What is the Difference Between a Blessing and a Prayer

[bluebell]

We did Father's Blessings for back to school on Sunday night and as a part of that we watched Pres. Nelson's first talk in the Priesthood Session after he was called as a prophet.  He spoke about priesthood power and about how some priesthood holders did not seem to know the difference between a prayer and a blessing.  He gave a couple examples, one of which was a father who blessed his baby in sacrament meeting.  Pres. Nelson said that the father gave the baby a name and then finished with a really nice prayer.  The prophet specifically said that the father missed the opportunity to bless his baby girl because he didn't know the difference between the two.

It made me wonder, if this is a widespread problem, and also wonder how people would define the differences between offering a prayer and offering a blessing.

Here is the talk, for reference if anyone wants to watch it.

 

[CV75]

21 minutes ago, bluebell said:

We did Father's Blessings for back to school on Sunday night and as a part of that we watched Pres. Nelson's first talk in the Priesthood Session after he was called as a prophet.  He spoke about priesthood power and about how some priesthood holders did not seem to know the difference between a prayer and a blessing.  He gave a couple examples, one of which was a father who blessed his baby in sacrament meeting.  Pres. Nelson said that the father gave the baby a name and then finished with a really nice prayer.  The prophet specifically said that the father missed the opportunity to bless his baby girl because he didn't know the difference between the two.

It made me wonder, if this is a widespread problem, and also wonder how people would define the differences between offering a prayer and offering a blessing.

Here is the talk, for reference if anyone wants to watch it.

 

I would say a blessing is a communication of the Spirit to the person being blessed, while a prayer is a communion with God, often seeking blessings but also rightly including thanks and praise.

A priesthood blessing is given by a priesthood holder. The sacrament prayers are offered by priesthood holders to bless and sanctify the emblems unto those who partake. This and other ordinances begin with addressing Heavenly Father as in prayer (e.g. naming a child, consecrating oil, dedicating a grave, home or temple).

When someone sneezes, the blessing may or may not involve a communication of the Spirit, may be said by anyone, and should not be given by priesthood authority.  

The Handbook provides the instructions and formats, but it seems that under extenuating circumstances such as the Prophet blessing the people at the end of General Conference, not stating the authority by which he is acting. Perhaps it can go unsaid since he authorized the conference and presides over it anyway.

[bluebell]

4 minutes ago, CV75 said:

I would say a blessing is a communication of the Spirit to the person being blessed, while a prayer is a communion with God, often seeking blessings but also rightly including thanks and praise.

A priesthood blessing is given by a priesthood holder. The sacrament prayers are offered by priesthood holders to bless and sanctify the emblems unto those who partake. This and other ordinances begin with addressing Heavenly Father as in prayer (e.g. naming a child, consecrating oil, dedicating a grave, home or temple).

When someone sneezes, the blessing may or may not involve a communication of the Spirit, may be said by anyone, and should not be given by priesthood authority.  

The Handbook provides the instructions and formats, but it seems that under extenuating circumstances such as the Prophet blessing the people at the end of General Conference, not stating the authority by which he is acting. Perhaps it can go unsaid since he authorized the conference and presides over it anyway.

So how do you feel the father in the Prophet's example went so far astray as to offering a prayer but not a blessing when he was attempting to bless his daughter?  Do you think he just didn't know all of the above that you posted maybe?  I know I'm asking you to guess because we don't know anything about him or what he actually said.  I'm just trying to take what you said and compare it to Pres. Nelson's concerns and figure how where we sometimes get off course.

[InCognitus]

2 minutes ago, bluebell said:

So how do you feel the father in the Prophet's example went so far astray as to offering a prayer but not a blessing when he was attempting to bless his daughter?  Do you think he just didn't know all of the above that you posted maybe?  I know I'm asking you to guess because we don't know anything about him or what he actually said.  I'm just trying to take what you said and compare it to Pres. Nelson's concerns and figure how where we sometimes get off course.

