Priesthood blessings. Such a thing as too much/wrong time?

[lizzy16]

I know its a common saying that theres never a wrong time to ask for a priesthood blessing.

What about when you just want one..because you do? Like, you don't have anything going on really. Nothing challenging or testing. You just want a priesthood blessing...does that make sense? I guess I just love blessings and love the power of the priesthood...is that odd?

edit: Also, just saying I'm not like getting a blessing every night or anything like that. I actually feel very uncomfortable asking for priesthood blessings, even around finals time. My last blessing was several months ago after a friend died. And, even then I didn't ask, they offered during church. So yea :)

Edited June 29, 2011 by lizzy16

[Vort]

I know its a common saying that theres never a wrong time to ask for a priesthood blessing.

What about when you just want one..because you do? Like, you don't have anything going on really. Nothing challenging or testing. You just want a priesthood blessing...does that make sense? I guess I just love blessings and love the power of the priesthood...is that odd?

In my opinion: Yes, it is indeed possible to abuse the power of Priesthood blessings. We are expected not to require a Priesthood blessing for every event in life, just as we are expected not to have to pray every time we buy a can of beans to make sure it's the right can.

That said, it is also my opinion that overuse of Priesthood power and blessings is probably not something we normally need to worry about. If anything, the opposite is the case.

[applepansy]

Lizzy, if you feel you want a blessing then ask for one.

I agree with Vort it can be overused. But.... I have an example that might be helpful.

As I was growing up my mother sometimes asked my Dad for a blessing every day, most definitely several times a week. I remember it becoming a sore spot in their relationship. My mother had chronic health issues and five children (with a miscarriage or two thrown in for good measure).

Decades later we were all at my parents ward where my niece and nephew were being blessed. Dad bore his testimony and mentioned his feelings of frustration when my mother would ask for another blessing. He apologized publicly to my mother and most important, he did it in front of all us "children" (now adults). He said that his attitude about it at the time was wrong. He said he opened the door to Satan with his attitude and judgement about whether another blessing was necessary. Since then, Dad never turns down or makes an issue of giving "another" priesthood blessing. He says sometimes when Satan is hovering over us it might take a blessing every hour to get through whatever is happening and its not his place to judge that.

[RescueMom]

Meh...I had to beg for one when I had cancer...took me weeks of begging. I won't ask for one again.

[dahlia]

Meh...I had to beg for one when I had cancer...took me weeks of begging. I won't ask for one again.

That is terrible. I've had blessings for me to help me as I write articles for tenure, as well as when I was sick. Considering the great economic and professional ramifications of getting tenure, I don't think that was a little thing, and since I live in a ward of faculty and other grad school types, none of the priesthood holders thought it was 'too little' a thing to ask a blessing for.

As far as being sick, just wow. You shouldn't have had to ask twice - and where were your home teachers? Didn't they ask if you needed anything when they came over?

[applepansy]

Meh...I had to beg for one when I had cancer...took me weeks of begging. I won't ask for one again.

That's very sad.

[Backroads]

RescueMom, I'm so sorry.

I agree that you'll be hardpressed to overuse a priesthood blessing.

I don't ask for them all that often. First and foremost I seek out Heavenly Father, loved ones, inspirational messages, etc. That being said, I have never been uncomfortable about asking for one.

In retrospect... I usually ask when I'm extremely upset about something to the point that I just can't calm down.

[RescueMom]

That is terrible. I've had blessings for me to help me as I write articles for tenure, as well as when I was sick. Considering the great economic and professional ramifications of getting tenure, I don't think that was a little thing, and since I live in a ward of faculty and other grad school types, none of the priesthood holders thought it was 'too little' a thing to ask a blessing for.

As far as being sick, just wow. You shouldn't have had to ask twice - and where were your home teachers? Didn't they ask if you needed anything when they came over?

I have no idea who my home teachers are...haven't had any in over 10 years. I've asked 2 Bishops and 2 SP who they were...got the same answer, we'll send them over. I'm still waiting. Meh I've just decided one of my trails is to go through this life without the blessings of the Priesthood.

[Vort]

I have no idea who my home teachers are...haven't had any in over 10 years. I've asked 2 Bishops and 2 SP who they were...got the same answer, we'll send them over. I'm still waiting. Meh I've just decided one of my trails is to go through this life without the blessings of the Priesthood.

Bishops mean well, but are often so overworked that they forget things. You would do better to ask your ward's high priest group leader directly. He is responsible for making those assignments and directing home teaching activity among your home teachers.

[Matthew0059]

lizzy-

If you feel you need direction and inspiration in your life, it is more than appropriate to ask for one for that purpose. Between last November and April I tried to get a blessing weekly because the Spirit directed me to. I found that one of the brethren in the bishopric, for some reason, was opened up to give me very, very personalized direction during those blessings. I usually ended up getting one about every other week because of various situations, but I was always commended for seeking out those blessings until I was commanded to stop seeking weekly blessings because what I needed "had been given", and I was commanded to study the notes I had made of my previous blessings.

Follow the Spirit- if it leads you to receive frequent blessings, do it! However, make sure that you're not receiving them to fulfill a selfish desire of your own.

GOD bless, and good luck! :)

[Matthew0059]

in my opinion: Yes, it is indeed possible to abuse the power of priesthood blessings. We are expected not to require a priesthood blessing for every event in life, just as we are expected not to have to pray every time we buy a can of beans to make sure it's the right can.

That said, it is also my opinion that overuse of priesthood power and blessings is probably not something we normally need to worry about. If anything, the opposite is the case.

qft.