A Wish for Priesthood Blessings that Work

[_Yoda]

I certainly don't blame you there! And, it must have absolutely killed your wife, since she is a medical professional. Is she a nurse or a doctor?

She's in-between - a nurse practitioner. At the time, she was a registered nurse.

Wow. That is a real tragedy.

I am curious, though. Am I alone in being taught that seeking medical assistance should always come first and that the priesthood blessing is an accompaniment to that?

Were the rest of you really taught that the priesthood blessing should be done first? I'm sorry, but this sounds closer to Scientology than anything I have ever experienced in my 47 years of LDS Church membership.

[_Yoda]

Bumping because I would love for someone to answer my question.

[_sock puppet]

I always heard the instruction that there would be time for a blessing after medical attention, and that medical attention should also be the first response of the two.

[_Drifting]

I always heard the instruction that there would be time for a blessing after medical attention, and that medical attention should also be the first response of the two.

Whoever told you that was only speaking as a man...

Here is the official line:

Administering to the Sick

Only men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood may administer to the sick or afflicted. Normally, two or more administer together, but one may do it alone. If consecrated oil is not available, a man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood may give a blessing by the authority of the priesthood.

A father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood should administer to sick members of his family. He may ask another man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to assist him.

Administering to the sick has two parts: (1) anointing with oil and (2) sealing the anointing.


Anointing with Oil

One man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood anoints the person who is sick. To do so, he:

1.Puts a drop of consecrated oil on the person’s head.

2.Places his hands lightly on the person’s head and calls the person by his or her full name.

3.States that he is anointing the person by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

4.States that he is anointing with oil that has been consecrated for anointing and blessing the sick and afflicted.

5.Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.



Sealing the Anointing

Normally, two or more men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood place their hands lightly on the head of the person who is sick. One of the men seals the anointing. To do so, he:

1.Calls the person by his or her full name.

2.States that he is sealing the anointing by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3.Gives a blessing as the Spirit directs.

4.Closes in the name of Jesus Christ. (Family Guidebook)

20.6 Administering to the Sick



20.6.1



General Guidelines

Only Melchizedek Priesthood holders may administer to the sick or afflicted. Normally two or more priesthood holders administer to the sick, but one may perform both the anointing and the sealing alone if necessary. If consecrated oil is not available, a blessing may nevertheless be given by the authority of the priesthood without the anointing.

A father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood normally should administer to sick members of his family.

Brethren should administer to the sick at the request of the sick person or of those who are vitally concerned so the blessing will be according to their faith (see D&C 24:13–14; 42:43–44, 48–52). Melchizedek Priesthood holders who visit hospitals should not solicit opportunities to administer to the sick.

If a person requests more than one blessing for the same illness, the priesthood holder need not anoint with oil after the first blessing. Instead, he gives a blessing by the laying on of hands and the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Administering to the sick has two parts: anointing with oil and sealing the anointing. (Handbook 2: Adminstering the Church)