Barry Wride Harris (1890-1952) was born in Juarez, one of the Mormon colonies in northern Mexico. He served a mission to New Zealand from 1910-1912, then attended the Brigham Young High School (a department of BYU, at Provo, where students benefitted from the assets of the University and also served as subjects for the University students going through the Normal Course, i.e., learning to become teachers), graduating in 1913. He was honorably released after brief service with the U.S. Army during World War I. I don’t know where he got his undergraduate education, but he earned a Master of Theology degree from the University of Southern California, in 1929, with his thesis subject being “A Case Study in Christian Science Healing.” I suspect he was not well off financially – he is described as a “car tester” in the 1940 census, and when he registered for the World War II draft he was employed in a federal make-work project. He spent most of his adult life in Los Angeles. So far as I can tell, he never married.

Those are the facts I can glean through an internet search. The one thing that sent me on a search for his life is not on the internet, though.

At some point in his life, Barry noticed what we all notice, and sometimes ridicule – the repetitive, inelegant, sometimes infelicitous standard wording of Mormon prayers. You know, the “nourish and strengthen us and do us the good that we need” and “bless the sick and afflicted that they may be here next time.” Unlike most of us, though, Barry tried to do something about it.

Around 1930 – although he may have been working on it long before then – Barry produced a list of what he called “Phrases and Clauses that May be Introduced into Prayers,” and began circulating it among the Mormon literary class, hoping to find a sponsor for what he hoped would become a respected publication. It didn’t catch on, and was never published.

Perhaps Barry had a good idea: Prayers become rote because we don’t think of what we’re saying and merely repeat what we’ve heard and heard and heard. Suggesting other ways to express our “thank you” and “please” might help us break out of a rut. That, I think, was the impetus behind the “suggestive prayers” of seminary texts circa 1935 – these were not prayers to be recited at the end of class, but merely intended to teach students how they could adapt a rote closing prayer to take into account some of the principles taught in a lesson. And aren’t there times when we need to express the inexpressible? when, for instance, with the sudden and unnatural death of an innocent?

Barry’s “phrases and clauses” did not meet the need, however. First, in my opinion, they don’t express the kinds of things I include in my personal prayers, and for the most part are not topics I would introduce into my prayers before a class or congregation. Second, they aren’t particularly graceful, in either sense of that word – they are not especially poetic despite their frequent alliteration, and they do not convey any special understanding of faith or a sense of speaking under inspiration or with any particular connection to the divine; rather, they are self-conscious and ponderous and pretentious. And finally, they are badly arranged: Should I need help in finding the words for a prayer, a listing of phrases alphabetized by their first word, rather than keyword or subject, would be useless. Better, I think, would be a listing by topic of prayer; better than arbitrary constructions by a not particularly gifted writer would be a collection of scriptures or poems or actual prayers that addressed a given topic and that could inspire me with their beauty.

I am posting one version of Barry W. Harris’s “Phrases and Clauses” as he circulated them – not the full alphabetic range of phrases, but the selection he thought best represented his work, while protecting him from anyone who might present his full collection as their own. (!) His attempts to gain support also included a sample prayer constructed almost entirely from his “phrases and clauses” – and you will see how cumbersome and inarticulate they sound, how little they communicate with either God or man, when you see his sample prayer. (Don’t mind the length, though, although we all would be uncomfortable listening to any prayer so lengthy – let’s assume its length was due to a desire to incorporate as many of his “phrases and clauses” as possible, to show them to what Barry hoped would be their best advantage.)

We could laugh at this. If I could watch you skim through this list (it’s long, but you’re not going to do more than skim, I think), I would expect to see your eyes first widen with incredulity, and then to see you take refuge in humor because the collection is certainly ludicrous. But along with the almost inevitable laughter, maybe we could remember that this was one man’s sincere attempt to offer something of value to the Latter-day Saints. It wasn’t successful in that – but it does illustrate a willingness to serve, however weak one’s gifts might be. No need to speak more highly of this project than it deserves, but let’s avoid any mean-spiritedness.

