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Why do we kneel to pray? Does Heavenly Father want us to kneel? I checked the Bible Dictionary and it just says that historically the method of prayer was either standing, kneeling, or prostrate. In most public scenarios (e.g. church, general conference) we pray while sitting. Is there something wrong with praying while slouched (have you ever noticed most people sit up a bit when a prayer is being said)? What about if I pray while lying down? I have no physical ailment keeping me from kneeling, but isn’t it the intention and sincerity of my heart that really matters? drum roll . . . Cue Fiddler on the Roof music . . . Tradition!! Tradition!! . . . Tradition!!
It’s the current form of humble approach, since we aren’t into prostrating ourselves, even though that is the only model in the Book of Mormon that is described in any normative way. Even there, however, we have Abinadi praying while bound and standing, Alma and Amulek talking about praying everywhere and having a prayer in our hearts, etc. Most members sit while praying over meals; we pray standing and sitting in church. Kneeling for personal prayer is cultural.
Having said that, I’m not a very good example (since I rarely kneel for personal prayer), but I do think that there is an element of worshipful approach in kneeling that isn’t there if someone is slouching in a chair. It’s a way of saying, “I’m taking this seriously, and I’m treating you like I would if I was talking with a mortal leader or someone special and elevated socially in some way.” I think there is good symbolism in something that encourages that sort of attitude.
If you believe 1) there is an element of worshipful approach in kneeling, 2) it’s a way of saying you’re serious, and 3) there is good symbolism, why do you rarely kneel? Should I teach my future children to kneel or to just have proper respect in their hearts? My rarely kneeling is a personal weakness, not because kneeling is the one, true way, but because I allow the fact that I have a prayer in my heart almost continuously to become an excuse not to pray formally like I should. I mean that sincerely. I am a prayerful person, but I am not a good example of one aspect of prayer in which I really do believe. As Pres. Uchtdorf said, we all are hypocrites in not living the way we know we should, and this is one area where I am a hypocrite to a degree.
I am admittedly not a role model in this respect either since my beliefs about prayer are on the unorthodox side. I do see prayer as a form of worship, though, and I believe the kneeling part is symbolic on the part of the one saying the prayer indicating humility and/or worship of the higher being. I also believe there is no requirement to kneel, it is a personal preference. In church meetings we follow the tradition and culture of not kneeling, if one desires to kneel for personal prayers it is an individual choice. I usually pray while walking. Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
I don’t remember ever talking about this but my answer is virtually identical to Ray’s. I don’t feel the “formal” modes of prayer are effective for me, when I kneel next to my bed at night I feel the pressure of cultural norms and “shoulds” more than I feel close to God. I like to be in a mode of prayer as I go throughout the day. I feel close enough to my HF that to pray before bed would be like telling my wife “I’m going to sleep now” when it is already more than obvious to her. We all have our quirks.
I’m similar to Ray, cwald, and Orson. Kneeling in prayer has always been more difficult for me. My best spiritual communication has almost always been standing, walking, or sitting, and sometimes even while I’m running in the morning.
I like when our family all kneels together and prays together with closed eyes and folded arms…otherwise the kids flop and roll all around. Kneeling and bowing heads is a nice way to have the kids focus a bit on what we’re doing, it seems to help with reverence.
Deepthinker wrote:I’m similar to Ray, cwald, and Orson. Kneeling in prayer has always been more difficult for me.
+1
Personally, I rarely kneel to pray on my own.
I think we kneel because the relationship with diety that developed years ago was based on the idea of a ruler and subject. In order to demonstrate your station especially if it was something serious you needed to approach him/her about you’d prostate yourself and keep your eyes downcast. The more you needed something the more you’d abase yourself in order to gain attention hence fasting, sackcloth and ashes, etc.. It makes it a little incongruous now when we try and switch from ruler subject to parent child. The real stretch is when people try and make Jesus their BFF.
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