National Days of Prayer in Idaho Falls

Of the many ways and times that Christians in Idaho Falls have come together to pray, one has been on National Days of Prayer. The history of what for the last 70 years or so has been called the National Day of Prayer can be traced to the Continental Congress and George Washington:

             General Orders [of George Washington], Headquarters, Middle Brook, Monday, April 12, 1779:

“… The Honorable Congress having recommended it to the United States to set apart Thursday the 6th of May next to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, to acknowledge the gracious interpositions of Providence; to deprecate [to pray or entreat that a present evil may be removed] deserved punishment for our Sins and Ingratitude, to unitedly implore the Protection of Heaven; Success to our Arms and the Arms of our Ally: The Commander in Chief enjoins a religious observance of said day and directs the Chaplains to prepare discourses proper for the occasion; strictly forbidding all recreations and unnecessary labor.”[1]

While similar proclamations for a National Day of Prayer were made by Presidents James Madison and Abraham Lincoln, it was not regularly observed until a bill proclaiming an annual day of prayer was unanimously passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Truman in 1952. 

 In 1967, during a period of national racial unrest, Idaho Governor Don Samuelson, following the call of President Lyndon Johnson, proclaimed a day of prayer for “peace and restoration of good will” among Americans. 

In 1975, the Tree of Life Prayer Community of Holy Rosary Catholic Church hosted an interdenominational prayer meeting at 8 pm on the National Day of Prayer, declared by President Gerald Ford to be July 24 that year.[2]  In April of the previous year Holy Rosary also invited other churches to join them in prayer:[3]

 “People of all faiths are invited to participate in a special day of humiliation, prayer and fasting for the nation on Tuesday, April 30 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. The day has been set by Congressional resolution as a day on which citizens can do something about the increasing awareness ‘that we are the wealthiest nation the world has ever known, but too proud to pray to the God who made us so,’ the resolution notes, said the Rev. Dennis Falk, pastor. ‘If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’  This is a quote for the Bible, II Chronicles 7:14.”

Prayer events in Idaho Falls on the National Day of Prayer from 1975 to 1989 may have occurred but I have not found records or reports of them.

From 1990 to 1995, noon-time prayer rallies were held in front of the Bonneville County Courthouse.  These were organized by Concerted Promotions for Revival and typically supported by about a dozen churches in town as well as civic leaders. During this time period some churches in Idaho Falls participated in 40 days of prayer culminating on the National Day of Prayer.

In 1993, the National Day of Prayer rally began at noon, and then starting at 12:30 pm, Christians from many churches began publicly reading the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, from the courthouse steps.  People participated by taking one or more 15-minute time slots, and the reading continued 24 hours a day.   

In 1999, several churches joined First Lutheran Church to celebrate the National Day of Prayer with a 6:15 a.m. service, followed by breakfast.

In 2001 the Evangelical Ministers Alliance organized a National Day of Prayer Breakfast to honor local officials.  Representatives attending included Mayor Milam, County Commissioners, the County Sheriff, Chief of Police, County Prosecutor and the City/County Fire Chief.[4]

 Prayer rallies on the Courthouse steps were also resumed in 2001, organized by Pastor Cal Winslow.  In 2001 the theme was “Meet at City Hall.”[5]   In 2004, nearly 150 people gathered in to pray for service members, families, civic leaders, police, firefighters and the media.[6]  A color guard made up of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars members stood on the courthouse steps behind the podium.  Rosemary Giaque, who delivered the opening prayer with her husband, Carl, said liberty is a blessing from God and quoted Leviticus 25:10, "Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all its inhabitants ... ."  Bonneville County Commissioner Dave Radford said he was pleased to see so many people at the ceremony.  Proclamations from President Bush and Governor Dirk Kempthorne were read. Lt. Cmdr. Ben Orchard, a Navy chaplain home from Iraq and pastor of Christ Community Church, delivered a prayer for service members and for Idaho National Guard units who were being called up. Senator Mel Richardson spoke at the rally and several Idaho Falls pastors led in prayer.

In 2006, Christ Community Church made their Prayer Room available all day on the National Day of Prayer, and held a service in the evening.[7]

In 2010 and 2011, noon prayer meetings were held in front of the Idaho Falls City Annex Building.  Community prayer meetings were also held in the evening at Centro Evangelistico Cristo Para Las Naciónes each of these years, as well as in 2009.  In 2010, the church building was full for this time of prayer, with a large participation from members of the Hispanic churches in town. 

 In the 2010 evening meeting, following a time of worship and repentance, areas of prayers included Idaho Falls churches, families, the City of Refuge, members of law enforcement, political leaders and the lost of our community.  Prayers were led by pastors and laymen from Community Church of God in Christ, New Life Assembly of God Church, City of Refuge, Centro Evangelistico, Calvary Chapel, Casa De Oracion, Share the Son Ministries, and New Life Worship Center Church of God.