PHRASES AND CLAUSES THAT MAY BE INTRODUCED INTO PRAYERS.

PREFACE.

The author of the following phrases and clauses has been impressed during his lifetime with commonplace terms employed in most prayers uttered by Latter-day Saints. So it is with the thought of introducing variety and vividness into prayers, given on various occasions, that these suggestive expressions have been formulated.

Many speakers have been prevented from clothing their thoughts and feelings with appropriate words, either through lack of natural fluency, or lack of scholastic training. The writer shares with them these problems.

It is possible to develop a complete prayer from one of these expressions, and it is also possible to combine the thoughts in various ways. A typical prayer that might be constructed, is therefore given at the close of the compilation.

This work does not represent a complete product. It simply indicates what might be accomplished.

-A-

Abide always by the laws of advancement.
Abilities to communicate with Deity.
Abundant rewards for thinking pure and progressive thoughts and for living clean, exemplary lives.
Accelerate the rapidity of our progress.
Access to the inexhaustible supply of noble thoughts and ideals that radiate from thy presence.
Accomplish that which is of eminent wor5th.
Accomplish thy purposes and progress in thy kingdom.
According to thy requirements.
According to our righteous achievements.
Accumulate spiritual treasures.
Accurate knowledge of church functions will contribute richly toward our spiritual efficiency.
Accurate knowledge of divine and human relationships.
Achieve genuine spiritual success.
Achieve that which is of tremendous worth.
Achievements in the realm of celestial purpose.
Achievements might embody a knowledge of those enduring truths.
Acknowledge thee as the king of righteousness.
Acknowledge thee as the fountain of enduring truths and immeasurable accomplishments.
Action and movement and tireless energy.
Active and continuous development.
Active desire to accomplish thy purposes.
Acts full of enthusiasm for the right.
Acts, the embodiment of noble purposes and righteous living.
Add growth and development to our highest living.
Add noble ideals and progressive ambitions to our treasury of spiritual [accomplishments?]
Addition of knowledge, noble deeds and progressive ideals.
Additional strength in the attainment of that which is of eminent worth.
Add one victory upon another until we triumph over all obstacles.
Add reality to our powers of accomplishing.
Adhere always to the highest type of living.
Adhere always to progressive ideals.
Adhere closely to the plan of righteousness revealed.
Adhere constantly to the pattern of righteousness.
Adhere to constructive and permanent standards of right living.
Adhere to that which is of eminent worth.
Advance steadily toward the light of divine truth.
Advance steadily in paths of righteousness.
Advance toward that goal of achievement reserved for the righteous.
Advocate the plan of righteousness revealed.
Aggressive in developing our intellectual capacities.
Ambition to develop spiritual strength.
Ambition to drink at the fountain of all that is great and good.
Ambition to fill our lives with distinctive accomplishments.
Anxious to become firmly rooted in the practice of right living.
Anxious to be redeemed through our faithfulness in observing thy requirements.
Anxious to compensate defenders of righteousness.
Anxious to see us become victorious in this struggle for spiritual accomplishment.
Appreciate the kind guardianship thou hast continually extended in our behalf.
Appropriate the plan of righteousness transmitted by our fathers.
Ascend the steps to achievement in the realm of spiritual information.
Aspirations that will exemplify progress.
Aspirations that will exemplify progress.
Assist us in following closely every prescribed step.
Assure us this day that thou art interested in our welfare.
Assurance that thou are the embodiment of power and action.
Attack with zeal and unfaltering enthusiasm.
Attainment of strength and power from a spiritual standpoint.
Attainment of a broad and deep insight into the magnitude of thy power.
Attitude of co-operation with respect to divine influences.
Attributes required of candidates.
Attuned always to divine inspiration.
Attuned to the silent teachings of the spirit of truth.
Awaken us to opportunities for advancement.

