Elder Holland Q&A @ Harvard Law School →
(Source: jquarez)
So I thought about posting something about this subject for some time now since it’s very fascinating, however it could be unpopular from members and non-members alike to consider something like this to be true doctrine.
If you’re planning to read this, let me say this is to clear up some questions people have in relation to women and the priesthood. I ask you to keep an open mind about what I’m going to say and realize that what I’m saying comes from the words of three prophets, namely Joseph Smith, Joseph F. Smith, and Joseph Fielding Smith.
Now I’ll get to the topic at hand.
There have been questions about the Priesthood, about administering to the sick, about women and their role in the Priesthood, so I’ll clear up a bit of that.
Let’s say you’re a Melchizedek Priesthood holder and there’s no other Melchizedek Priesthood holder around to help you give a blessing and administer to the sick, would you be able to have an Aaronic Priesthood holder help you in administering to the sick? The answer comes from the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve:
“…it was the sense of the Council… that the practice for administering be confined to the elders; but in the case of absolute necessity, that is where an elder finds himself in the situation that he cannot avail himself of the company of another elder, he may, if opportunity affords, avail himself of the company of a member of the Aaronic Priesthood, or even a lay member, but for the purpose only of being supported by the faith of such member or members, the elder alone to officiate in the ordinance of administration; or the elder may administer alone without such assistance of a lay member or one holding the Aaronic Priesthood.”
So let me get to what EXACTLY that means. It means that yes, the Aaronic Priesthood holder CAN IN FACT help in a Priesthood blessing. He can help, through his faith, rather than through his priesthood. In fact, even a regular male member of the Church may put their hands on the afflicted person’s head for the blessing, however again, it is only through the merit of their faith, not the Priesthood.
So to make that simpler, the Melchizedek Priesthood holder speaks and pronounces the blessing as if it were only himself giving the blessing. For example, “…by the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, which I hold, I seal the anointing…”. So in effect, it is only the Melchizedek Priesthood holder that is pronouncing the blessing, whereas the other people who do not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood are acting through faith alone.
Now on to something even more interesting that I have never before seen in my life, and I’d be interested to see if anyone else has seen it before.
What I’m talking about is if it is okay for women to also join a Melchizedek Priesthood holder in giving a Priesthood blessing to the sick and afflicted.
The answer is yes. And this is why:
Joseph F. Smith in The Improvement Era, Vol. 10, page 808,
“Does a wife hold the priesthood with her husband and may she lay hands on the sick with him, with authority? A wife does not hold the priesthood with her husband, but she enjoys the benefits thereof with him; and if she is requested to lay hands on the sick with him, or with any other officer holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, she may do so with perfect propriety. It is no uncommon thing for a man and wife unitedly to administer to their children.
The wife would lay on hands just as would a member of the Aaronic Priesthood, or a faithful brother without the priesthood, thus giving support by faith to the ordinance.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, ‘Respecting females administering for the healing of the sick, there could be no evil in it, if God gave His sanction by healing; that there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on and praying for the sick, than in wetting the face with water; it is no sin for anybody to administer that has faith, or if the sick have faith to be healed by their administration. Such an administration would not be by virtue of the Priesthood, but a manifestation of faith.’”
So let me reiterate what this is saying. In the same way that an Aaronic Priesthood holder or even a male member without the Priesthood can lay their hands on the head of the afflicted person, a female member of the Church may also do the same. In each circumstance it is ONLY through their faith, not by virtue of the Priesthood.
I’ll come back to a man and wife administering to their children in a minute.
In the Prophet’s quote, he says that anyone can act in faith. If we realize how powerful faith truly is then we would realize that faith can move mountains, can cause miracles, can heal the sick. We know that it is through the faith of those who are afflicted that they may be healed. However, it is the duty of the Priesthood to administer to the sick and afflicted. The majority of these situations are in isolated incidents that most of us will never witness. Supposing there is a Melchizedek Priesthood holder present, he does have the authority to anoint and seal the anointing, or in other words, to complete the blessing all by himself (naturally through the power and will of Heavenly Father). And so circumstances like this do not occur unless they are necessary.
And that circumstance brings me back to a couple administering to their children. What a joyous thing we can witness when we see the Plan of Salvation/Happiness take effect with our eternal companion. To think that a family can be united by the Priesthood in having a man sealed to his wife and both administering to the covenant children they have brought into the world. It’s a wonderful image. It shows that the wife has a place at the head of the family, with her husband. That they’re partners and associates one with the other. This alone can show the children the example of righteousness at the head of their family and show them how they ought to be.
Again, just to clarify. You shouldn’t be jumping at the next opportunity to participate in a blessing if you do not hold the Priesthood. Included in what was said, those who are invited to participate, may participate. Otherwise it is left with the holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood as it is their duty and responsibility. Also, many many members do not know about these principles and it could cause contention if there isn’t adequate understanding in any given situation.
So it’s definitely an amazing thing, and something to take into consideration, but nothing to aspire to do.
:) I hope this has been interesting of anyone who read it. If you have any questions in relation to this or anything else then do not hesitate to ask right away! Thanks!
If you’ve ever heard anything contrary to the Mormon church, or let’s say anything for that matter, seriously ignore it. I can prove literally the falsehood of the site I ran into. It’s on paper all over the world that the site is lying.
Why do people hold such a grudge against the Mormon church for absolutely no reason except their own bitterness for some kind of experience they had that wasn’t beneficial to them??
First off, church is for yourself, not for the other people you might find there. Secondly, do NOT believe everything you read on the internet especially.
You can literally say anything you want online. Anything. So why should that stop someone else that was offended because someone at church didn’t stop to talk to them, etc. Or because they met a Mormon that they disliked?
People need to get their facts straight, and the only way to do that is to FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF. Do not blindly trust something because it sounds reasonable. Anyone seen that meme “Seems Legit”? Exactly. Pay close attention and STUDY if you have questions, but not on the freakin’ internet where there are innumerable lies. First off, find the facts. In scripture if possible, and from reliable sources. I know a lot about Mormon doctrine and I live it as best as I can. If you have a question about something you may have seen, heard, etc, then you are more than welcome to ask me the question and I’ll give you legitimate sources that are indisputable if you ask as well. Depending on what you believe in to start, i.e. the Bible, The Book of Mormon, etc.
SERIOUSLY, DO NOT TRUST EVERYTHING SOMEONE PUTS ONLINE. ESPECIALLY IF IT’S CONTRARY TO SOMETHING YOU’RE RESEARCHING OR ALREADY BELIEVE IN. YOU’RE PUTTING YOURSELF IN A SITUATION THAT YOU CAN’T RECOVER FROM BECAUSE THOSE DOUBTS WON’T GO AWAY. And there’s a reason they won’t go away. They SEEM reasonable, they “seem legit”, but they’re not. And I can prove it. Ask away if you care to.
If you actually took the time to read this, then thank you.
