20 replies to this topic

[whispers_of_fire]

-You acknowledge God's ability to Heal

-Ask to be made a vessel/conduit of that Healing

-Ask God's permission to Heal the person<if it is not their destined time to go Home>

-Ask the person if they want to be Healed*this is where I've seen a lot of would be healers kind of muck up, 'specially with an older patient, who may well want to be reunited with a spouse in the Afterlife*

For another Faith<Pagan vs Christian>its diplomacy, you're asking your own Divinity to channel the ability to Heal and
asking the One of the Christians if He will allow this person to live

MY GOD, Justa! That's actually very frightening! I'm glad you weren't so filled with religious zeal that you didn't march off to get a shot of penicillan

[ghosthunter1010]

I believe that with faith healing that the persons faith and how strong their beilfs is what helps them to heal or to show signs of healing.  

[aloha_spirit]

LdS have a ritual we perform when we give blessings.  Only Elders can give blessings (others can pray for the person, but not perform this ordinance).

An Elder annoints the head of the afflicted with olive oil.  He gives a short prayer declaring his priesthood and that the oil had been consecrated.

Then the annointent is sealed with a blessing.  Again, the person is called by name and the Elder declares his priesthood.    The Elder should then proceed to say whatever the Spirit directs him.

Elders should only give blessings when requested or if it is an emergency (ie, one person administer first aid while the Elder pleads that the person live at least until a doctor can arrive).

I once gave a blessing to a young woman who had fainted and couldn't be revived.  Her roommates called 911 and had me perform the ordinance waiting for the ambulance.

[Justa]

Just out of curiosity, why is only the elders that can bless?  Can't anybody be trained in the ritual?


You're right Whispers, thankfully my parents raised me to be somewhat cynical about things.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

[whispers_of_fire]

Aloha, with all due respect, I gotta agree with Justa, it may be a matter of theological semantics, but I always thought a Blessing on a person was simply a prayer to intercede :-/

[aloha_spirit]

Quote

Just out of curiosity, why is only the elders that can bless?  Can't anybody be trained in the ritual?

We define priesthood as the authority to act in God's name.  For some reason, the priesthood is restricted to worthy men.  Also, there are different offices within the priesthood.  Each office has certain priviliges and responsibilities.  

Formal blessings are a function of the priesthood.  In them, the Elder talks to the individual directly, being the mouthpiece of God.  "John, in the name of the Lord, I bless you that ..."

In prayers, we direct our petition to the Almighty. "Lord, I ask thee to bless John, that he ..."

I almost forgot to add something, an Elder cannot give a formal blessing to himself.