The Church released a new batch of hymns on September 18, 2025. The batch includes a song with lyrics by President Russell M. Nelson: “Our Prayer to Thee,” which is set to a Welsh tune by Joseph Parry.
In April 2003, President Nelson shared the inspiration for the lyrics during his general conference talk. He’d visited with a woman in a nursing care facility who tearfully expressed that her third son had not visited in years. She did not know where he was. President Nelson said in his talk:
“If such a mother yearns to hear from her sons, it is easy to see why a loving Father in Heaven wants to hear from His children. Through prayer, we can show our love for God. And He has made it so easy. We may pray to Him any time. No special equipment is needed. We don’t even need to charge batteries or pay a monthly service fee.”
He then said he’d felt impressed to end his message “on prayer with a prayer—presented as a hymn.” President Nelson stayed at the pulpit with folded arms and head bowed while The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performed the hymn. At the end of the song, President Nelson said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen,” before leaving to take his seat.
When “Our Prayer to Thee” Has Been Performed
Latter-day Saints may have heard the song performed in Church broadcasts. It was sung at both the October 2018 and April 2022 general conferences. Additionally, a choir of seminary students sang it at the 2018 Worldwide Devotional for Youth.
The Church News reports the song was also performed by a choir from the Ogden Institute of Religion at a 2008 Church Educational System fireside. Before the hymn was sung as the final musical number, President Nelson said, “I wrote the words to that song as my prayerful feelings for our Father in Heaven. Please receive this prayer as part of my testimony that God is our Father and that we are His children. I know that He lives. Jesus is the Christ and the Head of this Church that bears His holy name.”
Read the full lyrics to “Our Prayer to Thee” below.
Verse 1
We pray to Thee, our Heav’nly Father,
With grateful hearts and deep devotion.
We thank Thee for our great Exemplar—
Thy beloved and atoning Son—
Who gave Himself as sacred ransom,
That we may live again with Thee!
Our joy is full, our song so gladsome;
Renew our faith and hope in Thee.
Verse 2
We pray to Thee, our Heav’nly Father,
With humble hearts and adoration.
We thank Thee for our loving Savior,
Who came to save from death and sin.
He gave to us Thy truth to brighten
Our path, to help us walk His way—
To love and serve, to lift and lighten
The lives of others day by day.
Verse 3
We pray to Thee, our Heav’nly Father,
With grateful hearts and deep devotion,
In promised joy and endless splendor—
May we be bound to Thee as one!
We seek Thy mercy and forgiveness
And pray to know Thy holy will.
We yearn for Thee; we plead in meekness.
May we Thy holy laws fulfill.
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