What is the Difference Between a Blessing and a Prayer

[bluebell]

1 hour 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."

 

 

With this example, it sounds like the leaders actually did not provide any blessing in the setting a part, just instructions basically.  I wonder if the father failed to use the words "bless you with..." as well.  I so wish he had been more specific with that concern, but understand why he probably wasn't.

[Senator]

52 minutes ago, CV75 said:

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?

I'm not speaking about the category of scripted prayers and ordinances.  They have their place, and that is fine.  We are talking about the unscripted blessings given during a baby blessing, blessing of the sick, setting apart etc.

52 minutes ago, CV75 said:

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.

CV75, I love ya, but at times you tend to wax long in wordy abstracts to where you totally lose me.  Maybe a left/right brain struggle. 

Edited August 21, 2025 by Senator

[Senator]

41 minutes ago, bluebell said:

With this example, it sounds like the leaders actually did not provide any blessing in the setting a part, just instructions basically.  I wonder if the father failed to use the words "bless you with..." as well.  I so wish he had been more specific with that concern, but understand why he probably wasn't.

So what if he didn't use those exact words, but used other ways to express his thoughts?  Sorry, sir that's not a blessing...

The problem I have, is that if we start requiring certain verbiage,  you set up the blessing giver with undue expectations. 

I guess I'm a little resistant to the notion of "you didn't say the right thing", because of my past experience of being the one giving the blessing.  I have people close to me that have repeatedly requested blessings, only to finally respond that they are frustrated that they are not getting the "blessing" that they are needing or expecting.  My response?  Well, maybe you need to go find someone else to give them a blessing and say the things they want to hear. 

[CV75]

34 minutes ago, bluebell said:

With this example, it sounds like the leaders actually did not provide any blessing in the setting a part, just instructions basically.  I wonder if the father failed to use the words "bless you with..." as well.  I so wish he had been more specific with that concern, but understand why he probably wasn't.

It sounds like he was asking the Father to bless the child with things that came to mind (health, faith, etc.). Nothing wrong with that, except he had just told the Father he was going to give the child a name and a blessing (presumably stating by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood) and then did not, and then presumably ended in the name of Jesus Christ without doing what he said he was going to do (bless).

If he did not address his daughter, that would be a further mistake. And if he did and continued praying to God, that is a mistake.

The naming part was done properly enough to get her name on the records of the Church. I guess he could ask his bishop for a do-over for the blessing part, but that would be between them.

I think President Nelson's specific concern was:

"Now, may I voice a concern? It is this: Too many of our brothers and sisters do not fully understand the concept of priesthood power and authority. They act as though they would rather satisfy their own selfish desires and appetites than use the power of God to bless His children.

"I fear that too many of our brothers and sisters do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs. Some of our brethren, for example, act like they do not understand what the priesthood is and what it enables them to do. Let me give you some specific examples."

In the OP specific example of misunderstanding the concept of priesthood power and authority, not grasping its privileges, and misunderstanding what the priesthood is and what it enables us to do, the young father did not know the difference between a prayer and a priesthood blessing and as a result did not bless his daughter. That said, he can, after having heard this talk 7 years ago, or reading it today, can go to the Lord for mercy and grace and find healing from causing and suffering this lost opportunity in other ways.

[Senator]

5 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

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.

Hmmmm

Sound like Elder Oaks and Elder Nelson need to get together and hash it out:)

Edited August 21, 2025 by Senator

[CV75]

25 minutes ago, Senator said:

I'm not speaking about the category of scripted prayers and ordinances.  They have their place, and that is fine.  We are talking about the unscripted blessings given during a baby blessing, blessing of the sick, setting apart etc.

CV75, I love ya, but at times you tend to wax long in wordy abstracts to where you totally lose me.  Maybe a left/right brain struggle. 

I love you too bruh! (Sista? ).

There is no scripted blessing during a baby blessing, but there is a proper way to perform the ordinance of naming and blessing a child.

[JVW]

20 hours 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 don't have an answer for you. I've been asking members about what the difference is between "praying for someone to be healed" vs "giving someone a healing blessing" for around 15 years now and am not really any closer to understanding the difference. However, I have learned a lot about the priesthood, generally, in that same timeframe and maybe a few insights I have will help tackle the question you pose in this thread.

The church defines priesthood as the "power and authority of God". Authority is easy to understand. Someone gets pulled over for speeding, if a cop issues a ticket that person is in trouble, if it's a neighbor that ticket is getting tossed in the bin. When anyone says a prayer, they do not need any authority. Prayer is a relationship building tool. I don't need any authority to make a new friend, or write a note to my crush in high school, or to ask for help studying, etc. So why does priesthood need authority and not just power?

