Why do we have prayer rolls in the temples?

Prayer is at the heart of nearly every faith tradition. It is a means of communicating with the Divine, offering thanks, pleading for help, seeking forgiveness, or, as is so often the case, interceding on behalf of others. In the Christian tradition, and specifically in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such prayers are recognized as potent—especially when united in faith.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the First Presidency of the Church, once taught:

“We know that the prayer of faith, uttered alone or in our homes or places of worship, can be effective to heal the sick.” He continued, emphasizing God’s love and desire to help: “Heavenly Father loves us. He wants to answer our prayers and help those we care about. Taking time to pray for others is an amazing way to bring about miracles. I am so grateful that the prayer rolls in temples all around the world allow us to do this more conveniently.”

In its simplest form, the prayer roll is a list maintained in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It consists of the names of people who are suffering from illness, affliction, or other life challenges—placed on the roll by loved ones, friends, or, sometimes, even themselves. These names remain confidential, and temple patrons, in turn, unite their faith in asking Heavenly Father to bless those listed.

The act is simple: someone learns of a friend struggling with cancer, a family mourning a loss, or even an acquaintance enduring hardship. That person submits the suffering individual’s name to the temple—either in person or, since a recent announcement, virtually via the Church’s online systems. During sacred parts of temple worship, especially in prayer circles, worshippers offer collective prayers on behalf of all those names, phrased generally but filled with faith that God knows—and can succor—each person’s needs.

Though the origins of the prayer roll within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not well-documented, the practice echoes ancient and widespread religious traditions. Church sources explain that it is a common practice among many people of faith to pray for loved ones when they face illness, afflictions, or other challenges. In many faith traditions, this includes praying collectively for those with specific needs. The scriptures record multiple instances in which Jesus Christ prayed in groups and admonished those present to pray as well. In temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this practice is observed.

Similar customs can be found worldwide. For example, at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, visitors from all walks of life tuck written prayers into the cracks of ancient stones. In Hindu temples, structured prayers for the sick are recited in Sanskrit and other languages, uniting worshippers in compassion and communal entreaty.

The act of writing down the names of those in need, therefore, is ancient, echoing a universal yearning to comfort and uplift. In the temples of the Church, the prayer roll distills this impulse, making it accessible and personal to each member.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its closures and distancing, led to new innovations in sacred practices. One particularly significant change was the Church’s announcement that prayer roll submissions would be accepted online. This development has made it more convenient for members worldwide to participate in this tradition, ensuring that, even during temple closures, the spirit of collective prayer continues uninterrupted.

For some, especially those who have not experienced the temple prayer circles directly, the practice can seem arbitrary or even mystical. One Church member described discomfort: “We are supposed to write a few markings that represent the phoneticism of someone’s name, which gets anonymously prayed over by people who don’t know either the individual target or the name submitter, and who never even see the name. The whole thing leaves me shaking my head. It’s not that I don’t believe it has efficacy, but in this case, my belief is based totally on what some would call ‘blind faith’”

Such doubts invite honest reflection. Drawing from scripture, one can understand that faith is often required before full understanding comes—Adam, when questioned by an angel, said, “I know not, save the Lord commanded me” (Moses 5:6). Jesus also taught: “If any man shall do his will he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17) We obey first; deeper understanding, and sometimes miracles, come after.

The comparison is made to personal prayer for a loved one. Whether or not the person prayed for knows about the prayer, the faith and love involved create real spiritual effectiveness. With prayer rolls, the names were written on those slips of paper by someone who loved them. That person had enough faith to come to the temple (usually to perform an ordinance). He had enough faith to write that name down on the paper, believing we would call on the Powers of Heaven. In a sense, he was saying a prayer himself.

If faith is a connection between ourselves and Heaven, and among ourselves in spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood, then the prayer roll translates that faith into unified action. Even if those praying do not know each individual’s name. We see them as our brothers and sisters in the Lord, no matter what their personal battles are in life. We pray with faith and have a hope in Christ that the Lord will bless them to endure with faith throughout all their individual trials in life.

What, then, is the real power of a prayer roll? As Elder Oaks reminds us, “Taking time to pray for others is an amazing way to bring about miracles.” Miracles may not always take the form of instant healing; sometimes they occur in the comfort they deliver, the strength they impart to endure, or the knowledge that a community—even a global, invisible one—is praying in unity.

Furthermore, the communal, even anonymous, nature of the prayer roll reflects a profound doctrine: we are all interconnected as children of God. When someone adds a name, when temple patrons join in prayer, when individuals submit requests online, barriers of geography, language, or familiarity dissolve. As a Hindu website cited explains, “God and prayers bring diverse groups of people together and promote social cultural and religious harmony.”

During the early months of the pandemic, when temples were closed, and petitions for prayer could not be submitted in the traditional way, members created an online community—Worldwide Unified—where people of different religions were joining together. This transition to virtual unity shows that while the means or channels may change, the essence of the tradition endures: collective, loving, faithful intercession.

While the temple prayer roll is distinct in its ritual and context, its roots and parallels stretch across religious boundaries and eras.

Western Wall, Jerusalem: People of all backgrounds place slips of written prayers into the Wall’s crevices, believing the act brings them closer to God. Like the prayer roll, each piece of paper represents a plea, a hope, or a thanksgiving offered by the community.

Hindu Traditions: Regularly recited prayers for the afflicted, performed in Sanskrit and other languages, aim to include all and foster unity—mirroring the inclusiveness and adaptability of the temple prayer roll.

Global Christianity: Prayers for the sick, afflicted, and needy are a staple of many church services and prayer chains, demonstrating the broader Christian impulse to intercede together.

In each case, the outward forms may differ, but the inward purpose—connecting people in need to a loving God and to a compassionate community—is the same.

With all of the challenges facing individuals and communities today—illness, loss, disaster, uncertainty—the need for communal prayer has never been greater. The temple prayer roll is not merely a ritual; it is a living, adaptable practice. Whether names are inscribed on slips of paper, entered via online forms, or spoken in prayer circles, the intent remains unchanged: uniting faith for the good of others.

As experience and doctrine both attest, the prayer roll is not so much about seeing immediate, outward results as about exercising and building faith. As we do this (the Lord’s will), we will begin to know the doctrine. We will find increased faith in the power of prayer and in the many facets and methods through which it can work. And we will do it no longer in ignorance, but in true and lasting faith.

The prayer roll is a monument against loneliness, a bulwark against despair, an ongoing miracle of community. Each name is a soul known to God and cared for by fellow believers. Each prayer, uttered in temple or home, draws Heaven nearer to Earth.

In the end, the greatest miracle may be that, through prayer, we become the instruments of God’s love—one act, one name, one prayer at a time.