Jesus Said To Not Recite Prayers

Jesus taught believers how to pray. He also told us in what manner does He approve what we are doing and when He doesn’t. One example is when He taught His people how to pray. You may know this as the Lord’s prayer. It reads the following, ¹“our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13) This prayer is very powerful, however, people take it for granted when they repeat it in their own prayers, instead of praying for themselves to God. Jesus did want people to use this prayer an example when they pray, but abuse it. This is why He said, ¹“after this manner therefore pray ye.” (Matthew 6:9) He never said that this prayer is to be repeated, but it is here to instruct us all how to pray. So every person that repeats this prayer or other prayers, know that this is not right and goes against what Jesus said. And to make this point more clear, He said, ¹“but when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:7,8) I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into a Catholic church over my years and have seen them all repeat the same prayer over and over again. This may look like a religious act, but not something that God approves of in any way of or form. If you were to understand what Jesus taught us, then you would know that God is waiting for each one of us to call upon His Name. He wants us to have a relationship with Him, and conversation with Him, like we do with others. He also wants you to ask him questions, for He always has an answer.

As we discussed above, I could stop here and say that Catholics are the only ones that have issues repeating prayers, but that is not the case. This applies to any religion, pagan or those that claim to be Christians, like Mormonism, who do such things. Did you know that Mormons also repeat prayers. And I am not talking about how they often pray the same prayer over their food, but that every Sunday, they repeat the same two prayers. This happens during the Sacrament portion of their church meeting, which is similar to Communion that Christians take. However, they use bread and water, when they do so, which may be different than what we are used to. And before they partake of the elements, a 12-13 year old deacon gets up there and prays over the bread, in which another one prays over the water. This might seem OK, but it is not at all and God is very unhappy because what is happening. These two prayers over the bread and water are written prayers that are repeated each week and have been for over a hundred years by millions of individuals. And if that person doesn’t pray exactly how it is written, then it has to be repeated until it is perfect. There is no real prayer happening here, but something that appears to be that way, but does nothing for the people. This is because God does not hear repeated prayers, but ones that come from the heart. Though these prayers may not appear so terrible if someone didn’t know about these written prayers and prayed similarly. This is because it is good to ask God to help us keep the commandments, for we can’t on our own. It is also good to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. However, what this is meaning is the blood shed for them in Gethsemane and lastly on the cross, which is not biblical and another gospel. No wonder why the cross is left out of the water prayer, because these prayers come from the Book of Mormon. Those written and recited prayers are below…

Mormon Recited Prayer Over The Bread
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” (Book Of Mormon: Moroni 4:3)

Mormon Recited Prayer Over The Water
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” (Book Of Mormon: Moroni 5:2) Please note: wine is replaced by water in their prayer.

In conclusion, false teachings like this one about doing recited prayers good comes when either other books or oral traditions are inner mixed with the Bible. This is when God’s Word gets tainted and false teachings have a way to enter into people’s hearts. If God’s Word, the Bible, was the Mormon Church’s only book of scripture, then they would not have this problem. Instead, true prayers that come from their heart would be given over the bread and the cup. There would be no worry about a young man getting ridiculed after the meeting for messing up the prayer so many times, for his one heart felt prayer would be enough every time. The same can be said for their times when they eat, as prayers from the heart would not only be spoken of about their food, but about the welfare of their soul and everyone in the room. The Catholics also have the concept of prayer wrong, in how they repeat prayers often in church service and home as well. What they are missing, like the Mormons are, is time in God’s Word and sincere prayer. It they didn’t just read the Bible on occasion and other times cherry pick certain verses, then they would see the entire picture in the chapters at hand. Truly, if people were reading the Bible daily, then they would not help but cry out to God in prayer. They would no longer feel a need to repeat any written prayer, but use their own words instead. Our Father, who is God, loves us so much as to open the channels of prayer to us all. We don’t have to write it a special way for Him to approve of it more, but just talk to Him, like you would with your father, mother, siblings, and friends on earth. The Lord God is real and when that kicks in, our time with Him changes dramatically. This is when we will desire to have more of God’s presence over our lives. If you love God and desire to be saved, then start reading the Bible daily and do as He has said. Begin to pray like you have never prayed before.

Let us pray:
Lord, I am so grateful to know You through Your Words in the Bible and through my time in prayer with You. For You have heard my cries and helped me along the way. I did not need to recite a special prayer to You, but simply pour out my heart to You for answers. You have come to my rescue so my times and have answered my questions. I have learned that You are our Father and desire to help us more than any other person on earth. You know our needs better than anyone else, and therefore, what You have to teach us is gold and cannot be replaced. People can try to replace You with their interactions with them, but what You have to say is so much more valuable. I don’t have to wonder if I am doing what is right, when Your presence is over me. I don’t have to worry if I am on the right path, for You are leading me in it. You have an answer to all my questions, for none of my concerns are smaller than another. You can see through my situation and help me through it, the best way possible. Truly, the world can try to help us along the way, but there is always hurdles and darkness that will prevail in our lives. You never prescribed this life to be difficult, but joyful. There is much peace, when You are working in our lives. It is especially good when You hear our confessions and forgive us as sinners. No more are we wracked by the guilt and shame in our lives, of which the devil puts upon us, for You have lifted us out of the bondage we are in. We can easily be driven to walk in a lot of directions, because of temptation, but with Your hand leading us, we are able to walk safely past them and into green pastures. Thank You Lord. I love You so much. It is so much better now to not be tied down to a memorized prayer, but to just pour out my heart to You. You do listen to me. I am special and have become Your child. For this reason do I not only love to ask You different things, but to also give You thanks and to praise You. You deserve the highest praise of all, for no one is like You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

¹Matthew 6:1-13 (KJV)
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.