Anyway, I guess this is an issue that goes into personal territory. My praise is usually fairly private (in my personal prayers and when I talk to family and friends). However, I have begun using the language of praise, with some modern twists.

Anyhow, I think the best praise for Father is that we honor his creation, and especially give to those in need that which we have.

1. I, too, have seen the evangelical overuse of “just”. I am not comfortable with it, but suspect that we Latter-Day Saints have our own quirks when it comes to our language patterns.

2. With respect to language of praise, I still haven’t figured out why the restoration of all things has not restored praise. Consider this from King David:

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

(Psalm 148.)

or this excerpt from Nephi’s psalm:

30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

(2 Ne. 14)

Although many (most?) Latter-Day Saints seem uncomfortable with the concept of praise (stubbornly substituting thanksgiving for praise — the two are not mutually exclusive!), it is difficult to justify this position, since the scriptural mandate to praise God is found throughout scripture.

3. I hope that Latter-Day Saint reluctance to use language of praise is not a byproduct of the King Follet Discourse, which I fear may have had the unintended consequence of compromising for Latter-Day Saints the wonder and awe that believers of all stripes and denominations feel for God.

And, at least evangelicals know the chapter and verse to claim. We just take Grant von Harrison’s word for it and make stuff up.

On the way out, my comp said “God doesn’t need our praise. He needs our fear.”

I, too, have noticed the evangelical use of the word “just” a lot. We just want to praise You. We just want to thank You. We just want…. Along with this is quoting scriptures as part of a “claim” that can be made on God. We claim the blessings You stated in (chapter and verse).

I once taught a man who was teaching his kids along with us during the discussions. He had a great take on prayer – Thank Him, ask Him to help other people, ask Him to help you. Don’t ask for more for yourself than you would have for others. And thanks always came first.

16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. )

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
Let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

My Jesus, My Savior,
Lord, there is none like You;
All of my days
I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength;
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
Let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
Let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand,
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.
Nothing compares to the promise I have
Nothing compares to the promise I have in you

~~~

The grief that I felt at the loss of my only sister and dear, dear friend was acute. But equally powerful — perhaps more so — was the comfort and strength that came from singing this song of praise and worship to our Lord. Because of Jesus, death is not the end.

Who can glory too much in the Lord?

Perhaps one thing that separates praise from thanks-just speaking of the amazing nature of God can be praise-it doesn’t have to emphasize how that nature has helped us specifically