The True Order of Prayer

by Jeffrey G. Hanks
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In response to brother [Name Deleted]'s doubts that the True order of Prayer was ever practiced or
condoned outside the Temples, I submit some relative information. You will notice in the following
quotes that prayer circles were quite common in ward and stake buildings in earlier years when the
clarity of its use and doctrinal understanding were more apparent. Michael Quinn's work on prayer
circles from BYU Studies sheds light on these things:

The special prayer circles of the 1850s were not restricted to Salt Lake City or even to
Utah. Although data are insufficient to identify the locations of all special prayer circles
during this period, it is possible that they were functioning in each of the major Mormon
settlements established in the American West. The Mormon colony in San Bernardino,
California, and the St. Louis (Missouri) Stake were both far distant from Church
headquarters, yet the former had a prayer circle as early as 1854 and the latter organized a
prayer circle in 1857. (D. Michael Quinn, BYU Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1, p.97)

In 1851 these special prayer circles met in dedicated rooms of residences, but
subsequently convened in the Lion House or in the Salt Lake Endowment House (1855-
1889), in the Gardo House or private residences (1889-1893), and in the Salt Lake Temple
(1893-1929). In some cases, prayer circles distant from a temple met in residences rather
than in chapels. It was common for the circle president to admit his relatives since these
special prayer circles included men irrespective of priesthood calling. Moreover, these
special prayer circles often included men from various wards and stakes in the Salt Lake
Valley. Men were released from a special prayer circle only in the event of unwillingness
to attend regularly or if they ceased to be members of the Church in good standing. (D.
Michael Quinn, BYU Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1, p.99)

"In addition to stake prayer circles, ecclesiastical prayer circles have been conducted by
wards, priesthood quorums (e.g., the Salt Lake Stake Elders' Quorum, 1893-1929), and by
temple presidencies and temple workers. Usually, these ecclesiastical prayer circles, even
in local wards, were organized by members of the First Presidency or the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles. For example on 18 December 1880 the President of the Church, his
counselors and two apostles organized prayer circles in each of the Ogden, Utah,
wards.63 Nevertheless, the presence of an apostle was not always required, since in 1937
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 Edward J. Wood, president of the Alberta (Canada) Stake and president of the Cardston
Temple, organized a prayer circle in the Hillspring Ward.64 The number of ward prayer
circles is not readily apparent, but in 1900 Apostle Reed Smoot said: "I hope that there
will not be a ward but what will have a prayer circle inaugurated for it is a strength to the
Church."65 With such encouragement, it is probable that ward prayer circles have been as
common by proportion as stake circles. (D. Michael Quinn, BYU Studies, Vol. 19, No. 1,
p.102)

The conducting of separate prayer circles has continued until recently in some wards and
stakes. However, on 3 May 1978, the First Presidency announced that all prayer circles
except those conducted as part of the endowment ceremony in the temples were to be
immediately discontinued. As the number of stakes in the LDS Church reached nearly a
thousand, the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles decided
that it would be too difficult to comply with all the requests for new prayer circles.
(Michael Quinn, BYU Studies.)

I am acquinted with several older LDS members that remember being asked to come down to the ward
chapel with their 'Temple' robes to pray for inspiration. For instance, an acquaintance of mine was part
of an Elder's quorum presidency in Provo in 1968. He was invited to a meeting in the 7th and 11th
ward building in which he was to bring his robes. The True order of Prayer was engaged in for the
purpose of receiving the Lord's will on new callings and decisions, etc..

Upper rooms in old chapels have either been covered over or are cleaning or storage rooms now. High
council rooms were used for these prayer circles. My wife's grandfather in Provo back in the 30's and
40's used to take his Temple clothes to the ward chapel to pray in leadership meetings, etc.

Dedicating altar rooms in personal homes and praying in the True Order was common place in the
early church:

A Prayer Answered:

I am standing on what to me is sacred ground. My grandparents and my parents and many

other relatives lived here in Provo and some still live here. My father as a young man
came near losing his life in the Provo river, not far from where we are now. His father,
who was in Salt Lake City, felt impressed to go into a room that had been set apart for
prayer. He clothed himself in Temple robes, knelt down at the altar and said: "Heavenly
Father, I feel that there is something seriously wrong with my family in Provo. Thou
knowest that I can not be with them there and be here. Heavenly Father, wilt thou
preserve and safeguard them, and I will be grateful to thee and honor thee."

At the time when he was praying, just as near as it was possible to indicate by checking
the time, my father had fallen into the river. It was at flood time. Logs and rocks were
pouring down from the canyon, and he was helpless. Those who were near saw his
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 predicament, but they could not reach him. The turbulence of the water was such that
nobody could live in it. They just stood there in horror. Father was doing everything he
could to keep his head above water, but he was being thrown up and down and being
dashed against the rocks and logs. All at once a wave lifted him bodily from the water and
threw him upon the shore. It was a direct answer of the prayer of a servant of the Lord.
(George Albert Smith, Sharing the Gospel With Others, p.83-84, Church Section, Deseret
News, February 16, 1946.)

