Praying to Jesus Christ
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Our formal prayers are always addressed to God, the Father. We close in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
But there is a false teaching among those of us who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that we must never pray to Jesus Christ under any circumstance. We can pour out our hearts to Jesus Christ in a prayer-like manner!
If we fail to express gratitude to Jesus Christ directly for his great atoning sacrifice, then we are no better than 9 of the 10 lepers who failed to thank Jesus after he had healed them.
Furthermore, some members claim that our focus should largely be on the Father rather than on the Son. Please remember:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
What would God, the Father, say if he spoke to us directly? This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17:5).
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Alma
the Younger cries to Jesus Christ
Alma
36
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[18] Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
[19] And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
[20] And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
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Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught
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In one way or another, sooner or later, all mortals will plead, as Alma did at his turning point, "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me" (Alma 36:18).
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The Nephites Pray Directly to the Resurrected Christ
3 Nephi
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[15] And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples, behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.
[16] And it came to pass that he spake unto the multitude, and commanded them that they should kneel down again upon the earth, and also that his disciples should kneel down upon the earth.
[17] And it came to pass that when they had all knelt down upon the earth, he commanded his disciples that they should pray.
[18] And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
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The Brother of Jared prayed directly to Jesus Christ in Ether 3.
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The Lord Jesus taught in D&C 25:12:
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For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.
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Every hymn or primary song is a prayer unto Jesus! The following are examples of hymns addressed directly to Jesus.
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83
Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah
Majestically
31243, Hymns, Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah, no. 83
1. Guide us, O thou great Jehovah,
Guide us to the promised land.
We are weak, but thou art able;
Hold us with thy pow’rful hand.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Feed us till the Savior comes, [Alto and Tenor: Savior comes.]
Feed us till the Savior comes.
2. Open, Jesus, Zion’s fountains;
Let her richest blessings come.
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Guard us to this holy home.
Great Redeemer, Great Redeemer,
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day, [Alto and Tenor: welcome day!]
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day!
3. When the earth begins to tremble,
Bid our fearful thoughts be still;
When thy judgments spread destruction,
Keep us safe on Zion’s hill,
Singing praises, Singing praises,
Songs of glory unto thee, [Alto and Tenor: unto thee,]
Songs of glory unto thee.
Text: William Williams, 1717–1791. First verse trans. by Peter Williams, 1722–1796. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
Music: John Hughes, 1873–1932
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104
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
Prayerfully
31243, Hymns, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, no. 104
1. Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
2. As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist’rous waves obey thy will
When thou say’st to them, “Be still!”
Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
3. When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
’Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on thy breast,
May I hear thee say to me,
“Fear not; I will pilot thee.”
Text: Edward Hopper, 1818–1888
Music: John Edgar Gould, 1822–1875
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105
Master, the Tempest Is Raging
Fervently
31243, Hymns, Master, the Tempest Is Raging, no. 105
1. Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?
[Chorus]
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.
2. Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!
3. Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
Text: Mary Ann Baker, ca. 1874
Music: H. R. Palmer, 1834–1907
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103
Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer
Reverently
31243, Hymns, Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer, no. 103
1. Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
Thy sweet message now impart.
May thy Spirit, pure and fervid,
Enter ev’ry timid heart;
Carry there the swift conviction,
Turning back the sinful tide.
Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
May each soul in thee abide.
2. Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
We are weak but thou art strong;
In thy infinite compassion,
Stay the tide of sin and wrong.
Keep thy loving arms around us;
Keep us in the narrow way.
Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
Let us never from thee stray.
3. Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
Thou wilt bind the broken heart.
Let not sorrow overwhelm us;
Dry the bitter tears that start.
Curb the winds and calm the billows;
Bid the angry tempest cease.
Precious Savior, dear Redeemer,
Grant us everlasting peace.
Text and music: H. R. Palmer, 1834–1907
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