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PROVO — As Utah Olympian Noelle Pikus-Pace took the podium at a sunrise service held on the BYU campus Thursday morning, she spoke about times when she offered her most sincere prayers.
As a child, these included when she had nightmares as a child and asked God to bring peace to her dreams; when she was lost at a ski resort with her friend and needed help finding her family; and, when she needed help finding her retainer. She said that God answered each of these prayers.
"I realized that Heavenly Father truly does care about each and every one of us. I knew without a doubt that God had answered my prayer," Pikus-Pace said.
The first Thursday in May each year is marked as the National Day of Prayer, a time for Americans to give thanks and ask for guidance, both for the nation and for themselves. Pikus-Pace was the keynote speaker at the second annual sunrise service kicking off Utah County's National Day of Prayer celebrations.
Bill Hulterstrom, president and CEO at United Way of Utah County, explained the theme for this year's holiday is "exalt the Lord, who has established us," which is found in Colossians 2:6-7, of the New American Standard Bible.
"Throughout our history, Americans of all religions and belief systems have turned to prayer for strength, help and guidance, for it has nourished countless souls and powered our moral movements," Hulterstrom said.
As an adult, Pikus-Pace said some of her most sincere prayers include a prayer with people of different faiths following events of Sept. 11, 2001; when she was injured shortly before she was expecting to make her Olympic debut; and, when she lost babies to miscarriages on two occasions — both when she was 18 weeks pregnant, and needed comfort.
"Following many of the most sincere prayers that I ever remember offering, I truly could proclaim 'not my will, but thine be done,'" she said. "I'm grateful for the light that he has given to me and the compassion and understanding that I now have for others that face similar battles."
The retired skeleton racer said she has been "greatly blessed with miraculous twin boys," and each time her faith was tested while she was on her journey to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, where she won a silver medal, she and her family would pray. With God, she said, all things are possible.
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared thoughts on social media about how prayer can lead people to bless others as part of Thursday's National Day of Prayer.
"I have a firm belief that praying for those in need is pleasing to God; in fact, He commands us to turn to Him and to pray for others! However, it is my own personal experience that when I ask God in prayer for direction on what I can do to help minister, lift, love and support those in need, He answers these prayers with specific and simple things I can actually do to bless one of His children," President Nelson said in a Facebook post.
He also invited others to consider how thoughts and prayers can lead people to do good in the world. "As we seek to be His healing and helping hands, we surely will exalt the Lord," he said.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden proclaimed that Thursday would be the National Day of Prayer and asked citizens of the United States to give thanks for freedoms and blessings, and ask for "God's continued guidance, mercy and protection."
The country's National Day of Prayer program, which will be broadcasted at 6 p.m. MDT, will include many notable artists, community leaders and pastors.
"Our praise of his (God's) unchanging attributes and remembrance of his blessings has helped Americans remain steadfast in faith even through the most challenging of times. … Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we do not waver today in this practice of praise and expressions of faith, love and thanks as we unite in prayer across America on this National Day of Prayer," said Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.
Utah County organizations, indulging America's Freedom Festival at Provo, Orem Summerfest, Keeping the Faith in Downtown Provo, Orem Public Library and Brigham Young University are also hosting a public evening event for the National Day of Prayer at 7:00 p.m. at the Orem City Library.
Jared Halverson, religious scholar and host of the podcast, Unshaken, will be the guest speaker and music will be provided by the Utah Valley Interfaith Choir and Mat and Savanna Shaw, a local dad and daughter singing duo.
Messages about prayer will also be shared throughout the day on the Utah Valley Interfaith Facebook page.
