Let Us Gather in a Circle

“The family is the basic unit of society. The praying family is the hope of a better society.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, The Blessings of Family Prayer, Ensign February 1991)

Sophia is learning to pray.  She is only two years old, but during those two years of her life, she has experienced hundreds of prayers.  We have family prayers in the morning and family prayers in the evening, and a blessing on every meal.  She sees people praying in church meetings and at the beginning of our weekly family home evening. She has watched her older brothers and sisters say their personal prayers, and she has even walked in on her parents praying…when she was supposed to be in bed.  This weekend she even learned to fold her arms, bow her head and close her eyes as the prayers were said in General Conference which we watched on television. 

Now she wants to say the prayers herself….every one of them.  She often gets to say a prayer herself after someone else prays.  Whenever she eats, even if it is just a snack, she insists on blessing her food.  She folds her arms and expects everyone within sight and hearing, to fold their arms as well. We humor her.  Even her big brothers studying in the family room good naturedly fold their arms as she blesses her "popsicle."  We say a few words and then she copies us.  We try to make the prayers simple but sincere.  We want her to understand that a prayer, even a blessing on the food is not something you just memorize and spout off by rote.  When we pray we are talking to our Heavenly Father.  We are expressing our sincere gratitude for what he has given us.  We humbly ask him for what we need.  We try to talk before our prayers about specific needs.  We mention family members and friends by name in our family prayers and ask for God's help in their lives. 

It is not always easy for us to have family prayers.  We have children in seminary, an older son with a job, children in classes and sports.  But we try to pray every morning and again every evening as a family. We find that having our evening family prayer around the dinner table is the best way to make sure that it happens every night.  With so many children scattering different directions in the evenings and having different bedtimes, this seems to work best for us. Sometimes getting everyone together and on their knees takes longer than saying the prayer.  But we continue to make this act of worship an important part of our days. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley:

 "I feel satisfied that there is no adequate substitute for the morning and evening practice of kneeling together - father, mother, and children.  This, more than soft carpets, more than lovely draperies, more than cleverly balanced color schemes, is the thing that will make for better and more beautiful homes." (The Blessings of Family Prayer, Ensign February 1991)