-C-

Candidates for exalted positions in thy kingdom.
Candidates for that goal of achievement reserved for the righteous.
Capacities for accomplishing righteousness increased daily.
Capacities for solving problems increased.
Capacities for understanding divine truth.
Cause the king of righteousness to consider our petition.
Celestial attributes that contribute much toward character building.
Channels of wise living.
Channel of communication between Deity and ourselves.
Channel through which the divine may be reached.
Character-building factors that will contribute much toward our spiritual understanding and our general efficiency.
Character-building motives transmitted to us by our fathers.
Cherish those fundamental principles of spiritual growth.
Claim thy protection and guidance.
Cleansing influence of thy divine presence.
Clothed with honor and majesty.
Clothe us with a mantle of righteousness.
Clothe us with divine inspiration as with a mantle.
Commend ourselves unto thee.
Communicate to our souls such information as will increase our spiritual efficiency.
Compensation for thinking pure and progressive thoughts and for living clean, exemplary lives.
Companionship of thy spirit as our constant guide.
Companion, our guide and our strength.
Compensated beyond our present capacities to understand.
Compensation of pure and progressive living.
Comprehend in part the glorious majesty of thine exalted throne.
Comprehend in part the magnitude of thy kingdom.
Comprehend in part thy power to determine our destinies.
Comprehend our possible spiritual achievements.
Comprehensive understanding of thy power.
Concentration of effort required.
Confidence in divine leadership.
Conscious of that light which radiates truth to our souls.
Conscious of that light which radiates information to our souls.
Conscious of our relationship to thee.
Consciousness that thy majesty and dominion endureth forever.
Consecrate our lives to high and noble purposes.
Consecrate our full efforts toward the accomplishment of righteousness.
Consecrate our supreme efforts to the preservation of our noblest thoughts.
Consistent in our search for a fuller knowledge of thy divine plan.
Constant faithfulness to thy requirements.
Constant in our struggle for spiritual success.
Constant in pursuing those inflexible standards of right living.
Construct mansions of valuable attainments.
Contemplate with satisfaction, promised rewards.
Consolation in the assurance that thou art our protector, our guide and our strength.
Continual progress in paths of righteousness.
Continual progress in paths of righteousness is our aim.
Continue thy favors, we humbly pray.
Continuation of thy sympathy and encouragement.
Contribute richly toward our spiritual efficiency.
Contribute much toward the building of our characters.
Contribute much toward our ultimate achievements.
Contribute life and vitality to our highest ideals.
Contribute freely of our accomplishments.
Contribute most toward our intellectual and spiritual advancement.
Contributions to our intellectual insight into the splendor and magnitude of thy kingdom.
Controller of our future progress.
Control our actions and share our destinies.
Control our thoughts, our words and our acts.
Course of preparation for an exalted position in thy kingdom.
Crown of victory reserved for the righteous.
Crowned with the redeemed in thy celestial kingdom.
Crowned with the righteous in the kingdom of high ideals.

-D-

Daily struggles to accomplish thy purposes.
Dedicate our supreme efforts toward creating permanent elements of worth.
Deeply concerned about our vital relationships.
Defense of righteousness.
Definite understanding of thy liberal appointments.
Delight greatly in fulfilling divine law.
Demand intellectual and spiritual refreshment.
Demand recognition of the divine.
Demonstrate a determination to earn spiritual rewards.
Demonstrate by our life habits.
Dependable and accurate knowledge of the divine.
Dependable understanding of thy majesty and dominion.
Design of him whose confidence and protection we seek.
Desire that thy guiding influence will help us.
Desire to be victorious in the struggle for spiritual accomplishment.
Desirous of qualifying as candidates for that goal of achievement reserved for the righteous.
Desirous of receiving the advantages of thy kingdom.
Determined to build a tower of spiritual achievements.
Determined to formulate a standard of righteousness.
Determined to reach the high standard of spiritual efficiency.
Determination to understand elements of worth.
Develop in us massive intellects.
Develop our capacities for adhering to thy requirements.
Develop in us a comprehensive understanding of thy power.
Develop in us outstanding virtues.
Develop our capacities for co-operating with divine forces.
Develop our powers for accomplishing righteousness.
Develop strength and power to solve problems.
Devotedly attached to hy laws of progression.
Devotion to thee, the king of progress.
Devotion to the cause of truth.
Direct our exertions into channels of wise living.
Direct our efforts toward that light which radiates truth to our souls.
Direct our efforts toward that light which radiates truth and information to our souls.
Direct the current of our motives and emotions into channels of wise living.
Direct our experiences toward productive achievement.
Discern the attributes of celestial citizenship.
Discern that which is important in connection with the enrichment of our lives.
Discern the secrets of receiving thy strength and power.
Discipline our thoughts and desires.
Discover those faculties in us that tend to co-operate with divine forces.
Distinct in the permanency of its basic principles.
Divine help in the preservation of our highest ideals.
Divine protection extended in times past.
Divine contributions to our spiritual growth.
Divine guidance is a necessary element to our success.
Divine rewards are dependent upon right living.
Divine sympathy in the solution of our problems.
Divinely energize our loftiest motives.
Dominate our tendencies in life.
Dominant influences of our lives.
Draw near with thy influence and power.

