Priesthood Blessings and when

[ninjormon]

My question is

Should you always give a blessing anytime someone asks? Or should you use your judgement/discretion to see if they even need one? I have been asked by someone who will remain nameless for blessings but I didn't think that they required a blessing. After having surgery pain is normal, or before a move anxiety is normal, or ........ Iknow that you can always do a fathers/husbands blessing without doing a formal priesthood blessing but should you ever tell someone that they dont need one?

[Elgama]

If necessary Heavenly Father can tell the person that in the blessing, you are not the one giving the blessing its God.... I would not hesitate to ask for a blessing to help me bare pain or anxiety better. My experience has been Heavenly Father is capable of giving the same blessing twice as well.

No its not your place you are just the vessel, the blessing is between the person and God- the only time you should say no is if you are unworthy or unfocused.

-Charley

[pam]

No I don't think you have the right to tell someone they don't need a blessing. Not your decision to make.

[Just_A_Guy]

Iknow that you can always do a fathers/husbands blessing without doing a formal priesthood blessing but should you ever tell someone that they dont need one?

A father's/husband's blessing is a formal priesthood blessing.

You don't always need to anoint where there is no health issue or where an anointing has already been done (though in the latter case I usually opt to anoint again, simply because of the symbolism of the ordinance); but your priesthood commission is to bless. It is not for us to refuse to offer those blessings when they are requested in faith.

[pam]

Well I guess an exception could be that they are asking for a blessing to help them pick the winning lottery numbers.

[Guest missingsomething]

It is not possible for you to know what a person can handle ... what they need a blessing for... Just because pain after surgery is normal...does not mean that person doesnt have a low pain tolerence or maybe its not even the pain so much as that they become downtrodden when in pain.

You can NOT make that judgement call. I do not believe Heavenly Father would want you to withhold a blessing from someone because you do not feel its a good enough reason. If that were the case, we would not really need "blessings of comfort".

[Guest missingsomething]

Well I guess an exception could be that they are asking for a blessing to help them pick the winning lottery numbers.

We really need the laugh button in this forum! lol

[Hemidakota]

My question is

Should you always give a blessing anytime someone asks? Or should you use your judgement/discretion to see if they even need one? I have been asked by someone who will remain nameless for blessings but I didn't think that they required a blessing. After having surgery pain is normal, or before a move anxiety is normal, or ........ Iknow that you can always do a fathers/husbands blessing without doing a formal priesthood blessing but should you ever tell someone that they dont need one?

What would you tell someone who wants a blessing to have that witness like Joseph Smith?

Or perhaps being sealed as a member of the Church of the First Born? Would the Holy Spirit honor this blessing?

Edited February 19, 2009 by Hemidakota

[Hemidakota]

My question is

Should you always give a blessing anytime someone asks? Or should you use your judgement/discretion to see if they even need one? I have been asked by someone who will remain nameless for blessings but I didn't think that they required a blessing. After having surgery pain is normal, or before a move anxiety is normal, or ........ Iknow that you can always do a fathers/husbands blessing without doing a formal priesthood blessing but should you ever tell someone that they dont need one?

When moved upon by the Spirit and the faith of the individual is sufficient for the blessing.

[gabelpa]

If they don't need a blessing, you will know when you lay your hands on their head. Act in faith, that Heavenly Father will give you the words to speak. It is not your place to decide who needs a blessing.

Ask yourself, if someone asked Jesus in faith, for a blessing, would He refuse? If you can with all honesty say that Jesus would deny a blessing asked for in faith, then by all means,go ahead. It does smack somewhat of unrighteousness on your part to presume that someone does not require a blessing.

[rameumptom]

The person feels he/she needs a blessing. Who are we to judge whether they do/don't? The only reason you should not give a blessing is if you do not feel worthy.

I would recommend that unless it is an emergency blessing that you suggest to them that you both spend a few hours praying to prepare, or if possible a day fasting to prepare for the blessing. I think we are often too quick to get it over with, when the Lord wants us to give blessings that count. Elder Parley P. Pratt wrote in his journal that Joseph Smith chastised the brethren for this very thing: attempting to heal people, without them being healed, because those involved were not spiritually ready.

My wife's ancestor, Sarah Leavitt, wrote in her journal about being deathly ill while crossing the plains. She had an elder anoint her, but nothing happened. So they traveled down the road until they found another elder to anoint her. Still, she remained sick. So they continued onward, until they finally found an elder with enough faith to heal her, and she was healed.

