Priesthood healing blessings.... somewhat pointless, yes?

[smokymountainrain]

Interesting thoughts SG. I think you're probably right about a lot of that.

I do think that the words of a healing blessing can be important, however, if for no other reason than to given comfort to the recipient. Whether or not it makes a difference in the efficacy of the blessing, I think it often benefits the sick to hear something specific words of encouragement.

If I remember Oaks' talk correctly, he pretty much said this same thing.

[Moliere]

It seems to me the point of priesthood blessings, like prayer, is to channel or affect our faith, to bring our minds into tune with the will of God, and not vice versa. The point of a priesthood blessing would be to bring the patient's (for lack of a better term) mind some comfort, some inspiration (thus affecting his/her faith), maybe some gentle reminders. It's a sort of communication, but I agree that there is no significant power in the blessing itself.

I agree with this (and what your also said but mostly with this). Oftentimes in Mormondum our prayers end up being similar to a Christmas wish list. We ask for this and that without given a second thought about God's will. I think that prayer is not a time to offer up our wish lists, but instead it's a time to ask for and come to understand His will. We've always been taught that the communication should go both ways, but often times in daily prayers most of us probably don't seek out His will (I know I don't and should try to change they way I pray).

This is probably similar in blessing the sick. The official parts of the blessing are what is mostly needed, and what comes afterward is for comfort or guidance. Too often we wonder if we should take the example of JS in Legacy and pronounce that the person will be healed and expect them to be healed on the spot. When in fact we should jsut offer guidance and counsel to the person as directed by the spirit and leave the actual healing up to the official parts of the blessing, faith of the person, and the will of the Lord. That being said, just the sick asking for a blessing is in and of itself an act of faith.

[SloanHater]

I think he was also speaking to the Elders who would feel inadequate to give a blessing thinking that what they say carries the weight of the ordinance. I think in giving it can be just as faith promoting an experience as receiving. Kind of like the talk by Elder Packer I think about the father who ordained his son an Elder who had never done that before.

Good points. I like that E. Oaks emphasized the importance of placing the responsibility of healing on the Lord/faith of one receiving the blessing. Hopefully those new to the priesthood won't feel as much pressure in this light.

[jay santos]

I've had positive and negative experiences with priesthood blessings. But as a father and husband, I love to give blessings to my kids and wife. I rarely call in someone to help me and usually don't use oil. It gives me the opportunity as a father to spend a couple minutes in pure communication with my child or wife thinking of big picture things, expressing my love, feeling God's love for that person and expressing that, sometimes wandering in a direction I feel the Holy Ghost is leading me sometimes not. Generally I think it's a great aspect of Mormonism.

[byu71]

I've had positive and negative experiences with priesthood blessings. But as a father and husband, I love to give blessings to my kids and wife. I rarely call in someone to help me and usually don't use oil. It gives me the opportunity as a father to spend a couple minutes in pure communication with my child or wife thinking of big picture things, expressing my love, feeling God's love for that person and expressing that, sometimes wandering in a direction I feel the Holy Ghost is leading me sometimes not. Generally I think it's a great aspect of Mormonism.

Just out of curiousity, how does your wife "spend a couple of minutes in pure communication" with you and your children.

Do you think it carries the same weight as when you do so using the Priesthood.

[jay santos]

Also I really enjoyed Oaks' talk, especially the acknowledgement of the fact that sometimes you just don't feel the Holy Ghost that strongly or directly and that's OK. I've never heard that thought expressed by a priesthood leader. I've always felt like the message was "if you don't have the faith to speak the words of the Holy Ghost or the power to heal the sick it's because of your own weakness, buck up and be more worthy or faithful or whatever."

[jay santos]

Just out of curiousity, how does your wife "spend a couple of minutes in pure communication" with you and your children.

Do you think it carries the same weight as when you do so using the Priesthood.

I'm not sure where you're going with this. She probably carries more weight because she's more effective at it and does it more often than I do. I tell my kids when I give a blessing, I'm the one with the priesthood so I give the blessing, but I look at it as the mom and dad joining together in spirit and giving the blessing together and the kids can think of the words coming from both mom and dad. We actually had a FHE lesson on this Monday night and I went over Oaks' talk with the kids and we talked about a couple recent blessings I gave the kids and some history I've had with blessings--both the positive and the negative sides of it. So this is timely.

[byu71]

I'm not sure where you're going with this. She probably carries more weight because she's more effective at it and does it more often than I do. I tell my kids when I give a blessing, I'm the one with the priesthood so I give the blessing, but I look at it as the mom and dad joining together in spirit and giving the blessing together and the kids can think of the words coming from both mom and dad. We actually had a FHE lesson on this Monday night and I went over Oaks' talk with the kids and we talked about a couple recent blessings I gave the kids and some history I've had with blessings--both the positive and the negative sides of it. So this is timely.

I am not going anywhere with it. Far be it from me to try and infringe upon the way anyone deals with their own family situation. Family dynamics are not easy.

