From our past: 'My child needs a priesthood blessing'

[_Wilma Fingerdoo]

B & L
Thanks for the laugh. I loved the part about how to position yourself to do the oil and leave the blessing to you home teaching companion. That was totally me.
I too have always doubted blessings. When I was in college I was asked by a sweet sister to give her a blessing of "comfort" so that she would do well on her final exams. WTF???
I participated in another blessing of a Hottie in our ward because she was sick. So she came out in her pajamas and sat down. I anointed her with oil and them my roommate started giving her the blessing. I happened to glance down and notice that she wasn't wearing a bra and was giving a great shot from the position she sitting. That was one time I was grateful that my comp gave a loooong blessing. LoL

I became "active" and baptized my son 2 years ago. Know it was going to be my last blessing I blessed him to have incredible athletic ability, to become a doctor and earn a lot of money, and to sincerely search for the truth no matter where it leads him. LOL. Only my TBM brother gave me crap about this blessing privately. Everyone else commented about what a spichul blessing it was and how they could feel the spirit present.

The blessing is the LDS equivalent of snake oil.

[_Boaz & Lidia]

So did he have shattered bones and internal injuries or not?

Are saying the blessing only made the color return to his face?

If he had shattered bones and internal injuries that remained, how did he walk OUT with you?

Boaz,

The ER doctors that eventually evaluated him saw only a small fracture in his nose, broken finger and some bruising. He stayed on crutches for a couple weeks for the bruise on his shin.

We saw more during the administration. Now, think about it. How can a person see internal injuries and shattered bones with their eyes closed? They can't. It's not possible (even though I did, so there). So you're safe in your objectivity.

It's just my word now. 23+ years ago.

Now, if you missed my point:

A healing does not prove a church is true, though it might leave some confusing clues. It just means a person got better. I hope we're all so lucky.

How about being young, scared, in shock, and thinking that you had these powers? A self induced emotional epiphany of sorts. The mind plays tricks on you and can make you think you are seeing something real, when in fact it is nothing but a figment of your imagination.

You witnessed the accident, in all of its horrific glory and probably thought of all of the injuries his body should incur and kept those as you mind reeled while you looked at the color leaving his face.

Your story is falling apart and quickly unraveling. Like a TV show, at first all we got the sensationalized commercial of it. After sitting down and watching the full episode, we realized there wasn't much to it.

Had I not taken you down this road to examine your experience, many here would have taken it as a miracle, backed by medical proof. But after examining the experience objectively we see he only had very minor injuries and your young, scared and in shock mind made up what the rest.

Thanks again not only for sharing but for being a good sport while I de-constructed your experience as viewed by an objective outsider.

One point of clarification if I may? At what point did you give him a blessing? Immediately upon arrival to the ER? or 45 minutes later?

Also, how many minutes passed between the accident and the moment you gave the blessing?
I ask this detail because if he did have shattered bones and internal injuries the EMTs would have seen external signs and he would have been whisked in past all of the hypochondriacs who typically clog up ER rooms.

[_Mary]

I have a bit of a mixed bag experience with regard to blessings in the church (which usually came up, when people went off on flights of fancy after being set apart for callings, or released as a missionary). Many were like fortune telling....this is going to happen, etc etc about my life, and when it didn't happen, it was most obviously my fault...a real mind bind and very disturbing at the time.

I do have a friend (Now inactive) that had Hodgkins. It got really bad, she lost a lot (Jewish concentration camp level) of weight, and had a fit whilst in the bath. At that point, the odds were stacked heavily against her and she was hospitalised up in London. The whole stake prayed for her, and fasted. She got better, got married (one of my more successful attempts at match-making) and miracle of miracles was able to have two children.

I don't know if our faith worked, or if it was meant to be, or if there was a purely objective, logical medical reason for why she recovered so well, and eventually went into complete remission. Who knows.

When my father was dying, I didn't need to go ask any priesthood holder to give him a blessing. I prayed, and felt that what would be would be, thy will not mine be done, kind of thing. It made the process a lot easier, rather than trying to fight to cure him of his cancer, something of course that I desperately 'wanted' to do. When dad was taking his last breaths, (which got very intermittant - like 2 - 3 minutes apart) I just wanted to shout at him to stay, so I had to leave the room, I just couldn't watch him die... coward that I am)

I appreciate Inconceivable's comments, and appreciate that there 'may' be forces at work that we do not properly understand in terms of faith and blessings in any religion. (Interestingly, it was always a given from members that I interacted with, that blessings/healings in other churches were of the devil...)

I don't understand it. Probably never will...

Mary

[_Inconceivable]

Like I said, I envy you for your perspective. It's perhaps good you weren't there. Your life (and mine) is much simpler without this angle thrown in.

Funny thing I've learned first hand about miracles. If you don't experience them yourself there is no requirement to believe them. Besides, like you pointed out, there are plenty that are just bonafide hoaxes, Faith-Promoting Rumor's or figments of our imagination. Really, who cares if they're true? I've stepped back shaking my head anyway.

This is one experience of a hand-full. I can't speak for anyone elses.

[_Mary]

I also know of some priesthood blessings that were given that were spectacularly wrong and misleading.

A lady was promised that she would be cured of cancer in a blessing. She didn't make any preparation for dying...because of it.

She died.

Parents were promised that their baby would be healed. The baby died.

These are terrible events for people to cope with...

Mary

[_Mary]

Apologies for cross posting with you inconceivable....

