“Music has occupied the hours which should have been devoted to prayer.  Music is the idol which many professed Sabbath-keeping Christians worship.”  1T506; Ev:295.

 

“One or two minutes is long enough for any ordinary prayer.”  Pr:201.3.

 

 

“From the light I have had upon the subject, I have decided that God does not require us, as we assemble for his worship, to make these seasons tedious and wearisome, by being obliged to remain bowed quite a length of time, listening to several lengthy prayers. . .

 

“All should, if possible, be prompt to the hour appointed; and if there are dilatory ones, who are half an hour or fifteen minutes even behind the time, there should be no waiting.  If there are but two present, they can claim the promise.  The meeting should open at the appointed hour, if possible, be there few or many present. . .

 

“There should not be, upon any common occasion, prayer of more than ten minutes’ duration. . . All should feel it a Christian duty to pray short.  Tell the Lord just what you want without going all over the world. . . A common meeting to worship God is not the place to open the privacies of the heart. . .

 

“When Christ taught the people, He did not devote the time to prayer.  He did not enforce upon them, as did the Pharisees, long, tedious ceremonies, and lengthy prayers. . . Christ impressed upon His disciples the idea that their prayers should be short, expressing just what they wanted, and no more. . .

 

“there are many prayers offered in a dry, sermonizing manner.  These pray to men, not to God. . . Secret prayer is neglected, and this is the reason why many offer such long, tedious, backslidden prayers, when assembled to worship God.”  RH, May 30, 1871.

 

“Praying a half or a quarter of an hour is altogether too long.  A few minutes’ time is long enough to bring your case before God, telling him what you want; and you can take the people with you, and not weary them out, and lessen their interest for devotion and prayer.”  RH, May 30, 1871.

 

“There are some social meetings held in the large tent, where all assemble for worship; but these are so large that only a small number can take part, and many speak so low that but few can hear them. . . In some instances much time was devoted to singing.  There was a long hymn before prayer, a long hymn after prayer, and much singing interspersed all through the meeting.  Thus golden moments were used unwisely, and not one-half the good was done that might have been realized had these precious seasons been properly managed.”  RH, November 27, 1883; Ev:511.1.

 

“They weary the angels as well as the people who listen to them.  Our prayers should be short, and right to the point.  Let the Spirit of God pervade the hearts of the worshipers, and it will sweep away all formality and dullness.”  RH, October 10, 1882.