Former Mormons, How Do You Pray?

[RebeccaJ]

Perhaps. But his question was not designed so…

and his failure to respond to points also speaks to more inflaming that discussing

Who knows the intention. It is a question I get in RCIA, from Mormon converts. Prayer is experienced differently in Catholicism. I think people pick up on a change fairly quickly, though it may take a while to verbalize what that change is. I haven’t met a Mormon convert yet, including myself, who express that they/we never knew how to pray, as a Mormon.

I don’t mean that a dig against Mormons. I hold no belief that prayer is not effective because “you aren’t doing it right”.

 

[rmcmullan]

I believe that every church has their own way of doing things. Some are essential to their beliefs, others are just the way the founders liked it. Thing like the form of prayer are secondary to its importance and the form of baptism is maybe not so important as being baptized. I wouldn’t leave the Mormon church if they decided to baptize infants and have confirmation at the age of reason. They don’t do it that way and they have their reasons but I think God will grant us some latitude.

One thing for a Mormon though is the Book of Mormon and I couldn’t become a Catholic again unless the pope embraced it and I don’t see that happening.

 

[lax16]

RebeccaJ, thanks for the excellent posts.

When I was Catholic I asked my Mom if spontaneous prayers were ok and she told me they were the exception rather than the rule and that the rote prayers were preferable, because God knows what you want. My Mom is not a priest though and I have never seen any examples of public spontaneous prayer in the Catholic church when I used to attend so I was left to assume my Mom was right.

I don’t know the age of your mother, or anything else about her for that matter, but many of us cradle Catholics were very poorly catechized.
Can you give an example of Mormon public, spontaneous prayer?
The only examples of public prayer I can think of that any religion would do is a prayer before meals (when not dining alone) and as I have said before, the Mormon prayer before meals is very similar, no matter who is saying it and no matter what food is being served.

As some posters have pointed out, there are set prayers for all the Mormon ordinances and the sacrament and many of the spontaneous prayers fit into a comfortable template with oft used phrases intermingled. So the LDS and I assume Protestant way of praying is not 100% spontaneous. But it seems as what everyone is saying is that the Catholic way of praying isn’t 100% rote either?

For sure!

 

[lax16]

One thing for a Mormon though is the Book of Mormon and I couldn’t become a Catholic again unless the pope embraced it and I don’t see that happening.

hi rmcmullan - What do you mean by this? In what way should the Pope embrace the Book of Mormon?

Should he embrace it as a historical book or one that has been divinely revealed?

thanks!

 

[Stephen168]

In what way should the Pope embrace the Book of Mormon?

Should he embrace it as a historical book or one that has been divinely revealed?

I have the same question when I hear people say things like:
they believe in Jesus? in what way
the Church is true? in what way
they believe in the Bible? in what way
they don’t believe in Jesus? in what way
etc

 

[Marie5890]

Smithsonian on BoM…(The Holy Father isnt alone in his rejection of the BoM)

utlm.org/onlineresources/smithsonianletter.htm

 

[SpeSalvi]

I believe that every church has their own way of doing things. Some are essential to their beliefs, others are just the way the founders liked it. Thing like the form of prayer are secondary to its importance and the form of baptism is maybe not so important as being baptized. I wouldn’t leave the Mormon church if they decided to baptize infants and have confirmation at the age of reason. They don’t do it that way and they have their reasons but I think God will grant us some latitude.

One thing for a Mormon though is the Book of Mormon and I couldn’t become a Catholic again unless the pope embraced it and I don’t see that happening.

Don’t you remember that the BoM says that people that baptize infants are going straight to hell? If the LDS Church said that Infant baptism is fine, then they’d be going against the BoM.

Along those lines, what in the BoM would the Pope have to embrace in order for you to consider coming back to the Catholic Church? Is it what is contained within the BoM, or is it just the idea of the BoM as a symbol of all things Mormon?

A month or so ago, my younger sister called me while in seminary asking me to recite the Lord’s prayer. I did, and I heard the people in the background laugh and, as I finished up, a triumphant roar. Apparently they were playing a game where their team had to recite the Lord’s Prayer for bonus points, and since none of them knew it, they called me. They repeated me line by line, and won.

