How to pray

Ashley Bartlett was one of the unforgettable people that I have met throughout my life. I first became aware of Ashley when I was fourteen years old.  The reason I will always remember him is the unique style of his prayers. When Ashley was called upon to offer a prayer in church, he would throw his head back, gaze into heaven, and raise his arms and hands high into the air.  All the teenagers thought this was cool.  When I left for college,  I never saw Ashley or heard his prayers again.

Some fifty years later I was playing golf in an old man's league in Orem, Utah. As we played our golf match we became acquainted with each other.  One of the men said he had recently moved from San Bernardino, California.  When I mentioned that I had been born and raised in Vernal, Utah, he stated that he knew a man in San Bernardino who was the Stake Patriarch and had also come from Vernal.  His name was Ashley Bartlett. I asked if there was anything unusual about the manner in which Ashley prayed.  He replied, "Good heavens yes.  He throws his head back and raised his arms high in the air."  I thought:  Ashley is "still cool."

Whenever I think of Ashley Bartlett, I think of this poem I came across in later years:

          The Prayer of Cyrus Brown
              By: Sam Walter Foss

          "The proper way for a man to pray,"
               said Deacon Lemuel Keys,
          "And the only proper attitude,
          is down upon his knees."


          No, I should say the way to Pray,"
              said Reverend Dr. Wise,
          "Is standing straight with outstrtetched arms
               and rapt and upturned eyes."

          "Oh, no, no, no," said Elder Snow
               "Such posture is too proud.
          A man should pray with eyes fast closed
               And head contritely bowed."

          "It seems to me his hands should be
               austerely clasped in front.
          With both thumbs pointed toward the ground,"
               Said reverend Dr. Hunt.

          "Last year I fell in hodgkin's well.
               Head first," said Cyrus Brown.
          "With both my heels a-sticking up,
               my head a-pointin' down."

          "And I made a prayer right then and there;
               best prayer I ever said .  .  .
          The prayin'est prayer I ever prayed,
               a-standin' on my head."

Grandpa's humor:

You are a lousy Cook if -   -  -
     Anyone has ever broken a tooth eating your homemade yogurt.
     Your kids' favorite drink is Alka-Seltzer.
     Your kids got even with the neighborhood bully by inviting him over for dinner.
     Your husband refers to the smoke detector as the oven timer.
     No matter what you do to it, the gravy still turns bright purple.