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How do you give a priesthood blessing over a distance? Never seen anything on this. I’m not just talking phone messages… Obviously oil doesn’t get used.
I don’t know of any formalized ritual for that in LDS Mormonism. Priesthood always seems to be exercise like that by the laying on of hands, which would imply the person being present physically (not at a distance). That being said, I am always open to creativity. I would guess you could do something basically like a prayer. You pray for the person and invoke the power and authority of the priesthood, say the blessings that come to mind via the Spirit, and close in the name of Jesus Christ. How does that sound?
I also have never heard of distance blessings, but my suggestion would be the same as Brian’s. There are father’s blessings (and mother’s blessings) that don’t require consecrated oil and/or the Priesthood (or even membership), if they are prayers of faith in content and form. (Terminology is just terminology; it’s the content and form that distinguish meaning, imo.) I can’t argue against that sort of “distance blessing” – by anyone, with or without the Priesthood.
The organization of the church provides a way to make a phone call to a local authority or missionaries who can give the blessing in person with oil and laying on of hands. It takes a few extra steps to get it done, but with faith, a person can usually find willing local participants. I think it is a cool idea that sometimes complete strangers can be called to action and sincerely participate. I’ve seen it happen. What about placing a name on a temple roll? Then pray over the names. I think that would be considered a blessing at a distance.
Mike from Milton.
This is a true, but creative (and strange) story. On my mission, there was an elder that was struggling with being on his mission. His companion called the mission president, the prez talked to the struggling elder and told him to give the phone back to the companion. President told the companion to place his hands on the elder’s head, and repeat the blessing that the President would recite over the phone. The president commanded that the evil spirit to leave the missionary. When I first heard the story, I was skeptical. But when I met the missionary who had the evil spirit cast out, he said the story was true, and that he had a better attitude after the blessing. Strange but true, and creative!
First, a priesthood blessing is a specific ordinance, but it is not required for healing. We typically pray for those that are sick, the the assumption that God can grant our prayers. We fast for those that need physical healing. And we have the prayer roll. I would not say that those are secondary to priesthood blessing in any way. In fact, based on the general stance of the church on related issues, I don’t think the church would assume that God would be unwilling to heal a faithful person in need just because a priesthood holder wasn’t available. But to the specific question of blessings at a distance, there is this:
John 4:46So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
49The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
51And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
52Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
53So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
GREAT example, On Our Own. Good example from the NT, I had forgotten that one. Seriously, it does seem an issue. How do we do this
officially(i.e. laid down in handbooks etc)? What if you want to bless a trapped Chilean miner, your friend on a Twin Tower which will fall soon, or someone on a space station?
Quote:What about placing a name on a temple roll? Then pray over the names.
I think that would be considered a blessing at a distance.
Yeah, I’ve done that. But I can’t help thinking my names never make it into the box… Paranoid I know.
I tried this the other night. I put a bit in the pre-amble saying that I didn’t know the person’s middle name(s) (should have checked this out*), and that they could not be present… and I pretended that I was laying hands on the non-present head. (No oil was used) I felt most incredible afterwards. Amazing. I haven’t felt the spirit much recently, but I definitely did on this occasion, right until I went to sleep that night. On the other hand, at HT I was called to bless an elderly member who had twisted his leg. I could barely do it, and apologised for my lack of fluency. And I didn’t feel a thing. I hope the brother did.
Strange, though, the contrast. And yet, one was official and correct, and the other wasn’t!
* I don’t actually believe God needs all of our middle names all the time. Surely a lot of people out there have the same names!
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