Following is a transcript of the special prayer delivered by President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, Sept. 14, at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance service in the Tabernacle.
Our gracious Father in Heaven, on this national day of prayer and remembrance, we come humbly before Thee with broken hearts and contrite spirits. We are feeling deeply the national suffering for the hurt that has been inflicted upon our great and proud nation. This pain comes chiefly because of the toll of death and suffering of so many who are innocent of any wrongdoing.
This nation and its citizens and guests have been favored by Thee as no other in the history of mankind. Therefore, there rests upon this nation, as it has in the past, to be a source of help and strength to our people and thine other children on the earth. The blessings that have come to the citizens of this nation have come because of the unequaled freedoms and temporal blessings we have enjoyed.
May this be a time of redefining our divine purposes as a people and a nation. As a nation, where the people are sovereign, we must still try and "form a more perfect union, to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for a common defense, and promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our posterity."
May we remember the lessons of history, that there must be some moral absolutes in all societies for them to endure and progress. Our national morality has in a measure disintegrated. Proverbs reminds us that "righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." The long history and tradition of this nation has its roots in petitions for divine guidance as we are doing today.
May we remember that the father of our nation, George Washington, reminded us "of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports." The counsel of the great emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, helps us to recognize the sublime truth that "those nations only are blessed whose God is their Lord."
May Thine infinite power which rules this world lead our President, George W. Bush, and his councils, to do their best for our nation, to secure again peace, hope, security, and prosperity for our nation and its people.
Father, through thy Son, our Savior and Redeemer, who broke the bands of death for all mankind, give us strength, but not arrogance. Help us in these calamitous times to have hope, stand united, and go forward with faith and confidence to meet every challenge we face. For this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.