Priesthood Blessings

[didyoumythme]

I have never felt divine inspiration while giving a blessing, but I have always felt great social pressure to act like it. I always tried to channel my faith real hard and clear my mind so God could fill it. I don't believe that ever happened, but I said plenty of nice things commonly said in blessings to make people feel better. I even used the cop out techniques to cover my back such as vague phrasing, reminding the recipient that this all relies on their faith, and blessing other people on behalf of you (i.e. bless YOU that the DOCTORS will be guided to heal you).

On my mission we taught an old lady that got baptized, then entered the hospital a week later because her "brain was bleeding". We offered to give a blessing and she asked me to give it. I mustered all the faith I could by focusing hard on God, remembering the miracles of Jesus etc. During the blessing I blessed her that she would recover and return home soon. I was nervous about it, but I reasoned that to really demonstrate my faith I had to be bold enough to say it.

She died a week later.

[Not Buying It]

I would say in reality nobody really believes in blessings.

If the most faithful TBM had a fractured femur or had a massive heart attack, they would be rushed to the hospital for treatment. Then, once they were stabilized they request a blessing. Six weeks later in testimony meeting they regale the audience with how the PH healed them.

In reality, if they believed in PH blessings, they would get a blessing immediately after the accident that caused the fracture, or the heart attack then they would get up and get on with their day.

Wouldn't getting treatment for an injury or disease show a lack of faith, which is what the PH blessing is entirely dependent upon?

What a superb point. If members really believed in blessings, they wouldn't bother with unnecessary things like hospitals and doctors when they have the power of God to heal them, right?

[moksha]

If members really believed in blessings, they wouldn't bother with unnecessary things like hospitals and doctors when they have the power of God to heal them, right?

Members recognize the efficacy of modern medicine. When they have headaches, they want aspirin first and a blessing second - not the other way around.

[Spicy McHaggis]

If members really believed in blessings, they wouldn't bother with unnecessary things like hospitals and doctors when they have the power of God to heal them, right?

Members recognize the efficacy of modern medicine. When they have headaches, they want aspirin first and a blessing second - not the other way around.

I agree and think this shows those stories of miraculous healings due to PH blessings are just that: stories. Does even the most TBM believe a blessing is going to cure disease? They may not realize it but I would say nobody really believes pure olive oil mixed with an elder is any sort of cure-all.

[Enough]

What is even the point, then? Why hasn't our church culture/doctrine/practice evolved away from propping up the powers of men? It seems to me that propagating the idea that there is Power in the Priesthood is just a recipe for future faith crises. I don't get it.

[wtfluff]

What is even the point, then? Why hasn't our church culture/doctrine/practice evolved away from propping up the powers of men? It seems to me that propagating the idea that there is Power in the Priesthood is just a recipe for future faith crises. I don't get it.

Probably the same reason they've attempted to hide the real history of their Corporation, and the same reason they keep perpetuating the lies about the foundations of their "church".

I don't think they really have any idea how to save the sinking ship, so they just stick with the same old story, the "status quo"; Hoping beyond hope that some magic miracle will save it.

Meanwhile, way too many of my family members are still on the sinking ship, swallowing the lies, hook, line an stinker.

[Enough]

Hoping beyond hope that some magic miracle will save it.

Maybe the church needs a blessing. Oh, wait...

[wtfluff]

Hoping beyond hope that some magic miracle will save it.

Maybe the church needs a blessing. Oh, wait...

Edited out the snarky comment to say: Things that make you go huh?.?.?.


Also another thought as to: Why Blessings? Tradition! Much of what we do in the church is because of tradition... Kind of like the boring 3-hour block each week. Why? "It's just what we do..."

The temple prayer roll is the same. Has anyone ever heard a "testimony" as to the veracity and / or miracles that have resulted from putting names on the prayer roll? Again, it's tradition, and probably gives whoever wrote the names down some warm fuzzies, but does it actually do anything? NOPE!

[Enough]

Good point. I guess it's like that, too, for blessing Refreshments (e.g. that doughnuts will "nourish & strengthen or bodies, and do us the good we need").

[FiveFingerMnemonic]

I was just reading here about how Patriarchs used to charge a fee for patriarchal blessings and even healing blessings. They used to undercut and compete with each other.

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/102-17-29.pdf

[Journey]

I would agree with wtfluff here, it's about the tradition. Just a habit. And probably a good way to tell someone something you want to say but can't just come out and say it to their face, much easier enshrouded in a PB, isn't it

[Spicy McHaggis]

I would agree with wtfluff here, it's about the tradition. Just a habit. And probably a good way to tell someone something you want to say but can't just come out and say it to their face, much easier enshrouded in a PB, isn't it

Tradition is why the church does 90% of what it does. Make 12 year olds go door to door to collect money? Tradition. Annoint the head with pure salad dressing.....err...olive oil? Tradition. Make church boring as hell? Tradition.

[RubinHighlander]

I was just reading here about how Patriarchs used to charge a fee for patriarchal blessings and even healing blessings. They used to undercut and compete with each other.

Nice! The sale of indulgences. Took a cue from the Catholic church (that they despised so much). At least this was transparent, now the COB controls all the money and nobody knows how it's spent, except for them.

[John G.]

What is even the point, then? Why hasn't our church culture/doctrine/practice evolved away from propping up the powers of men? It seems to me that propagating the idea that there is Power in the Priesthood is just a recipe for future faith crises. I don't get it.

The reason priesthood blessings are still around is because they are at least one thing in the church that actually works! The placebo effect for a TBM is a scientifically demonstrable real effect!

For example, the placebo effect is so strong that there is currently a scientific debate as to whether or not some prescription drugs for depression even work better than the placebo effect alone.

[Emower]

I would agree with wtfluff here, it's about the tradition. Just a habit. And probably a good way to tell someone something you want to say but can't just come out and say it to their face, much easier enshrouded in a PB, isn't it

I think it is more than tradition. The efficacy of the priesthood is THE hook that keeps people coming back. It is the only thing Mormonism has to offer you can't allegedly get anywhere else. Additional scripture? You can get that in other places, check. Temple ritualish stuff? Check. Prophets? Check. Continuing revelation? Check. Giant bureaucratic organization? Check. But the priesthood is what sets the church apart. I think blessings are a tangible way of convincing ourselves that the priesthood is more than just talk. It's like the temple, the more you physically engage with something the more you will believe it.

[Craig Paxton]

Just heard a new one... Man is seriously injured in Auto Accident in my neighborhood...and on deaths door. He receives a priesthood blessing and is promised in blessing that he will be restored to complete health...he dies 24 hours after he received this blessing.

The priesthood leader who proclaimed this blessing approaches the now widow and tells her isn't it wonderful how God answers prayers by restoring her husband to complete health...the wife (I am told) is incredulous and does a WTF...you do know that my husband is dead don't you...and the priesthood leader says yes...but the blessing I gave him is fulfilled...look...he's been healed to complete health just as I promised him, God just chose to fulfill the blessing by letting your husband die to receive his complete health.

My head did a 180 head snap when I heard this story