Asheville , North Carolina ( CNN ) -- President Obama prayed Sunday with the Rev . Billy Graham at Graham 's mountaintop home before leaving North Carolina to attend the memorial service for 29 West Virginia coal miners killed in a recent explosion . Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Graham at his family home , according to Graham spokesman Larry Ross . He is the 12th president , dating back to Harry Truman , to meet with the so-called `` pastor to the presidents . '' `` I am pleased to have had President Obama in my home this afternoon , '' Graham said in a statement , adding that Obama sought the meeting while on vacation in Asheville for the weekend . `` My son Franklin and I enjoyed a brief visit with the president , followed by a time of prayer together . '' During the meeting , Ross said , Obama shared some insights about his faith and the challenges of being commander-in-chief . `` Like others before him , President Obama shared how lonely , demanding and humbling the office of president can be , and how much he appreciated the counsel of people like Mr. Graham and the prayers of so many citizens , '' Ross said . The two men also discussed their love of golf and the city of Chicago , where Graham attended school and held several of his religious crusades , Ross said . At the end , Graham presented Obama with two Bibles -- one for him and the other for first lady Michelle Obama , Ross said . The two men then prayed together , with Obama first praying for Graham and then Graham `` concluded with a prayer for the president , his family and his administration , '' according to Ross . Obama was `` extremely gratified '' that Graham made time for the meeting and private prayer , White House spokesman Bill Burton said . The visit was a follow-up to Obama 's telephone call to Graham on the evangelist 's 91st birthday in November , Burton said . At that time , the two agreed to meet as soon as possible , according to Burton . Ross told CNN the visit came together hastily after the White House officially inquired on Friday , after Obama arrived in North Carolina . Obama and his family vacationed in Asheville over the weekend , and the first couple played tennis Sunday morning before their departure , Burton said . The meeting with Graham came three days after the Army rescinded an invitation for Franklin Graham to speak at the Pentagon on the upcoming National Day of Prayer . The Army decision was because of controversial comments about Islam by the younger Graham . Billy Graham 's statement referred to the upcoming event without mentioning the controversy involving his son . `` As we approach the National Day of Prayer on May 6 , I want to encourage Christians everywhere to pray for our president , and for all those in positions of authority , and especially for the men and women serving in our military , '' Graham said in the statement . In December , Franklin Graham told CNN 's Campbell Brown that `` true Islam '' could not be practiced in America because `` you ca n't beat your wife , you can not murder your children if you think they 've committed adultery or something like that , which they do practice in these other countries . '' Franklin Graham later tried to temper his remarks by saying that he had Muslim friends . Last week , he said he regretted the Army 's decision but stood by his comments . `` I do n't like the way they treat women , the way they treat minorities . I just find it horrific . But I love the people of Islam , '' he said , adding some of his work has been in Muslim nations . The Army , which oversees the National Day of Prayer ceremonies at the Pentagon , feared that if Graham spoke at the Pentagon on May 6 , Islamic militants would publicize his comments , potentially fueling tensions in Muslim nations such as Iraq and Afghanistan , where U.S. troops are deployed . Graham 's invitation was not the only controversy swirling about the National Day of Prayer this year . Last week , a federal judge struck down as unconstitutional the 1952 law that established the day , saying it violated the ban on government-backed religion . On Thursday , the Justice Department informed a federal appeals court that the Obama administration will appeal that decision .
Obama is first sitting U.S. president to visit Graham home , Graham 's spokesman says . Obama was `` extraordinarily gratified '' for the meeting , White House says . Score: 7 Army pulled invitation for Graham 's son to speak at Pentagon on Day of Prayer .