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SALT LAKE CITY — In honor of the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer, Utahns joined with the thousands of different Christian denominations across the U.S. to pray for America.

Many Utahns worshiped through music as well as prayer. Kevin Radke played hymns for a group of Christian leaders, and members of several congregations gathered to watch a live stream of the Washington D.C. prayer convention.

"It's extremely important to have this time together where we can unite as one, where we can beseech God and call upon him, his hand to be upon this nation," said Assistant Pastor of Calvary Chapel Rev. Jim Harris.

At a local Day of Prayer event, keynote speaker Reverend Michael Imperiale also talked of the challenge of forgiveness to the Utah crowd.

"How do we live in a world where there is so much danger and so much destruction around us, and yet understand that we really are all human beings, needing God's grace and God's forgiveness?" Imperiale said.

Time was dedicated for prayer as a group with those at their tables and silently as individuals. Prayers were offered for the government, military, families and neighbors.

"I, personally, live next to the canal break that affected Murray residents, and there were a lot of them that went through and are still going through some really tough times right now," said Jordan Presbyterian church member Darrell Van Deventer.

Many gathered said they recognized how blessed they are to be citizens of the United States and that there is always someone who is in need of a prayer.

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