Most Latter-day Saints (Mormons) do commonly fold or cross their arms over their chest when they pray, but it is a cultural habit, not a doctrinal requirement.

Is it actually a rule?

  • There is no commandment in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or other LDS scripture that says members must cross or fold their arms while praying.
  • Church leaders teach that people can pray in any posture —standing, sitting, kneeling, or even silently in their heart—so the arm‑folding is optional, not mandatory.

Where did the habit come from?

  • Many LDS members trace the practice to how children are taught in Primary (the children’s program), where lesson manuals and pictures explicitly show kids with folded arms, bowed heads, and closed eyes as the “reverent” way to get ready for prayer.
  • Over time, that childhood teaching becomes a lifelong habit, so in LDS meetings you will often see adults automatically crossing or folding their arms when someone says, “Let’s pray.”

Crossed vs. folded: what it looks like

  • In practice, “folding” and “crossing” blur together: many members place their arms across their chest, hands tucked near the elbows, which outsiders describe as “crossing their arms.”
  • Some simply clasp their hands or rest them in their lap instead; there is variation from person to person and situation to situation.

Why do they do it?

Common reasons members and commentators give include:

  1. Reverence and focus
    • Folding/crossing arms keeps hands still so children are less likely to fidget, poke siblings, or play with nearby objects during prayer.
 * The posture signals “quiet, respectful time” in group settings, especially in children’s classes and family prayers.
  1. Tradition and visual teaching
    • LDS manuals, magazines, and visual aids for kids have long depicted the folded‑arms posture as the “ready for prayer” pose, reinforcing it across generations.
 * Converts and children imitate what they see around them, so the practice spreads even without anyone formally teaching a rule.
  1. Symbolic explanations (informal)
    • Some LDS and ex‑LDS writers speculate about symbolic roots—like historic Christian postures with arms over the chest, or monks in cold chapels folding their arms—though these are more story‑like explanations than official teachings.

Do all Mormons do it?

  • The arm‑folding posture is very common in LDS congregations, especially in North America, but not absolutely universal.
  • Members are free to pray with hands clasped, at their sides, open to the sky, or however they feel is most sincere and respectful; the key emphasis in LDS teaching is on the intent and sincerity of the prayer, not the exact arm position.

TL;DR: Yes, Mormons are widely recognized for crossing/folding their arms when they pray, but it’s a strong cultural habit taught for reverence—especially to children—not a doctrinal rule or requirement.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.