There is a history of women in the early days of the church giving blessings. Should that stay in the past or still be a thing?
[poll id=”423″]
Defend your answer!
Women Giving Blessings: Weekend Poll
There is a history of women in the early days of the church giving blessings. Should that stay in the past or still be a thing?
[poll id=”423″]
Defend your answer!
Wheat & Tares 
I don’t think anything is wrong with a prayer of faith but be careful with presumption of authority so that what is done does not fail to be recognized in Heaven.
women should have this role and ability restored officially – if I attempted this in any shape or form around any of my 99% TBM friends and family they’d lose their minds. Direction needs to come down from SLC.
What Kristine said. That would be such a profound and powerful change, would make our church stand out in a positive way, build a bridge for some who feel disenfranchised, empower LDS communities of faith around the world, and inspire members of both genders and all ages–all at no cost but remembering our own history and proving that we actually believe what we teach in the temple. Bring it on.
Having been a witness, a number of years ago, to a direct healing worked by a female church member for a family member through a prayer of faith, I’m satisfied that it works just fine.
I believe the administration of a blessing works fine too. But, after that experience, I don’t believe we need to add that to to a woman’s repertoire make her prayer of faith more powerful.
It would help to educate women about the power they have. Too many believe that if they don’t have access to a brother ordained to the office of an elder, they are powerless to bless or that their power to bless is less than his. It’s simply not true.
Jesus said that laying on hands to heal the sick is a sign that follows those that believe, not an ordinance to be performed by Proper Priesthood Authority.
then why can we not do it and are told to call the Elders? If a prayer of faith is just as effective, then why aren’t men just doing prayers of faith? There *is* a difference. But what is it, exactly? All it would take is a GC talk to clarify and a letter to bishops.
Kristine A.,
My experience leads me to believe that 1) people don’t need to do anything in exactly the same format as others in order for them to be equally effective and 2) the most profoundly spiritually moving healings I’ve experienced have occurred when both men and women are present.
I’ve noticed that, at least where I’ve lived, the vast majority of requests for blessings are instigated at the suggestion or request of women, generally not for themselves, but on behalf of others. Men do so also, but on a much smaller scale. Not sure why. Perhaps you may have some insights into that. But it is what it is.
I firmly believe in the power of “being one”, or confluence, among saints. Certainly, the prayer of faith is enough. So is an administrated blessing. But my experience is that there is a power that exceeds either one when both are present in an administration of a blessing that not only works to heal the individual receiving the blessing, but also works to unify the men and women present.
There is no need to sit, wringing one’s hands, desperate for the elders to come when the need is dire and they are delayed, thinking that you are not enough. I believe that yes, whether you are a man or a woman, if you needed to, you could simply offer a prayer of deep faith just as two elders, together, could offer up an administered blessing. But if, as a woman who has been the first to sense the need for a blessing or as an elder who has responded to that request, you can wait long enough for a gathering of both, it’s worth the wait.
We, as a people, in all the various works we do, often are so focused on outcomes and getting things done that we too often ignore the importance of and fail to to take the time to create confluence. And confluence is divinely powerful stuff.