Do You Believe In The Power Of The Priesthood?

[bluebell]

When my oldest was four, he went from screaming in agony to asleep in the space of about five minutes because if a priesthood blessing.

To this day he remembers the experience and is always the first to request a blessing when he is sick.

As for whether or not most saints believe in the power of the priesthood, I think most do but that at the same time they also know that God is not going to remove every sickness or heartache from their lives regardless of how often they seek blessings (because such are some of the reasons we are here) and so their faith in being healed is not always as strong as I could be.

[The Nehor]

Edited to be SLIGHTLY less abrasive:

One Sunday in sacrament meeting, a dear brother finished singing in the adult choir and collapsed while returning to his seat. And despite the fact that we had the entire bishopric and a member of the stake presidency in attendance, we all made way for the doctors and nurses in our ward. In fact, one of the first persons to reach him was a woman who had no priesthood. But she was the one who was allowed to "lay hands" on our dear brother. Probably because we wanted him to live. In that moment, her medical training trumped the combined priesthood power of every holder in the room.

Is this an indication of our collective lack of belief in the power of the priesthood (at least, in regards to physical healing)? Or is our initial reliance of modern medicine as the first option, still consist with a belief in that power?

It is more a recognition that secular medical training is more effective if applied immediately. Priesthood power does not have that limitation. Edited November 29, 2014 by The Nehor

[rodheadlee]

Thanks for the responses. Keep them coming please. you all made me cry.

[Kenngo1969]

I suppose, having shared this publicly in another forum, that there will be minimal if any harm to sharing it here.  Take it for what it's worth.  (It discusses in more detail the two instances I mentioned earlier.  It is quite long, so it will require a certain investment of your time and perseverance.)

 

https://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/gods-army-and-my-own-mission/

 

Happy reading.   I also commend to you the words of Elder Oaks.  As others have pointed out, faithfulness, and prayer, and the ministrations of the priesthood, cannot necessarily remove all of our burdens.  Were it otherwise, a major purpose of mortality would be thwarted.  God is in charge: He grants blessings that are sought or pronounced, or withholds them, or grants them in different ways than we're expecting, as suits His purposes.

Edited November 29, 2014 by Kenngo1969

[BlueDreams]

With all of the threads going on about science and miracles and the stance that many have taken that if science can't prove it happened, it didn't happen and is merely a story handed down through the ages or a metaphorical miracle. I was wondering how many, if any, believe in the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood to actually heal somebody. I mean a real live healing, an instantaneous mending of a broken bone, killing a virus that's killing a human being or to change the course of a storm or a river or a planet. Do you believe the Priesthood to have an actual physical power?

 

I'd do a poll but I'm not that smart to get the questions right. Maybe someone else will volunteer to do a poll.

 

Yep. Just this summer I had a little experience with it dealing with migraines. I have problems with them all the time, but especially when I'm stressed in some sort of way. Apparently flying half way around the world and to 2 different countries was just too much. So I had a 4 day migraine and it felt like a live wire inside my left eye was constantly shooting off....plus constant tension in my neck, head, and shoulders. On day 3 someone suggested I get a blessing. I don't naturally think to do this.....but I knew as soon as she said it that I wouldn't find my healing until I did so. Still, i exhausted every other resource before getting one. I went for a professional massage to even out the tension. And it did that, but the migraine remained. My pills weren't working. They'd take the edge off but then come back worse than it was. Solid sleep eased it for about an hour. I was desperate.

 

So I got a blessing from a professor I wasn't fond of, because that felt right. He blessed me meticulously, going into specifics of what would be eased physically. He then handed me another generic pill that I took one of, took a nap on the bus, and within the hour it was back to normal, no migraine in sight. And it did not come back for anything....not even for hiking the great wall in 90+ degree weather for 7 miles.    

 

Of course to me the greater miracle wasn't the migraine healing. The better one was the fact that I've gained a better sense of appreciation for that professor and that I learned a valuable lesson in asking for help through a priesthood blessing when my upbringing and natural stubbornness says otherwise. But the migraine relief was a definite bonus.

 

 

With luv,

BD

Edited November 29, 2014 by BlueDreams

[boblloyd91]

When my oldest was four, he went from screaming in agony to asleep in the space of about five minutes because if a priesthood blessing.

To this day he remembers the experience and is always the first to request a blessing when he is sick.

