Church leaders have gone back and forth on whether it’s a good idea to provide “model” prayers for ordinances, beyond the scriptural dictation of prayers for sacrament and baptism. In 1911, for example, Joseph F. Smith wrote about his hesitations to provide those models, and how priesthood holders should instead rely on the inspiration of the Spirit of God:

On the Form of Prayer.

From time to time questions come to the editors asking for instructions in detail on what words should be used in the performance of Church ordinances. There seems to be a tendency among some of the elders to reduce every blessing and ordinance to a set form. Doubtless their intention is to perform the ordinance correctly and effectively, but it should be remembered that the blessings of the Sacrament and the formula for Baptism are about the only forms which the Lord has seen fit to reveal. Perhaps because he desires to prevent his servants from being too mechanical in officiating in the ordinances of the Gospel. He intends without doubt that the Spirit of the Lord should be left to give appropriate utterance in harmony with the time, the place, the occasion, and the condition. …

[M]en are not heard for their much speaking. Direct, simple, heartfelt, supplication for what we want and need is the best and most effective order of prayer. What prayer could be more appropriate to the apostles of Christ, whom he was sending out to preach the Gospel without purse or scrip, than, “Give us this day our daily bread?” But to the person who has his thousands and his millions, such a prayer is not appropriate. He should ask when he prays for the things he needs. Also our prayers should be short, simple and to the point. I remember on one occasion a number of the authorities visited Erastus Snow when he was very sick; one of them asked if he desired the brethren to administer to him, “Yes, indeed, I do; but I don’t want them to smother me with long prayers,” was his answer.

But let us repeat again, that rather than having set forms, the elders should live so that they may have the inspiration of the Spirit of God, when called upon to officiate in the ordinances, then their prayers will be simple, direct, appropriate and effective in the sight of God. (The Improvement Era, September 1911)

On the other hand, examples must be very useful to young elders in the mission field who may not have much experience with ordinances who are suddenly called upon to confirm a convert or bless the sick. That may be especially true when those ordinances need to be performed in a language the elder may not yet be comfortable in using. The Elders’ Manual from the 1920s provides sample wording in English; I’ve seen more than one diary of elders serving in non-English speaking missions with the texts of ordinances carefully copied in the new language.

Here’s a pocket guide to ordinances for elders in the Central Pacific Mission (the renamed Japanese Mission) in 1949, with prayers in both English and Japanese.

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(Thanks, Mark B., for help with translation when my copy lacked the English text for two pages.)

INSTRUCTIONS IN ORDINANCE WORK

This booklet contains suggested forms for the Priesthood to use in performing the various ordinances. These forms are not implied to be official or authorized by the Church, as there are no set forms for most ordinances, but the suggestions contained herein will be helpful to the young and inexperienced members.

It appears that the Lord has at no time seen fit to give the detailed wording of these ordinances, but has left it to the discretion of the officiating Elder and the dictation of the Spirit of the Lord. We merely suggest that the essentials be as follows:

Blessing on the Bread

“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he has given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

Blessing on the Water

“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

Blessing of Children

The Elder officiating holds the child and says words to the effect: “Our Father in Heaven, In the name of Jesus Christ and bearing God’s holy priesthood, I give this child the name __________, the name by which he (she) shall be known on this earth and on the records of the Church.”

Baptism

The Elder officiating should hold securely in his left hand the hands of the person being baptized. He should raise his right hand and arm to the square and after ‘Amen’ his right hand should be placed on the back of the one being baptized, thus rendering assistance to the one in “coming up out of the water.”

Sec. 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants gives the following prayer to be used in this holy ordinance:

“(Use full name), having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

(Immerse the party in water, being sure that every part of the body is covered.)

Confirmation

(Use full name of person, calling the person by his or her full name)

“__________, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, we lay our hands upon your head and confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and say unto you, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” To this may be added other blessings as the Spirit may dictate.

When you attend to this ordinance, do not say “We lay our hands upon your head TO confirm you a member of the Church,” but say We lay our hands upon your head AND confirm you a member of the Church.”

Ordaining to Aaronic Priesthood

Calling the candidate by name – “By (or in) the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I (or we) lay my (or our) hands upon your head and ordain you a Deacon (or Teacher or Priest) in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and confer upon you all rights, powers and authority pertaining to this office and calling in the Aaronic Priesthood, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Such words of blessing as the spirit may dictate may be included.

Note: In setting apart a president of any quorum, or presiding officer of any organization, bishop, etc., the keys” are also conferred upon him, but not upon other members.

Ordaining to Melchizedek Priesthood

Calling the candidate by name – “By (or in) the authority of the Holy Priesthood and by laying on of hands, I (or we) ordain you an Elder (or whatever the office may be) in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and confer upon you all the rights, powers, and authority pertaining to this office and calling in the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Such words of blessing as the spirit ay dictate may be included.

Note: In setting apart a president of any quorum, or presiding officer of any organization, bishop, etc., the “keys” are also conferred upon him, but not upon other members.

Consecrating Oil

The Elder should hold bottle of pure olive oil, from which the stopper has been removed, in the right hand, with the left hand placed on each other’s shoulders, and the one speaking may say in substance:

“Our Father in Heaven, we present before Thee this oil and pray Thee to bless it; and in the authority of the Holy Priesthood we consecrate it, and dedicate it, and set it apart for the anointing of the sick, and all holy purposes, in the household of faith, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Anointing the Sick

A few drops of consecrated oil should be poured upon the head of the sick person with the left hand, using the right to do the anointing with, and may say in substance: (calling the individual by name)

“__________, in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I anoint your head with this holy oil, which has been consecrated, dedicated, and set apart for the appointing [sic] of the sick in the household of faith, and I do this as an Elder in Israel and in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

To anoint is to rub over with oil. A rop applied to a head covered with artifices in the hair, so that the oil cannot reach the body, is not anointing and does not comply with the commandment.

It is not necessary to use a spoon. There is no commandment that the sick should take the oil internally.

This ordinance is for the anointing of the sick and the blessing of the individual should come after the sealing of the anointing.

Sealing the Anointing

The Elders lay their hands upon the head of the sick person, who has been anointed, and the one speaking ay say in substance: (calling the individual by name)

“__________, in the authority of the Holy Priesthood we unite our faith and seal and confirm the anointing which you have received from one of the servants of God, and we pray our Heavenly Father to ratify this anointing in Heaven that you may regain your health and strength, and we do it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” To this may be added such words of blessing as the spirit ay dictate.

The Elders of the Church are to be called or asked to offer the prayer of faith for the sick. Unto the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said, respecting the healing of the sick:

“And these things ye shall not do, except it be required of you by them who desire it, that the scriptures might be fulfilled; for ye shall do according to that which is written.” (Doc. and Cov. 24:14.)

Dedicating a Grave

“Our Father in Heaven, we, a few of Thy children, surround this open grave of one of Thy sons (or daughters), and we thank Thee that we have proven him (or her) and pray that (his or her) good deeds shall remain long I our memories. As a servant of God, holding the Holy Priesthood I dedicate this plot of ground as a resting place for our brother (or sister) until the morning of the resurrection; that this grave, the casket, and that the remain may be undisturbed by the convulsions of nature or the hand of man until the morning of the resurrection when the trumpet of God will sound, calling forth the dead who sleep in the Lord.

(Such other things may be mentioned as one is led by the spirit.) In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

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