From left, Lara Buchheit, Deseret Ward, Tony Ingle, Debbie Millard, Jenna MacKay, and Josselyn Nielsen
More than 2,100 people, including local members from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the greater Chattanooga area, supported the 41st Annual Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast. The event was held at the Chattanooga Trade and Convention Center. The keynote speaker was Coach Sherman Smith.
Take aways from the event included messages that “what you do doesn’t define your identity. Your identity defines what you do.” “We need to understand who we are because this is what will affect our behavior.” “When you think wrong, you feel wrong. When you feel wrong, you act wrong.” “God didn’t save you through works. God saved you for works.” “I may not be your father but I am going to treat you like you’re my son.” “Understand why we do what we do. What is your why?” “Do you work for a living, or to make a difference?” “In You, is Christ getting what He paid for?”
Deseret Ward, Lara Buchheit, Debbie Millard, Jenna MacKay, Josselyn Nielsen and retired Dalton State College Basketball Coach Tony Ingle represented the Chattanooga Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Religion has an important role to play in society,” sand Mrs. Ward, “and it is imperative that faith communities work together to encourage good. It was wonderful to be a part of the 41stAnnual Prayer Breakfast, and we applaud Chattanooga for all the city is doing to promote and preserve religious freedom. We also thank Coach Smith for his time, service and inspirational messages.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches, “We are all children of God. He loves us and knows our needs, and He wants us to communicate with Him through prayer. We should pray to Him and no one else” (lds.org).
On May 2, 2019, Joy D. Jones, primary general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offered a prayer at the White House in honor of the National Day of Prayer, an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May. The Church supports the National Day of Prayer, and believes that prayer is a “gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. He wants to help. He is near and He is listening” (lds.org). To learn more about prayer and how to seek answers, please visit at https://www.lds.org/youth/article/how-to-pray?lang=eng