Prayer circle (Mormonism)
Encyclopedia
In Mormonism
, a prayer circle, also known as the True Order of Prayer is a ritual established by Joseph Smith, Jr. that some Mormon
s believe is a more potent means of receiving blessings and revelation from God. The ritual involves an antiphon
ic recitation of prayer by participants joined in a circle, usually around an altar in a temple.
that occurred in the youth of Joseph Smith, Jr. Ritual circles were also practiced in Freemasonry
, to which Smith had been initiated in 1842. Early Mormons practiced conventional Protestant-type prayer circles at least as early as 1833.
On May 4, 1842, Smith met with nine other men and performed the first Endowment ceremony
. It is not clear whether this ceremony included a prayer circle. However, prayer circles became the main purpose of meetings of the Anointed Quorum
on May 26, 1843. Women were first included in the ceremony on 28 September 1843.
of Joseph Smith, Jr., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued to practice prayer circles in Latter-day Saint temples
. In addition, local stake
and ward
prayer circles were organized and conducted until May 3, 1978, when the First Presidency
announced that all prayer circles should be discontinued except those performed in a temple as part of an Endowment
ceremony. The reason for this change is unknown, but could have resulted in part from the explosive growth of the Church, and the fact that prayer circles were usually organized by a member of the First Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
. Others have speculated that the change stems from the desire of the Latter-day Saint leadership to more tightly control the use of the associated "priesthood keys" and spiritual gifts to prevent misuse of God's power and gifts.
prayer circles within temples, Endowment houses, and homes are still common.
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
, a prayer circle, also known as the True Order of Prayer is a ritual established by Joseph Smith, Jr. that some Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s believe is a more potent means of receiving blessings and revelation from God. The ritual involves an antiphon
Antiphon
An antiphon in Christian music and ritual, is a "responsory" by a choir or congregation, usually in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or other text in a religious service or musical work....
ic recitation of prayer by participants joined in a circle, usually around an altar in a temple.
Origin of Mormon prayer circles
Prayer circles were common in the Protestant revivals of the Second Great AwakeningSecond Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a Christian revival movement during the early 19th century in the United States. The movement began around 1800, had begun to gain momentum by 1820, and was in decline by 1870. The Second Great Awakening expressed Arminian theology, by which every person could be...
that occurred in the youth of Joseph Smith, Jr. Ritual circles were also practiced in Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, to which Smith had been initiated in 1842. Early Mormons practiced conventional Protestant-type prayer circles at least as early as 1833.
On May 4, 1842, Smith met with nine other men and performed the first Endowment ceremony
Endowment (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, the endowment is an ordinance designed to prepare participants to become kings, queens, priests, and priestesses in the afterlife. As part of the ceremony, participants take part in a scripted reenactment of the Biblical creation and fall of Adam and Eve...
. It is not clear whether this ceremony included a prayer circle. However, prayer circles became the main purpose of meetings of the Anointed Quorum
Anointed Quorum
The Anointed Quorum, also known as the Quorum of the Anointed, or the Holy Order, was a select body of men and women who Joseph Smith, Jr. initiated into Mormon temple ordinances at Nauvoo, Illinois, which gave them special standing in the early Latter Day Saint movement...
on May 26, 1843. Women were first included in the ceremony on 28 September 1843.
Within mainstream Mormonism
After the murderDeath of Joseph Smith, Jr.
The death of Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the Latter Day Saint movement, of which Smith was the founder and leader. When he was attacked and killed by a mob, Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States...
of Joseph Smith, Jr., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continued to practice prayer circles in Latter-day Saint temples
Temple (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a temple is a building dedicated to be a house of God and is reserved for special forms of worship. A temple differs from a church meetinghouse, which is used for weekly worship services. Temples have been a significant part of the Latter Day Saint movement since...
. In addition, local stake
Stake (Mormonism)
A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations...
and ward
Ward (Mormonism)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a ward is the larger of two types of local congregations . A ward is presided over by a bishop, the equivalent of a pastor in other religions. As with all church leadership, the bishop is considered lay clergy and as such is not paid...
prayer circles were organized and conducted until May 3, 1978, when the First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
announced that all prayer circles should be discontinued except those performed in a temple as part of an Endowment
Endowment (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, the endowment is an ordinance designed to prepare participants to become kings, queens, priests, and priestesses in the afterlife. As part of the ceremony, participants take part in a scripted reenactment of the Biblical creation and fall of Adam and Eve...
ceremony. The reason for this change is unknown, but could have resulted in part from the explosive growth of the Church, and the fact that prayer circles were usually organized by a member of the First Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
. Others have speculated that the change stems from the desire of the Latter-day Saint leadership to more tightly control the use of the associated "priesthood keys" and spiritual gifts to prevent misuse of God's power and gifts.
Within Mormon Fundamentalism
Amongst some Mormon fundamentalists such as the Apostolic United BrethrenApostolic United Brethren
The Apostolic United Brethren is a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist church within the Latter Day Saint movement. The sect is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
prayer circles within temples, Endowment houses, and homes are still common.
External links
- ldsendowment.org (a detailed, but respectful, source of information about the Endowment ceremony).
- lds-temple.org (a detailed source of information, includes audio]