Why a Prayer Book?
Many Latter-day Saints are wary of written prayers, and point to the Savior’s words: “use not vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7; 3 Nephi 13:7). But the fault He names is that the repetition is vain, not that words are repeated. Two verses later He gives His disciples a prayer to say (Matthew 6:9; 3 Nephi 13:9).
Set prayer runs all through scripture, and through the Restoration:
- In the TorahThe priestly blessing is given word for word (Numbers 6:24–26), as are the declarations at the offering of firstfruits and tithes (Deuteronomy 26) and the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–9).
- In the PsalmsIsrael’s own prayer book, written to be said and sung again and again.
- In the RestorationThe prayers over the bread and the wine (Moroni 4–5; Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79), the words of baptism (3 Nephi 11:25), and the prayer of dedication at Kirtland, which was written and read (Doctrine and Covenants 109).
A siddur gathers such prayers into an order, so that a household or a fellowship can pray together with one voice. Wherever these pages invite it, each person adds the prayer of his own heart.