At the 1984 World Conference, President Wallace B. Smith presented instruction to the church regarding the building of the Temple in Independence. Included in this counsel are words that set the tone for the building of that edifice and also for the most recent challenge found in Transformation 2000:  "The Temple shall be dedicated to the pursuit of peace" (Doctrine and Covenants 156:5a).

As the plans for the Temple emerged, it became clear that a space for worship would be central to the structure and that the staff of the church's Worship Office at headquarters would be called upon to assist in the development of plans for the various kinds of worship services that would be held there. At an early stage, the idea emerged of holding a brief service each day in which prayer for peace would be central. A committee was formed with the purpose of creating the principles and procedures for such a service. From the work of this committee, the following emerged which remains as the informing basis for this service.

A powerful witness to Community of Christ's commitment to peace as the major theme of Temple ministries takes the form of a daily prayer for peace. Such regular, public expression symbolizes the church's unrelenting pursuit of peace as God's intent for a bruised and divided world.

This prayer for peace is intended to be a strong statement to the world that has impact far beyond the church, its members, the immediate geographic area, and the people who gather each day to experience the prayer. Even if only a few people are present for the service at the Temple on a particular day, the whole world listens as this Temple becomes known as a place where each day the concern for peace is upheld in prayer.

The prayer for peace takes place in the Temple Sanctuary where the spoken voice of prayer rises almost two hundred feet to symbolically reach the heavens and the earth. The sixteen-hundred seat Sanctuary always has extra room to symbolically accommodate those around the world who join in the prayer.

The prayer begins at 12:30 p.m. each day (central time). Around the world interested people know when a prayer for peace is being spoken and can pause for a moment of silent prayer.

This Daily Prayer for Peace takes form in a ten to twelve-minute service which includes scripture reading, prayer (spoken and silent), an optional hymn sung by the congregation (and/or soloist), and silent meditation. The mood of the service is reflective.

This special prayer is the foundation from which other worship services and ministries in the Temple emerge. It calls the Temple, the church, and the world to be faithful to the divine imperative: the pursuit of peace.

A significant element of the Daily Prayer for Peace is the selection of a specific country each day for which prayer is offered during the service. All countries and many tribes of the world are included on a rotating basis during each year.

The standard order of service is as follows (elements identified with an asterisk may vary from day to day):

Gathering in Silence

Call to Prayer

Lighting of Candle

Invitation

*Scripture Reading

*Prayer for Peace

*Prayers of the People

*Hymn

Benediction

*Postlude

Following is an explanation of each item in the order of service:

The Gathering in Silence occurs prior to the 12:30 p.m. starting time of the service. Worshipers are encouraged to enter the sanctuary through the worshipers path. Although they may sit wherever they wish in the sanctuary, ushers suggest that they be seated close to the front near the rostrum. Generally there is no organ or other instrumental prelude. The Presider and other worship leaders enter the sanctuary just prior to the beginning of the service and sit with the congregation close to the front for easy access to the rostrum.

The Call to Prayer is sounded on a chime or other instrument, beginning about 30 seconds before 12:30 p.m. The conclusion of the chime is the signal for the candle lighter to proceed to the rostrum to light the candle.

The Candle Lighting signals the formal beginning of the service. The candle is of sufficient size to be seen throughout the room. The presider moves from their place in the congregation up the rostrum steps. The candle is lit and the presider is seated on the rostrum. The candle remains lighted all day and is extinguished when the building is closed for the night. The use of the candle in this way continues the tradition begun in 1990 at the Temple ground breaking in which church members were encouraged to leave a lighted candle in their windows at home and/or place of employment symbolizing the building of a Temple for peace.

The spoken Invitation to worship is brief and is read by the presider from the lectern. An example is: "We light this candle as a symbol of our commitment to a just and peaceful world. May the peace of the God who has called us here be with us. Let us worship together."

The Reading of approximately one minute duration is selected from the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, or from the scripture of other religions. Scriptures focus on peace, justice, reconciliation, or other related theme. On occasion, the scripture may be only a single verse supplemented by a reading from the great inspirational literature of the world selected for its emphasis on peace.

The Prayer for Peace is approximately one minute long. It is a prayer solicited in advance from the Community of Christ membership or other persons and read at the service. Prayers are generally the original writing of the person submitting it, but previously published prayers may be used on occasion.

The Prayers of the People are approximately two minutes in total length. This includes prayer statements holding up the needs of various individuals, groups, nations, etc. Each item is mentioned and then followed by about twenty seconds of silence. Prayers for persons, groups, or events of current world-wide interest are sometimes added. Time is included for worshipers to express their own concerns silently. The focus of these prayers is broader than the prayer for peace.

When a Hymn is used, it is sung by the congregation or as a solo by the song leader. A hymn is selected from the church hymnal, Hymns of the Saints, from the booklet Sing for Peace, or from another source. Copies of the two collections mentioned are in the pews in the Temple sanctuary.

A statement of Benediction is pronounced by the Presider as the last formal act of the service. An example is, "May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit" (adapted from Romans 15:13).

The presider and any others on the platform return to the congregation. Worshipers are free to remain in the sanctuary after the service has ended for prayer and meditation and leave at their discretion. When there is a Postlude it is played on organ, piano, or other instrument, and begins immediately after the benediction. It lasts about two to three minutes and is usually reflective in mood.