The women of the Mercer Island Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at the corner of 40th and Island Crest Way, are inviting all Islanders to participate in a Prayer for Peace event on the evening of May 3, 7 to 7:30 p.m.

This event is inspired by the National Day of Prayer observant day and all are welcome.

Created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by president Harry Truman, the National Day of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May each year. The first call to prayer was in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation.

People of all faiths are welcome and needed. Organizers plan to pray for our world and national leaders to work towards peace and engagement. They have chosen to specifically focus this event on the country of North Korea and their leaders with our heartfelt prayers.

Islander, Kristin Kim will provide a short presentation of the Korea concerns. Organizers have invited members and religious leaders from different faith groups to lead in prayer and moments of silence for all to add their silent prayers to the vocal prayers. A special musical number will be provided by the Ensign Children’s Choir.

The church’s faith community believe in the power of prayer from all religious groups and peoples. They added that they believe that at this time in the history of the world and the nation, that everyone needs all of the help they can get from God to bring about the peaceful resolution of the major issues that confront humanity.

One specific goal is to pray to soften the hearts of the leaders and people of North Korea and Syria and to encourage the leadership of both countries and the United States to move towards engagement and peaceful resolution. The church desires that the people of these troubled nations know that they do not hate them, but rather they care for them and want them to live in a world of safety and peace.

As residents of the Seattle Area, the church community believes a resolution of the North Korea conflict should be a high priority.

Shannon Sperry can be contacted at 206-654-2405 with any questions.