If you search the words 'family altar' in the infobases (folio,1995) the reality of home altars and
offering up the signs and praying in the privacy of one's home was encouraged by LDS church
leadership. For example:

"The family altar should be in every man's house; he is the patriarch of the family, and
everything should be done under his direction. He should offer prayer; his wife and
children also should offer prayer in turn around the family altar. You cannot be a Saint
without the fellowship of the Spirit of God; and you should train your children that they
also may know the benefit of having its fellowship." (George Teasdale Gen. conf. Oct. 5,
1903.)

Using the Keys of the Priesthood and offering up the signs and praying in a sign of the priesthood was
never relegated only to the interior of an Endowment House or Temple. These keys were taught in
these edifices but were not restrictive in the use of them outside. My whole point is that endowed men
and women are taught the True Order of Prayer so that they will use it to receive revelation and
guidance in their lives and eventually pierce the veil and receive the ministrations of Heaven. It is,
after all the 'True"order of Prayer, isn't it? Once being 'endowed' with these keys, the recipient is to use
them. This is a concept that has been lost to the Latter-Day Saints today.

Having thus conferred the keys and form of the true order of prayer, Joseph Smith
apparently also authorized members of the Anointed Quorum to practice the order of
prayer apart the rest of the prayer circle. While Heber C. Kimball was campaigning for
Joseph Smith's presidential candidacy in Washington, D.C., he recorded in his journal on
6 June 1844: "Last nite I clothed my self and offerd up the Sines of the Holy Preasthood--
and called one the nameof the Lord he hurd me fore my heart was mad comfortable," and
a month later he and Apostle Lyman Wight obtained confirmation of the actuality of the
martyrdom in answer to the order of prayer. (D. Michael Quinn, BYU Studies, Vol. 19, No.
1, p.91)

Brigham Young, in giving instructions to Bishop Miller regarding the fullfilling of his calling said,

Let a Quorum of High Priests go into an upper room, and there appear before the Lord in
the garments of the holy Priesthood, and offer up before the Father, in the name of Jesus,
the signs of the holy Priesthood, and then ask God to give a revelation concerning that
doctrine, and they have a right to receive it. If you cannot get the information in an other
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 way, suppose you were upon the islands of the sea, far away from the main body of the
Church, you are entitled, to the administration of angels who administer in the terrestrial
kingdom; and they have a right to receive administrations from the celestial. In this
capacity you could ask for revelations pertaining to doctrine. (Brigham Young, JD 9:91)

Also, President Young recorded the dimensions of the altar for those who may desire to
build one:

The altar is 2 1/2 feet long X 2 1/2 feet high X (one) foot wide rising from a platform
about 8 or 9 inches high and extending out on all sides about a foot forming a convenient
place to kneel upon. The top of the altar and the platform for kneeling upon are covered
with cushions of scarlet damask cloth; the sides of the upright part or body of the altar are
covered with white linen. (Mss. Hist. of Brigham Young; by J. Watson, pg.8)

Wilford Woodruff added:

President Young said the family altar was the same as an altar in the prayer circle. It is for
parents and children to join hands over the altar and pray. (Journal of Wilford Woodruff;
April 25, 1858.)

There is more to praying than just praying. According to the Prophet Joseph, a person must learn how
to approach God in the proper manner if he ever expects a reply:

Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach him and how to ask so as
to receive an answer. When we understand the character of God, and know how to come
to him, he begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are
ready to come to him, he is ready to come to us. (Joseph Smith 6 April 1844; Words of
Joseph Smith.)

It is only when we learn how to approach God in the proper manner that we are able to have the
heavens unfolded to us. On another occaision when Joseph was addressing a group of Relief Society
sisters:

He spoke of delivering the Keys of the Priesthood to the Church, and said that the faithful
members of the Relief Society should receive them with their husbands, and the Saints
whose integrity has been tried and proved faithful, might know how to ask and receive an
answer. (TPJS, pg.226)

This statement by the Prophet clearly points out that the saints of his day did not know how to pray so
as to receive an answer from God, or at least not a full and complete answer. And how did they pray?
They prayed just as we do now; they addressed their prayers to the Father, expressed thanks for their
blessings, petitioned the Father's assistance in their lives, and closed in the name of Jesus Christ. Yet
Joseph believed and openly taught that these steps were not sufficient. Bathsheba W. Smith, wife of
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 Apostle George A. Smith re-emphasized this same point. She states that Joseph told her:

"...that we did not know how to pray and have our prayers answered. But when I and my
husband had our endowments..Joseph Smith presiding, he taught us the order of prayer."
(Words of Joseph Smith, p. 54)

I hope that more light is shed on the use of, history of, and continuing need for the regular use of the
True Order of Prayer. Any properly endowed person (Pre-April 10th, 1990) has the right and the keys
to use the True Order of Prayer in his or her own privacy, whether in a dedicated room for such in the
home or in the wilderness. The robes are "robes of the Holy Priesthood", not just 'Temple' robes. The
latter connotation infers that only in the Temple can you wear them. History and my own personal
experience prove otherwise.

Hopefully, this has given some food for thought and introspection as to why you are even taught the
True Order of Prayer in the endowment. The pattern to Eternal life rests in a true endowment and this
order of prayer is pivotal in receiving heavenly direction for one's own probational journey. Until next
time.....

Sincerely,
Jeff Hanks

"....because the things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful
and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. " (Joseph Smith, TPJS, p.137)

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