I recently told an LDS friend that I was praying for her as she struggles through a difficult situation. She responded with gratitude and said that she regularly adds my name to the temple prayer rolls.
What exactly are the temple prayer rolls? Do temple workers go through the list and pray for each person individually. Do they pray for specific prayer request? Is this the Mormon equivalent to lighting a candle in Catholic mass?
LDS & Evangelical Conversations 
In each session of the endowment performed in every temple a prayer is offered. During every prayer a bundle of names submitted to the temple in person or by phone is placed on the altar that the prayer-giver is at and it is asked that God grant the blessings needed by those people. So it sounds to me like it’s quite a lot like a prayer candle though I’ve never thought of it that way before. Naturally, because it is associated with the temple it is considered to be very sacred.
lxxluthor’s explaination is correct.
Thank you for no longer requiring visitors to register before they comment. I’ve been following the site for quite a while, but didn’t want to register.
yeah, sorry, didn’t realize I could release it to non-registered guest. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Hello I am a recovering addict, I have 16 weeks clean. I have my daughter in foster care. I am asking for people to pray for the safe return home of my daughter by february 12. I am asking that the hearts of social workers, supervisors and judges be softend. I am fasting each saturday after dinner until sunday at dinner and i would like to invite anyone to join me. I will continue you to fast until the trial on feb 12,2009. Thanks Tricia
Thank-you so much lxxluthor for your response above. I am LDS and needed to add a family member who is very ill to the prayer roll, but didn’t know how to do it.
Sincerely,
Brian
I’m not LDS but one of my relatives is in the hospital, and her daughter sent an email letting relatives know and asking if one the relatives who is LDS would ‘call the Temple.’ I got that the Temple meant Salt Lake; after a little searching I grasped it was to be added to their prayer list.
As of April, 2009 – prayer requests are called in to:
(800) 453-3860. Extension 22685. THe phone system is automated, when prompted you enter the 5 digit extension, and when a person answers you just ask whoever answers to add the person’s name to the prayer list. Quick, easy. Name stays on the list for 2 weeks. Note: names cannot be submitted via email; you have to call.
Thank you so much for the number of the SLC temple prayer roll submission hotline. I called and added my name to the roll.
I am glad this forum is here and wish those of you with heavy hearts and problems the very best and I will keep you in my prayers too.
As for myself, I will have surgery to remove a tumor which is located just behind my right ear canal, and which is wrapped around a bunch of nerves and stuff. The surgery is scheduled for 6am Monday 11/23/09. I will be in the hospital for 1-3 nights and then be home recovering for 4 to 6 weeks. I would be most gratefull for your faith and prayers on behalf of my family and I as we go through this together.
Thank you and may God bless you too.
Michael
I added a couple of people to the prayer roll today while I was in the Temple. It can be done while a member is inside the Temple or via a phone line. I wasn’t aware that calling the Salt Lake Temple was the only option for calling names in. I know that prayer rolls are kept in more than just that Temple (I was at the Denver Temple today). The roll, and the prayer surrounding the roll and prayer is sacred and all services regarding this are reverant, thus a good description of all activities in the Temples (reverant). That is one of the reasons for almost everything in the Temple (reverance is of the upmost importance to keep the sacredness present, privacy of ordinances and also the Spirit to be present). Lines are drawn for this reason (what is and isn’t allowed). My son described it as a place where you just naturally stop worrying and cares are left behind. There is a beautiful spirit there. With this said, I cannot imagine prayers being more sacred and the situations of the people being prayed for more suseptible to the presence of God.
You can call any of the operating temples in the world and request that someone’s name be added to the prayer roll. The church’s web site lists all of the contact information for every temple in the world.
News flash: you can have that exact same quality present absolutely anywhere that people (including you) are all being reverent. It has absolutely nothing to do with the place itself, and everything to do with how you and the other people there are treating it.
The LDS Temples are sacred places considered much more sacred than the typical LDS meetinghouses (chapels). The temple is considered the house of Jesus Christ on the earth and they are dedicated and consecrated to him. The sacred nature of the temple, the reverence, and that is it the Lord’s house upon the earth where Christ frequently visits brings a powerful spiritual connection to the Holy Ghost that is stronger and more powerful than I’ve felt outside of the temple. If we are spiritually in-tune we may even recognize Christ in the temple.
Rerun news flash: you can have that exact same quality present absolutely anywhere that people (including you) are all being reverent. It has absolutely nothing to do with the place itself, and everything to do with how you and the other people there are treating it.
