Faith To Be Healed

[Fig-bearing Thistle]

D&C 42:43-46 states the following:

43And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy.

44And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me.

45Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection.

46And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them;

I thought this would be interesting to discuss.

Verse 43: What do you think it means in verse 43 to "NOT have faith to be healed, but believe"? What is the difference between having faith to be healed, and believing?

Can a person have faith to be healed, if it is not the Lord's will that they be healed?

Verse 46: What does it mean "shall not taste of death"? Doesn't this mean "shall not taste of the [bitterness] of death?" Or do you think it means something else?

I noticed when my own mother passed away (she had always had a strong testimony of the Savior) some time ago, that life (family and loved one relationships) became more sweet to her during her last few months. Has anyone else had similar observations?

Edited July 30, 2011 by Fig-bearing Thistle

[Libs]

My mother passed five years ago. Her family was always very important to her; a high priority, and, yes, even more sweet, in those last days..

As for the verses, perhaps, some know when it is their time, and God is calling them back. I know my mother did know that she would not be healed, but she was a believer in Christ, always. (She was not LDS, though...but her and my father's Temple ordinances have been done)..

Edited July 31, 2011 by Libs

[CV75]

D&C 42:43-46

Verse 43: What do you think it means in verse 43 to "NOT have faith to be healed, but believe"? What is the difference between having faith to be healed, and believing?

Can a person have faith to be healed, if it is not the Lord's will that they be healed?

Verse 46: What does it mean "shall not taste of death"? Doesn't this mean "shall not taste of the [bitterness] of death?" Or do you think it means something else?

I noticed when my own mother passed away (she had always had a strong testimony of the Savior) some time ago, that life (family and loved one relationships) became more sweet to her during her last few months. Has anyone else had similar observations?

I think verse 43 can mean two things: 1) not having faith to be healed (for whatever reason; see some examples below) but still having a belief in the Lord, His Church, etc. or 2) believing they will be healed despite the Lord’s will otherwise (if it were the Lord’s will, they would have faith according to the scriptural definition of faith). In either case, they should be nourished with all tenderness.

Some reasons people may lack faith to be healed include: a) it is not the Lord’s will that they be healed at that time and place and they are in accord with this; b) they may be ready to die; c) they may feel unworthy of the blessing (correctly or not); d) they may be too distracted to apply faith at this time.

Tasting of death, to me, means experiencing fear, anxiety, horror, foreboding, loss, anger or other negative responses in connection with the death process, and not accepting it with faith, hope and charity.

When my mother died, my father expressed the sentiment at her memorial service that we should all love each other, that love among her family members was the most important thing for her. He wasn't a member of the Church at the time--such sentiments are fairly universal.

[Deborah]

In discussions on this I find this in Mark 2 revealing:

3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye

these things in your hearts?

9Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

It would seem that the most important healing is knowing our sins are forgiven. If we have faith and can receive a blessing and then feel peace it would seem that we have received the greatest healing. And yes actual physical healing can occur but really how much more astounding is it that a person takes up his bed and walks or that he remains physically handicapped and in spite of that gains peace and strength and is able to uplift others.

[Fig-bearing Thistle]

In discussions on this I find this in Mark 2 revealing:

It would seem that the most important healing is knowing our sins are forgiven. If we have faith and can receive a blessing and then feel peace it would seem that we have received the greatest healing. And yes actual physical healing can occur but really how much more astounding is it that a person takes up his bed and walks or that he remains physically handicapped and in spite of that gains peace and strength and is able to uplift others.

All good insights. And I would agree that the spiritual healing and forgiveness of sin is the greater healing, and the greater miracle of healing. D&C 42:43-46 however is speaking of physical sickness and physical death. And having faith to be healed in that context to me implies that one has faith in a certain outcome. If faith is founded on things that are true, then is it possible to have faith to be healed if being healed isn't in the Lord's Plan?

And in the context of this type of healing, would God ever reveal his will to us that a person will not live? Or is the struggle to live important enough in and of itself to where God would not want to reveal his will--in case his will is to take a person home for himself?

Edited July 31, 2011 by Fig-bearing Thistle

[charity's child]

I have always believed in God and in the power of healing. I have not always had faith. They are two very distinct things. So someone can beleive in God, can believe that others are being healed, can even receive a blessing of healing, but not have the necessary faith that he will be healed. That person needs nourishment. I know there are some people who are harsh with those who lack faith. It's an "If you had faith, you'd be well now, so buck up and get well" attitude. And to me, that's what those verses are warning against.

[Franktalk]

If it were true that prayer could heal all then the members of the church would never die. But that is not God's plan. So I look at these issues different than most. If an illness is caused by an evil spirit then indeed the illness can be removed. We can and do act as the hands of God in some cases. But if an illness is God's work or just the natural order it will be let to proceed in most cases. Of course God can and does grant exceptions. So the best course of action is to ask for spiritual strength. This will allow us to fight off evil and to accept God's plan if need be. Death is not to be feared. It is our job to accept God's will. The death of a loved one can be a test of our ability to trust God.