-E-

Eager to learn our possibilities.
Earnestly desirous of qualifying for that goal of achievement reserved for the righteous.
Earnestness in seeking truth.
Earnest in developing our powers for accomplishing.
Efficient citizenship in thy kingdom.
Efficient in the utilization of our highest and noblest purposes.
Efficient receptacles for divine influences.
Efforts to be victorious in the battle of life.
Efforts to evaluate and utilize such elements of worth as make themselves manifest.
Efforts to qualify ourselves for the advantages of thy kingdom.
Elements in the attainment of a glorious immortality.
Eligible for the crown of victory reserved for all who think pure and progressive thoughts.
Emplant deeply in our hearts an enthusiasm for the right.
Emplant in our souls the ability for understanding the secrets of thy kingdom.
Emplant within us the germ of spiritual success.
Emprint upon o0ur souls a consciousness of our relationship to thee.
Endeavor to enlarge our treasury of progressive ideals.
Endeavor instinctively to imitate divine attributes.
Endeavor to make contact with the inexhaustible supply of lofty influences that radiate from on high.
Enduring truths that embody the essential elements of divine law.
Energetic in the acquisition of information.
Energetic in accomplishing that which will add growth and development to our highest ideals.
Energize divinely those distinctive qualities in us.
Energize our loftiest motives.
Enkindle in our souls a desire to search for divine truth.
Enlarge continually, our treasuries of noble deeds.
Enlarge our tendencies for understanding celestial truth.
Enlarge our capacities for receiving divine inspiration.
Enlarge our treasuries of progressive ideals.
Enlarge our powers for accomplishing righteousness.
Enlighten our souls with the spirit of celestial government.
Enlightenment which will help us to understand the secrets of thy kingdom.
Enrich our lives with a knowledge of thee and thy kingdom.
Enrich our lives with real and vital truths.
Enrich our thoughts with that living vitality which comes from thee.
Enthusiasm for complying with thy requirements.
Enthusiasm for discovering those channels of wise living.
Enthusiastic in grasping every opportunity to advance.
Enthusiastic in seeking divine guidance.
Enunciation of those principles that embody the secrets of thy kingdom.
Equipment which is so necessary to the solution of problems.
Essential in the discovery of spiritual truth.
Essential in the preservation of our heritage.
Establish conventional habits of right living.
Estimate the immeasurable vastness and splendor of thine exalted throne.
Exalted throne for which we are striving.
Exaltation gained only by the righteous.
Excellence and finish which is inseparably connected with kingly characters.
Exemplify progress through an extensive research into divine requirements.
Exercise supreme control over our tendencies in life.
Express our gratitude for all we have enjoyed.
Exert every possible effort toward increasing our spiritual efficiency.
Exercise supreme control over our efforts to ascend the steps of blameless living in the realm of spiritual accomplishment.
Exertion to control those indwelling impulses.
Exemplify refinement and fidelity to purpose.
Everlasting light which radiates truth to our souls.
Eyes of our understandings might be opened to receive the light of divine truth.

