Topeka ? About 100 people, including Gov. Sam Brownback, gathered Thursday in the Capitol for the National Day of Prayer.

Brownback, who was lauded by speakers for his anti-abortion stance, told the receptive crowd, “I believe in the power of prayer. I use it often myself.”

He talked about Kansas’ deep religious roots and then prayed, asking God to “help us to love everyone, every person, all the time whether we agree with them or not.”

Several Christian ministers took turns praying, and one asked that people lay their hands on legislators to help them.

The Statehouse observance was among many across the nation on the prayer day established by Congress in 1952.

A committee room was reserved throughout the day for people to sing hymns and pray.