When did the recording of prayers stop? Why?

careful

I was just listening to the annual meeting recording posted here in another thread. About half way through it, a prayer was offered. I was wondering if the recorder (and I have no idea if this was a person making an official recording or just some independent person making one) was going to keep the recording device on for the prayer. He/she did not. I wondered this because I've noticed in current official recordings, both audio and video, they always turn off the recording during prayers, even in the more elaborately produced historical/biblical dramas. In other words, the policy covers more than just current meeting prayers.

This was not the case in the past. I remember, for example, hearing the concocted/imagined prayer of the Israelites in a drama on the first Passover and the exodus from Egypt. The prayer was even complete with some sort of "through the blood of Passover lamb" ending, no doubt intended to foreshadow the later "in Jesus' name" ending used today.

I have to wonder about the reason for all this since there are dozens of prayers recorded in scripture. Most of the Psalms are such; we have the actual prayers of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Solomon, Daniel, Jesus, Peter, and others. So is this conspicuous policy of not recording prayers yet another attempt to be non-biblical or what?

Does anyone know when and/or why this policy changed?

neat blue dog

I don't know why but it's been this way for years. I was just talking about this yesterday with a JW, I said 'So prayers written in the Bible are okay, but video is wrong?'

steve2

I should imagine it could be very confusing and distracting for Jehovah to hear recorded prayers.

"Didn't I already answer this/ignore this?" or "I've told the GB before, 'Go live with prayers. Jesus does not mediate recorded prayers.'"

Slidin Fast

To call the boring cliché ridden mumbles prayer is to elevate it into something unrecognisable. Perhaps that's why they don't want it re-heard. Any analysis would demonstrate how empty an exercise it typically is.

darkspilver

Yes and no

The audio/video recording of prayers is all OK, no problem - there are prayers written in the Bible

The issue is the audio/video play-back of recorded prayers as part of worship with those listening saying amen at the end - that is not allowable

Each congregation listening to the recording of the Annual Meeting will have had their own prayers said by locals.

Those congregations listening live on Saturday morning will have had the prayers broadcast from the Annual Meeting.

If it's live, it's OK, if it's recorded, it's not.

There was a letter reminding elders about this when the 'live' broadcast links started a couple of years ago - with references to various WT publications - look it up if you're interested