Comments on: Priesthood / Faith, What’s the Deal Here?

By: Kurt

Kurt — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 14:00:37 +0000

In thinking over Jesus’ comments from the various Gospels on people’s faith healing them, I have to wonder if Jesus’ intent there was to make it clear to the people that it wasnt just a miracle on his part, but was also participatory for the person who was healed. In other words, Jesus couldnt/wouldnt have healed them if it werent for their faith, so its not just all about him, its also about them too. Their faith, convictions, good works and so on, put them into a place where their belief in God was firm and steadfast, and so Jesus performed a healing miracle for a believer.

This wouldnt mean the Priesthood wasnt necessary, it would mean:

Jesus’ Priesthood + Beleiver’s Faith = Healing Miracle

With Jesus emphasizing the believer’s faith, so they wouldnt place 100% of the miracle on Jesus’ shoulders. Jesus’ intent was not to create a cult of personality, but to get people to have a godly walk and emulate his life of deditcated service. If he didnt emphasize the believer’s faith, then people would focus on the miracle alone and assume it was some sort of mystical event that occurred solely as a result of being in the right place at the right time.

By: LisaB

LisaB — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 22:33:35 +0000

No mortal–male or female–”has” the power of God right now, exclusively or otherwise. Men and women have equal access to faith and receiving prieshood salvatory ordinances.

By: Abby

Abby — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 20:56:45 +0000

What’s the difference between “the power of God” and “faith”, except that men have one exclusively (so far)?

By: ed

ed — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 10:51:00 +0000

Here’s another quote from the Gospel Principles manual.

What Is the Priesthood?

The priesthood is the power and authority of God. By his priesthood power the heavens and the earth were created. By this power the universe is kept in perfect order….Our Heavenly Father shares his priesthood power with worthy male members of the Church.

By: ed

ed — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 10:46:46 +0000

Don,

I have often heard it taught in the church that “the priesthood” is indeed the power of God itself. For example, this comes from the Priesthood entry in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

Priesthood embraces all forms of God’s power. It is the power by which the cosmos was ordered, universes and worlds were organized, and the elements in all their varied structures and relationships were put into place. Through the priesthood, God governs all things.

I think this is the idea that LisaB is referring to.

By: don

don — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 04:26:28 +0000

Lisa, you said “So whether or not someone invokes authority granted by virtue of priesthood ordination, if healing occurs, priesthood (the power of God) is invloved.” I respectfully disagree for two reasons. First the priesthood is not the power of God, it is the power granted to man to act in His name. Maybe I splitting hairs but I think there is a difference.

Second, faith heals. There are just too many examples in the scriptures where faith is the healing force.

That’s my whole point of this blog.

By: LisaB

LisaB — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 02:16:52 +0000

Don–No I’m not only talking about the specific fact of women being sanctioned to perform priesthood healing blessings in the early history of the LDS church. I’m also pointing out that the priesthood is the power of God. So whether or not someone invokes authority granted by virtue of priesthood ordination, if healing occurs, priesthood (the power of God) is invloved.

By: Brett

Brett — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 00:11:58 +0000

I remember when I got home from my mission and I was trying to help get by inactive brother back to church. Being the overzealous RM that I was, I told him the story of a miraculous healing I saw after a preisthood blessing. I believed it was sure evidence that we had the true priesthood. My brother floored me completely when he asked about miraculous healings of people of others faith. So, if they didn’t have the preisthood was it really the blessing that healed the missionary? I didn’t have an answer, so I just kept eating my grilled stuff burrito.

By: don

don — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:11:59 +0000

Lisa,

When you say “Women didn’t heal without the priesthood”, I assuming you mean in specific cases. One of the points of this post is that it doesn’t take the priesthood to heal, it takes faith. Faith can heal without any involvement of the priesthood in any way.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 17:33:41 +0000

J.Stapley,

Could you give specific examples of what you are referring to? Also, what about in pre-Christian times, its pretty plain under the Law of Moses that ordinances were strictly administered via highly regulated means. I have to wonder of some of the ambiguity we see in Jesus’ actions is because of the overlap between the AP and MP, being somewhat in conflict at the time.