I believe that the power of God is, by definition, "to be the answer to the question 'What would Jesus do?'".

If one is acting with God's power, they are acting as his agent/proxy/etc. They are speaking what He would speak, acting as He would act. They are His hands, His feet, His mouth. A cop representing the government has authority as long as they are employed and in good standing. But they only have power as long as they act the way the government would act. If they act contrary to who they represent they will be stripped of their power and authority.

So, if someone says a prayer, they can say, and ask for, anything they want without restriction and God will do whatever He feels like in response to the prayer. If someone has authority in the church to give a priesthood blessing, they can say whatever they want and God will do whatever He feels like in response to the blessing. If someone has authority, but also has God's power, they will speak as God would speak if He were in the room giving the blessing. In this case, truth is revealed, the Spirit is present, and God's will and man's will are in alignment. This includes if God's will was to inflict pain and then cease that course upon the recipient being blessed, or vice versa.

I personally believe that a father's blessing, baby's blessing, healing blessing, and comfort blessing are pretty much the same as praying over someone. And I think that blessings, in general, are more a result of tradition and culture than they are a vehicle for manifesting God's power. But I'm still learning and am probably wrong.

[JVW]

duplicate post

Edited August 21, 2025 by JVW
duplicate post

[Senator]

4 minutes ago, CV75 said:

I love you too bruh! (Sista? ).

There is no scripted blessing during a baby blessing, but there is a proper way to perform the ordinance of naming and blessing a child.

I agree to the naming part, but the blessing part? That's where we disagree

 

[CV75]

2 minutes ago, Senator said:

I agree to the naming part, but the blessing part? That's where we disagree

 

What do you see as the "scripted blessing" and how does the Handbook script it? I don't see that in the Instructions:

Under the direction of the bishopric, Melchizedek Priesthood holders gather in a circle to name and bless a child. They place their hands under a baby, or they place their hands lightly on an older child’s head. Then the one acting as voice:

1. Addresses Heavenly Father as in prayer.
2. States that the blessing is being performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
3. Gives the child a name.
4. Addresses the child.
5. Gives a blessing to the child as guided by the Spirit.
6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

If the above is to be taken as a script that gets in the way of holiness, should the Melchizedek Priesthood holders be rightly allowed to gather in a square or diamond formation? Levitate the baby with helium balloons (do the gender reveal at the same time!) or lay her on the floor, balance her on one hand, or pass her around and take turns as voice? One hand under the baby and the other over the baby? Anything else that is spiritually organic (divinely inspired)?

[bluebell]

26 minutes ago, Senator said:

So what if he didn't use those exact words, but used other ways to express his thoughts?  Sorry, sir that's not a blessing...

The problem I have, is that if we start requiring certain verbiage,  you set up the blessing giver with undue expectations. 

I guess I'm a little resistant to the notion of "you didn't say the right thing", because of my past experience of being the one giving the blessing.  I have people close to me that have repeatedly requested blessings, only to finally respond that they are frustrated that they are not getting the "blessing" that they are needing or expecting.  My response?  Well, maybe you need to go find someone else to give them a blessing and say the things they want to hear. 

I was wondering if maybe there was a backstory to your posts that went this direction.  Because when I struggle with feeling critical over something a leader has said, it's almost always because of my own personal backstory too.  Experiences do give things a different slant sometimes, for sure. 

Without knowing more of the backstory, I don't think it's possible to say whether or not the problem was one of exact words, or something else.  I find that frustrating.  I like my specific examples to actually be specific. 

[Senator]

12 minutes ago, JVW said:

If someone has authority, but also has God's power, they will speak as God would speak if He were in the room giving the blessing. In this case, truth is revealed, the Spirit is present, and God's will and man's will are in alignment.

That's a tall order!

[Senator]

18 minutes ago, CV75 said:

What do you see as the "scripted blessing" and how does the Handbook script it? I don't see that in the Instructions:

Under the direction of the bishopric, Melchizedek Priesthood holders gather in a circle to name and bless a child. They place their hands under a baby, or they place their hands lightly on an older child’s head. Then the one acting as voice:

1. Addresses Heavenly Father as in prayer.
2. States that the blessing is being performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
3. Gives the child a name.
4. Addresses the child.
5. Gives a blessing to the child as guided by the Spirit.
6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

If the above is to be taken as a script that gets in the way of holiness, should the Melchizedek Priesthood holders be rightly allowed to gather in a square or diamond formation? Levitate the baby with helium balloons (do the gender reveal at the same time!) or lay her on the floor, balance her on one hand, or pass her around and take turns as voice? One hand under the baby and the other over the baby? Anything else that is spiritually organic (divinely inspired)?