I asked them later why they called ME, and they said “because you’re Catholic! We KNEW you’d know it!”. I responded with “But it’s the prayer Jesus gave Christians… Why don’t you know it?” and they said “Because it’s not all that important”.
For those that aren’t familiar with the LDS Church, high school aged LDS kids go to something called Seminary, which is a 4-year bible study type program. A part of the program is having them memorize certain passages in the scriptures. Of all of them, The Lord’s Prayer is not one of them.

I continue to pray (spontaneously AND by rote) for my family. OP, I’ll pray for you too

 

[TexanKnight]

I believe that every church has their own way of doing things. Some are essential to their beliefs, others are just the way the founders liked it. Thing like the form of prayer are secondary to its importance and the form of baptism is maybe not so important as being baptized. I wouldn’t leave the Mormon church if they decided to baptize infants and have confirmation at the age of reason. They don’t do it that way and they have their reasons but I think God will grant us some latitude.

One thing for a Mormon though is the Book of Mormon and I couldn’t become a Catholic again unless the pope embraced it and I don’t see that happening.

Not sure why the Book of Mormon is that important.

First, it did not come about the way Joseph said it did. He lied about the angel, he lied about the plates. We have proven that already, but can again if you want.

Second, he copied his book from several sources. Lax has provided good evidence to support that.

Third, it talks about people who never existed, in a language no one can confirm in a land no one can find. Doesn’t that concern you?

 

[twopekinguys]

A month or so ago, my younger sister called me while in seminary asking me to recite the Lord’s prayer. I did, and I heard the people in the background laugh and, as I finished up, a triumphant roar. Apparently they were playing a game where their team had to recite the Lord’s Prayer for bonus points, and since none of them knew it, they called me. They repeated me line by line, and won.

I asked them later why they called ME, and they said “because you’re Catholic! We KNEW you’d know it!”. I responded with “But it’s the prayer Jesus gave Christians… Why don’t you know it?” and they said “Because it’s not all that important”.

The words Jesus taught us to pray are not important? Seriously?

I would have asked to speak with the “seminary” teacher. Hint: It wouldn’t have ended very pretty

I am just dumbstruck by this.

 

[Marie5890]

Don’t you remember that the BoM says that people that baptize infants are going straight to hell? If the LDS Church said that Infant baptism is fine, then they’d be going against the BoM.

Along those lines, what in the BoM would the Pope have to embrace in order for you to consider coming back to the Catholic Church? Is it what is contained within the BoM, or is it just the idea of the BoM as a symbol of all things Mormon?

A month or so ago, my younger sister called me while in seminary asking me to recite the Lord’s prayer. I did, and I heard the people in the background laugh and, as I finished up, a triumphant roar. Apparently they were playing a game where their team had to recite the Lord’s Prayer for bonus points, and since none of them knew it, they called me. They repeated me line by line, and won.

I asked them later why they called ME, and they said “because you’re Catholic! We KNEW you’d know it!”. I responded with “But it’s the prayer Jesus gave Christians… Why don’t you know it?” and they said “Because it’s not all that important”.
For those that aren’t familiar with the LDS Church, high school aged LDS kids go to something called Seminary, which is a 4-year bible study type program. A part of the program is having them memorize certain passages in the scriptures. Of all of them, The Lord’s Prayer is not one of them.

I continue to pray (spontaneously AND by rote) for my family. OP, I’ll pray for you too

I remember finding it odd that Mormons didnt know the Lord’s Prayer when I became LDS. I knew it because I come from a Catholic background and was taught it both from my grandmother and in catechism.

For as long as I can remember, I have always known the Lord’s Prayer.

 

[lax16]

Don’t you remember that the BoM says that people that baptize infants are going straight to hell? If the LDS Church said that Infant baptism is fine, then they’d be going against the BoM.

