

According to your LDS website, you should have no problem praying in public.

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by jazzy225

Public Prayer

At times we may be asked to offer a public prayer, perhaps in a Church meeting or class. When we receive this opportunity, we should remember that we are communicating with Heavenly Father, not giving a public sermon. We should not worry about what others may think of what we say. Instead, we should offer a simple, heartfelt prayer.


Pulled off lds.org.

According to your LDS website, you should have no problem praying in public.

I don't think many are worrying about others as I stated before I have no fear praying in public never have had, however I do not believe a noisy restaurant is the right place - it does specify church meeting or class

-Charley

[Misshalfway]

Originally Posted by jazzy225

Look what the search of ashamed came up with.


1. Ashamed, humiliated, mortified refer to a condition or feeling of discomfort or embarrassment.

Almost everyone mentioned being uncomfortable in their posts about praying in public.


For a church who claims to be the "only true" church and claims complete authority, it seems funny, that most LDS would take the position of praying in their vans/buses before they eat at a restaurant.

Every true Christian I know, prays in public before they eat or at any function (public or not). It reinforces what they believe and represents to others what they believe.

Nothing like seeing a 20 top praying. It makes what they believe even more powerful..They don't care what other people think.

Interesting take...... pretty heavy bat you are swinging there Jazzy.

I think it may have also to do with this.....

Matt 6:1-8

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: 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 acloset, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall freward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.


I am not saying that praying in a restaurant is a bad thing in any degree. I just see different ways of expressing the same devotion.

I don't know Jazzy, your remarks are so cutting....the beam and mote thing comes to mind as well but I don't really have the energy........::::shaking head:::