LDS Freedom Forum

I am just wondering - for your personal prayers, do you vocalize your prayers, or pray silently in your head, or sometimes one and sometimes the other?

Over the years, I have tended to say mine silently - I still kneel, bow my head, close my eyes, but my prayer tends to be more focused thoughts and almost never vocal. Last night I did speak my prayers and it was quite a bit different and a very nice experience. So I am curious if a lot of people tend to say silent prayers or if they speak up?

I vocalize if I am in a private place. However, I have read somewhere that Satan can hear you speak, but cannot read your mind. If that is true, it could put a person at a disadvantage with certain issues if Satan knows your prayer.

Rincon wrote:I vocalize if I am in a private place. However, I have read somewhere that Satan can hear you speak, but cannot read your mind. If that is true, it could put a person at a disadvantage with certain issues if Satan knows your prayer.

is that saying along the same lines of "Satan controls the waters so missionaries can't swim"? that seems a little...out there for me, but I could be wrong.

i usually do a little of both. Although TBH sometimes when I do it just in my head I get distracted and or sleepy

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there is a special power behind vocal prayers.

Most of my prayers are silent. I just prefer it that way. Seems like I have a constant feed going all day long.

the "endowment" displays that if we pray vocally without "casting out the evil spirits" first, we probably will recieve out answer from Satan?

sbsion wrote:the "endowment" displays that if we pray vocally without "casting out the evil spirits" first, we probably will recieve out answer from Satan?

a good point that I had not considered.

I also had heard that Satan did not have power to read our thoughts, but could of course hear our words - which may be why I tended towards silent prayers. Definitely something to be mindful of.

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Thank you, thank you for posting that talk, Scarecrow. Very important that everyone understands these things.

Yes scarecrow, I found that INCREDIBLY helpful. Thank you so much!

Rincon wrote:I vocalize if I am in a private place. However, I have read somewhere that Satan can hear you speak, but cannot read your mind. If that is true, it could put a person at a disadvantage with certain issues if Satan knows your prayer.

I guess you are saying that satan is more powerful than God? I actually believe we are supposed to pray out loud if possible. Frankly I think satan knew us long enough before to have a pretty good idea of what to hit us with, without ever hearing our prayers.

Edited to add that Joseph Smith's fist vision was his first Vocal prayer. That is a pretty powerful answer to a vocal prayer. Also this scripture
“I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.” (D&C 19:28.)

Rincon wrote:I vocalize if I am in a private place. However, I have read somewhere that Satan can hear you speak, but cannot read your mind. If that is true, it could put a person at a disadvantage with certain issues if Satan knows your prayer.

My sentiment exactly, but sometimes I think to myself 'if Satan becomes aware of certain things in my heart and mind, so be it - bring him on'! Guess that's the warrior in me coming out. It might not be very smart challenging Satan like that, but he already throws so many obstacles at us that I figure there isn't much he hasn't tried or done to lead you astray, although, I suppose I could see where he might try to exploit weaknesses if they are conveyed vocally to the Lord. Lucifer... what a jerk!

OI... great post. :ymhug:

Where on earth do we get the idea that we should not upset satan because he might come after us more? Hello people, he hates our guts and is out to get us. As much as he can and as hard as he can.

Along those same lines, Nan - I can't help but wonder if vocal prayer weakens or drives away evil influence to a degree that silent prayer doesn't. I don't know if it matters, but what you said brought that thought to mind.

Obviously, the D&C tells us to pray vocally as well as in our heart, but it almost ties vocal to public and silent to private - I know that can't be what is intended, we have too many examples to the contrary.

I do appreciate what everyone has said on both sides of the question - both have been informative and enlightening. One thing I noticed last night was (in contrast to silent prayers) sometimes my mind wanders and I don't focus and I end up in almost more of a state of "pondering" rather than prayer. I found that by vocalizing I was much more focused not only in what I was praying about, but I focused on the more formal, respectful language that is appropriate to prayer.

For myself personally, I will be trying to pray vocally in my personal prayers more often.

I think it's good to pray silently as well as vocally. My prayers are mostly silent and like ChelC, go on throughout the day.

Perhaps there are things we struggle with that are better said silently in prayer, while it's always appropriate to pray with gratitude vocally. I have also heard that there are some thoughts we should keep from Satan. Nan, Heavenly Father is in charge and He is stronger than the Adversary, but there might be certain things we need not share with Satan. Heavenly Father is stronger, but I am not, so why should I give the Adversary any advantage at all?

We know evil spirits can hear us speak, that is fact. So I decide if my prayer is vocal or silent depending on what I am praying about. I don't want any evil spirits to hear my game-plan. They are sufficient trouble without having knowledge of what I am struggling with.

Now let me toss one out for you people to comment on. Go ahead and hammer me if I am wrong. I am a hiker. I hike mountains and deserts alone, and I go for hours. sometimes I like to pray vocally as I hike. I can think clearly when my pulse is up and I am in the pristine wilds. Is it disrespectful for me to pray while hiking because I am not on my knees?

I certainly don't think so!
We watched Fiddler on the Roof recently and I got a kick out of how the father always walked around having a conversation with God. You do what you feel prompted to do!

Rincon wrote:Is it disrespectful for me to pray while hiking because I am not on my knees?

Not at all! Some of my most heartfelt and sincere prayers, where I have felt the Holy Ghost the strongest, have taken place while not on my knees. Heavenly Father cares far more what is in our hearts and minds than what position our body is in while praying. You were probably more reverent and 'in tune' while walking amongst his beautiful creations than a lot of people are on their knees, head bowed, etc...