-F-

Face the problems of life with renewed strength.
Faculties in us that tend to co-operate with divine forces.
Faculties in us that embody the attributes of celestial citizenship.
Faith that is deep and certain and true.
Faithful adherents to righteousness.
Faithful in the discharge of our duties.
Faithfulness to thy requirements, our greatest accomplishment.
Familiar with the inspiration of the divine.
Fathom the colossal problems.
Favor us with a knowledge of thy kingdom.
Favor us with a knowledge of thy kingdom.
Favors which represent compensation for right living.
Fastened to those principles of advancement given for our guidance.
Fervent in complying with thy requirements.
Fidelity to high and noble purposes.
Fidelity to prescribed divine requirements.
Fill our lives with righteousness.
Fill our minds with progressive thoughts and high ideals.
Fill our understandings with strength and wisdom from on high.
Fill our thoughts with a knowledge of thy laws and rewards.
Fills us with encouragement.
Firmly rooted in the practice of right living.
Firmly rooted in principles of righteousness.
Fix permanently thy laws in our minds.
Follow diligently our most profitable course.
Fountain of celestial virtues.
Fountain of pure and progressive living.
Fragrant with the aroma of pure thoughts and lofty ideals.
Fruitage of our lives might be of genuine worth.
Fuller knowledge of thy wonderful work.
Fuller comprehension of thy power and dominion.

-G-

Gain a fuller knowledge of celestial attributes.
Gain the secret of receiving thy strength and power.
Gain thy confidence and grow in thy laws of progression.
Genuine strength and power to realize our highest ambitions.
Germinate divine attributes and produce wisdom and fruitfulness.
Germinate in us everlasting elements of worth.
Give us power to understand the infinite.
Give us a steel-gripping determination adhere closely to the plan of righteousness revealed.
Give us a tangible knowledge of that power which can control the opportunities of our future growth and development.
Glorious immortality which awaits those faithful to thy requirements.
Glorious immortality which represents compensation for distinguished spiritual achievements.
Glory in the assurances.
Glory and majesty which radiates from thy presence.
Goal of achievement which represents victory in the battle of life.
Goal of achievement reserved for the righteous.
Goal of devout adherence to the plan of righteousness revealed.
Gracious and full of compassion.
Grant us the companionship of thy spirit as our constant guide.
Grant us wisdom in all our acts.
Grandeur of thy majesty and dominion.
Greater in glory and majesty than the human eye can visualize.
Grooves of thought and action which determine our ultimate destinies.
Grooves of thought and action in the right direction.
Guardianship thou hast continually extended in our behalf.
Guided in the way of truth.

-I-

Illumine our thoughts in response to the appeal of our highest aspiration.
Illumine our motives and emotions.
Illumine our souls with the still, small voice that speaks to our understandings.
Imitate thoughts and acts of celestial citizens.
Importance of adhering always to high standards of right living.
Importance of being alert always, to divine messages.
Importance of seeking diligently, spiritual treasures.
Importance of preserving our highest ideals.
Importance of righteous purposes in connection with spiritual progress.
Importance of regarding divine law as the foundation of all intellectual and spiritual advancement.
Importance of harboring pure and progressive thoughts.
Immeasurable with respect to their intrinsic worth.
Impress upon us the importance of responding to thy messages.
Impress us with the basic principles of truth and virtue.
Impressed with the silent teachings of the spirit of truth.
In recognition of thy majesty and dominion.
Incline our thoughts toward paths of righteousness.
Increase our diligence in seeking divine guidance.
Increase our aptitude for becoming attuned to divine inspiration.
Increase our efficiency for receiving knowledge and power from on high.
Increase our enthusiasm for discovering channels of wise living.
Increase our intellectual and spiritual efficiency.
Increase our spiritual efficiency.
Increase our wisdom in understanding human affairs.
Increase thy confidence in us.
Increase the vitality of our higher living.
Increase our capacities for complying with thy requirements.
Increasingly concerned about the moulding of our characters.
Indispensable in the discernment of character-building factors.
Indispensable element in the acquisition of information.
Indispensable ideals in character building.
Indispensable factors in man’s spiritual progress.
Individual contacts with thee in whom we confide.
Inexhaustible supply of spiritual strength.
Inestimable value in the discernment of character-building processes.
Inflexible standards of right living,
Influence us vitally this day by thy power.
Influenced by those character-building processes that originate in the celestial realm.
Influences that radiate from thy presence.
Information which is indispensable in the discernment of vital truth.
Inspiration of lofty thoughts and ideals.
Inspire us to exert every possible effort.
Inspire every thought we think.
Inspire us to regulate our lives in harmony with the pattern of righteousness revealed.
Inspiring leadership of divine persuasions.