I am not making a judgement call here on right way or wrong way, I just wondered if you believe in "head of household" or the "patriarch" concept and this is a way of reinforcing it. Again, I am not making a judgement yea or ney.

[jay santos]

I am not going anywhere with it. Far be it from me to try and infringe upon the way anyone deals with their own family situation. Family dynamics are not easy.

I am not making a judgement call here on right way or wrong way, I just wondered if you believe in "head of household" or the "patriarch" concept and this is a way of reinforcing it. Again, I am not making a judgement yea or ney.

Hahaha no that's not me. Why do you think I come across bold and overbearing at times on the internet? It's because I'm getting my ass kicked at home.

[byu71]

Hahaha no that's not me. Why do you think I come across bold and overbearing at times on the internet? It's because I'm getting my ass kicked at home.

LOL

[Color Me Badd Fan]

These talks sometimes seem to indicate that God's will is similar to that of the Olympian Gods at times- fickle.

But everyone knows one story about someone in terminal condition who ends up recovering after a blessing. I've related before a story my dad told me coming from a truck driver that used to work for him. The driver wasn't especially active but still obviously had faith. His 3-5 year old daughter (I can't remember the exact age) had terminal liver cancer. Upon getting the diagnosis from a doctor, he proceeded to take his daughter over to THE church office building and was demanding that his daughter receive a blessing from any apostle or member of the first presidency. After refusing to leave, then Elder Hunter (I think this was the late 70s) came to meet with him and give his daughter a blessing.

The little girl recovered and now has something like five kids. The father swears that the blessing was a game changer. The whole story has a New Testament quality to it from the desperation of the father, the condition of the child, to the father's absolute faith that an apostle's blessing would heal his daughter. I believe the chemotherapy and radiation treatments continued, no transplant was needed. Another amazing thing about it was how the radiation to that part of the body didn't cause damage to the ovaries of a young girl.

[Jacob]

One problem I had with the talk was that he declared that the miraculous healings happen all the time...but don't expect to hear about it because we are commanded not to tell you.

I think this is sad. The scripture also say that these signs (healings) will follow the believers in Christ, yet we aren't allowed to know about it. I have never witnessed a miraculous healing, though I have participated in possibly hundreds of attempts or annointings/sealings/blessings.

Now, I suppose I can't say I haven't actually witnessed a miraculous healing, because people have gotten better after receiving a blessing at my hands. I just can't say whether they wouldn't have gotten better anyway, as they were never healed immediately. I was once disabled with an infirmity for which there is no cure and for which the doctors can give no explanation. I was given a blessing by my mission companions. Next by my mission president. Then I flew to the U of U hospital where my father and uncle gave me another blessing/annointing. Then Elder Tingey from the presidency of the 70 visited me and offered to and gave me yet another with my father again participating (apparently he hadn't received the Oaks/Lee/whomever instruction that you only need one and it should be your dad, not some GA.

Anyway, I eventually did get better. At the time, and still today, I think it's possible that it was a blessing that healed me. OTOH, like my doctor said "I don't know if it was something that we did, or if your body just healed itself, or if it was some other thing (blessing )that did the trick."

How about some more rambling? OK. If the Lord heals me, why wouldn't I shout it from the rooftops? Why shouldn't somebody tell me, a believer, about a miraculous healing that they witnessed? If everyone with faith gets healed, unless they are marked for death, are we to conclude that few in the church actually have faith?

[Jeff Lebowski]

One problem I had with the talk was that he declared that the miraculous healings happen all the time...but don't expect to hear about it because we are commanded not to tell you.

That line (among others) really puzzled me. I wonder if the bishop is going to start reprimanding people in F&T meeting. I hear people testify of miraculous healings quite regularly.

[UtahDan]

That line (among others) really puzzled me. I wonder if the bishop is going to start reprimanding people in F&T meeting. I hear people testify of miraculous healings quite regularly.

Yeah, if that is true it isn't counsel that people seem to follow. I have never understood the reasoning in any case. Jesus performed miracles in public, other miracles recorded in the scriptures happened out in the open. But in this era where we send missionaries to the four corners of the earth, have proclaiming the gospel as one of the missions of the church and in fact teach that miracles are a sign that follow the restoration, the Lord doesn't want anyone to know when those miracles actually occur?

[SloanHater]

Yeah, if that is true it isn't counsel that people seem to follow. I have never understood the reasoning in any case. Jesus performed miracles in public, other miracles recorded in the scriptures happened out in the open. But in this era where we send missionaries to the four corners of the earth, have proclaiming the gospel as one of the missions of the church and in fact teach that miracles are a sign that follow the restoration, the Lord doesn't want anyone to know when those miracles actually occur?

I'm of the mind that publicity of such events would only lessen their impact. If you got 10 forwarded emails a day of people healed by Pres. Monson, would your own healing be of the same import? Would the expectation of a full restoration of health rise amongst Church members?

I'm glad that these experiences, for the most part, are kept private. It makes them more 'special' when heard or shared.