Do We Really Need The Priesthood To Bless The Sick?

[JAHS]

I have two questions regarding the blessing and healing of the sick with respect to using the priesthood:

 

1.  Is the priesthood an actual power that can in some supernatural way initiate the healing process inside a person (like "the force" in Star Wars) or is it just the authority to call upon God to heal the person?

 

2.  The scriptures say: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;" (Jame 5: 14-15)

If all we need to do is pray with faith to cause a sick person to be healed by God, why do we need the priesthood to do it?

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matt 17: 20)

Why is using the priesthood a better way to go?

 

 

 

[Scott Lloyd]

 

I have two questions regarding the blessing and healing of the sick with respect to using the priesthood:

 

1.  Is the priesthood an actual power that can in some supernatural way initiate the healing process inside a person (like "the force" in Star Wars) or is it just the authority to call upon God to heal the person?

 

2.  The scriptures say: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;" (Jame 5: 14-15)

If all we need to do is pray with faith to cause a sick person to be healed by God, why do we need the priesthood to do it?

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matt 17: 20)

Why is using the priesthood a better way to go?

 

The priesthood is power and authority delegated from God to man to act in His name.

 

If He is the one doing the delegating, obviously we have to do things His way.

[JLHPROF]

 

I have two questions regarding the blessing and healing of the sick with respect to using the priesthood:

 

1.  Is the priesthood an actual power that can in some supernatural way initiate the healing process inside a person (like "the force" in Star Wars) or is it just the authority to call upon God to heal the person?

 

That is a very good question - all blessings are done in the name of Christ and by his authority.  So are we the ones doing the healing or is it Christ?  I personally believe it is Christ validating our words of blessing because we do represent him.

 

2.  The scriptures say: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;" (Jame 5: 14-15)

If all we need to do is pray with faith to cause a sick person to be healed by God, why do we need the priesthood to do it?

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matt 17: 20)

Why is using the priesthood a better way to go?

 

The power comes from faith. The authority legitimizes the request before God. That's why healings can be performed by faith or by priesthood blessing or both. Other ordinances are more significant and require authority and faith to be binding. Confirmation for instance requires priesthood authority to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost and faith to "receive" or claim it.

[JAHS]

 

 

I have two questions regarding the blessing and healing of the sick with respect to using the priesthood:

 

1.  Is the priesthood an actual power that can in some supernatural way initiate the healing process inside a person (like "the force" in Star Wars) or is it just the authority to call upon God to heal the person?

 

That is a very good question - all blessings are done in the name of Christ and by his authority.  So are we the ones doing the healing or is it Christ?  I personally believe it is Christ validating our words of blessing because we do represent him.

 

2.  The scriptures say: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;" (Jame 5: 14-15)

If all we need to do is pray with faith to cause a sick person to be healed by God, why do we need the priesthood to do it?

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matt 17: 20)

Why is using the priesthood a better way to go?

 

The power comes from faith. The authority legitimizes the request before God. That's why healings can be performed by faith or by priesthood blessing or both. Other ordinances are more significant and require authority and faith to be binding. Confirmation for instance requires priesthood authority to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost and faith to "receive" or claim it.

 

I agree that priesthood authority at least is most important for the authority to perform ordinances and to preside. I ask about blessing the sick because I often hear those not of the LDS faith complain about mormons insisting that the priesthood is required to cause someone to be healed when all we need is prayer, fasting and faith which they can do without being members of the church.

[Avatar4321]

No. We can use medicine too

[EllenMaksoud]

 

I have two questions regarding the blessing and healing of the sick with respect to using the priesthood:

 

1.  Is the priesthood an actual power that can in some supernatural way initiate the healing process inside a person (like "the force" in Star Wars) or is it just the authority to call upon God to heal the person?

 

2.  The scriptures say: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;" (Jame 5: 14-15)

If all we need to do is pray with faith to cause a sick person to be healed by God, why do we need the priesthood to do it?

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matt 17: 20)

Why is using the priesthood a better way to go?

 

I'm of two minds on this as I too am aware of those scriptures. However, I did not receive healing from a certain painful, life long issue until a Mormon Elder Missionary baptized me. That was almost three years ago. There is some sort of Mojo there that is beyond explanation.

[halconero]

I'm of two minds on this as I too am aware of those scriptures. However, I did not receive healing from a certain painful, life long issue until a Mormon Elder Missionary baptized me. That was almost three years ago. There is some sort of Mojo there that is beyond explanation.

That actually reminds me of the baptisms of healing that were often performed years and years ago. My companion's great-great-grandfather served in Australia at the outset of the Restoration period and recorded the number of people "baptized unto repentance" and "baptized unto healing."

[JLHPROF]

That actually reminds me of the baptisms of healing that were often performed years and years ago. My companion's great-great-grandfather served in Australia at the outset of the Restoration period and recorded the number of people "baptized unto repentance" and "baptized unto healing."

 

Baptism prior to 1900 could be repeated as often as necessary.  It was done for health, it was done when someone married, it was done when someone joined a United Order, it was done when someone gathered, before leaving for a mission and for other reasons.

