“We Ask Thee, Holy Father”

Joseph Smith said that the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple (Doctrine and Covenants 109) was received by revelation. Even though it is a public prayer offered on a formal occasion, we can learn principles from this prayer to help us improve our daily personal prayers. Here are some principles I learned by studying this prayer today:

1. When we ask God to dedicate a place, we’re actually asking Him to sanctify people.

Near the beginning of the prayer, Joseph, speaking on behalf of all of the gathered church members, asks God to “accept of this house … that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:4, 12). But when he talks about the implications of that request, it’s all about the people who will worship there:

• Empowerment: “That thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power” (v. 22)
• Stability: “Establish the people that shall worship, and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations and for eternity” (v. 24)
• Protection: “Full and complete deliverance” from violent persecution (v. 32; see also v. 46)
• Redemption: “Forgive the transgressions of thy people, and let them be blotted out forever” (v. 34; see also v. 21)

2. It’s okay to ask God to help you keep a commandment He gave you.

You might think that when God commands you to do something, it’s now your responsibility to do it. But as Nephi testified, when God gives us commandments, He also prepares a way for us to keep them (1 Nephi 3:7). Therefore, it’s appropriate to pray for that help.

In the dedicatory prayer, Joseph quotes several passages from previous revelations, including the commandment to “call a solemn assembly” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:70, 117; 95:7) and to “teach one another words of wisdom…out of the best books” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118). In both cases, he specifically asked God to help them fulfill that commandment. (See v. 10, 14).

3. Pray for a variety of people.

Joseph prayed for church members in Missouri (v. 47-49), for the mobs who were persecuting them (v. 50-53), for the leaders of our nation (v. 54) and of other nations (v. 55), for the Jews (v. 62-64) and the Native Americans (v. 65-66), for himself and his family (v. 68-69), other church leaders (v. 71), and all church members (v. 72).

It seems like we should be inclusive in our prayers. Request blessings for people you know well and for people you don’t, for people who are similar to you and for people who are very different, for people you love and for people who are difficult to love. Joseph even followed the Savior’s counsel to “pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you” (3 Nephi 12:44; Matthew 5:44), which may be part of the process of learning to forgive them.

4. Pray for God to accomplish His work.

It might seem strange to ask God to fulfill His purposes, but that statement of commitment may help us align ourselves with His will. Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10; see also 3 Nephi 13:10). In the dedicatory prayer, Joseph asked God:

• “to appoint unto Zion other stakes … that the gathering of thy people may roll on in great power and majesty” (v. 59).
• “that the kingdom, which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth” (v. 72)
• “That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness” (v. 73)

We should pray for God’s work to move forward, and then look for ways to help Him accomplish that work.

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Today, I will incorporate these principles into my prayers. I will remember that my prayers are always about people, I will ask for help in following God’s commandments, I will pray for a variety of people, and I will pray for God’s work to move forward.