[angela]

Okay, I have pretty much been told by a priesthood holder once before that he did not think I needed a blessing. It was right after my husband I separated. I had had a blessing about 10 days before, but continued to be depressed and physically ill over the situation. I was told in not so many words that I had just had a blessing and that I did not need another one. This man had NO IDEA what I needed. I was going through a living hell, and I was pregnant and distraught. He told me this over the phone. He did not even find a companion to come over to my house to see if I really did or not, or if there is anything they could do for me besides a blessing.

So, I would very strongly urge you to never blatantly tell someone that they do not need a blessing. Maybe the correct way to go about it is to pray with that person about whether or not it is what is truely needed in the situation. I cannot even begin to tell you the hurt and pain I felt over the situation I went through.

[StallionMcBeastly]

I think you should always give someone a blessing if asked (unless it is so blatantly obvious they shouldn't, like Pam's example lol).

It's not for us Priesthood holders to decide, it's for God. Always give the blessing when requested (unless you get a strong prompting not to), it's Heavenly Father's decision how and what they will be blessed with; if he doesn't desire for them to be comforted then the blessing won't bring them comfort. Give the blessing, and God will do as he pleases with it.

[rameumptom]

What would you tell someone who wants a blessing to have that witness like Joseph Smith?

Or perhaps being sealed as a member of the Church of the First Born? Would the Hoy Spirit honor this blessing?

A First Vision-like revelation is not connected to a priesthood blessing. Such a request would be seeking a sign, not an actual blessing.

Only those holding the keys of the Church of the Firstborn can give such a blessing to seal someone up to that place.

We are not talking about such types of blessings. This discussion is about someone who seeks priesthood blessings for comfort or healing, which all worthy priesthood holders can give.

[rameumptom]

Okay, I have pretty much been told by a priesthood holder once before that he did not think I needed a blessing. It was right after my husband I separated. I had had a blessing about 10 days before, but continued to be depressed and physically ill over the situation. I was told in not so many words that I had just had a blessing and that I did not need another one. This man had NO IDEA what I needed. I was going through a living hell, and I was pregnant and distraught. He told me this over the phone. He did not even find a companion to come over to my house to see if I really did or not, or if there is anything they could do for me besides a blessing.

So, I would very strongly urge you to never blatantly tell someone that they do not need a blessing. Maybe the correct way to go about it is to pray with that person about whether or not it is what is truely needed in the situation. I cannot even begin to tell you the hurt and pain I felt over the situation I went through.

I truly hope you went above that priesthood holder's head to the quorum president, the bishop, or the stake president (in that order). That individual required some training in compassion and service.

[Hemidakota]

A First Vision-like revelation is not connected to a priesthood blessing. Such a request would be seeking a sign, not an actual blessing.

Only those holding the keys of the Church of the Firstborn can give such a blessing to seal someone up to that place.

We are not talking about such types of blessings. This discussion is about someone who seeks priesthood blessings for comfort or healing, which all worthy priesthood holders can give.

A few members had ask me....

[angela]

I truly hope you went above that priesthood holder's head to the quorum president, the bishop, or the stake president (in that order). That individual required some training in compassion and service.

Unfortunately he WAS the quorum president. That's why I never said anything to anyone.

[beefche]

angela, even quorum presidents have leaders. That man needed to understand his duties better and his leader would be the one to offer that training. It isn't "telling" on someone, but merely getting what you need and helping this brother get what he needs.

[beefche]

I would say that there are 2 instances when giving a blessing isn't warranted. First and most obviously is when someone is asking for a blessing to receive something inappropriate (such as lottery numbers, a manifestation of the Spirit by vision, etc.). If anything such as this were to happen, then a compassionate, tactful discussion should occur.

Second, if someone is asking for a blessing repeatedly, then I think a discussion is warranted. "Repeatedly" is a subjective word. Listening to the Spirit, asking a leader's advice, etc. would be a couple of ways to judge if a request qualifies as "repeatedly." Sometimes someone doesn't understand priesthood blessings and thinks that a man in a leadership position has "more" priesthood than another--thus, asking for blessings repeatedly. Or perhaps the person doesn't understand the nature of blessings and may need some counsel or guidance.

As everyone has stated it's a tough line and as a rule of thumb, I would advice no man to refuse to give a blessing (unless there is a worthiness problem). If you are unable to serve, then do a small service by helping that member find someone who can give the blessing.