Modes of Prayer

Listener · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 12:34 AM

This thread is sponsored by a gentleman who passed a remark in church today.

He was sharing on prayer. He emphasized that prayer to God should be reverent. I'm OK with that so far.

The next comment was that all prayer should address God as Thee/Thou/Thine, as this is required for reverence.

Now to the question.

How many of you are "Thee-ers" and how many are "You-ers"...and does it really matter?

I'm still processing this, but here are some thoughts, for what they are worth. If we truly wish to pray as Jesus taught us, it should be in Aramaic. If one prefers King James English in prayer, then my historical understanding is that in old English, thee/thou were terms of familiarity rather than reverence. This would certainly fit with Jesus addressing God as "Abba".

So, as I address those I love as you/yours, and I would address those I respect as you/yours, my vote is with this side.

Any thoughts?

skalenfehl · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 12:42 AM

Interestingly enough, we are encouraged to use thee and thou because it is considered respectful. Even more interesting is that thee and thou is the informal/familiar usage of the word you, if I remember my old English correctly. Go figure. In other languages the informal/familiar you is used. By the way, I always use thee and thou. Here's an interesting link:

Thee and Thou

pam · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 01:28 AM

I've always used thee and thou when praying and addressing my Heavenly Father.

pam · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 01:36 AM

Let me add one thing. I think Heavenly Father would love to hear from us no matter whether we use thee or thou or you.

breeb · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 01:57 AM

When I pray publicly I use thee and thou because it is concidered proper. It seems to me church, in a way, has its own language, and at church thee and thou is proper. I admit I am one of those that doesnt really use them properly and some times durring personal prayer I will stumble over them. I tend to stop and think about whether or not I used it correctly. Since my personal prayers are much more intimate and involved than my public prayers I can become distracted and lose the spirit. Therefore I have decided to be a you and your prayer person durring personal prayer, but continue to use thee and thine for my public prayers.

InTheDoghouse · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 10:01 AM

Although I feel that personal prayer is just that, our leaders have encouraged us to use specific prayer language when we address the Lord. Here is another great article from the 1993 May edition of the Ensign By Elder Dallin H. Oaks that explains this very point beautifully.

The Language of Prayer
I too believe that the Lord would love to hear from us in any way we pray, but when possible we should try and practice proper prayer language which we have been taught, if for nothing else to show obedience. To quote Elder Oaks, "I am sure that our Heavenly Father, who loves all of his children, hears and answers all prayers, however phrased. If he is offended in connection with prayers, it is likely to be by their absence, not their phraseology."

The most recent instruction by our church leaders on this topic that I could find was in the New Era in 2006. However, they have loads of previous instruction and council that has not been updated with any different information, so I would assume that is still the position of the church.

WANDERER · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 10:47 AM

I guess if you have to make a public prayer at any stage you can write it down and get a member to transcribe it into King James english for you...to avoid getting it wrong.

Almost everyone says the Lords Prayer in King James English...if that's any comfort.

I'd kind of find it cheesey to pray in private like that...sort of like being in an oatmeal commercial. But that's probably cultural conditioning.

Considering the Book of Mormon is written in KJV and the people of Joseph Smiths' time didn't speak in KJV I guess you would have to wonder why God would do that? Just as easy to use the english of the time. Therefore it might logically follow that it might be a required language for sacred texts...prayers, hyms.... I'm not sure...just thinking out loud...about why it might be as it is.

Moksha · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 04:15 PM

I use modern English along with my own imperfect grammar. That affectation of Jacobean English seems too twilight-zonish to suit my personal needs. Sort of takes me out of the moment and places me back in the year 1610.

However, I respect those oddbodkins who use anachronistic terms in their prayers, gadzooks! I actually think it would be fun if they were to slip into Chaucerian or even Old English prayer mode.

Of course, I say rain and snow instead of "moisture" as well.

WANDERER · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 05:43 PM

It's an interesting topic...I'm now reading about the whole KJV movement to put the Bible into common (vulgar) language accessible to all...it was considered a very disrespectful thing to do at the time by some and they were persecuted for it. How bizarre and ironic that it has become the very thing they tried to change.

Um..some interesting discussions on the bloggernacle about this.

Listener · #10 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 03:07 AM

All of your comments have been helpful.

I confess that stubbornness may be a part of my problem. I never wear white shirts and ties...and I happily went out and bought some. I consumed tea and coffee...and I feel much better now that I have stopped. Even if the thou-thing is cultural, why on earth would I wish to offend someone over such a small thing. I am perfectly capable of adjusting my prayer language to suit the LDS practices, in order to not offend.

Lesson learned. I'll treat it as an adventure!