What About Prayer? Navigating Awkward Moments Gracefully

It’s common for LDS missionaries to offer a prayer at the beginning or end of each visit. In their training, they are often encouraged (or expected) to open meetings with prayer. It may feel like a natural routine to them.

For Christians, this moment can feel a bit awkward. That’s understandable. While missionaries often use familiar phrases like “Dear Heavenly Father” and “In the name of Jesus Christ,” it’s important to remember that the God they are addressing is not the triune God of the Bible. Mormonism teaches that God the Father is an exalted man with a physical body, and that Jesus is literally his spirit-son, not the eternal, uncreated second person of the Trinity.

So what should you do?

Here are a few ways to handle it:

1. Offer to Pray First:
   If you’re meeting in your home or even in a public place, consider taking the initiative:

“Would it be alright if I opened with a prayer? It helps me focus.”

This approach allows you to clearly proclaim the biblical gospel through your prayer, emphasizing that salvation is complete in Christ’s work.

2. Respectfully Decline to Join In:
   If the missionaries ask if they can pray or simply begin praying, you can respond graciously but clearly:

“Of course. Please don’t be offended, but I probably won’t join you since I’m not sure we’re praying to the same God.”

This keeps you from feeling like you’re endorsing a false view of God while still respecting their desire to pray.

3. Listen and Pray Silently:
   If they begin without asking, bow your head respectfully and use that time to pray silently to the true God, asking for discernment and for the Spirit to work through the conversation.
4. Offer to Close in Prayer:
   If they’ve already prayed, you can ask to close the meeting with your own prayer. This gives you the chance to refocus the conversation on the gospel and your confidence in Jesus’ finished work.

Opening Prayers

“Lord, you are a great and wonderful God. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss you and the great things you have done. Send your Spirit. Have him powerfully work so that all present see more clearly and appreciate more greatly your love in sending your Son to do everything for us. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

“Heavenly Father, your love for all people is beyond all comprehension. Thank you for giving your Son as a sacrifice for the sins of all people. Now, guide the discussion so that your divine truth and not human opinions are the focus, especially the truth of Christ’s completed work for all people. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Prayers

“O majestic Lord, you are so great. Your ways are far above our ways. It is truly amazing that you have graciously revealed your saving ways to mankind. But you didn’t just reveal them. You fulfilled them in Jesus! Thank you, Jesus, for becoming mankind’s Substitute by fulfilling all of God’s commands for all people. To you be all glory, honor, and praise. In your name, I pray. Amen.”

“O Lord, thank you for allowing us to have a serious and cordial discussion. Move each person present here to give serious thought to what has been discussed. Help all to focus especially on Christ’s work for us. I also ask that you give these missionaries a safe journey home. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”