5. Gives a blessing to the child as guided by the Spirit.

Maybe the young father gave the blessing as he felt guided by the Spirit. But apparently according to Pres. Nelson, that didn't cut the mustard.

Edited August 21, 2025 by Senator

[CV75]

4 minutes ago, Senator said:

Maybe the young father gave the blessing as he felt guided by the Spirit. But apparently according to Pres. Nelson, that didn't cut the mustard.

Anything could have happened organically in the young father's head, but according to President Nelson he did not use the priesthood to bless the child.

Can you explain how the young father used the priesthood and performed the ordinance (properly) to bless the child?

[Senator]

2 minutes ago, CV75 said:

Anything could have happened organically in the young father's head, but according to President Nelson he did not use the priesthood to bless the child.

Can you explain how the young father used the priesthood and performed the ordinance (properly) to bless the child?

If he stated the priesthood authority and named the child he's good. Whatever else he may say "according to the spirit" is icing.

[bluebell]

26 minutes ago, Senator said:

5. Gives a blessing to the child as guided by the Spirit.

Maybe the young father gave the blessing as he felt guided by the Spirit. But apparently according to Pres. Nelson, that didn't cut the mustard.

Is it possible that he actually was confused about the difference between a blessing and a prayer?  If we are willing to entertain one, it feels like it could be important to entertain the other possibility too.  

[Senator]

1 minute ago, bluebell said:

Is it possible that he actually was confused about the difference between a blessing and a prayer?  If we are willing to entertain one, it feels like it could be important to entertain the other possibility too.  

Sure

Again, we are throwing darts while blindfolded without knowing what was actually said.

[MustardSeed]

6 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

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

Thank you for the validation. I do believe that there are many including participants here that would disagree but anecdotally that is my experience.

[MustardSeed]

6 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

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

Thank you for the validation. I do believe that there are many including participants here that would disagree but anecdotally that is my experience.

[manol]

12 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

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

Agreed.

How many times did Jesus cite priesthood authority, or any other authority, when he blessed and healed someone?  How many times did he follow the format in the priesthood manual?  None that I know of... the priesthood manual doesn't even mention spitting in the dirt to make mud and then smearing the mud on the person's eyes.  Nor does it mention how to heal someone in a crowd who reaches out and touches your clothing without you even seeing them.

My point being, there is something going on which, imo, is not controlled by the format nor by the wording.  And (based on a fairly broad spectrum of experience) I believe it is the exact same something whether it's a priesthood blessing or a non-priesthood blessing or a prayer or a meditation or any other spiritual-energy-based deliberate act on behalf of someone. 

Now I DO believe that following the format in the priesthood manual has merit. This is because it reduces fear on the part of someone new to the practice of giving blessings:  They may doubt themselves, but they believe in the Priesthood and they've heard of blessings given in accordance with this format working before, and this confidence can be stronger than their fearfulness. 

Imo the injunction "Doubt not, fear not" is telling us something about aligning ourselves to the Divine so that we can be unimpeded conduits for something greater than ourselves.  And whether we call it priesthood or prayer or healing energy or chi or love or Spirit, it's the same stuff. 

In my opinion.

Edited August 21, 2025 by manol

[CV75]

56 minutes ago, Senator said:

If he stated the priesthood authority and named the child he's good. Whatever else he may say "according to the spirit" is icing.

Is that your practice in administering the ordinance, only the first half of it?

[Senator]

3 minutes ago, CV75 said:

Is that your practice in administering the ordinance, only the first half of it?

Pff,   we're not communicating 

Best leave it.

[CV75]

9 minutes ago, Senator said:

Pff,   we're not communicating 

Best leave it.

OK, but one last question: how do you administer the ordinance, and why do you do it that way? Do you think President Nelson would be concerned about it, and if so, why?

[CV75]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

Is it possible that he actually was confused about the difference between a blessing and a prayer?  If we are willing to entertain one, it feels like it could be important to entertain the other possibility too.  

The young father did not give a blessing, he said a beautify prayer. As to whether he was guided by the Spirit in full or in part, in fits or in starts, does not matter as to President Nelson's concern that, in this talk, that "too many of our brothers and sisters do not fully understand the concept of priesthood power and authority... do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs ...do not understand what the priesthood is and what it enables them to do."

The subject of being guided by the Spirit is not the topic of this particular talk, but I'm sure it is of other talks. 

[Senator]

5 minutes ago, CV75 said:

OK, but one last question: how do you administer the ordinance, and why do you do it that way? Do you think President Nelson would be concerned about it, and if so, why?

What way? What are you talking about?

I administer it according to the 6 steps you listed.   You and Pres. Nelson seem to have a problem with how some interpret #5. That's all.