-M-

Magnify our righteous accomplishments.
magnificence of that kingdom where celestial grandeur illumines the intellect of man.
Majesty dominion and immeasurable magnitude of thy kingdom.
Make us enthusiastic in seeking divine guidance.
Make us diligent in grasping every opportunity to advance.
Manifestations of thy divine power.
Meet in accordance with thy requirements.
Mental alertness that is so important in the acquisition of information.
Mentain such elements of worth a will be impressed upon us.
Minds illumined with divine strength and power.
Moral earnestness dominate our every act and utterance.
Motive has been an important factor in spiritual progress.
Mould our characters in harmony with divine expectations.
Multiply our noble thoughts and righteous accomplishments.
Multiply our celestial qualifications.

-P-

Partake of thine exalted apportionments.
Partake freely of that which will contribute toward our steady spiritual growth.
patient in our expectations of reward.
Perfect our hearts before thee.
Permanent foundation of distinguished accomplishments.
Perpetuate information relative to hy stupendous achievements.
Perpetuate a knowledge of thy mighty acts.
Perpetuation to high and noble purposes.
Persist relentlessly in familiarizing ourselves with the rituals and functions of the church.
Persistent in developing in ourselves massive intellects.
Persistent in developing our susceptibility to divine inspiration.
Perseverance and industry.
Petition for encouragement in the solution of our problems.
Plead humbly for a continuation of thy sympathy and helpfulness.
Pleased to acknowledge thee as the king of righteousness.
Point the way to eternal perfection.
P:oint the way to an exaltation in thy kingdom.
Power from which light and truth emanate.
Power which can enrich our lives.
Powerful agency might regulate our conduct in life.
Preserve in the spirit of righteousness, our highest ideals.
Preserve thoughts and ideals that will develop high and noble purposes.
Problems that pertain to our spiritual welfare.
Proceed intelligently to discover the magnitude of thy rewards.
Proceed fervently toward that goal of achievement.
Proceed enthusiastically toward equipping ourselves with enduring truths.
Proceed to accomplish that which represents victory in the battle of life.
Productive of merits, broad and in their comprehensiveness.
Profound comprehension of spiritual rewards.
Profound and unwavering loyalty to the plan of righteousness revealed.
Progress in spiritual knowledge.
Progress steadily in paths of right living.
Promises of reward thou hast lavished upon loyal adherents to righteousness.
Protector, our guide and our strength.
Provide divinely for our continual progress toward that goal of achievement reserved for the righteous.
Provided as a celestial heritage.
Provided divinely for our ultimate spiritual success.
Provided for loyal adherents to righteousness.
Provided originally for the distribution of rewards.
Provisions made originally for our ultimate success.
Pure and progressive living.
Purpose of increasing our spiritual understandings.
Purpose of developing intellectual efficiency.
Pursue those problems that create strength and power.
Pursuit of that which will hasten achievement.

