Prayer was a religious act practiced by members of various cultures. It involved petitioning a deity or deities for assistance, spiritual or material. Orison was an archaic word for prayer.
Prayers[]
The Ferengi prayed to a supernatural being, called the Blessed Exchequer. When praying they held their hands in a specific gesture. (DS9: "The Emperor's New Cloak", "The Dogs of War")
The Invocation of Renewal was a prayer Borothan pilgrims recited during the Great Plume of Agosoria. Doctor Phlox also participated in four hours of prayer while on a visit to the pilgrim's ship. (ENT: "Cold Front")
In 2153, when an Enterprise NX-01 crewmember and a Triannon suicide assassin were killed by the Triannon activating an organic explosive, the religious leader Pri'Nam D'Jamat stated to Captain Jonathan Archer that he would say a prayer for them both, but Archer told him to save his breath. (ENT: "Chosen Realm")
In 2285, James T. Kirk suggested that Saavik try prayer as a last resort, given that Klingons didn't take prisoners. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
In 2371, Kira Nerys said a prayer for Vedek Bareil Antos, who had died earlier in the year. (DS9: "Shakaar")
When Benjamin Sisko was severely wounded during a Jem'Hadar attack in 2372, Kira Nerys prayed to the Prophets for help after exhausting all other options. (DS9: "Starship Down")
In 2373, Tuvok offered Lon Suder a Vulcan prayer over his corpse after Suder had been killed by the Kazon-Nistrim. It went: "May your death bring you the peace you never found in life." (VOY: "Basics, Part II")
That same year, Captain Kathryn Janeway sought advice from a holographic re-creation of Leonardo da Vinci when the USS Voyager was faced with a dangerous encounter with both the Borg and Species 8472. He suggested seeking a greater imagination, stating "There are times when even I find myself kneeling in prayer." (VOY: "Scorpion")
In 2374, Tuvok's wife, T'Pel, sent him a letter informing him that she and their children had asked the priests at the Temple of Amonak to say prayers for his safe return. (VOY: "Hunters")
In 2376, Harry Kim suggested that he and Lyndsay Ballard altered Tuvok's Temple of T'Panit holoprogram so that the monks recited Ferengi limericks instead of Vulcan prayers. (VOY: "Ashes to Ashes")
In 2377, when The Doctor refused to continue helping a group of rogue holograms created by the Hirogen, their leader, Iden, stated that they wouldn't forget him in their prayers. (VOY: "Flesh and Blood")
That same year, Kohlar recited a Klingon prayer called the Plea for the Dead. (VOY: "Prophecy")
In a line of dialogue from the final draft script of TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I", Kirk stated, "Half of me has been praying the Enterprise won't come back for us," although this line of dialogue was evidently later changed to, "Part of me is hoping that the Enterprise won't come back for us," removing all reference to Kirk partially "praying."