Do We Really Need The Priesthood To Bless The Sick?

[The Nehor]

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

 

I have never encountered them. There are many promising power and miracles but none that involve commanding the elements and having them obey, of having your word be law, that do not relate to the Priesthood.

[JAHS]

I have never encountered them. There are many promising power and miracles but none that involve commanding the elements and having them obey, of having your word be law, that do not relate to the Priesthood.

 

And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word. (Mormon 8: 24)

 

Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.

And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith;

For the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have faith.(Ether 12: 28-30)

 

And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed;

And to others it is given to have faith to heal.

And again, to some is given the working of miracles; (D&C 46: 19-21)

 

These scriptures don't mention any priesthood nor are they specifically related to church leaders; just regular followers of God.

 

Having your word be made law is a different subject.

[The Nehor]

And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because of the power of his word. (Mormon 8: 24)

 

Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.

And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith;

For the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have faith.(Ether 12: 28-30)

 

And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed;

And to others it is given to have faith to heal.

And again, to some is given the working of miracles; (D&C 46: 19-21)

 

These scriptures don't mention any priesthood nor are they specifically related to church leaders; just regular followers of God.

 

Having your word be made law is a different subject.

 

They don't explicitly mention it but your selection makes it obvious it matters. The first quote is about the three presiding Nephite leaders who were the local equivalents of apostles and had been given that power. The Brother of Jared clearly had Priesthood Authority in the way he operated and was given power, most likely in his revelation in the sealed plates, and most likely power in the same vein as Nephi got. The last one is about spiritual gifts.

 

So no, while the Priesthood was not specifically mentioned, these scriptures are not about average members. God can give the power to work miracles to who he chooses (the spiritual gifts bit) but in the few miracles I have been privileged to witness I have seen Priesthood holders declare (under the influence of the Holy Ghost) things to be done and have commanded things to happen and I have seen other miracles worked when people prayed for it. The distinction is still there in my experience.

[JAHS]

They don't explicitly mention it but your selection makes it obvious it matters. The first quote is about the three presiding Nephite leaders who were the local equivalents of apostles and had been given that power. The Brother of Jared clearly had Priesthood Authority in the way he operated and was given power, most likely in his revelation in the sealed plates, and most likely power in the same vein as Nephi got. The last one is about spiritual gifts.

 

So no, while the Priesthood was not specifically mentioned, these scriptures are not about average members. God can give the power to work miracles to who he chooses (the spiritual gifts bit) but in the few miracles I have been privileged to witness I have seen Priesthood holders declare (under the influence of the Holy Ghost) things to be done and have commanded things to happen and I have seen other miracles worked when people prayed for it. The distinction is still there in my experience.

 

You might see a distinction wit regards to moving mountains, but the subject I bring up is mainly about the power to heal someone who is sick. Is the priesthood going to have more power to heal compared to someone who prays with greater faith than what the priesthood holder has? My experience and the scriptures I know makes me believe that having the faith to heal or be healed can be stronger or is more necessary than trying to heal someone with only a priesthood blessing.  

[The Nehor]

I never disagreed with anything you just said. The advantage of the Priesthood blessing is that the person giving the blessing can, if inspired, declare the will of the Lord. Of course gifts and prayer and faith are invaluable. A blessing from a faithless Priesthood holder is unlikely to be inspired though I have known them to work anyway because of the faith of the afflicted.