It's the difference between using an inspired blessing by the authority of the priesthood with statements such as, "I bless you that you shall...." compared to something like fatherly admonitions and praying that they will follow the commandments or that sort of thing.  The first expresses confidence in the Spirit and an authoritative statement, while the latter is more unsure and lacks such pronouncements of authority. 

[manol]

33 minutes ago, bluebell said:

It made me wonder... how people would define the differences between offering a prayer and offering a blessing.

Imo when you pray for someone, you're asking God to do something for that person.  And when you bless someone, you are arguably more participatory to God doing something for that person.  I don't see the one as being "better" than the other.  Both are an application of your faith, spirit, energy, intention, whatever, for the benefit of another, to the best of your ability in the moment.  Both are expressions of love, even if that word never comes up.

My current (non-Church-approved) opinion is that anyone can bless anyone else, and that the format doesn't really matter.  Consider this:

Jesus said to "bless them that curse you".  Obviously this did not mean "set them down and give them a formal priesthood blessing".  I figure if it's okay for any of us to bless someone who curses us, then there really are no constraints on "who can bless who", nor on "how" (though of course it would be out of place for a non-priesthood-holder to claim priesthood authority). 

Personally, I like the "more-participatory" aspect of blessing someone, even in situations where it's done silently.  So I am more likely to silently "bless so-and-so" than I am to silently "pray for so-and-so".  And I think it does me good too; if I have some negative feelings towards the person in question, it's a bit harder for me to hold on to those negative feelings while I'm blessing them. 

[CV75]

29 minutes ago, bluebell said:

So how do you feel the father in the Prophet's example went so far astray as to offering a prayer but not a blessing when he was attempting to bless his daughter?  Do you think he just didn't know all of the above that you posted maybe?  I know I'm asking you to guess because we don't know anything about him or what he actually said.  I'm just trying to take what you said and compare it to Pres. Nelson's concerns and figure how where we sometimes get off course.

I wouldn't call it going astray or being off course, but I think we have to take President Nelson's conclusion at face value, "That dear elder did not know the difference between a prayer and a priesthood blessing." I see it as "[an unfortunate] missed opportunity!"

If someone gives a prayer when a blessing is called for, to me that means they do not in that moment know, remember or appreciate the difference. The correct practice might come back to them later (oops!) or someone with them might give them a nudge. This lapse in knowledge might go under the radar or get self-corrected if the person reviews the Handbook beforehand. Others might just be too nervous. 

[Senator]

2 hours ago, InCognitus said:

It's the difference between using an inspired blessing by the authority of the priesthood with statements such as, "I bless you that you shall...." compared to something like fatherly admonitions and praying that they will follow the commandments or that sort of thing.  The first expresses confidence in the Spirit and an authoritative statement, while the latter is more unsure and lacks such pronouncements of authority. 

So its just semantics?

 

[InCognitus]

35 minutes ago, Senator said:

So its just semantics?

 

Not at all.  Why would you think it's semantics?

If the person giving the blessing is using the words given him by the spirit and pronounces it with the authority of the spirit, it is God's blessing upon the person instead of a wishful pleading on behalf of the person.

[Senator]

19 minutes ago, InCognitus said:

Not at all.  Why would you think it's semantics?

If the person giving the blessing is using the words given him by the spirit and pronounces it with the authority of the spirit, it is God's blessing upon the person instead of a wishful pleading on behalf of the person.

So really it comes down to whether the blessing is being inspired by the Spirit.  What words one uses or the phraseology make no difference.  So then whatever is said or pronounced is the will of God and a "correct" blessing.
So really Pres. Nelson was critiquing the young father for an uninspired blessing.  I struggle with that notion.

Edited August 20, 2025 by Senator

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Senator said:

So really it comes down to whether the blessing is being inspired by the Spirit.  What words one uses or the phraseology make no difference.

But inspiration follows the intent of the person, imo, therefore words matter because words are chosen based on intent.