Along those lines, what in the BoM would the Pope have to embrace in order for you to consider coming back to the Catholic Church? Is it what is contained within the BoM, or is it just the idea of the BoM as a symbol of all things Mormon?

A month or so ago, my younger sister called me while in seminary asking me to recite the Lord’s prayer. I did, and I heard the people in the background laugh and, as I finished up, a triumphant roar. Apparently they were playing a game where their team had to recite the Lord’s Prayer for bonus points, and since none of them knew it, they called me. They repeated me line by line, and won.

I asked them later why they called ME, and they said “because you’re Catholic! We KNEW you’d know it!”. I responded with “But it’s the prayer Jesus gave Christians… Why don’t you know it?” and they said “Because it’s not all that important”.
For those that aren’t familiar with the LDS Church, high school aged LDS kids go to something called Seminary, which is a 4-year bible study type program. A part of the program is having them memorize certain passages in the scriptures. Of all of them, The Lord’s Prayer is not one of them.

I continue to pray (spontaneously AND by rote) for my family. OP, I’ll pray for you too

Well, like the Mormons say, “Either we have the fullness of the truth, or the Catholics have the fullness of the truth.”

To think a whole seminary class witnessed this - good for you Spe Salvi!

 

[Marie5890]

Well, like the Mormons say, “Either we have the fullness of the truth, or the Catholics have the fullness of the truth.”

I remember hearing that. And now when I hear it, Im like, never heard of the Orthodoxy?

Goes to show a lack of what actually happened in Christian history.

 

[zaffiroborant]

I asked them later why they called ME, and they said “because you’re Catholic! We KNEW you’d know it!”. I responded with “But it’s the prayer Jesus gave Christians… Why don’t you know it?” and they said “Because it’s not all that important”.

I doubt any of the kids in my RE class would be audacious enough to say that any of Jesus’ words “not all that important”.

I just don’t see how “The Spirit” could even approach such an irreverent group of young people

 

[RebeccaJ]

One thing for a Mormon though is the Book of Mormon and I couldn’t become a Catholic again unless the pope embraced it and I don’t see that happening.

Oh my heck, it’s the Mormon fantasy since y’all decided to build a temple in Rome!

It would be better for you to give up this fantasy, and seek truth.

 

[RebeccaJ]

I remember finding it odd that Mormons didnt know the Lord’s Prayer when I became LDS. I knew it because I come from a Catholic background and was taught it both from my grandmother and in catechism.

For as long as I can remember, I have always known the Lord’s Prayer.

Weird. I must have been in a Mormon parish. maybe it was a Catholic ward.

 

[TexanKnight]

I just can’t believe any Mormon would dare comment on our written prayers.

At least any Mormon who has been to a Sacrament Meeting (rote prayers), baptism (rote prayer) a sick blessing (rote blessing), the Temple (many rote prayers and statements), etc.

Just very odd and borders on hypocrisy

Mormons need our prayers (spontaneous AND rote)

 

[rmcmullan]

Not sure why the Book of Mormon is that important.

First, it did not come about the way Joseph said it did. He lied about the angel, he lied about the plates. We have proven that already, but can again if you want.

Second, he copied his book from several sources. Lax has provided good evidence to support that.

Third, it talks about people who never existed, in a language no one can confirm in a land no one can find. Doesn’t that concern you?

And you wonder why I don’t respond to your posts?

 

[lax16]

And you wonder why I don’t respond to your posts?

Hi rmcmullan - Will you please respond to mine?

What do you mean by this? In what way should the Pope embrace the Book of Mormon?

Should he embrace it as a historical book or one that has been divinely revealed?

thanks!

 

[rmcmullan]

Hi rmcmullan - Will you please respond to mine?

What do you mean by this? In what way should the Pope embrace the Book of Mormon?

Should he embrace it as a historical book or one that has been divinely revealed?

thanks!

I’m not sure what you mean as an historical book. But I would go with divinely revealed.

 

[TexanKnight]

And you wonder why I don’t respond to your posts?

No…I know why. You cannot fool me or respond because you do not have answers and do not wish to truly face the truth.

Even this last post was another dodge.