Women giving blessings - officially prohibited?

[stYro]

Are women officially and/or doctrinally prohibited from giving blessings?

Let's assume a woman places her hands on someone's head and gives them a blessing, "in the name of Jesus Christ" or "as a disciple of Jesus Christ". Would she be ordered to cease, or otherwise subjected to church discipline?

I appreciate any and all comments.

stYro

[Doctrine 612]

I remember hearing that women can lay there hands upon there children in the spirit of faith, Also they can assist there husbands if needed. but only with there own children and none others.

that is just what i read along time ago i have no scripture refrence or any thing just thought i add my two cents

[Gohan]

From what I remember from the WH, sister missionaries can offer the prayer to bless a home. I assume this would extend to their own homes as well. But my memory might be faulty on this, I can't find mine for reference.

[sunstoned]

Are women officially and/or doctrinally prohibited from giving blessings?

Let's assume a woman places her hands on someone's head and gives them a blessing, "in the name of Jesus Christ" or "as a disciple of Jesus Christ". Would she be ordered to cease, or otherwise subjected to church discipline?

I appreciate any and all comments.

stYro

IIRC in the early days of the church it was a fairly common for women to give blessings.

[stYro]

Thanks for your replies.

Doctrine 612, I remember something like that as well, about it being okay for women to bless their children if dad was out of town or something. Have you heard of anything that would expressly prohibit that practice beyond her children?

Gohan I didn't know about that. Would the sister missionaries actually bless the home, or would they ask God to bless the home in a prayer? Might seem like a trifling difference at first glance, but imho it's a significant one: There's a lot more personal investment when you are the one doing the actual blessing, rather than petitioning someone else (God) to do it.

IIRC in the early days of the church it was a fairly common for women to give blessings.

Yes, and Joseph Smith gave it a big thumbs-up. But it's no longer done as far as I know, and I'm curious as to whether there was some instruction from a prophet or other official teaching that prohibited women giving blessings.

So along those lines, I'm hoping to hear from a current or former bishop or stake president on how he would handle a sister who was giving blessings (to people other than her children), sort of like I describe in my initial post. Using the the phrase "in the name of Jesus Christ" and claiming authority "as a disciple of Jesus Christ" would be consistent with the wording near the end of the last chapter of Mark, and also consistent with what Joseph Smith had to say on the subject.

Any bishops or stake presidents, current or former, care to comment?

stYro

[rpn]

Yes, one of the prophets --- I'm thinking it was Joseph F. Smith in the 1920's or so --- told the RS to not do it themselves but to call the priesthood to give blessings. Sorry, I don't recall off hand how I know this.

[thesometimesaint]

Yes, women can give blessings. No, they can not invoke the Priesthood.

[Jigglysaint]

I can see how it could become an issue considering there might be some Sisters out there who are a bit strong-headed and indepenant and do not wish to bother the Priesthood over every matter.

I think the same sort of principle applies to single memebers who seek blessings from Bishoprics or friends before they talk to home teachers or quorem presidents. I know I've been instructed to seek out my Elder's Quorem President in order to seek a blessing. Too bad I always forget what he looks like.

[Traela]

Yes, one of the prophets --- I'm thinking it was Joseph F. Smith in the 1920's or so --- told the RS to not do it themselves but to call the priesthood to give blessings. Sorry, I don't recall off hand how I know this.

Joseph F. was also who I was thinking. The context is, from what I remember, that the sisters kept bugging the general RS president about it (are you sure we can do this?) and she kept reassuring them that JS had sanctioned it. But it was such an ongoing concern that JFS finally stepped in. The article* didn't put it in so many words, but the impression I got was that it was a matter of, "If you don't have the faith to do this, you simply won't be allowed to anymore."

*I read the article in a book from my local library. I could probably find it, but it will take some digging.

[blooit]

IIRC in the early days of the church it was a fairly common for women to give blessings.

My grandmother shared how they used to have set-apart "maternity blessers" - (not the actual title) that were women set apart to give blessings to women about to give birth. She shared some pretty cool experiences from this.

[nicolasconnault]

Gohan I didn't know about that. Would the sister missionaries actually bless the home, or would they ask God to bless the home in a prayer? Might seem like a trifling difference at first glance, but imho it's a significant one: There's a lot more personal investment when you are the one doing the actual blessing, rather than petitioning someone else (God) to do it.