I also believe prayer is usually understood to be more passive, an asking of a gift from God solely based on his will.  Maybe others don’t have this conception  though.  Because of this understanding, there is no attempt (intentional or unintentional) for a personal connection to be made in giving the gift, the person giving the prayer is not acting to contribute in any way to give the gifts requested from God, even when they might be very active in trying to receive it if it’s a prayer for themselves.

A blessing to me is more active, one opens oneself to the Spirit and joins with it (I say “it” because I am not settled on whether it’s the person of the Spirit that is directly involved or his awareness/power/influence instead***) to act as part of the conduit for the gift being received.  This may be unintentional for many (I haven’t been part of many detailed discussions on what the experience of giving a blessing is like, so I might be the only one who thinks of it this way).  I don’t know if there is something that materially moves from the one giving the blessing to the one receiving it, but it certainly has felt like it for myself on occasion.  I do believe there is something shared between the one giving the blessing and the one receiving if both are open to the spirit in some fashion (the person receiving need not be conscious since it’s a spiritual sharing and my guess is our spirits never sleep or get knocked unconscious, etc).

***we are taught our spirit bodies look much like our physical bodies at least in basic form…which implies to me unless there are endless numbers of Holy Ghosts or other spirits acting as his agents under his direction, the Holy Ghost’s body isn’t materially present in all interactions of the Spirit.  OTOH, our conception of what bodies are may be way off.

Edited August 21, 2025 by Calm

[ZealouslyStriving]

Blessings speak to and authoritatively pronounce things (prophecy) into the life of the one being blessed.

Prayers are petitions for God to intervene and bless the person. 

Edited August 21, 2025 by ZealouslyStriving

[bluebell]

2 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

Blessings speak to and authoritatively pronounce things (prophecy) into the life of the one being blessed.

Prayers are petitions for God to intervene and bless the person. 

Do you believe that a priesthood holder has to power to create prophecy in another's life without the need to ask God to intervene in the fulfillment of that prophecy then?  (I'm trying to make sure I am understanding you correctly).

[bluebell]

4 hours ago, Senator said:

So really it comes down to whether the blessing is being inspired by the Spirit.  What words one uses or the phraseology make no difference.  So then whatever is said or pronounced is the will of God and a "correct" blessing.
So really Pres. Nelson was critiquing the young father for an uninspired blessing.  I struggle with that notion.

Without knowing what was actually said, it's really hard to say.  This could be a case where the father didn't actually bless the child with any specific thing and instead said a prayer in her behalf.  Pres. Nelson wasn't specific enough to really know.  I wish he had been because it would be so helpful to know exactly what was said and what the issue with it was!

He uses a couple more examples in the video of the talk, but I can't remember what they were exactly.  I think one had to do with setting women a part for callings.

[MustardSeed]

I’ve never personally experienced my prayers being less powerful than a priesthood blessing, thankfully. 

[ZealouslyStriving]

4 hours ago, bluebell said:

Do you believe that a priesthood holder has to power to create prophecy in another's life without the need to ask God to intervene in the fulfillment of that prophecy then?  (I'm trying to make sure I am understanding you correctly).

I believe that the blessings pronounced by righteous Priesthood holders carry profound weight in heaven... So yes, you are more or less understanding me correctly- but obviously prayers for divine assistance to fulfill those pronounced blessings is prudent and any righteous Priesthood holder would ask for such.

[Kenngo1969]

While I agree wholeheartedly with President Nelson's words (and I am loath to disagree with a Prophet of God!  ), I think many of us are at different points on the path with regard to our spiritual journey and understanding.  Given that, while, again, I support President Nelson wholeheartedly, I don't think that too much should be made of those words.

