Priesthood holders know deep down

[_Runtu]

In my experience, most priesthood holders believe in the power of priesthood blessings.

[_Jason Bourne]

that priesthood blessings don't work. Next time you observe or participate in one, notice the language. Almost never there be any "and I say unto you, be healed!" No, it's soft language like, "you will soon recover from your infirmity."

Priesthood holders know what the outcome is going to be - most illnesses will get better through medical treatment or through the body's own internal mechanisms. So if you couch the terms of the blessing so that they can hide behind those ordinary mechanisms, you don't risk disappointed people who blamed themselves or Jesus or the priesthood holder for the promised instant healing that never came.

I once knew a senior missionary. He used to say "when we bless people why do we say all this stuff and mumble jumbo. Just command them to be healed and be done with it!"

Personally though, I can tell you that when I had a major illness that requires major surgery that could have left me non functional in a number of ways70% -probability of this according the the surgeon I had a blessing. I was told I would be healed from the disease I had and that my body would continue to appropriately function in every way. The person giving the blessing was very specific. I am still here 10 years later and everything does work.

[_Morley]

In my experience, most priesthood holders believe in the power of priesthood blessings.

I would concur. I think the so-called "soft" language is, in part, an attempt at humility and not assuming too much about God or oneself.

[_consiglieri]

In my experience, most priesthood holders believe in the power of priesthood blessings.

I agree, but Buffalo has hit on something that has occurred to me, as well.

We have lessons in priesthood class periodically about how to give blessings, and it does seem that many choose language in order to "hedge their bets," so to speak.

This brings up the underlying issue of whether we are trying through our blessing to have God's will be done, or whether we are trying to change that will to the benefit of the person receiving the blessing.

Most Mormons opt for the former, and try to get in tune with what God's will is prior to (or at the time of) the blessing, in order to pronounce a blessing in accordance therewith.


But my follow-up question is, If we are only blessing somebody to have happen what God is going to have happen anyway, what is the point of the blessing in the first place?

My practice is to bless people to get better in clear and unequivocal language, and later ask God to honor the blessing I have given.

I wish I could give you a spectacular story of inexplicable healing, but I can't. Although I did have a nice experience giving my non-member neighbor a blessing last week.

http://www.phpbbplanet.com/faithfulnomc ... hfulnomcom

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_The Nehor]

Jesus didn't use soft language in his healing rituals. Healing was instant in those stories. If faith healing really worked, it would be like that, and not just comforting language given while waiting for the body to heal itself or waiting for the drugs to kick in.

And if I were God I'd also be more sure of knowing God's will. Sadly, I am not......yet..... ;)

[_Patriarchal gripe]

In my experience, most priesthood holders believe in the power of priesthood blessings.

But deep down, most PH holders know or fear that PH blessings don't work.

If their belief was literal, they would visit the cancer wards and ICU's every day and command the sick to rise and take up their beds. The CDC would rush their experts to Utah to study the amazing rate of healing, and the world would flock to the morridor like it was the biblical Pool of Bethesda.

It would actually be immoral for a PH holder to withhold such power.

[_Mad Viking]

Anyone know of someone getting a priesthood blessing that a lost limb would grow back?

[_Buffalo]

Jesus didn't use soft language in his healing rituals. Healing was instant in those stories. If faith healing really worked, it would be like that, and not just comforting language given while waiting for the body to heal itself or waiting for the drugs to kick in.

And if I were God I'd also be more sure of knowing God's will. Sadly, I am not......yet..... ;)

Didn't Jesus promise that those who followed him would do even greater miracles?

[_Scottie]

Anyone know of someone getting a priesthood blessing that a lost limb would grow back?

My ex-MIL got a blessing that her detached retina would stay healed after the surgery.

It didn't.

She had 3 more surgeries, each with a blessing that THIS time it would work.

They didn't.

She lost her sight in that 1 eye.

But, I guess God's will was done. He had meant all along for her to lose sight in the 1 eye. I'm sure it will all make sense in the grand master plan in the afterlife...

[_Scottie]

You know what irritates me more than anything??

Is when a blessing is given, with strong language for the person to get better, and when they don't get better, it's blamed on a lack of faith. Either the recipient had a lack of faith or one of the 2 priesthood brethren lacked sufficient faith.

Anything to remove the blame from the ineffectiveness of priesthood blessings themselves.