Attended my Prayer Circle – for the last time! The matter
of discontinuing the special or private Prayer Circles in the Temple has been
given attention by the Council, and by action taken at yesterday’s session all
such circles are to be disbanded. The official circles, such as those
comprising Stake Presidencies with their High Councils will continue; but the
circles that have been presided over by members of the Twelve individually will
no longer be held. This change came as a complete surprise to all the members
of my Circle, and a feeling of sorrow was manifest; indeed the occasion was not
without tears. As to the cause for this change it may be said that such special
individual circles were called into existence many years ago when facilities
for engaging in temple service were very few.
For years following the opening of the Salt Lake Temple but one service
per day, three days in the week, was held; whereas now there are six services
daily for five days in the week. Another element considered was that of
discrimination, in that a few brethren – a very few indeed as compared with
those who were eager to join Prayer Circles and who are worthy – had the
privilege of this sacred association. My Circle comes to a close in a time of
very marked prosperity, in that it has been composed largely of returned
missionaries, all of whom have exhibited the greatest devotion and most fervent
interest in the Circle. Individual absence from the Circle meetings has been
the exception. (James E. Talmage, Journal, March 29, 1929)
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