quote:Hobbes, I feel you're saying that for you to reach the point that you really feel inspired to say what God's wants you to say, it is necessary that you know something about the matter, because otherwise you may not reach that point. That without that information it's just about the form. My misunderstanding probably. To that I'm saying it shouldn't be necessary. I believe a PH should be able to get that inspiration without the information.
I see, this does clear it up, and that is what I mean. Sadly it also means I would not meet your criteria as an adequate priesthood holder. Of course it is a continuim rather than a sharp cut, but all the same. I've said it several times, but just to make myself clear: the level of information that I would like to have before proceeding is very broad. A statement that consisted of any of the following without more context or explenation would be, if not ideal, then at least plenty to go on: "Emotional struggles", "Interpersonal relationship issue", "physical illness", "long travel", "Anxiety about work/personal event(s)". On the other side, I'm not saying it would be impossible for me to be inspired if I was given nothing at all, rather that when I have done so my words and mind lose focus and my ability to connect to the inspiration I am recieving is greatly diminshed.
posted
A interesting article for you to read Hobbes, by Elder Oaks, April 2010 general conference. The part titled "Words of blessing" perhaps explain better what I've tried to say. Dh says the principle is not only about blessing the sick, he's been taught.
posted
May I suggest that you are selling yourself short. You are from all indications a good man and faithful priesthood holder. Trust Him, whom you serve. You may have convinced yourself you can't do it without, but you may find that you can.
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quote:My personal experience with blessings is that it is a little like trying to follow a vein of gold. I search for the right words/ideas/images in my mind and find the ones that feel right, that the Spirit confirms to me. I then say those words/ideas/images as best I can (sometimes well, sometimes not, but I at least get the gist of it). I then continue in that "direction" and search for more words/ideas/images that feel right. Repeat said process until it feels like the vein has been quarried out.
That's much like I have imagined it to be.
quote: May I suggest that you are selling yourself short. You are from all indications a good man and faithful priesthood holder. Trust Him, whom you serve. You may have convinced yourself you can't do it without, but you may find that you can.
I thought the same thing.
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posted
last week I went to the hospital to give the sacrament to LDS people there (a benefit of living in Utah).
While there a woman recovering from back surgery was visiting with someone from our stake high council.
I asked if she would like a priesthood blessing. The Stake High council gave the blessing portion. In it, he explained the power of the priesthood restored to the earth today being the very same power by which Christ healed the lame and sick and that through that power she would be able to recover.
It was an amazing blessing and the Spirit was very strong. I am grateful and honored to have this experience. I think as I try to do what's right, I gain greater insights into this power.
I don't believe I can be told exactly how it works... but I have to act in faith.
quote: You are from all indications a good man and faithful priesthood holder. Trust Him, whom you serve. You may have convinced yourself you can't do it without, but you may find that you can.
Your statement seems to suggest that receiving revelation is pretty much determined by how worthy you are and how much faith you have. In my experience that is simply not the case. I have received clear revelation when my worthiness was so-so, and received nothing when I was squeaky clean.
I honestly don't know why I receive revelation at some times but not others. I would really like to know how that works. My experience and the scriptures would seem to suggest that worthiness helps (but is not a deciding factor), and faith is important. Honestly, though, the biggest factor seems to be need, and God's will (those two being related, of course).
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posted
I've been wondering about the worthiness issue. I found this at lds.org:
quote:Only brethren who hold the necessary priesthood and are worthy may perform an ordinance or blessing or stand in the circle.... As guided by the Spirit and the instructions in the next paragraph, bishops and stake presidents have discretion to allow priesthood holders who are not fully temple worthy to perform or participate in some ordinances and blessings. However, presiding officers should not allow such participation if a priesthood holder has unresolved serious sins.
A bishop may allow a father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to name and bless his children even if the father is not fully temple worthy. Likewise, a bishop may allow a father who is a priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder to baptize his children or to ordain his sons to offices in the Aaronic Priesthood. A Melchizedek Priesthood holder in similar circumstances may be allowed to stand in the circle for the confirmation of his children, for the conferral of the Melchizedek Priesthood on his sons, or for the setting apart of his wife or children. However, he may not act as voice.
So it seems there are lines that denote when an unworthy priesthood holder may participate in blessings and when he may not, and what part he may play. For example, he can baptize his children but not confirm them. In light of these rules I don't think it's unreasonable to say that worthiness does have an effect on a blessing, and if a man knows he is unworthy, he is right to refuse. If he's wondering whether or not his sins are "serious" enough to make him unworthy to exercise his priesthood, perhaps it's time to visit the bishop. If he knows his sins are not serious enough to warrant seeing the bishop -- e.g., I've yelled at my kids too much today and I'm not feeling the spirit -- it seems like it's time to repent and go perform his duty.
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posted
But those quotes are not about specific saving ordinances, not healing blessings or blessings of comfort. There are institutional reasons for sensitivity about who performs those ordinances that are performed in public and recorded, that may well determine those policies, rather than any doctrine or believe that priesthood power can be curtailed by a person's unworthiness. The D&C 121 scripture talks about the tendency of mortals to misuse the power, not that the power is reduced itself.
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posted
So there were some pretty not so good biblical prophets that we read about. At what point did their priesthood authority leave them?
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posted
Perhaps the apparent contradiction is resolved by the wording of D&C 121: 36: 'the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled'. Maybe this means that we lose the ability to be in charge of our priesthood and cannot use it as we see fit, but that the Lord can still use us when he needs to. We have no part in the process and act only as a conduit in those circumstances, with the payoff that such an experience might persuade us to repent and to return to righteousness.
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posted
And that is precisely my point. For the person receiving the blessing, the personal worthiness of the PH giving it is immaterial, and Heavenly Father can use whatever tool is available to deliver the blessing sought.
I still don't think PH get to exempt themselves on worthiness grounds, when they are asked to use their priesthood. (Of course they SHOULD use their feelings of guilt and inadequacy to spur their own repentance.)
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posted
I just don't know how a priesthood holder who is really unworthy can expect to hear the spirit and know what he is supposed to say in the blessing. I know my ability to hear the spirit is affected by my worthiness.
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posted
I think JennaDean, the difficulty is that there is no "bright line" for worthiness. In many cases it is very subjective and very personal. And for the record, I never "expect" to hear or feel the Spirit, and I never "know" what I should say. It just happens. But I do "hope" for both things to occur.
OTH, I agree with Roper66: The blessing is no less valid for the recipient because the priesthood holder giving it is less than fully worthy. Otherwise, not many blessings would be valid.
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