Priesthood Blessings

While some of us may think of priesthood blessings as a more modern ordinance, used mostly in this dispensation of time, priesthood blessings have actually been performed since Adam and Eve were first placed on planet Earth.  While I am no scriptorian or authority on doctrines of the church, in my own mind there are two key elements to any priesthood blessings being successful.  Think about any kind of priesthood blessing:  a patriarchal blessing, a blessing of healing, a setting apart, a father's blessing.  Those two things that I mentioned before:  proper priesthood authority to give them, as well as faith.  Faith on the part of the giver of the blessing, that he will be in tune with the Spirit to know what the Lord would want to bless us with, and faith on the part of the receiver, that what will be said in the blessing will come to pass.

The scriptures record many notable blessings given from the patriarch at the time, including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The Lord himself blessed Abraham with several promises which through making covenants ourselves, we can also receive:

• In Abraham 2:9, we read, "and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands, they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations."  In other words, the Lord blessed Abraham that his posterity would be numerous, and that his posterity would receive the gospel and bear the priesthood.
• And just two verses later, in verse 11, we read, "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thy seed after thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal."

What a comfort it is to know that because we have all taken upon ourselves covenants when we were baptized, those blessings weren't just for Abraham, but are blessings for us all.

When Abraham was about to die, the scriptures tell us that he "gave all that he had unto Isaac."  In ancient times, this would have included the birthright, or a land inheritance and the authority to preside.

We all know the tragic story of Jacob and Esau and the birthright; tragic because Esau lost so much because of his lack of faith.  Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage.  He was tired, and didn't want to make his own food.  But Esau hoped that he could still claim the blessing from being the first born.  However, Rebekah, the boys' mother, helped trick Isaac into giving the blessing to her favorite son, Jacob, on Isaac's deathbed.  Jacob was blessed with being lord over Esau while on the other hand Esau was blessed with living by the sword and serving his younger brother, a tragic consequence of his lack of faith in his birthright.

In an interesting twist of fate, Joseph was not the one to bless his own sons of Ephraim and Manasseh, but instead, Jacob, their grandfather did.  Joseph was surprised and assumed that Jacob had made a mistake when he gave the blessing of the first born to Ephraim who was actually the younger brother. Jacob told Joseph:

"I know it, my son, I know it:  Manasseh also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother, Ephraim, shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations."

For many of us, this blessing of being part of a great nation descended from Ephraim or Manasseh, brings us peace and comfort.

Our Savior used his ministry and his priesthood power to bless the people with blessings of healing, another form of priesthood blessings.  I personally am grateful to live in a time of modern medicine.  It's sad to think of people in olden times dying from diseases that can now be cured with a dose of antibiotics, or even Tylenol.  However, none of this existed when our Savior walked the earth, so I can only imagine the impact the Savior made when he was able to release some of those humble souls from pain and suffering.  We know of him healing persons with different diseases:  a blind man, ten lepers, and a child possessed by the devil.  In all of these situations, the people showed faith in the abilities of Jesus.  They knew (without doubling) that if they could just see, or talk to the Lord, they could be healed.

One of the most touching accounts of healing comes from the book of Mark, chapter 5:

"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.  For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole."

What a testament of faith!  She didn't need to see him, nor feel his hands on her head, but needed to just touch the hem of his clothing.

"Even if ye can no more than desire to believe," Alma declares, "let this desire work in you, even until ye believe."

Jeffrey R. Holland has taught us, "We will be grateful for anything--a partial blessing, a glimmer of hope, some small lifting of the burden carried by us.  And when those difficult moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.  The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue--it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have in the truth you already know."

Whether being given a patriarchal blessing, or a blessing of healing, I think it is important for us to remember that what we are told in the blessing is what the Lord wants to give us.  Whether or not we receive that blessing is completely dependent on our faith in Him, and our obedience to our covenants.  I'm reminded of when my children were younger, and wanted to do nothing more than watch TV.  Really, I look back on it, and watching TV seemed to be the Shangri-La of their childhood.  And John and I, liking to watch TV ourselves, didn't want to deny them that.  However, there were certain things they needed to do in order to earn it.  The TV was there, waiting to be watched, full of all kinds of possibilities--Barney, and Lord of the Rings, and Pokemon, My Little Pony--and John and I wanted to give it to them.  So much goodness, waiting for them, if only they would do what was necessary.  It doesn't come free.  Just as my kids had to do chores of running, and reading their scriptures, and scooping the cat box to access the TV, we too must exercise our faith to access the blessings that the Lord wants to give us.

Another blessing that Jesus gave was to his disciples when he called them as apostles.  "And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth two and two."  They were charged to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils all while not thinking about how to pay for their lodging, or their food, or money in general.  We too are charged with certain responsibilities when we are set apart for callings within the church.  Sometimes when we are given those charges, we may wonder exactly how we can accomplish them, perhaps knowing the situation into which we are going.  However, again, it is up to us to exert the faith necessary to accomplish what the Lord wants us to do.

Some of us may feel that we don't have access to a worthy priesthood holder who could give us a blessing.  I grew up in a home, abandoned by my real father at the age of five, and living with an abusive step-father until I left for college.  I had no grandfathers who were close, or members of the church, and I had no siblings.  It was painful to sit in church meetings where I was taught of the beauty and wonder of priesthood blessings.  Because I alone attended church meetings, I had no idea that anyone besides a father could give me a blessing.  I am here to tell you that there is a planet full of worthy priesthood holders who can give you the blessings that you might desire.  They are in the form of loving home teachers, bishopric members, sons, and even high councilmen.  

I testify to you today that it doesn't matter what worthy priesthood holder gives you a blessing:  because they are worthy, the Spirit will inspire them to know what your Heavenly Father wants to give you.  I have had moments during blessings where I no longer see or hear the person giving the blessings as a mere mortal here on earth, but it has felt as if my Heavenly Father and my Savior are standing behind me with their heads on my head, and their voices in my ears.  Just recently, a high councilman set me apart as a seminary teacher.  I don't believe I've ever said more than ten words to him, but as he blessed me, he said things about my life that only my Heavenly Father knows, and he gave my blessings that would be of great comfort to me and my family over the coming years.

I know in that moment that it wasn't the high councilman giving me that blessing.  It was my Heavenly Father.  And I testify to you today that if you seek a blessing, and show that desire to believe to your Heavenly Father, that he will indeed bless you as if he were standing here himself.