The House of Prayer
I had the opportunity this month in my temple shift to welcome people to the temple as I stood at the recommend desk. We are encouraged to greet them with the phrases “welcome to the house of the Lord” or “welcome to the temple.” Perhaps another greeting that would be appropriate is this one: “Welcome to the house of prayer.” That is a name given commonly to the temple throughout the scriptures. Jesus said to the people when He was concerned with their activities at the temple, “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). Mark’s account similar states, “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?” (Mark 11:17) The temple should be known to the nations as a house of prayer . Isaiah used the same phrase when he wrote, “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepte...