The Reverent Language of Prayer

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “We can use ‘right words’ [Joseph Smith Translation, Psalm 17:1]—special pronouns—in reference to Deity. While worldly manners of daily dress and speech are becoming more casual, we have been asked to protect the formal, proper language of prayer. In our prayers we use the respectful pronouns Thee, Thou, Thy, and Thine instead of You, Your, and Yours. Doing so helps us to be humble.”²

More counsel on the subject comes from President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches its members to use special language in addressing prayers to our Father in Heaven.

“When we go to worship in a temple or a church, we put aside our working clothes and dress ourselves in something better. This change of clothing is a mark of respect. Similarly, when we address our Heavenly Father, we should put aside our working words and clothe our prayers in special language of reverence and respect. In offering prayers in the English language, members of our church do not address our Heavenly Father with the same words we use in speaking to a fellow worker, to an employee or employer, or to a merchant in the marketplace. We use special words that have been sanctified by use in inspired communications, words that have been recommended to us and modeled for us by those we sustain as prophets and inspired teachers.”³

Here is some background about this special language and guidance on how to use it correctly.

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Using Thou

Centuries ago, English speakers used thou in the same way we use you today. They would say, “How art thou?” instead of “How are you?” If they were speaking to two or more people, they would use the plural form ye.

As language evolved, both the singular thou and the plural ye were replaced with one word, you. However, out of respect for God, people didn’t use you in prayer—as in, “You bless us every day”—because you could also refer to the plural, meaning “more than one.” In addition, you took on an informality and casual usage that believers were reluctant to use when speaking to God. Meanwhile, thou became a more reverent, formal means of addressing an honored person like a king.

Thou, therefore, was preserved as a more respectful way to address God in prayer. We follow this same practice today.

However, modern revelation gives us our most significant reason for this change. President Oaks taught:

“The special language of prayer that Latter-day Saints use in English has sometimes been explained by reference to the history of the English language. … But the history of English usage is not the point.

“Scholarship can contradict mortal explanations, but it cannot rescind divine commands or inspired counsel.”⁴

In other words, we use words like thou and thee because modern prophets have counseled us to do so to show God our Father the utmost respect.

Here’s where it gets tricky. In modern English the word you is both a subject pronoun and an object pronoun. For example, “You are kind” (subject pronoun) and “I love you” (object pronoun) are both correct uses of you.

Not so in early English. Back then, it was common to use thou as the subject pronoun and thee as the object pronoun. They would say, “Thou art kind” and “I love thee.”

So when do we use thee instead of thou in prayer?

Here’s an easy guideline: Use thee when it sounds correct to use an object pronoun. Object pronouns receive the action of the verb and usually follow the verb; for example, “We ask Thee” or “We thank Thee.” We would never say, “We praise and adore He” (subject pronoun) but rather “We praise and adore Him” (object pronoun). And so in that sentence we use thee: “We praise and adore Thee.”

Using thy and thine is easier. They’re an old form of your and yours.

For example: “We are grateful for Thy love.” “We dedicate this temple to Thee. It is Thine.”

Verbs can be a challenge. But we need not fret because (good news!) in many cases we use the imperative voice when we pray—or the verb form for making requests or commands. “Bless the sick.” “Please help the bishop.” “Give us strength.” “Protect our missionaries.” And the imperative voice is the same for both you and thou.

Similarly, we can simplify matters by using infinitive verbs (“to bless,” “to help,” “to give”), as in “We ask Thee to bless the sick.” Easy. No strange verb conjugations.

However, sometimes another approach to verbs may be needed. For example, “We thank Thee for the rain that Thou …” That Thou what? Sentest? Pouredst down? That sounds complicated. Better to simply use a helper verb such as hast (have) or didst (did) plus the modern form of the verb it’s helping.

For example: “We thank Thee for the rain that Thou hast sent.” Or “We thank Thee for the rain that Thou didst send.”

Here are a few other common thou-form helper verbs.

Of course, we should never let our unfamiliarity with the language of prayer deter us from praying. Our Father in Heaven wants to hear our supplications regardless. However, as we take time to learn the language of prayer and show Him respect and love, the language will become second nature to us, hopefully as natural and as easy as our conversational English. Our ears will become as trained and devoted as our hearts.