As for whether or not most saints believe in the power of the priesthood, I think most do but that at the same time they also know that God is not going to remove every sickness or heartache from their lives regardless of how often they seek blessings (because such are some of the reasons we are here) and so their faith in being healed is not always as strong as I could be.

My oldest was 6 months old when this exact same thing happened. I also blessed her another time during what must have been intense pain and she was 18 months old. Both times she immediately calmed down and fell asleep.

[Calm]

My son had a similar experience at his baptism. I thought we were going to have to cancel it due to the excruciating pain he was experiencing. He received a blessing and the pain went away sufficiently so I could dress him while he laid on the bed with his eyes closed to prevent a resurgence and then his dad carried him out to the car so he could continue to keep his eyes closed. There was still significant pain left, but he tells us that as he came up out of the water, the pain was left behind. As far as I know he never had those severe type of migraines again in his life where they had been a common experience.

Of course, it might have been placebo or coincidence for it occurring when it did, but given that nothing else changed in his life long term, it is one of those experiences that makes me go "hmmmm....".

[JLHPROF]

Of course, it might have been placebo or coincidence for it occurring when it did, but given that nothing else changed in his life long term, it is one of those experiences that makes me go "hmmmm....".

 

I don't believe in coincidence...

[Brian 2.0]

I honestly don't mean to disrespect here but I'm sure one could find threads very similar to this in New Age forums entitled "Do you believe in the actual healing power of crystals" and have a number of stories about crystal healings working from posters. What are we to make of those stories? And then about crystal healings?

[LinuxGal]

I honestly don't mean to disrespect here but I'm sure one could find threads very similar to this in New Age forums entitled "Do you believe in the actual healing power of crystals" and have a number of stories about crystal healings working from posters. What are we to make of those stories? And then about crystal healings?

 

And if we suggest these crystal healings or (fill in the blank) healings should be vetted under clinical conditions, the reply is invariably, "It's been tried, but Big Pharma always shuts the research down."

[strappinglad]

Imagine what would happen if all MP holders were able to rebuke all diseases for all members. Consider what happened to Christ after His miracles were noised abroad. That said, I know I sell myself short when it comes to power in the priesthood because of a perceived lack of worthiness and faith. Would that priesthood holders had sufficient confidence before the Lord to command " this mountain " ( whatever that mountain be ) to be removed. With such power , however, comes the responsibility to always seek the Lord's will and be willing to accept it.

[rodheadlee]

Thanks for all the posts. one of the reasons I asked about belief in the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood is I want to know if this is the same Power that Heavenly Father and His Son use to do their creation work?  I think it is, I can't remember where I read that but I wonder how people can reconcile belief in the MP but unbelief in a global flood or any other miracle with science saying it's not possible.

 

Another reason I ask is I really want to be healed from tobacco addiction. I want to be motivated to seek the MP. I have no problem serving people but I'm pretty rough around the edges. It would be a miracle if God could make an MP out of me. Is it ok to seek a healer that may not be in my ward? I would like to have someone who knows they have the Power to heal me. Much as if I were to seek out Jesus Christ and touch His clothing to be healed. Or, maybe I've already been healed by a previous blessing and I just have to stop smoking.

[Brian 2.0]

Any MP holder you want can give you a healing blessing. It's not against protocol to go outside your ward at all.

[Brian 2.0]

And my best to you in your attempts on kicking smoking. My grandpa tried to kick that may a times. My personal advice is to never think you're "less than" or "unworthy"... no matter what church policy or temple recommend questions there are.

[Brian 2.0]

Any MP holder you want can give you a healing blessing. It's not against protocol to go outside your ward at all.

I should also add that I'd probably focus more on having faith in the MP and less on faith in the "healer" per say.

[Calm]

And if we suggest these crystal healings or (fill in the blank) healings should be vetted under clinical conditions, the reply is invariably, "It's been tried, but Big Pharma always shuts the research down."

The only problem with these studies I've seen are methodological. How do you control everyone who might pray for someone, including those in the official no pray group? Especially if it a blind study and the people aren't aware they are the subject of prayer or no prayer.

Undoubtedly someone has said it somewhere, but the half dozen or so serious prayer studies i read don't remember seeing anything like that.

[The Nehor]

Thanks for all the posts. one of the reasons I asked about belief in the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood is I want to know if this is the same Power that Heavenly Father and His Son use to do their creation work?  I think it is, I can't remember where I read that but I wonder how people can reconcile belief in the MP but unbelief in a global flood or any other miracle with science saying it's not possible.

