Duce's Wild: Kneel to pray, every day

Since the nursery manual doesn't provide a lesson for every Sunday of the year, we've lingered a little longer on the stories of Joseph Smith to emphasize one important, age-appropriate principle — Joseph often knelt when he prayed. Up to this point, we've felt very lucky when our little group of 2- and 3-year-olds folds their arms and closes their eyes when a prayer is said. We've felt even more lucky when they keep their arms folded and eyes closed for the duration of a typical 20-second prayer.But we've decided to take it to the next level: head bowed, eyes closed, arms folded and knees bent. The idea was nothing new to some of our little ones who most likely have a kneeling family prayer at home. For others, it was a strange physical stance that their bodies had never experienced. They were wobbly at best as they tried to balance upright on bent knees. Some of our 18-month-olds have only been using those knees for walking for a few months and their two chubby joints are not their best sources of balance. A few gave in and let their bodies fall forward into what some religions deem a humble prayer. But we encouraged their bodies upright to mimic the idealic photo of a reverent Mormon family poised in prayer. I have to admit, my daughter was one who flopped and flipped and rolled around rather than stay steady on her knees. It's not that she hasn't been taught to join family prayer circles, it's just that her family includes unruly, eye-rolling preteens. Having a baby in the house who is developing verbal skills on a daily basis often opens your eyes to the less-than-stellar examples that surround her. Hearing our 1-year-old respond to a request with a sharp-tongued, "Just a minute!" is a rude awakening to the dialogue she's unfortunately experienced. When she first moved from her high chair to the table for meals, she flopped her head down on her hands to bless the food. With her hair floating in her cereal milk, I paused to point out to my older children that maybe their examples could include a more reverent prayer formation.Two Sundays ago in nursery, we tried kneeling for a prayer on our carpet squares after the lesson on Joseph Smith. Undeterred from the rolling games that ensued, we tried a kneeling prayer in a different location last Sunday. We routinely pray after singing time to bless our snack, so this time we encouraged the children to climb down from their chairs and kneel in front of them. The confined space with a chair barricade kept most of them stationary for the sweet, short prayer. Later, during lesson time, we not only showed colorful pictures of Joseph Smith kneeling in prayer in a grove of trees, but also showed a picture of Enos on his knee with hunting bow in hand for his earnest daylong prayer. We showed Moroni kneeling by the stone box consecrating the spot where he was about to deposit his and his father's lifelong work of record keeping on gold plates. We showed the group of Nephites near the ruins of the temple where some were kneeling in prayer as Jesus Christ descended from the sky to witness of his resurrection. We showed a picture that caught every child's attention — Jesus kneeling in Gethsemane in the most heart-wrenching, selfless prayer ever offered. Later, we went to the table to color pictures of clip-art drawings of Joseph Smith kneeling by his bed and kneeling near the trees. We encouraged the children to kneel to pray, everyday — just like Janice Kapp Perry's song suggests. "I Pray in Faith" is one of my favorite Primary songs that has been written since the time I was young. If I had known this song when I was serving a mission, I surely would have taught the catchy tune to investigators who were struggling to remember the elements and order of a reverent, heartfelt prayer. I kneel to pray, every day.I speak to Heavenly Father.He hears and answers meWhen I pray in faith.I begin by saying "Dear Heavenly Father"I thank him for blessings he sends; Then humbly I ask him for things that I need,In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.As life often feels too busy for thoughtful contemplation, kneeling to pray, everyday is the least we can do to witness our humility, our trust in the Lord and our ability to surrender to the wobbly nature of mortality relying on a foundation of faith that is much more sure.