Since the Fall of Adam, mortal man hasn’t been in God’s presence.  Mormons believe that we live with God before we come to earth, but in coming to earth, we lose that constant contact with Him.  To pray to God is to speak with him, to reestablish contact.  To pray to God is to sate our loneliness for our Heavenly Father, to give gratitude for what He has given us, to ask for guidance and comfort, to ask for the welfare of others.
 
Prayer is the way we communicate with our Heavenly Father.  So, Mormons usually speak unique, spontaneous prayers to God, based on their individual gratitudes and needs.  In very few instances do Mormons offer prayers with specific wording – these prayers are usually said as part of special ordinances, such as baptism and blessing the sacrament.  In their personal prayers, Mormons want to avoid thoughtless repetitions of “prayer formulas.”  They do follow a simple pattern to guide their prayers, however.  They start by addressing God after the general fashion of “Our dear Heavenly Father.”  Then, they thank the Lord for their blessings – which can be as general as for the day, or for the world, or as specific as for the food they’re about to eat, or for a fine sunset.  One of the hymns of the Mormon Church is titled “Count Your Blessings,” and Mormons are to take gratitude very seriously.  If they are blessed by the Lord, it is appropriate to thank Him for it, the small blessings as well as the great. Thus, “We thank Thee for . . .” usually takes priority in a prayer.

After thoughtful gratitude, a Mormon will usually proceed by asking the Lord for help and blessing.  Again, these can be specific or general, small or large – help on a spelling test, healing for a dear friend.  Mormons often ask for protection from physical illness or danger . . . and spiritual temptation.  They will often request guidance in tricky or important decisions, in times of doubt or struggle.  It’s also common for a Mormon to ask that the work of the Church go forward, often with special focus on the work of the Mormon missionaries and the Mormon prophet.  And although it’s difficult to really, truly leave a matter in the hands of the Lord – which is to say, thy will be done, even if it is not my will – Mormons understand that all matters are in the hand of the Lord.  So it is appropriate to add “. . . if it be according to Thy will” to a prayerful request.

Prayers are to be offered up in the name of the Savior.  What Mormons believe is that Christ is our Advocate and Mediator with the Father.  By Jesus’ grace, we can receive blessings of the Father and be cleansed to return some day to His holy presence.  So it is that prayers are concluded with a phrase like, “We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

At the least, Mormons are to give personal prayers to the Lord in the morning and in the evening.  When possible, personal prayers should be given in privacy, while kneeling with head bowed, eyes closed, and arms folded (or hands clasped).  These personal prayers can also be offered up at any other time the need’s felt.  In fact, one of the Mormons’ beliefs is that they should always carry a prayer in their heart, actively seeking for the Lord’s influence and guidance in all their activities. 

Families are very important in Mormonism and, thus, family prayer is strongly encouraged.   The Mormon family receives spiritual strength and unity from praying together.  Usually, family members will take turns giving the prayer (one will give it in the morning, the next in the evening, the next after that the next morning, so forth), although all say “Amen” at the end of each – voicing their family agreement.  Family prayer is meant to bring the family closer together – and closer to God.

Prayers are also given at the beginning and end of the meetings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  These prayers invite the Holy Ghost into the meetings.  They are not, however, meant to be little sermons, but should be heartfelt and simple worship. 

Personal revelation can also come from prayer – however, only the prophets can receive revelation for the entire Church.  Any Mormon can receive revelation for themselves, though, or for people who are under their stewardship (such as children in the Mormon’s family, a bishop’s ward, etc). 

Prayer is a wonderful privilege given to all people, a wonderful opportunity to speak with God – to thank him and to receive guidance from him.  May we not neglect this privilege for any reason – the result is a profound loss of blessings and knowledge.  The Book of Mormon declares: “For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray” (2 Nephi 32:8).