Call to Action: Pray for the United States and Its Leaders

October 21, 2019

Follow the direct admonition of President M. Russell Ballard, who said: “I invite you to join in a new movement. Invite your neighbors, your colleagues, your friends on social media to pray for this country.” We support President Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in this call and acknowledge his role as a watchman on the tower. Sustained and focused prayer is not passive. It not only calls down the power of heaven, it also focuses our own attention, softens our hearts, opens us to specific inspiration, and motivates our noblest actions.

INTRODUCTION: Yesterday, in a devotional held in Worcester, Massachusetts, and broadcast to the North America Northeast membership, President Ballard spoke extensively about the important role personal morality and prayer played at pivotal points in our national history, ending his talk with a direct and repeated call to those listening to once again return to this pattern. “I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people, and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God. Remember this country was established and preserved by our founding fathers and mothers who repeatedly acknowledged the hand of God through prayer.”

Elder Ballard went on to say: “We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth, and must defend the cause of honor, decency, and personal freedom espoused by Washington, Madison, Adams, Lincoln, and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God.” He also quoted Doctrine and Covenants 98:6–11.

TO DO: We encourage all of our members to share the message from President Ballard with your families and friends, and on social media:

• Ask those around you to join in prayer for our nation and its leaders
• Share on social media, per President Ballard’s request
• Within our homes, make consistent efforts to pray with specificity for our leaders and our nation
• Inform ourselves about key moments in our nation’s history that were impacted by individuals who turned to God in their extremities

BACKGROUND: You can find reporting on President Ballard’s devotional talk and his visit to New England here:
Church Newsroom
Deseret News
M. Russell Ballard’s Facebook