I was teaching a Sunday School lesson about family prayer
this week read this quote
from former LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley:
A generation or two ago, family prayer in the homes of Christian people
throughout the world was as much a part of the day’s activity as was eating. As that practice has diminished, the moral
decay has ensued.
Oh, that we as a people might fully cultivate this practice, which was
of such importance to our pioneer forebears. Family prayer was as much a part
of their worship as were the meetings convened in the Tabernacle. With the faith that came of those daily
invocations, they grubbed the sagebrush, led the waters to the parched soil,
made the desert blossom, governed their families in love, lived in peace on
with another, and made their names immortal as they lost themselves in the
service of God. (Ensign, Feb 1991, p. 2)
 |
| Add caption |
The large family of George Ogden Chase family would
regularly kneel in family prayer. In her written memories, daughter Kate Chase writes
proudly of her father leading them in family prayer without fail. (See Chase History compiled by
Clarissa Chase Weiss.)
This Chase family of Centerville had 15 children. Five died in infancy and one in her youth.
(David died of typhoid or appendicitis while attending the Ag College in Logan.)
With all the comings and goings of this large family, it was probably difficult
to gather, but they made it happen. I
would credit that practice to Mother Josephine as George was often gone from home on business.
Brigham H. Roberts, a friend of the family, wrote:
“They were the best
family group that I have known in the world.
The mother (Josephine Streeper Chase) was a quiet and gentle character,
though scarcely ever rising to the effort of governing and controlling the
household, yet the household was governed and the children were obedient and
markedly responsible to their parents.”
Smoot, Sheriff, The City In-Between-History of Centerville, Utah,
1975, p. 274
 |
| Add caption |
In my own family, James and Maxine Owen would lead us in
prayer each day. While growing up, we would kneel at the kitchen table chairs
just before our evening meal to have family prayer, just like my mother's family did it when she was young. I remember how we would especially pray for my older
brother, Ralph, that he would be protected as he left our "family nest" at a young age.
Modern apostles and prophets counsel families to remember to
share a moment together in giving praise, honor and glory to God. In October 2014 General Conference, Elder
Richard G. Scott said:
“Parents, help safeguard your children by arming them
morning and night with the power of family prayer. Children are bombarded every
day with the evils of lust, greed, pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors.
Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the
powerful blessings that result from family prayer. Family prayer should be a
nonnegotiable priority in your daily life.” (Ensign Nov. 2014, p. 93)
 |
| Add caption |
A. Russell Croft, grandson of John Croft, wrote in 1977:
John (Croft) was a
deeply religious man. “Family Prayer”
was the rule in the Croft home. I
vividly recall on morning after breakfast, when the family was seated at the
kitchen table with John in his usual position at the south end of the table, in
his “Congress Chair”. No one had left
the table as grandfather was giving some bits of wisdom from his long, varied
experiences. He was not too well and was
nearing the end of his vigorous and successful life. He alled for prayer and I can remember, to
this day, one thing he said, “If I die give the boys good warm socks to go out
to milk the cows and do the chores.”
John Croft and Amelia Mitchell Croft-Pioneers of 1860 by
Alfred Russell Croft, 1977, p. vii
Emma Amelia Croft most likely led the Croft family in family
prayer when John Croft was away working on the railroad. She wrote poems about prayer which have been
preserved among her writings.
 |
| Add caption |
It is true that a family kneeling in prayer was more customary of our parent's times and more generally practiced in society when I was younger.
My Aunt Mardene (my mother's sister) wrote about prayer in the Chase and Lillian Moulton home: "As to family prayer, I can remember turning our chairs around and kneeling for family prayer – usually on a Sunday. Sometimes we had our big Sunday dinner in the front room, and I remember that happening then. We had a big table in the dinette room that seated 12 of us – (Norma was married and remained in Heber.) We would just have a blessing on the food during the week. I suppose trying to get everyone on the same schedule was the goal in the good old days, but family dinner time has really taken a hit with many families in current times."
 |
| Add caption |
In the Mark and Cyndy Weiss family, we would have family
prayer following a “scripture time” each day.
As homeschoolers, it was probably the most important part of our
“curriculum”. Teaching the children
that we acknowledged the hand of God in our lives was certainly a major part of
their “lessons”.
As President Gordon B. Hinckley once said:
A return to the old pattern of prayer, family prayer in the homes of
the people is one of the basic medications that would check the dread disease
that is eroding the character of our society. (Ensign, Feb 1991, p. 2)
I would hope that this powerful tradition of a family
kneeling in prayer continues in my children’s families and then in their own children’s families.