It wouldn't hurt to review the procedures for priesthood ordinances, before going into too much conjecture. In the case of a home, the wording would need to reflect the fact that the assembled persons are dedicating the house, not blessing it. It might go something like this:

"We dedicate this home as a sacred edifice in which the Holy Ghost may reside in abundance, that it may be a safe refuge from the physical and spiritual hazards of the world, a place of faith, of prayer, of worship, of peace and of love."

As the instructions imply, if no priesthood holder is present, a "family" may offer the dedicatory prayer, which in many cases means that a woman would act as voice, but would not mention the authority of the priesthood in doing so.

However, the effects of the prayer are not dependent on whether or not a priesthood holder offers it. They are dependent on the faith of those present.

[jadams_4242]

Yes, women can give blessings. No, they can not invoke the Priesthood.

[stYro]

Thank you all for your reponses.

I found an interesting article online that cites several statements by Joseph F. Smith on the subject, none of which seem to prohibit the practice of women giving blessings.

link

I want to make a comment on Jigglysaint's response:

I can see how it could become an issue considering there might be some Sisters out there who are a bit strong-headed and indepenant and do not wish to bother the Priesthood over every matter.

Apparently something similar to the scenario you envision was actually going on in Joseph Smith's day. Here is how he responded to it:

"He said the reason of these remarks being made was, that some foolish little things were circulating in the society, against the sisters not doing right in laying hands on the sick. Said that if the people had common sympathies they would rejoice that the sick could be healed...

"President Smith continued the subject, by quoting the commission given to the ancient Apostle Mark... 'And these signs shall follow them that believe:.... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.'

"No matter who believeth, these signs, such as healing the sick, casting out devils, etc., should follow all that believe, whether male or female.... if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let everything roll on.

"Respecting females administering for the healing of the sick, he further remarked, that there could be no evil in it, if God gave His sanction by healing..." - Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 224 and 225

If anyone knows of a statement by Joseph F. Smith, or anyone else, that explicitly countermands Joseph Smith's instructions on the subject, I would very much like to see it.

stYro

[justdreamin]

Are women officially and/or doctrinally prohibited from giving blessings?

Let's assume a woman places her hands on someone's head and gives them a blessing, "in the name of Jesus Christ" or "as a disciple of Jesus Christ". Would she be ordered to cease, or otherwise subjected to church discipline?

I appreciate any and all comments.

stYro

You may be interested in reading this article by Linda Newell www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/029-16-25.pdf

[SeattleGrunge]

Thank you all for your reponses.

I found an interesting article online that cites several statements by Joseph F. Smith on the subject, none of which seem to prohibit the practice of women giving blessings.

link

I want to make a comment on Jigglysaint's response:

Apparently something similar to the scenario you envision was actually going on in Joseph Smith's day. Here is how he responded to it:

"He said the reason of these remarks being made was, that some foolish little things were circulating in the society, against the sisters not doing right in laying hands on the sick. Said that if the people had common sympathies they would rejoice that the sick could be healed...

"President Smith continued the subject, by quoting the commission given to the ancient Apostle Mark... 'And these signs shall follow them that believe:.... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.'

"No matter who believeth, these signs, such as healing the sick, casting out devils, etc., should follow all that believe, whether male or female.... if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let everything roll on.

"Respecting females administering for the healing of the sick, he further remarked, that there could be no evil in it, if God gave His sanction by healing..." - Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pages 224 and 225

If anyone knows of a statement by Joseph F. Smith, or anyone else, that explicitly countermands Joseph Smith's instructions on the subject, I would very much like to see it.

stYro

To further your argument I remember reading a few years ago in Joseph Fielding Smith's "Answers to Gospel Questions" an entry where he said the same thing as above. I've always wondered about your question as well. I think the church just slowly evolved away from it, but because a prophet said what he did earlier, nobody directly contradicted it, just advised against it in today's church culture. I'd be very interested to hear anything official as well, it has always bugged me to not know.

I'll read over that sunstone article and see if it has anything.

[ElderDarionBevan]

they cannot give a blessing by the power of the priesthood but there faith can be manifest unto the healing of someone.

[SeattleGrunge]

they cannot give a blessing by the power of the priesthood but there faith can be manifest unto the healing of someone.

But, more specifically, are they restricted to use that faith through the laying on of hands despite the fact that this "method" used to be openly approved of by church hierarchy.