[_Blixa]

I appreciate Inconceivable's comments, and appreciate that there 'may' be forces at work that we do not properly understand in terms of faith and blessings in any religion. (Interestingly, it was always a given from members that I interacted with, that blessings/healings in other churches were of the devil...)

I don't understand it. Probably never will...

Mary

Yes, this exchange between Inconceivable and B&L has been interesting. The function of the brain and emotional states in relation to healing are not completely understood. The someone's frame of mind can have a positive impact on how their body reacts and that this can be influenced by all kinds of beliefs and the actions of others seems pretty clear, however.

[_Yoda]

I appreciate Inconceivable's comments, and appreciate that there 'may' be forces at work that we do not properly understand in terms of faith and blessings in any religion. (Interestingly, it was always a given from members that I interacted with, that blessings/healings in other churches were of the devil...)

I don't understand it. Probably never will...

Mary

Yes, this exchange between Inconceivable and B&L has been interesting. The function of the brain and emotional states in relation to healing are not completely understood. The someone's frame of mind can have a positive impact on how their body reacts and that this can be influenced by all kinds of beliefs and the actions of others seems pretty clear, however.

I agree. When I have been stressed out, etc., I have asked for blessings from my father...also from my husband.

And, frankly, I think what was most calming to me was the fact that they were being given by someone who I loved and trusted. It was actually more of a bonding moment with them.

Kind of a tragic incident....Six years ago, my niece (who was 12 at the time) passed away unexpectedly. She fell from a tire swing, broke her neck, and was killed instantly. EMT's were at the scene immediately, but nothing could be done. She was given a priesthood blessing there, at the incident, and then, later, we all arrived at the hospital. My mother in law was hysterical. She later asked why a priesthood blessing wasn't given at the hospital, and that this child was not commanded to "get up and walk". She said, "I blame myself. I was too upset at the time. I should have insisted on it. I have enough faith I know this child would be alive today if she had had that type of blessing."

My brother in law explained to her that my niece had received a priesthood blessing before arriving at the hospital, but my mother in law, to this day, blames herself in part, for that child's death.

Sad.

[_truth dancer]

Recently a woman in our ward had a little lump on the bottom of her foot.

Everyone was quite concerned, she had a blessings and many in the ward fasted for her in hopes it would not be cancerous.

She had surgery to remove the lump and it turned out to be benign.

Everyone praised God all was well... she bore her testimony of the power of the priesthood.

A month after this, I found a lump on my foot as well. It was very painful so went to the doctor (my doctor just had a baby so I saw a doctor who was covering for her), who was fairly concerned and sent me to a specialist that very day. The foot specialist thought the "tumor" needed to be removed right away, and wanted me to head over to the hospital to get an MRI. (I did have x-rays and the "tumor" was on a nerve about the size of a nickle). The surgery would put me out of commission for a few weeks and I had a lot going on that weekend so told him I would talk to him again in a week.

I went home, and being the believer in the amazing ability of our bodies to heal, and a hypnotherapist, I did a little meditation/visualization/herbal massage (smile) on my foot for about an hour prior to bed.

When I awoke the next morning the lump was half the size and I had NO pain. Within three days I could no longer feel the lump at all.

A few weeks later, at the insistence of some of my family (who are more mainstream when it comes to healing), I went back to a different doctor who I know quite well... one who shares in my belief in our body's ability to heal. I told him the story and he felt sure my body, took care of the lump and did not see any reason for any further intervention.

So, one has to wonder how healings works, why we believe as we do, what happens that allows our bodies to heal or not. What factors help us to heal against all odds? And why do some "healings" not work at all? And how powerful is our body, and our mind?

I believe there is power in thought, that are bodies are AMAZING, that we can tap into our healing ability more powerfully as we move away from stress and strain and unhealthiness. Nevertheless, the whole healing process is more complicated that I think we currently understand.

:-)

~dancer~

[_Scottie]

I appreciate Inconceivable's comments, and appreciate that there 'may' be forces at work that we do not properly understand in terms of faith and blessings in any religion. (Interestingly, it was always a given from members that I interacted with, that blessings/healings in other churches were of the devil...)

I don't understand it. Probably never will...

Mary

Yes, this exchange between Inconceivable and B&L has been interesting. The function of the brain and emotional states in relation to healing are not completely understood. The someone's frame of mind can have a positive impact on how their body reacts and that this can be influenced by all kinds of beliefs and the actions of others seems pretty clear, however.

I agree. When I have been stressed out, etc., I have asked for blessings from my father...also from my husband.

And, frankly, I think what was most calming to me was the fact that they were being given by someone who I loved and trusted. It was actually more of a bonding moment with them.

Kind of a tragic incident....Six years ago, my niece (who was 12 at the time) passed away unexpectedly. She fell from a tire swing, broke her neck, and was killed instantly. EMT's were at the scene immediately, but nothing could be done. She was given a priesthood blessing there, at the incident, and then, later, we all arrived at the hospital. My mother in law was hysterical. She later asked why a priesthood blessing wasn't given at the hospital, and that this child was not commanded to "get up and walk". She said, "I blame myself. I was too upset at the time. I should have insisted on it. I have enough faith I know this child would be alive today if she had had that type of blessing."

My brother in law explained to her that my niece had received a priesthood blessing before arriving at the hospital, but my mother in law, to this day, blames herself in part, for that child's death.

Sad.

When people ask, "What bad ever comes from Mormonism??", these are the stories I think of.


That is very sad.