first time experience

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

Being a good little Mormon, I just realized I have no idea what it's like to pray for the first time, something my character is about to do.

Any of you got any hints for me? Here's what's really happening:

Character is expected to kneel at an alter and pray all night. Instead of just messing around with his friend, who is there with him, he decides to give it an honest try... but he doesn't know how.
He believes in the god he'll be praying to. He's just never prayed before, and he doesn't know what he's supposed to get out of it or put into it, and he just doesn't know why he should pray in general.. So I'm not sure how to explain what he does when he tries.

[Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock]

Why not just have him fall asleep? I know most young-in's aren't up to staying up and kneeling for hours on end.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

because that won't work in the plot till later
Plus he's 17 and being trained as a knight.

[EUOL]

I still think he might fall asleep.  Probably common in the order, despite the fact that no one would acknowledge it.

I don't think he wouldn't know HOW to pray--he just might not believe that what he's doing is important.  I guess that would depend on the character.  Does he believe in god?  Or, is he the type that would even wonder if there is a god?  If not, then he'd probably see the ritual as a formality, and wouldn't really think about it as 'praying' at all, but going through the motions.  If he does wonder, then perhaps he'd think that he's supposed to come up with a short prayer, and repeat it all night long.  That seems like it's the more common interpretation of praying, as opposed to the LDS/protestant 'make it up as you go along' method.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

well, he is going to fall asleep, but first he tries, then his friend interrupts him and they talk, then he tries again and snoozes off.

He does believe in the god. just hasn't ever even considered trying to talk to him.

[EUOL]

How did he get that belief?  Formal religion?  Taught by parents?  Cultural conditioning?

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

mostly cultural conditioning. He doesn't have doubts in it because other supernatural beliefs of the culture he has personal experience with, and he sort of makes it an all or nothing situation.

[Maxwell]

(character one)[kneeling and putting his hands together in an unsure manner]"u-uh um God? I-I'm not sure exactly what I should be d-doing...I havent ever asked you for much but now I-uh need to ask you for the courage and strength to be a knight... " something like that I would imagine, I'm not christian so I have more than one god but I think the premise is the same.

[Master Xaio]

Do you mind my asking what religion you are?

[Entsuropi]

Not paying much attention are you?

We are all followers of Diablo if you must know.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I'm pretty sure he was asking TFO about religion, whom we have not inducted.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

He's a member of the Cheetos heresy.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

I guess the praying depends a lot on wether he gets an answer or not and what he's praying for.

[Maxwell]

I'm...polytheistic, lets just leave it at that,(worshpping many nameless gods amd celebrating celtic rituals and traditions)

[Master Xaio]

Hm, ok interesting.  

Tho I can't say Ive ever prayed, I'd imagine that you'd do something along the lines of kneeling, clasping of hands, bowing of head etc. Then saying a short prayer of the top of the head and repeating that.  Pretty much what EUOL said