Priesthood blessings...

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

Priesthood blessings...

Roper · Senior Bucketkeeper

Yes, it has happened to me. I wait. The words come eventually. I suppose that if I waited for quite a while and no words came, I would step away and ask someone else to do it.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

Really? You'd step away? I know it sounds completely vain and stupid... but Wow... I have to confess I'd never have the guts to do that. :(

--Ray

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

I've had experiences where even after waiting, nothing comes, so I close the blessing before I start saying too much of my own thoughts and words.

If the impression was strong enough that I'm getting nothing but a stupor of thought, as it were, stepping away would probably be the best thing to do all around.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

It would be the honest thing to do. Making stuff up just to save face could have a long term negative impact on the faith of the person receiving the blessing. I'm speaking from experience.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

Heh. Well, typically I'd be really vague. But I agree, it never occurred to me that you COULD withdraw and say, "Sorry, I'm getting a stupor of thought, can we do this some other time?" Or something like that... maybe then I'd fast or try to prepare better. I dunno.

--Ray

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

I also wonder if you're simply supposed to speak ANYWAY? I mean when the Savior sent out his disciples during his ministry, he told them to go out and heal and cast out devils and such...

And I have to wonder, if sometimes the Lord expects us to simply speak and he fulfills our words as we have spoken them.

--Ray

arbilad · Head Chef

bokbadok wrote:

It would be the honest thing to do. Making stuff up just to save face could have a long term negative impact on the faith of the person receiving the blessing. I'm speaking from experience.

I've never been in that situation, where I've had no inspiration. But in such a case, couldn't you at least say what's true in any case? Stuff like the Lord loves you, he is mindful of everything that happens to you, etc. That's all true in any case. Therefore, if the person is open to seeing the evidence of it, they will certainly see it.
Then, as you repeat those truths, the Spirit will testify of them. As you feel the Spirit, maybe you will also feel other words that you can say to them.

Randy · Senior Member

Although I've been called upon to give blessings many times, there never was a time that my mind wasn't blank.

However, I felt that as a priesthood holder it was my responsibility to bless them, and that stepping away would be abdicating that responsibility. Because I believe that there will invariably be a blessing from God if the receiver is worthy and has faith. I might have no idea what that blessing will be, but it will come.

When God is ready to do miracles, he will not be stopped by a priesthood holder who does not know the dimensions of the miracle.

The gift of healing is not dependant on the gift of prophecy.

If the prophet or my priesthood leader tells me to step away if God does not tell me what to say, then I will do so, but not until.

Randy

TitusTodd · Senior Member

If the Lord has nothing to say, you still should? I agree with Randy's comments. The power and authority is yours.

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Randy wrote:

Although I've been called upon to give blessings many times, there never was a time that my mind wasn't blank.

However, I felt that as a priesthood holder it was my responsibility to bless them, and that stepping away would be abdicating that responsibility. Because I believe that there will invariably be a blessing from God if the receiver is worthy and has faith. I might have no idea what that blessing will be, but it will come.

When God is ready to do miracles, he will not be stopped by a priesthood holder who does not know the dimensions of the miracle.

The gift of healing is not dependant on the gift of prophecy.

If the prophet or my priesthood leader tells me to step away if God does not tell me what to say, then I will do so, but not until.

Randy

And if God is not ready to do miracles, will he be constrained by a priesthood holder who calls on one to be done when it is not His will, regardless of if the man acting as voice in the blessing or the recipient is extremely worthy, in tune with The Spirit, and has great faith?

We should probably differentiate between two unique situations. There are distinct occasions where it is a loss of words, and other occasions where it is absolutely no words are given by the Spirit...

Sometimes, the inspiration may be come to give a blessing of healing, while at other times when that is what is requested, the feeling may come to give a blessing of comfort instead. And, there are times when a blessing of rest must be given instead of either of the other. You are correct that the gift of healing is not dependent upon the gift of prophecy, though a blessing of being healed can in some ways and instances be viewed as a prophecy.

In rare instances, there is no inspiration felt at all. I think that is most often attributed to the fact the Priesthood holder(s) may not adequately prepared to give a blessing, in which case it is best to excuse themselves so they can prepare better if time and circumstances allow.

But, in the extremely rare case of when The Lord's will is actually not to pronounce a blessing (I have experienced that. I had a distinct stupor of thought come over me after starting the blessing and the strong feeling to close ASAP), and even though the voice in the blessing is adequately prepared, is it proper to try and still give a blessing when none is spoken from The Spirit? How is that going to impact the faith of the individual, if it is a no blessing situation, they've requested one, and something is said / promised that is not in unity to His will?

salesortonscom · Wise and Revered Master

Usually for me when I need to give a priesthood blessing I feel impressed before the blessing as to what some of it may include. I think this might be the Lord's way of helping me feel more at ease. Then when I give the blessing it is often like turning on and off a water facet. It just generally flows out and then turns off. When it turns off I know that it is time to close because if I try to force it it doesn't work. I noticed when I have to give a prayer out loud while hometeaching or in a church meeting it works similar. I have not had a situation where I was unable to not give some sort of blessing or what I would call a stupor of thought. Even on a blessing for the sick if I wasn't able to give them a promise of immediate healing there were words of comfort to provide spiritual strength and healing. I guess the only times where I have gone blank where times I intended to force something and I immediatly recognized it and switched gears thus the block was gone.

