Rhetoric is typically perceived as a means of eliciting a desired response or emotional reaction from a person or group. Not often however, are these reactions thought to come from either one’s self, or our Father in Heaven. When our perceptions are widened to include these possibilities, the platform for rhetoric is expanded to include the simple, yet profound act of prayer.
Every Latter-day Saint child of primary age is taught the fundamentals of personal prayer. From the content to the format, there are certain guidelines to adhere to. The three-step process, which includes gratitude, repentance, and finally a plea for blessings, is certainly a form of rhetoric. It is a format received by revelation for the distinct purpose of demonstrating humility and reverence. It is important to recognize the multitude of blessings we receive from Heavenly Father on a daily basis before we proceed to ask for more. This acknowledgement facilitates a closer relationship with our Father in Heaven, and allows us to more fully appreciate the blessings that are to come.
While in the process of following these steps, it is important that we employ the usage of formal pronouns such as thy, thine, thee, and thou. While some churches have chosen to adapt both prayer and scripture to fit modern language, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints maintains that adherence to the original usage of English scripture and prayer is vital. The practice of using formal diction in prayer demonstrates an increased level of respect toward God, while simultaneously complementing our efforts to increase our own humility.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we must remember that we are praying to the Father in the name of Christ. These simple phrases hold so much power. While we are praying to our Father, it is through His son, Jesus Christ that we are able to come unto Him. We are acknowledging that Heavenly Father, mighty and omnipotent, is in fact our Father, and we are His children. We are recognizing that we can pray unto the Father and return to Him because of the atonement of our elder brother, Jesus Christ. Through our prayers, and the manner in which we convey them, we express our love for God and His son, and come to know their infinite and eternal love for us.
I really like how you contrast how most churches have modernized their language, but we keep the older honorifics. Also, I think it's really interesting how we do have a very specific format for prayer. Interesting analysis of prayer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Erika! I definitely think using the older language gives prayer a special spirit.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your comments on the honorific pronouns (as did everyone else, apparently!). I find that when I use elevated language in my own prayers, I feel closer to the Lord. Interesting topic!
ReplyDeleteVery cool topic--the rhetoric of prayer. And you've done a great job analyzing the rhetoric of LDS prayers.
ReplyDeleteI took a class on religious rhetoric, and one of the other students brought up the idea of the rhetoric of prayer. In a book we'd read, Home, by Marilynne Robinson, there's a lot of prayers that happens. My classmate talked about how sometimes we have a second audience for our prayers. For example, when you have a family prayer your audience is Heavenly Father, but a secondary audience might be a child, to let them know that they're loved, that their concerns matter to God, etc.