Dear Gramps,
I have been a member of the Mormon Church all my life, but never considered the scripture in Matthew 6:7 “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” How do I explain to my EXTREMELY bright Primary class that our sacrament prayers and our temple prayers are not “vain repetitions”?
Amber, from Cincinnati, Ohio

Dear Amber,
Perhaps you could ask the members of your Primary class to explain to you the difference between a vain repetition and a sincere repetition. Also, how would they respond if asked what was meant by the concept that they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking?
There is much repetition even in private prayers–the reason being that our needs and wants that be we take before our Father in Heaven do not change always all that quickly. But we always need to be careful that our prayers are sincere, that they meaningfully express our feelings of gratitude for our many blessings from our Heavenly Father, and that our petitions for His blessings are not repeated recitations spoken without thought or meaning.
Gramps