I suppose that if I had done something bad like looked at porn etc right before then I might experience the stupor. Or I might then just be on my own and not have the spirit constrain me at all. (Just for clarification, I do not look at porn).

I think the Lord probably works differently with different priesthood holders. Like the different gifts of the spirit that we all have at least one given to us, we may have slightly different ways the Lord works through us. The end result though is the same.

Randy · Senior Member

Cat Herder wrote:

In rare instances, there is no inspiration felt at all. I think that is most often attributed to the fact the Priesthood holder(s) may not adequately prepared to give a blessing, in which case it is best to excuse themselves so they can prepare better if time and circumstances allow.

Rare? Not for me.

Since frequent fasting, 2 hours daily reading and pondering of scripture, faithful church attendance, and spending 65 hours a week teaching the gospel is insufficient to adequately prepare one to give a blessing (at least in my case and in accordance with what you set forth), then what more do you suggest I do? I don't do those things now, but when I did, I still felt no inspiration for giving blessings. Right now I really have to earn a living.

After you give me a citation for a general authority who said the same thing I quoted you saying above, I will be free to refuse all further invitations to give blessings. Until then, I am duty bound to respond when called.

-- Edited by Randy at 12:33, 2006-12-19

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

:moderator mode on:

I can see how this topic has the potential to raise strong emotions. I know that I, at least, have felt some long buried feelings bubble to the surface. Let us remember that we are all speaking from purely anecdotal experience. And because all of our experiences are valid, yet varied, no one person can make a statement that exactly applies to any other person, nor should any person take offense because someone states an experience that may appear to contradict their own.

I am enjoying this discussion. I hope it will continue to be a pleasant one.

:moderator mode off:

Randy · Senior Member

Thanks, Bok.

One area where we probably all agree is that one who gives a blessing should not make grandiose promises unless the Lord prompts him to do so.

Perhaps someone made this mistake and has thereby upset you. I diligently try not to do that. I am, though, not perfect.

Often (changing the subject a little here, not implying this might be your situation) words have different meanings to different people. Some (again a general statement) blessings also have their fulfillment later rather than sooner, even beyond the veil.

And yet, I knew a woman who sought a blessing for infertility, and the giver of the blessing (I think it was her bishop) made reference to the child that she was carrying at that moment. Unfortunately, she was not.

-Randy

-- Edited by Randy at 13:15, 2006-12-19

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Randy wrote:

Cat Herder wrote:

In rare instances, there is no inspiration felt at all. I think that is most often attributed to the fact the Priesthood holder(s) may not adequately prepared to give a blessing, in which case it is best to excuse themselves so they can prepare better if time and circumstances allow.

Rare? Not for me.

Since frequent fasting, 2 hours daily reading and pondering of scripture, faithful church attendance, and spending 65 hours a week teaching the gospel is insufficient to adequately prepare one to give a blessing (at least in my case and in accordance with what you set forth), then what more do you suggest I do? I don't do those things now, but when I did, I still felt no inspiration for giving blessings. Right now I really have to earn a living.

After you give me a citation for a general authority who said the same thing I quoted you saying above, I will be free to refuse all further invitations to give blessings. Until then, I am duty bound to respond when called.

-- Edited by Randy at 12:33, 2006-12-19

I'm sorry if that came across wrong, I wasn't meaning you don't prepare. I was talking generally in meaning if absolutely no inspiration is perceived or inability to do because of lack of preparation, kind of like when the Lord chastised certain of His disciples for not being able to cast out the evil spirit when all they had done was think to do it. Is that clearer?

One of the things I have learned is that if as part of my preparation, I try to empty my mind so that it is a blank slate as much as possible, it is easier for the Spirit to prompt me and I then don't have to worry if it is just my thoughts being said. That is the kind of thing I thought you were refering to as always having your mind blank when you give a blessing, and since you indicate it is always filled at the right time, I find it quite admirable that you don't have to question due to your own regular spiritual readiness.

I agree with Jason in that the Spirit works somewhat uniquely with each of us, just as we each have unique combinations of gifts of the Spirit. I think even in the direst situation where the MP holder has a great deal of emotional vesting in the recipient of the blessing, if a MP holder is at least moving in the right direction spiritually, he is going to get some sort of inspiration in giving a blessing. That is why I indicate it is rare that there is no inspiration received or perceived by the voice. It would surprise me if you receive / perceive that somewhat different than me, and how I receive it is going to be somewhat different than Ray, which in turn is going to be somewhat different than roper, or Jason, or TT, or arbilad, or LEVE, or Hoss, or lundbaek, or Wagonman, or HSR, or PT314, or ...

On the timing of fulfillment of blessings and meanings of words, right there with you.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

I agree with Randy that one should step up and do one's priesthood duty where one can. I never thought of it, but I bet giving a priesthood blessing is probably tied to those gifts of the Spirit. It could be that some priesthood holders become more adept at it and that it is a gift from the Lord.

Obviously, there are some blessings that require greater spiritual preparation, in addition to basic worthiness, though. At least that was the case with the one scripture story in which there was the fellow possessed of a demon, and Christ noted, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:29).

--Ray

Mahonri · Senior Bucketkeeper

-- Edited by Mahonri at 16:15, 2007-03-22