 

Another reason I ask is I really want to be healed from tobacco addiction. I want to be motivated to seek the MP. I have no problem serving people but I'm pretty rough around the edges. It would be a miracle if God could make an MP out of me. Is it ok to seek a healer that may not be in my ward? I would like to have someone who knows they have the Power to heal me. Much as if I were to seek out Jesus Christ and touch His clothing to be healed. Or, maybe I've already been healed by a previous blessing and I just have to stop smoking.

 

It is the same power. Joseph Smith said all Priesthood is Melchizedek. We are limited in what we can do on Earth because we do not have all the Priesthood keys.

 

Saying something is possible does not mean it happened. I believe God could have orchestrated a global flood with water coming from somewhere else and then subsequently removing it. He could do that without much problem but the evidence to me suggests He did not do so. What we would expect to see is not there. Now God could also remove the evidence if He wished....but why? I am with Nephi and believe God can turn sea into sand and vice-versa without a problem. Doubt in a theory about an event is not doubt of God's power (though I imagine some also doubt God's power).

 

Don't shop for a healer. Most people giving blessings will not say something like "be healed" unless God commands them to and the few who will do so anyways will almost certainly not work. Cultivate your own faith to be healed and seek blessings as needed. It is possible you will be suddenly cured but it is more likely you will instead be given strength and sent to fight the addiction.

 

There are instances where addictions are suddenly healed but they are rare. I struggled with an addiction many years back. My advice to you is to enjoy the challenge and the progress it will bring. Even with repeated failures God can forge strength in you you did not know you could have. Take any setbacks in stride and dust yourself off and go at it again. Do not take short-term failures as license for self-pity and neglecting your prayers and study of the word of God. One day you will win but the journey itself will give you a ton of wins.

[Brian 2.0]

In regards to shopping for a healer. I know it's discouraged. But one of the spiritual gifts listed in the D&C is "having the faith to heal" (separate gift from having the faith to be healed).

So what's the difference, if anything, in a blessing from someone with that gift vs. a blessing from someone without that gift? And if nothing... then what is that gift?

[strappinglad]

The difference is that one with the gift of healing has that power internalized to the point that if they pronounce a healing it is done. Of those rare individuals that I have known with such a gift, they had to be extremely careful to gain the Lord's will in each case.

Note the story of Alma and Amulek . They had the power to stop the burning of the people but were constrained not to for a different purpose. How tough would that be?

Edited November 30, 2014 by strappinglad

[The Nehor]

In regards to shopping for a healer. I know it's discouraged. But one of the spiritual gifts listed in the D&C is "having the faith to heal" (separate gift from having the faith to be healed).

So what's the difference, if anything, in a blessing from someone with that gift vs. a blessing from someone without that gift? And if nothing... then what is that gift?

 

If I had that gift (I might, I'm not sure) I would not start giving blessings to anyone who asked.

[Brian 2.0]

If I had that gift (I might, I'm not sure) I would not start giving blessings to anyone who asked.

I guess the question for me comes down to how much does the person giving the blessing affect the results (healing vs not healing) of the individual receiving the blessing?

Are there instances where someone received a blessing and was not healed, but would have been healed had they been blessed by a different person? (Either because of lack of worthiness from the performer, or because there was another performer out there with more faith, or a performer that had that spiritual gift)

[The Nehor]

I guess the question for me comes down to how much does the person giving the blessing affect the results (healing vs not healing) of the individual receiving the blessing?

Are there instances where someone received a blessing and was not healed, but would have been healed had they been blessed by a different person? (Either because of lack of worthiness from the performer, or because there was another performer out there with more faith, or a performer that had that spiritual gift)

The person giving the blessing generally has much less influence then the person being blessed or their surrogate (a parent of a young child for instance).

[LinuxGal]

The only problem with these studies I've seen are methodological. How do you control everyone who might pray for someone, including those in the official no pray group? Especially if it a blind study and the people aren't aware they are the subject of prayer or no prayer.

 

You do that by measuring the results that fall outside of the statistical noise.  A regenerated limb for an amputee would do it.

[Avatar4321]

You do that by measuring the results that fall outside of the statistical noise.  A regenerated limb for an amputee would do it.

if you have faith all things are possible.

[LinuxGal]

if you have faith all things are possible.

 

And when bad things happen, it's always because one did not have sufficient faith.   That has been the story ever since the Israelites suffered their first defeat at the hands of other Canaanites with different gods.