Hands—Prayer with “Uplifted Hands”

The Prophet Joseph Smith’s dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple refers to hands “uplifted to the Most High” (D&C 109:19). The uplifted hands recall several biblical passages that refer to corresponding prayer positions in temple settings.158 For example, when Solomon dedicated the temple that bore his name, he “stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, Lord God of Israel” (1 Kgs. 8:22–23; emphasis added). The Psalmist commanded, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord” (Ps. 134:2); also, “Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle” (Ps. 28:2), with oracle meaning the temple’s Holy of Holies. Also, using temple terminology, the Psalmist wrote, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Ps. 141:2).

In a temple context, Jesus Christ promised His disciples that they would “be endued with power from on high” and then “he lifted up his hands, and blessed them” (Luke 24:49–50; emphasis added). Consider also that the Apostle Paul instructed, concerning prayer, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8, emphasis added).

Several other scriptural passages refer to “uplifted hands”:

• See Abraham, Facsimile No. 1, figure 2, where Abraham prays for deliverance.
• “Moses said . . . I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord’s” (Ex. 9:29).
• “With his hands spread up to heaven” (1 Kgs. 8:54).
• “I will lift up my hands in thy name” (Ps. 63:4).
• “Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens” (Lam. 3:41).
• “When ye spread forth your hands” (Isa. 1:15).
• “When he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever” (Dan. 12:7).
• “Stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice” (Alma 31:14).
• “With uplifted hands unto the Most High” (D&C 88:120; see also D&C 109:17–19).
• “Arise, cry out in the night . . . lift up thy hands toward him” (Lam. 2:19).
• “Stretch out thine hands toward him” (Job. 11:13).