-R-

Raise constantly our standards of spiritual attainment.
Raise ourselves to high pedestals of spiritual efficiency.
Reach the goal for which we are striving.
Reach the standard of perfection required.
Reach exalted positions in thy kingdom.
Receive abundant rewards for right living.
Receive an understanding of divine secrets.
Receive counsel through the silent teachings of the spirit of truth.
Receive strength and refreshment.
Receive thy sanction to all our acts.
Receive thy spirit as our constant guide.
Receive unmistakable answers to our requests.
Receive worthily of thine exalted apportionments.
Receive worthily of thy protection and guidance.
Receive worthily of thy divine protection.
Recognize the importance of righteous purposes.
Recognize the value of developing our capacities.
Refinement which is indicative of kingly characters.
Refreshen our souls with the influence of thy inspiration.
Refreshened through the influence of divine persuasion.
Refreshened by that powerful light which penetrates the silent precincts of our understandings.
Regenerate enthusiasm for discovering channels of wise living.
Regenerate those inclinations we desire to dominate our daily performances.
Regulate ultimate compensation exchanged for human effort.
Reinforce the links in our chain of spiritual accomplishment.
Reinforce those character-building factors.
Relationship to thee.
Reliable guideposts that will help us mould our characters in harmony with divine expectations.
Reliable guideposts that are essential to the preservation of our heritage.
Remain steadfast to the cause of righteousness.
Religious practices that have been transmitted by our fathers.
Remember with vividness thy promises of reward.
Remember the points where we have improved.
Remove any obstacle that may obstruct our growth.
Renew our devotion to thee and thy kingdom.
Renew our faith in thy power to give us strength.
Renew our faith in thy promises.
Renew continually our devotion to the pattern of righteousness revealed.
Renewed determination to serve thee, the king of progress.
Represent compensation for right living.
Represents victory in the battle of life.
Required of all candidates for exalted positions in thy kingdom.
Respond efficiently to the instructions given.
Respond perfectly to the message of thy promptings.
Respond readily to divine inspiration.
Respond readily to those influences that reveal the secrets of thy kingdom.
Response to the promptings of our highest motives.
Retain a knowledge of thy power to give us strength.
Retain permanently, impressions made by the divine.
Reverence and genuine humility.
Rewards which represent compensation for right living.
Rewards for those who develop in themselves, outstanding virtues.
Righteous desires, – the controlling influence of our lives.
Rightfully claim thy protection and guidance.
Rouse to action our highest motives and emotions.
Rouse to action inclinations for equipping ourselves with enduring truths.

-S-

Sacred regard for divine teachings.
Safeguard our tendencies in life.
Sanctity of divine and human relationships.
Satisfaction, encouragement and strength.
Satisfactory schooling in spiritual information.
Search for the secrets of thy kingdom.
Secret passage to that exalted throne for which we are striving.
Seek fervently, divine protection and guidance.
Seek with humility, divine strength and power.
Select such enduring truths as will contribute most toward the moulding of our characters.
Sense keenly, the stupendous responsibility.
Sensitive to divine inspiration.
Sentiments of adoration for celestial government.
Sentiments of devout thanksgiving for the spiritual nourishment.
Silently watching over our secret performances.
Solution of problems that pertain to efficient citizenship in thy kingdom.
Source of celestial strength and foundation of enduring satisfactions.
Spirit of righteousness might envelop our every act and utterance.
Spirit of the divine overshadow our thoughts and acts.
Spiritual efficiency is our aim.
Spiritual growth might be hastened.
Spiritual growth the vital element in our life achievements.
Spiritual success the outstanding achievement of our lives.
Stabilize the vitality of our highest living.
Stand nobody and courageously for the advancement of righteousness.
Standard of continuous advancement.
Steadily advance on the path of progression.
Steadily on the path of progress.
Steel-gripping determination to adhere closely to the plan of righteousness revealed.
Steel-gripping determination to adhere always, to high and noble purposes.
Stimulate our highest living to growth and development.
Stimulate our highest and noblest aspirations.
Strength and power which radiates from thee.
Strength and wisdom will be given loyal adherents to righteousness.
Strength of thy power will fill our lives with truth.
Strength and power to pursue always, the right.
Strengthen us in body and in mind.
Struggle intelligently to gain spiritual strength and wisdom.
Struggle untiringly toward the accomplishment of thy purposes.
Struggle to complete a chain of spiritual attainments.
Stupendous task of equipping ourselves with enduring truths.
Sufficient insight into spiritual affairs.
Supplicate ourselves before thee in meekness and thanksgiving.
Supply us steadily with divine encouragement.
Surround us with influences that radiate from thy presence.
Surround us with enduring truths and divine influences.
Susceptible to divine inspiration.
Susceptibility to divine inspiration.
Susceptible to impressions which radiate truth to our souls.
Sympathy, encouragement and strength.

