Included under the heading Incident may be listed short poems and all kinds of literary bits that fit in appropriately as spice to a lesson. On the subject Prayer, the following are some possibilities:
Under question I, “What is prayer?” the hymn, “Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.”
Prayer is the soul’s
sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles
in the breast.
Prayer is the burden of a
sigh,
The falling of
a tear,
The upward glancing of an
eye,
When none but
God is near.
Prayer is the simplest form
of speech
That infant lips
can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains
that reach
The Majesty on
high.
Prayer is the Christian’s
vital breath,
The Christian’s
native air;
His watchword at the gates
of death;
He enters heav’n
with prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner’s
voice
Returning from
his ways,
While angels in their songs
rejoice,
And cry, “Behold,
he prays!”
The Saints in prayer appear
as one
In word and deed
and mind,
While with the Father and
the Son
Their fellowship
they find.
Nor prayer is made on earth
alone,—
The Holy Spirit
pleads,
And Jesus, on the Father’s
throne,
For sinners intercedes.
O thou by whom we come to
God,
The Life, the
Truth, the Way!
The path of prayer Thyself
has trod;
Lord, teach us
how to pray!
The two songs: “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” “Did You Think to Pray?”
“For my soul delighteth in
the song of the heart, yea, the song of
the righteous is a prayer unto me,
and it shall be answered with a
blessing upon their heads.”
(Doc. & Cov., Sec. 25:12.)
The following selection:
“Prayer—sweet breath
from out a joyous heart wafting gratitude to
Heaven.
“Prayer—a sacred confidence between a fearful soul and God.
“Prayer—a holy
balm which soothes and heals the scars in a wounded
breast.
“Prayer—an angel’s kiss on the longing lips of loneliness.
“Prayer—a rod that bars the way between the human soul and sin.
“Prayer—a choking
sob of anguish from pain-drawn lips in plea for
help.”
Under question II. “Why should I pray?”
“And that thou mayest more
fully keep thyself unspotted from the
world, thou shalt go to the house
of prayer and offer up thy
sacraments upon my holy day.”
(Doc. & Cov., Sec. 59:9.)
“Pray always that you enter
not into temptation, that you may abide
the day of his coming, whether in
life or in death. Even so. Amen.”
(Doc. & Cov., Sec. 61:39.)