Basically, it was a re-dedication and a renewal of covenants.

 

Heck, when the Saints entered the valley Brigham called on the entire Church to be rebaptized.  There's even record of someone being excommunicated for disagreeing with the doctrine/practice and refusing.

 

One of the first recorded Baptisms for the sick was Emma Smith - Joseph baptized her twice in the river for her health - HC 5:167-68.

[JAHS]

Baptism prior to 1900 could be repeated as often as necessary.  It was done for health, it was done when someone married, it was done when someone joined a United Order, it was done when someone gathered, before leaving for a mission and for other reasons.

Basically, it was a re-dedication and a renewal of covenants.

 

Heck, when the Saints entered the valley Brigham called on the entire Church to be rebaptized.  There's even record of someone being excommunicated for disagreeing with the doctrine/practice and refusing.

 

One of the first recorded Baptisms for the sick was Emma Smith - Joseph baptized her twice in the river for her health - HC 5:167-68.

Sounds familiar:

"Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (2 kings 5: 14)

[EllenMaksoud]

Sounds familiar:

"Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (2 kings 5: 14)

To add to the confusion, I was baptized 3 times in America. Once in the RLDS church, and twice in two EV community churches. The 4th time was on a Missionary trip to Kenya and then to Israel. It was in the Jordan River.  The 5th time I was Baptized was in a Mormon Ward, and I did it just to get them to stop pushing me. One person in the church said I did all the right things for the wrong reasons ...

 

So, as mad as I get about a few issues, every time I want to break my plate and stalk off, this event brings me to submission and obedience.

[Robert F. Smith]

The priesthood is power and authority delegated from God to man to act in His name.

 

If He is the one doing the delegating, obviously we have to do things His way.

Which raises the question as to what is His way?

 

See Linda King Newell, “A Gift Given: A Gfit Taken: Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women,” Sunstone, 6 (Sept-Oct 1981):16-25, online at https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/029-16-25.pdf

 

Linda King Newell, “The Historical Relationship of Mormon Women and Priesthood,” Dialogue, 18/3 ():21-32, online at https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V18N03_23.pdf  .

 

–leading Mormon Girl (Johanna Brooks) to ask “Should Mormon Women be Ordained?  Or are They Already Priesthood Holders?” AskMormonGirl, #625 (June 28, 2013), online at http://askmormongirl.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/should-mormon-women-be-ordained-or-are-they-already-priesthood-holders/ .

Edited October 4, 2014 by Robert F. Smith

[The Nehor]

Priesthood blessings have the ability to declare a healing or give God-sanctioned counsel. A prayer for someone may also cause a healing but does not have that same power to make declarations. God can choose to answer prayers as he wishes and can heal people of any faith as he wills. The difference is that a Priesthood holder acting in the full power of his Priesthood and if acting under the direction of God can make declarations that someone shall be healed or command an illness or even tell someone to dip themselves in Jordan seven times if so instructed. If I want blessings and help a prayer is great. If I want to hear the instructions of the Lord In regards to a struggle or affliction I ask for a blessing.

[janderich]

Let me here talk about faith and power in the priesthood. Elder McConkie said it best when he said, "Faith and priesthood go hand in hand. Faith is power and power is priesthood. After we gain faith, we receive the priesthood" (GC, April 1982). Faith and priesthood are inseparably connected. A person cannot have one without the other. To have faith is to have priesthood, and to have priesthood is to have faith.

 

Here are Moroni's words about how the ancients were called to the priesthood, "Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God" (Ether 12:10). What? How can someone be called by faith? Don't they have to have hands placed on their heads and then they can exercise priesthood? But note how Jacob defines his call, "Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord. For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi." (Jacob 1:17-18). Listen to Jacob's words again, "Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and ordained after the manner of his holy order, and having been consecrated by my brother Nephi..." (2 Ne 6:2). Called of God but consecrated by Nephi.

 

Members of the church have largely tried to link earthly ordination and priesthood. If a person does not have hands laid on their head then they do not have priesthood and the reverse of this, if a person does have hands laid on their head then they must have priesthood. So some sex offender has hands laid on his head, therefore he has the priesthood? This cannot be so. Our fifth article of faith says, "We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” It is imperative that a man be called by God or he will not have priesthood (see Heb 5:4). 

 

Once we get the order right there is no confusion about priesthood power and healing. First; through faith one is called of God, second; that person is ordained to minister. 

Edited October 4, 2014 by janderich

[Brian 2.0]

I've thought about this question a lot, and it always goes back to one question.

Are there instances where someone was NOT healed, despite the fact that there was a faithful righteous prayer and that same person WOULD have been healed had they received a Priesthood Blessing?

Basically, are there moments where God will intervene and heal, but ONLY if a Prieathood blessing is given?

[JAHS]

I've thought about this question a lot, and it always goes back to one question.

Are there instances where someone was NOT healed, despite the fact that there was a faithful righteous prayer and that same person WOULD have been healed had they received a Priesthood Blessing?

Basically, are there moments where God will intervene and heal, but ONLY if a Prieathood blessing is given?