In 2011, in addition to the noon rally and the evening Community Prayer Meeting, a sunrise prayer meeting was held at Berean Baptist Church and an evening prayer meeting at Calvary Chapel.

From 2010 through 2019, prayer breakfasts were held at the First Presbyterian church on the National Day of Prayer, with the community invited, and led by various Idaho Falls church and civic leaders.  Mrs. Georgia Dixon organized and coordinated these meetings.

Since 2018, worship and prayer times have been held in front of the Bonneville County courthouse in Idaho Falls on the National Day of Prayer, organized by Tony Szmak, and led by various city worship leaders, pastors and intercessors. In 2021 and 2022 community prayer gatherings were held in the morning and evening that day as well, at New Destiny Ministry Hub in the morning and Fuente De Restauración in the evening.  In 2022, in days just prior to the National Day of Prayer, the entire Bible was again read from the Bonneville Courthouse steps.

Earlier in the history of our nation, presidents and state governors proclaimed National and State Days of Prayer at different times of the year and in some years multiple days.

Most years from the 1890’s into the 1940’s, Idaho state governors, in accord with Presidential proclamations, declared Thanksgiving Day to be a day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, with the “prayer” part given at least equal prominence with thanksgiving.  Some reports of the proclamations included reminders the First Thanksgiving of 1623, which was preceded by a day of humiliation and prayer:

There had been an unfavorable season for the young American colony, and starvation seemed imminent.  To avert the terrible calamity, a day of humiliation and prayer was appointed and in the midst of the solemn observance the rain descended copiously.  The crops afterward yielded an abundant harvest.  To thank God “with all their hearts for the good world and the good things in it” the first American Thanksgiving was officially proclaimed and duly celebrated in the fort church and Elder Brewster preached a sermon.[8]

President Wilson proclaimed October 28, 1917 as a Day of Prayer, in connection with the entrance of the United States into the war, for the triumph of the US and the allies in a righteous cause, and then May 30, 1918, as a Day of Prayer for counsel and wisdom for victory and peace and for a general confession of sin and declaration of reliance upon Almighty God.[9]  The Idaho Falls Times of November 1, 1917 reported that “all the churches of Idaho Falls complied with the President’s request” for to hold a Day of Prayer on October 28, with the exception of the Catholic church, although, the article continued, prominent members of the Catholic church freely expressed their resentment over the church’s refusal to participate.

When President Harding died in 1923, a National Day of Prayer and Mourning was proclaimed, and the major of Idaho Falls issued the following:

I, Ralph A, Louis, mayor of the city of Idaho Falls, in conformation with the request of the president of the United States, do appoint Friday, August 10^th, the day upon which President Harding will be laid to rest, as a day of mourning and prayer throughout all of Idaho Falls and furthermore that the people of IF assemble at the Colonial theater at the hour of 2 pm on that day [for joining in a memorial service]…[10]

On March 7, 1930, a time of prayer was held at 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Idaho Falls on the National Day of Prayer.[11]

In 1942, President Roosevelt called on the American people to observe both Thanksgiving and New Years’ Day as Days of Prayer.[12] President Truman declared Memorial Day in 1945 as well as August 19 of that same year as Days of Prayer.  In Idaho Falls. “…most of the churches of the city have indicated that they will observe the President’s proclamation.”[13]

Other days of prayer were also observed during World War II.  In 1944 Idaho Governor C. A. Bottolfsen, called upon all Idahoans to kneel in prayer on the day the invasion of Europe starts.  He also asked that churches remain open on the day and that newspapers and radio stations carry special announcements and programs concerning the day of prayer.[14]

This year, 2023, on the National Day of Prayer, a noon prayer rally will be held in front of the Bonneville County Courthouse steps, and a community prayer meeting in the evening at Fuente De Restauración. At least two churches in Idaho Falls are also holding events on the National Day of Prayer.

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^[1] The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources, 1745-1799, By George Washington, David Maydole Matteson, United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 1976.

[2] Post Register, July 18, 1975, “Charismatic Prayer Meeting Set.”

[3] Post Register, April 26, 1974, “Day of Prayer, Fasting Slated at Holy Rosary.”

[4] Post Register, May 3, 2001, Community Briefs

[5] Post Register, April 27, 2001

[6] Post Register, May 7, 2004, Solemn Assembly – Public Marks National Day of Prayer

[7] Post Register,  April 28, 2006

[8] Idaho Falls Times, November 25, 1904

[9] Post Register, May 25, 1941

[10] Times Register, August 7, 1923.

[11] Idaho Falls Post, February 28, 1930, p. 3.

[12] Post Register Nov. 11, 1942

[13] Post Register, August 19, 1945

[14] Post Register, May 3, 1944