-oooOooo-

And then here is the sample prayer Barry constructed to showcase the possibilities of his “phrases and clauses”:

Heavenly Father, we approach thee in humility and thanksgiving at the beginning of this, another session of conference, and we express our gratitude for the kind watchfulness thou hast always extended in our behalf. As believers who desire to perpetuate a knowledge of thee and thy kingdom, we sense the wisdom of honoring thy name in word and deed. We wish to acknowledge thee as the fountain of all that promotes happiness and progress, and we solicit thy co-operation in the gaining of knowledge and the attainment of a broad and deep insight into our relationship with thee.

We feel deeply indebted to thee for what knowledge we have of thy wonderful work, and this day seek a continuation of thy sympathy and encouragement. We wish to acknowledge thee as the king of righteousness, one whose dominion endureth forever, and whose ever-lasting kingdom is greater in glory and majesty than the human eye can visualize, or the understanding comprehend. It is with humility and reverence that we express our appreciation for that which we have received, and we ask that thou wilt help us learn those things that will contribute much toward our spiritual efficiency and our progressive ideals.

Help us to consecrate our lives to high and noble purposes, develop in us strength and power to always pursue the right, and inspire us to exert every possible effort to accomplish that which will add growth and development to our highest living, that we might gain thy confidence, grow in thy love of progression, and become worthy of thine exalted apportionments.

The stupendous task of equipping ourselves with enduring truths in the defense of righteousness, impresses upon us the importance of being alert always to divine messages; that our thoughts and emotions might be illumined by the silent teachings of the spirit of truth, and that we might mould our characters in harmony with divine expectations.

We take consolation in the promise that thou wilt reward abundantly those faithful to thy requirements, and we glory in the assurance that defenders of righteousness will be compensated beyond their present capacities to understand. We therefore pray that thou wilt help us to become victorious in this struggle for spiritual accomplishment. Hold us steadily on the path of progression, fill our understandings with strength and wisdom from on high, and direct the experiences of this day into channels of wise living; that we might be strengthened in the way of righteousness, guided in the way of truth, and inspired in the way of progression.

We are earnestly desirous of qualifying as candidates for that goal of achievement that is reserved for the righteous, and it is our desire to advance steadily toward the light of divine truth. Influence us vitally this day by thy power, that we might partake freely of that which will contribute toward our spiritual growth. Renew our faith in thy power to give us strength, steadily supply us with divine encouragement, and develop our capacities for co-operating with the forces of the divine, that our abilities for discovering those channels of wise living, that point to an exaltation in thy kingdom, might receive strength and refreshment, and that our lives might be enriched by that living vitality which comes from thee.

Let thy spirit overshadow every thought and act of our lives that our thoughts might be rich with valuable ideas, an dour acts full of enthusiasm for the right. We desire that thou wilt exercise supreme control over our tendencies in life, that we might struggle intelligently to gain spiritual strength and wisdom, until we reach that standard of perfection required of all faithful adherents to righteousness.

Give us a comprehensive understanding of our sacred responsibility, as loyal adherents to the plan of truth revealed, bind us to thee, the fountain of all that is great and good, and imprint upon our souls a thorough knowledge of thy laws, and the pattern of advancement thou hast restored. That we might receive the keys to the mysteries of thine exalted throne, be clothed with honor and majesty and crowned with the redeemed in thy Celestial Kingdom. We now commend ourselves unto thee, praying that thou wilt be our companion, our guide and our strength.