Yes, that goes along perfectly with the questions I asked. It would not seem fair to someone who not of our faith is sick, and has all kinds of faith and people praying for them but is not healed because they were not a member of our church and did not have someone give them a priesthood blessing.

As someone said earlier I think the main ingredient to blessings and prayers of healing is faith. 

 

The Lectures on Faith says:

Faith, then, is not only the principle of action, it is also the principle of power in all intelligent beings, whether in heaven or on earth...we understand that the principle of power which existed in the bosom of God, by which he framed the worlds, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power existing in the Deity that all created things exist; so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth exist by reason of faith as it existed in him (LF 1:13-15).

 

So if God somehow used faith to create the worlds then faith should be enough to cause someone to be healed with or without the priesthood. 

 

There is a scripture that says:

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5: 14-15)

 

Notice here that even though elders are called, it still says "the prayer of the faith shall save him".  

 

When a priesthood blessing is given there are usually two people performing the blessing. We are told that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." (Matt 19: 16)  

I wonder if having the two witnesses present has anything to do with priesthood blessings that makes it different from just the prayer of the faithful?

 

It could also be that God has simply established this order of healing the sick using the priesthood in His Church and that we are commanded to follow this order, whereas those not of our faith don't need the priesthood to bless the sick.

[CV75]

Why is using the priesthood a better way to go?

I think it is a way to more fully integrate faith with the kingdom of God. Many people can exercise faith outside of the kingdom and what it has to offer, but as we receive line upon line, precept upon precept and a fuller restoration of the Lord's organization,  think the requirement "use it or loose it" and "of whom much is given much is required" are kind of the same thing.

[The Nehor]

I've thought about this question a lot, and it always goes back to one question.

Are there instances where someone was NOT healed, despite the fact that there was a faithful righteous prayer and that same person WOULD have been healed had they received a Priesthood Blessing?

Basically, are there moments where God will intervene and heal, but ONLY if a Prieathood blessing is given?

That is God's call.

[Nofear]

I've thought about this question a lot, and it always goes back to one question.

Are there instances where someone was NOT healed, despite the fact that there was a faithful righteous prayer and that same person WOULD have been healed had they received a Priesthood Blessing?

Basically, are there moments where God will intervene and heal, but ONLY if a Prieathood blessing is given?

 

Well, we know that there are instances where a person can receive the blessing through faith alone. Indeed, faith precedes the miracle. I see Priesthood for non-saving ordinances as being a supplement to faith -- a way to "add faith", as it were, when normally it would have been insufficient.

[JAHS]

Well, we know that there are instances where a person can receive the blessing through faith alone. Indeed, faith precedes the miracle. I see Priesthood for non-saving ordinances as being a supplement to faith -- a way to "add faith", as it were, when normally it would have been insufficient.

So those who do not have the priesthood, as in other faiths, are out of luck if all they are using are prayer and faith?

[Nofear]

So those who do not have the priesthood, as in other faiths, are out of luck if all they are using are prayer and faith

Sufficient faith is what is needed, LDS or not. Priesthood power can supplement that, LDS or not.

[JAHS]

Priesthood blessings have the ability to declare a healing or give God-sanctioned counsel. A prayer for someone may also cause a healing but does not have that same power to make declarations. God can choose to answer prayers as he wishes and can heal people of any faith as he wills. The difference is that a Priesthood holder acting in the full power of his Priesthood and if acting under the direction of God can make declarations that someone shall be healed or command an illness or even tell someone to dip themselves in Jordan seven times if so instructed. If I want blessings and help a prayer is great. If I want to hear the instructions of the Lord In regards to a struggle or affliction I ask for a blessing.

This a good distinction between using the priesthood blessing compared to the prayer of the faith.  But it seems to me that if we can have faith enough to move mountains we can have faith enough to command an illness to depart without using the priesthood. 

[Nofear]

This a good distinction between using the priesthood blessing compared to the prayer of the faith.  But it seems to me that if we can have faith enough to move mountains we can have faith enough to command an illness to depart without using the priesthood. 

 

Indeed so. Note the hip healing story. http://www.newrevelations.net/willardsmithsurviveshaunsmill.html

[JAHS]

Indeed so. Note the hip healing story. http://www.newrevelations.net/willardsmithsurviveshaunsmill.html

Good example. Thanks.

[The Nehor]

This a good distinction between using the priesthood blessing compared to the prayer of the faith.  But it seems to me that if we can have faith enough to move mountains we can have faith enough to command an illness to depart without using the priesthood. 

 

Except that the comment about moving mountains was about Priesthood and Apostles in particular. They tried an exorcism and failed and asked the Savior why. He said they did not have enough faith but if they did they could move mountains. Not surprising considering the Priesthood power delegated to them. Nephi was futher along spiritually and received the power to command all things despite probably having equal authority.

 

This does not mean the Bro and Sister average LDS can toss mountains if they have enough faith. God can of course exercise his own power for them if he wishes but they do not hold it by ordination or any form of delegation.

[JAHS]

Perhaps that particular scripture was aimed at the apostles but there are others expressing the same meaning and not related to priesthood