I'm reminded of the story of Curt Brinkman, a double-amputee who, in a wheelchair, ran the fastest time ever in the Boston Marathon, about 1:55:00 in 1980.  (Curt has since passed on.)  To those who say, "Yeah, right!  That'd be easy to do in a wheelchair!  He could really whizz downhill!"  I would say, "Mmm-hmm.  That's true.  By any chance, have you ever tried to push a wheelchair uphill ?"  I have, and it ain't easy, let me tell ya.   (I had a hard enough time trying to push a wheelchair up little bunny hills, and the Boston Marathon is [in?]-famous for its hills, which are much harder to traverse.)  Curt's legs were amputated following severe burns he sustained after he climbed a power pole to get a better view of his surroundings and accidentally was electrocuted.

The only Melchizedek Priesthood holder around when Curt got hurt was a new Elder and a recent convert to the Church of Jesus Christ.  I don't recall his name, or I would credit him here.  He hadn't yet been schooled fully in Melchizedek Priesthood administration procedures, so when he put his hands on Curt's head, all he could do was say as much of the Lord's Prayer as he could remember, closing in the name of the Savior.  Curt's biographer (the book was called The Will to Win, and I still have a tattered copy somewhere: We "broke the rules" so I could attend Youth Conference as an 11-year-old when I found out Curt was going to be a featured speaker at Youth Conference at BYU), Keith J. Karren, wrote simply, "It wasn't the most beautiful blessing, but there was power in it.  Curtis lived!" 

I don't know what relevance, if any, any of this might have to the topic under discussion, but I did find these, from then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

Priesthood Blessings

Healing the Sick

The latter contains this excerpt:

Quote

Fortunately, the words spoken in a healing blessing are not essential to its healing effect. If faith is sufficient and if the Lord wills it, the afflicted person will be healed or blessed whether the officiator speaks those words or not. Conversely, if the officiator yields to personal desire or inexperience and gives commands or words of blessing in excess of what the Lord chooses to bestow according to the faith of the individual, those words will not be fulfilled. Consequently, brethren, no elder should ever hesitate to participate in a healing blessing because of fear that he will not know what to say. The words spoken in a healing blessing can edify and energize the faith of those who hear them, but the effect of the blessing is dependent upon faith and the Lord’s will, not upon the words spoken by the elder who officiated.

FWIW.  (Hello, @Kevin Christensen !!! )

Others' mileage may vary.  Not available in all areas.  Offer subject to change without notice.  See Website for details.  

[Kenngo1969]

4 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

I’ve never personally experienced my prayers being less powerful than a priesthood blessing, thankfully. 

Good.  I don't think they're supposed to be.  

[Senator]

11 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

Blessings speak to and authoritatively pronounce things (prophecy) into the life of the one being blessed.

Prayers are petitions for God to intervene and bless the person. 

I’m failing to see the distinction.

it’s six of one, half a dozen of another 🤷‍♂️
 

And if I had to choose between the two, I would trust the latter more.

So I guess I do see a distinction 😂

Edited August 21, 2025 by Senator

[Senator]

8 hours ago, bluebell said:

Without knowing what was actually said, it's really hard to say.  This could be a case where the father didn't actually bless the child with any specific thing and instead said a prayer in her behalf.  Pres. Nelson wasn't specific enough to really know.  I wish he had been because it would be so helpful to know exactly what was said and what the issue with it was!

 

I agree.

 I suppose the “blessing” might have only contained expressions of love and gratitude for the child. Otherwise I find it hard to conceive of a prayer that doesn’t contain some request or admonition in behalf of receiver. 

[ZealouslyStriving]

38 minutes ago, Senator said:

I’m failing to see the distinction.

it’s six of one, half a dozen of another 🤷‍♂️
 

And if I had to choose between the two, I would trust the latter more.

So I guess I do see a distinction 😂

Interesting.

[CV75]

9 hours ago, bluebell said:

Without knowing what was actually said, it's really hard to say.  This could be a case where the father didn't actually bless the child with any specific thing and instead said a prayer in her behalf.  Pres. Nelson wasn't specific enough to really know.  I wish he had been because it would be so helpful to know exactly what was said and what the issue with it was!