Dear Kulle
Flash in my head: Its so obvious that you have never been on the inside of one of Jesus’s Temples, I feel for you and your need to be right.
Heres to reverence everywhere
Dear Tina,
Kullervo was married in one of Jesus’s temples. It was pretty. (Silly-looking hat aside, of course)
Best,
katyjane
Yep. Been inside lots o’ times. Katyjane’s my witness.
To the person that gasp about being in the salt lake city prayer role, be thankful someone cared enough to put you in one, after all everyone they do beleive in Jesus Christ the head of that church.
Who gasped?
PLEASE PRAY SO THAT MY STAFF GET THREE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH OUT ANY HINDRANCE.THEY HAVE WORKED DAY AND NIGHT FOR THE INSTITUTION.ALSO PRAY FOR ME SO THAT I CAN ALSO CONTINUE THERE TILL MY RETIREMENT
I realize that this posting is quite old, but I just read it for the first time and I felt the need to comment to Kullervo.
I disagree with your “newsflash”. There are places on Earth that elevate the consciousness of humans and therefore, heighten the sanctity of the Spirit. Why do you think so many people go to India, or the Vatican, or Mecca, or Egypt, or Bethlehem, or Zen temples, or Buddha’s grave, etc etc? It’s because people want to bask in the presence of what they believe to be sacred. It’s because the collective consciousness is greater there. It’s because there is a deep knowing that this specified place is sacred and that others put more value in it, which in turn, raises the spiritual vibrations of the area itself. If you want to look at it from a scientific point of view, it has been proven that when a collective group of humans interject positive thoughts (i.e. sanctity) toward a designated area, that place itself will appeal to the psychological nature of the human and thus give it a powerful vibration or force, which raises the level of awareness or consciousness. And because so many people put spiritual sanctity, power, and positive thought into the Mormon Temple, it contains a level of spirituality that your sofa, or even a meetinghouse, does not.
DELIVERANCE: Contentious Prayers Please pray for my son,Michael he is struggling staying on the right track then slips into drugs. Last prayer request he started going back to church and seems to be going towards the right road. He needs more of the power of prayer to fight the demon of addiction and all the hate he holds inside, he needs to be healed of all this. Thank you all for your help and time
Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
-Patricia
Hello! Can you please put my friend name Ronel Salazar Deloso in your temple prayer list please. I need your highly consideration. Thank you very much
In the Book of Mormon, Alma 32, we read, “Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?—for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.” Alma asks them, “Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only? And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?”
It is true we can pray anywhere, anytime…still, there are some times and places that are sacred and holy. The temple (House of God) is one of those holy places. Our homes also can be holy places where we can set aside the cares of the world and can sincerely worship God. I have seen how effective prayer rolls in the temple can be, as a doctor; I would call in names of a few of my many patients (to our temple, Nauvoo), those who were struggling and had special needs (after all I could do to help), and I was pleased to see how well they did after that…I have seen these blessings in my own life, and the lives of my family, as well…I know God hears and answers prayers. And I am grateful for temples, and for the temple prayer roll.
Douglas Peterson, Linda Peterson, Leon Swenson.
I need a very urgent prayer for my grandfather, Ronnie De Klerk, he is not well at all, he is in hospital with kidney failure. I would appreciate if we can all remember him n our prayers.
Although, we as members are always happy to prayer for those in need, Temple blessings are usually reserved for those who are “really” in need such has cancer and other things beyond our control, not because they want a new contract for their business, remember the Lord does put emphasis on money (unlike Joel Olesteen). Those wanting to be healed and their loved ones praying for them, all need to do their part as well such as fasting (going without food and water for a time) and praying “Faith without works is dead”. I have traveled the world, seen many large religious old buildings and cathedrals in Europe, however, I must admit there is nothing more beautiful than the LDS Temples, they are truly the Lord’s Temples! The ceremonies seem odd to some new comers, however, they are symbolic and sacred. The scriptures teach us the symbolism has been used since the beginning of time, Jews have used symbolism’s, as well, so in actuality, it is not all that strange, it is just seems strange because of the culture we currently live in. I hope this helps.
By the way, I saw this thread while I googled Salt Lake Temple prayer roll. My husband has been very ill with pneumonia for several weeks and my brother is in the hospital with a deadly staph infection. Yes, we could use more money, however, I still work two jobs and most the pay from my second job goes towards tithing. Instead of feeling sorry for myself that I work two jobs, I focus on the other things that I have been blessed with such as good health, shelter, food.