Cedar City interfaith leaders invoke heavenly blessings during ‘National Day of Prayer’

Written by Jeff Richards
May 7, 2024

CEDAR CITY — More than 150 people gathered on the Southern Utah University campus Thursday night to observe National Day of Prayer. 

The Messianic Dancers perform “Heal Our Land” during National Day of Prayer community gathering, Cedar City, Utah, May 2, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance designated by the U.S. Congress held on the first Thursday of May, when people are asked to turn to God in prayer and meditation,” explained Cedar Area Interfaith Alliance President Greg Powell as he welcomed those in attendance. 

The hourlong program featured three main prayers, plus an invocation and benediction, along with a handful of musical numbers.

During her opening remarks, SUU President Mindy Benson spoke of how prayer can help in difficult times.

“It is a very different time on college campuses around our nation right now,” Benson said as she referred to the series of “swatting” calls reporting an active shooter on campus on April 11. Although the tense situation turned out to be a hoax, it still prompted a campus-wide shutdown while buildings were cleared by law enforcement officers.

“Thankfully, it didn’t turn out to be anything,” Benson said, adding, “But one of the very first texts that I got was from Pastor Pete (Akins) saying, ‘We’re praying for you, and we’re praying for your campus.’”

“I felt so many prayers that day, from so many people concerned about our campus and our community, and I’m grateful to be lifted up in those prayers,” Benson added. 

Southern Utah University President Mindy Benson speaks during National Day of Prayer community gathering, Cedar City, Utah, May 2, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Benson finished her remarks with a quote, saying, “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the requesting of good things from God. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without heart.”

Pastor Scott Maxwell of First Baptist Church was initially scheduled to offer the evening’s “faith and nation” prayer but ended up being unable to make it to the event due to an injury.

Powell said right after hearing that unfortunate news earlier in the day, he thought to call Paul Erickson, the Iron County Jail chaplain.

“He said, ‘I am glad that you called me. It’s kind of a coincidence. I was just getting ready to call you. Do you need anything?’” Powell recalled, adding that he replied, “Yeah, I need a favor. A big one.”

Powell said he appreciated the willingness of the participants to contribute their time and talents to the program.

“Our choir directors, everyone we asked to pray, (said) ‘I’ll be there. I can do it. You bet. Happy to help,’” Powell added. “What a blessing to be in a community like this.”

Erickson then offered the “faith and nation” prayer, which began, “Heavenly Father, what a wonderful opportunity to come here in friendship and fellowship, and reach out to you and give voice to prayer. To speak out loud prayer that will rise to the heavens and to think about the prayer that our nation needs.”

Iron County Jail chaplain Paul Erickson offers a “faith and nation” prayer during National Day of Prayer community gathering, Cedar City, Utah, May 2, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Added Erickson, “Father we pray that you might bless our leaders since they would have their hearts softened in times of deep anger over things that are going on in the world.” 

Following musical numbers by the Village Voices, Reverend Timm High of Community Presbyterian Church then offered a prayer that focused on families.

High drew reference to the stained glass window behind him that serves as a reminder that “Families don’t come in one size. They don’t come in one color. They don’t come in one shape. But they all come because of love.”

“When we are born, we are born into a community,” High noted. “Each one of us is welcomed by a family. And then as we grow, we learn how that family extends out like the branches of trees or like the ripples upon a pond. We become aware that there are people who have come before us, and each one of them has contributed something to not only who we are but whose we are.”

High concluded his prayer by saying, “We are grateful that in Jesus, we have the image of a person born and fleshed out in the midst of a family, who then through Your goodness and Your grace, invited others to become a part of a larger human family. For that we are grateful.”

High’s prayer was then followed by musical renditions of “Amazing Grace” and “My Shepherd will Supply My Need” by the vocal group In Jubilo, with violin and harp accompaniment.

Next to speak was Iron County Sheriff Ken Carpenter, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who offered a prayer focused on community.

The In Jubilo choral group performs during National Day of Prayer community gathering, Cedar City, Utah, May 2, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Carpenter prefaced his prayer with a quote from Confucius that states, “To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order. To put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.”

Carpenter prayed for God’s assistance to help those in need.

“Heavenly Father, we are acutely aware that there are many in our communities that suffer the burdens and elements of mental health crisis, of addictions in many fashions, and suffer in other ways,” Carpenter said. “We pray not only that Thy blessings will be upon them but Thou will bless each of us to serve as a ministering angel, to go out into our communities and to seek out those in need, to lift them up, to strengthen them and help them find peace and joy in their lives as they live among us.”

Added Carpenter: “We pray that Thou will be with us, that we will be welcoming to those who seek refuge among us, that they will be able to bring strength to our community and be able to join with us in making this a better and stronger place.”

Also participating were the Master Singers men’s choir, who opened the program with the national anthem and also sang The Lord’s Prayer; the Messianic Dancers, who performed “Heal our Land,” and the Boy Scouts of Troop 1848, who conducted the flag ceremonies. The opening and closing prayers were given by Russel Nakken and Melanie Whitney, respectively.

During her benediction, Whitney, who is of the Baha’i faith, read a prayer titled, “O Thou Forgiving God,” which reads, in part:

O Lord! Bestow Thy gracious aid and confirmation upon this just government. This country lieth beneath the sheltering shadow of Thy protection, and this people is in Thy service. O Lord! Confer upon them Thy heavenly bounty and render the outpourings of Thy grace and favor copious and abundant.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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