He uses a couple more examples in the video of the talk, but I can't remember what they were exactly.  I think one had to do with setting women a part for callings.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/ministering-with-the-power-and-authority-of-god?lang=eng

"Let me cite some other examples. We know of brethren who set sisters apart as Primary, Young Women, or Relief Society leaders and teachers but fail to bless them—to bless them with the power to fulfill their callings. They give only admonitions and instructions. We see a worthy father who fails to give his wife and his children priesthood blessings when that is exactly what they need. Priesthood power has been restored to this earth, and yet far too many brothers and sisters go through terrible trials in life without ever receiving a true priesthood blessing. What a tragedy! That’s a tragedy that we can eliminate."

 

 

[CV75]

14 hours ago, Senator said:

So really it comes down to whether the blessing is being inspired by the Spirit.  What words one uses or the phraseology make no difference.  So then whatever is said or pronounced is the will of God and a "correct" blessing.
So really Pres. Nelson was critiquing the young father for an uninspired blessing.  I struggle with that notion.

Priesthood blessings that are inspired by the Spirit are not inspired prayers, ordinances, counsel, etc. They are inspired priesthood ordinances.

Regarding the young father, President Nelson is talking about the priesthood ordinance, “naming and blessing” (a child). See the handbook, 18.6. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/18-priesthood-ordinances-and-blessings?lang=eng#title_number8

I would say when a young father gives a well-intended prayer, instruction, admonition or even counsel, while supposing he is giving a blessing, is giving simply what President Nelson said it was: a missed opportunity to bless.

The causes for this disconnect are numerous and virtually all preventable. A lack of inspiration is not necessarily one of them, and is probably the rarest of all means of prevention.

[CV75]

58 minutes ago, Senator said:

I agree.

 I suppose the “blessing” might have only contained expressions of love and gratitude for the child. Otherwise I find it hard to conceive of a prayer that doesn’t contain some request or admonition in behalf of receiver. 

Technically, the receiver of the prayer is God, and the person on whose behalf the request or admonition is petitioned in prayer is the intended beneficiary. Both the receiver of the priesthood blessing and its beneficiary are that person upon whose head the  hands are laid. 

What is a "priesthood prayer," recognizing that those ordinances which address Heavenly Father as in prayer are not?

[Senator]

39 minutes ago, CV75 said:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/ministering-with-the-power-and-authority-of-god?lang=eng

"Let me cite some other examples. We know of brethren who set sisters apart as Primary, Young Women, or Relief Society leaders and teachers but fail to bless them—to bless them with the power to fulfill their callings. They give only admonitions and instructions. We see a worthy father who fails to give his wife and his children priesthood blessings when that is exactly what they need. Priesthood power has been restored to this earth, and yet far too many brothers and sisters go through terrible trials in life without ever receiving a true priesthood blessing. What a tragedy! That’s a tragedy that we can eliminate."

 

 

It almost sounds as if he is calling for a scripted liturgy for priesthood blessings.

 I would rather it be spiritually organic.

[CV75]

1 hour ago, Senator said:

It almost sounds as if he is calling for a scripted liturgy for priesthood blessings.

 I would rather it be spiritually organic.

Is a scripted liturgy (as in the temple) inherently disruptive of a "spiritually organic" process?

Is the "proper way" to perform priesthood ordinances (as in the handbook) inherently disruptive of a "spiritually organic" process?

When it comes to semantics, isn't "spiritually organic" an oxymoron?

Putting my open-mind cap on, "spiritually organic" might refer to the life of a connected spirit and body of a soul on the way to Judgement. But then, what priesthood ordinance properly involves only an individually-performing soul? I think you would agree proper priesthood administration involves God (two out of three being a Soul and the third accompanying the other two Souls or striving to accompany any other souls involved), priesthood keys (the presiding authorities of which are souls who delegate them to young fathers), and all other souls present and participating in the flesh.

Edited August 21, 2025 by CV75