[mfbukowski]

I can see how it could become an issue considering there might be some Sisters out there who are a bit strong-headed and indepenant and do not wish to bother the Priesthood over every matter.

I think the same sort of principle applies to single memebers who seek blessings from Bishoprics or friends before they talk to home teachers or quorem presidents. I know I've been instructed to seek out my Elder's Quorem President in order to seek a blessing. Too bad I always forget what he looks like.

You can ask any elder for a blessing- that's what home teachers are for if yours actually visit.

Of course women could give blessings- not citing the priesthood as has been said. It would be unusual, but if the circumstances dictated it, there would be nothing wrong with it.

It would be very unusual for a woman to seek out people to give blessings to though, and I am sure she would be encouraged to let the Priesthood do their job since they also need the experience and the blessings of giving blessings.

[stYro]

It would be very unusual for a woman to seek out people to give blessings to though, and I am sure she would be encouraged to let the Priesthood do their job since they also need the experience and the blessings of giving blessings.

Unusual maybe, but is there anything actually wrong with it? See my Joseph Smith quotation above, because I think he was addressing objections similar to the ones you raise.

[caudicus]

Joseph Smith recorded a promise which he gave to the Relief Society regarding the priesthood in his instructions to the Relief Society on 28 Apr 1842:

"gave a lecture on the priesthood shewing how the Sisters would come in possession of the privileges & blessings & gifts of the priesthood & that these signs should follow them, such as healing the sick, casting out devils &c. & that they might attain unto these blessings

[stYro]

Very interesting quotes, caudicus.

I've seen the first one before, in History of the Church, volume 4... I think it's a journal entry prefacing Eliza R. Snow's notes of the meeting, so it's Joseph's characterization of the contents of his discourse. I believe that my quote above is from Eliza's notes. Unfortunately she did not take good notes when Joseph got around to instructing them on the "how to" part. I think the "how to" was transmitted verbally until the early 1900s, and then it was lost. Not that I think the outward form is critical, but it would have been useful to see what Joseph's instructions were.

The Bathsheba Smith quotation is new to me. I get a sense of mourning for that lost "kingdom of priestesses" in which a younger Bathsheba had seen so much promise.

Thank you.

[Theo]

There must be some precedence set as it is women exclusively that administer the initiatory ordinance to other women in the Temple.

If the same wording is used for women in the initiatory as men then it seems clear that some authority has been given. Think of the gifts given during that ordinance.

Just thinking out loud...

Theo

[mfbukowski]

Unusual maybe, but is there anything actually wrong with it? See my Joseph Smith quotation above, because I think he was addressing objections similar to the ones you raise.

I already said there is nothing wrong with it.

[JAHS]

It is proper for a woman to give a blessing through her faith, but she can not call on any priesthood power or authority in doing so. According to President Joseph Fielding Smith:

"The Lord has given us directions in matters of this kind; we are to call in the elders, and they are to anoint with oil on the head and bless by the laying on of hands. The Church teaches that a woman may lay on hands upon the head of a sick child and ask the Lord to bless it, in the case when those holding the priesthood cannot be present.

A man might under such conditions invite his wife to lay on hands with him in blessing their sick child. This would be merely to exercise her faith and not be, cause of any inherent right to lay on hands. A woman would have no authority to anoint or seal a blessing, and where elders can be called in, that would be the proper way to have an administration performed. (Doctrines of Salvation)

And President Joseph Fielding Smith, quoting from his father, said:

"Does a wife hold the priesthood with her husband, and may she lay hands on the sick with him, with authority? A wife does not hold the priesthood with her husband, but she enjoys the benefits thereof with him; and if she is requested to lay hands on the sick with him, she may do so with perfect propriety."

When this is done the wife is adding her faith to the administration of her husband. The wife would lay on hands just as would a member of the Aaronic Priesthood, or a faithful brother without the Priesthood, she in this manner giving support by faith to the ordinance performed by her husband. (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-56], 3:177.)

[curtishouse30]

Are women officially and/or doctrinally prohibited from giving blessings?

Let's assume a woman places her hands on someone's head and gives them a blessing, "in the name of Jesus Christ" or "as a disciple of Jesus Christ". Would she be ordered to cease, or otherwise subjected to church discipline?

I appreciate any and all comments.

stYro

That's funny. I was just watching the latest episode of "Big Love" and that was one of the big issues in the show. Women aren't part of the Melchizedek Priesthood so I think that women giving blessings would be something that is forbidden.