Meditation: President McKay’s “Secret Doorway to the Lord”

In an unusual declaration during General Conference in 1967, LDS Church President David O. McKay remarked, “Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.” Despite this amazing statement, meditation remains under-explored within the LDS tradition, often categorized as fringe or New Age. However, in light of a growing library of research about the mental and physical health benefits of meditation, and its clear spiritual applications, it’s time to explore why meditation is so underutilized in Mormon culture. 

Meditation and Mormon Doctrine

Mormons believe in direct communication with God through prayer and study, a concept central to the faith often termed “personal revelation.” The phrase “search, ponder, and pray,” drawn from LDS scripture, invites members to engage deeply with God’s word. “While ‘search’ involves scripture study and ‘pray’ refers to direct communication with God, ‘ponder’—in its essence—is a form of meditation. Yet, this interpretation has not been widely embraced in Mormon culture, likely due to misconceptions about meditation being tied exclusively to Eastern religions or secular mindfulness trends.

Why Meditation Isn’t Common in Mormonism

There are several reasons meditation hasn’t become a core practice among Mormons:

1. Cultural and Historical Context: Mormonism emerged in 19th-century America, a time when Protestant Christianity dominated religious life. And despite its claims to being a restoration of original Christianity, Mormonism has many elements of Protestant buried in its roots. Practices like meditation and mindfulness have been associated with Eastern spirituality or psychology and have been viewed with suspicion.
2. Practicality Over Mysticism: Mormonism emphasizes actionable principles—serving others, fulfilling callings, and adhering to commandments. Meditation, sometimes perceived as introspective or passive, might seem out of sync with the action-oriented community of Latter-Day Saints.
3. Misunderstanding of Meditation: Meditation is not just sitting cross-legged and chanting while holding complicated hand mudras. In reality, meditation can be as simple as sitting quietly, focusing on the breath, and allowing thoughts to settle on God or another object of attention—practices entirely harmonious with Mormon principles.

Meditation in the Christian Tradition

Believe it or not, Meditation actually has deep roots in the Western Christian tradition, ususally explored through the lives and teachings of Christian mystics and contemplative practices. Figures like Stylianos Atteshlis, a Cypriot mystic known as “Daskalos,” emphasized meditation as a means of direct communion with God, teaching methods to cultivate inner stillness and spiritual awareness. Similarly, Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy, integrated Christian spirituality with meditative exercises and encouraged his followers to engage in nightly introspection to uncover divine truths.

Another hallmark of contemplative Christian practice is Lectio Divina, a meditative reading of scripture that involves four stages: reading, meditation, and prayer. Rooted in early monastic traditions, this practice encourages believers to quietly reflect on scripture, allowing the practitioner to be deeply immersed in the sacred text with both heart and mind. Meditation is not foreign to Christianity but is an integral pathway to spiritual depth and divine connection.

My Meditative Journey

My journey into meditation led me to the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, which seemed to dominate the spiritual landscape of contemplative practices. I was introduced to meditation through the teachings of Hindu spiritual master Paramahansa Yogananda and Buddhist teachers such as Joseph Goldstein who illuminated the path of inner stillness and self-realization. Over time, I stumbled upon the Western tradition of meditation, particularly through the works of Daskalos and Rudolf Steiner. However, it was much later—and with considerable effort—that I discovered meditation within the Mormon tradition. Latter-Day Saints don’t necessarily need to come to meditation in the round-about way I did.

Meditation offers several benefits that align seamlessly with Mormon teachings:

1. Deepening Spiritual Connection: Meditation cultivates stillness, creating space for spiritual impressions. As President McKay suggested, it’s a doorway—one that complements prayer by enabling members to listen more deeply for God’s voice. Enhancing “Pondering”: Reframing pondering as meditation encourages members to approach scripture study and spiritual questions with mindful reflection. This practice fosters greater understanding and personal revelation.
2. Mental Health: Countless studies show meditation reduces stress, enhances focus, and fosters emotional resilience—traits that not only strengthen individuals but also families and communities.
3. Physical Health: In addition, studies have shown that people who regularly meditate show a dramatic change in the expression of 172 genes that regulate inflammation, circadian rhythms and glucose metabolism – leading to a significant decrease in blood pressure.

Practical Steps for Mormons to Embrace Meditation

• Start Small: Set aside five minutes daily to sit quietly, focus on breathing, and reflect on scripture or spiritual themes. Consider starting with guided meditations which are offered by numerous mobile apps or are found free on Youtube.
• Incorporate Meditation into Prayer: After praying, remain still for a few moments to listen for impressions or inspiration. We often like to pray but don’t stick around to hear the answer! No relationship can withstand one-way communication.
• Teach the Connection: Church leaders and educators can emphasize pondering as a meditative practice, drawing connections between President McKay’s teachings and modern mindfulness.

Meditation, far from being Eastern or New Age, is a profound tool for “searching, pondering, and praying.” As President McKay wisely taught us, it may indeed be the secret doorway to God—a secret that needs to be more broadly unveiled so that Latter-Day Saints can deepen their connection with the Divine.