A Blessing That Costs Nothing But Faith
“…thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” -Matthew 16:18-19
There are so many resources available to those seeking healing — physical, mental, emotional, situational — but they all require a certain amount of financial investment, time, and paperwork. Is there an easier way? Yes!
Jesus Christ gave His disciples the gift and power of God to heal, comfort, and bless — and guess what? He gave it freely to all. He didn’t require anything from those who came to Him, just their faith in Him and in His power.
Today that power and Christ’s gospel have been restored. We now have access to ask for a blessing from those who hold His authority. All you need to offer is your faith. It’s a marvelous gift! Are we taking advantage of it?
A Personal Experience
Of course we should always pair priesthood blessings with other sources of healing, but sometimes blessings help when all other efforts fail.
I’ve seen this power at work in my own family. My father was suffering with very painful gout for months. He’d been to doctors and wasn’t getting the relief he needed. Finally, he asked my husband to give him a blessing — and within a day or two, the pain was gone and the infection was healing. It was a very humbling and faith-promoting experience for me, one I’ve never forgotten.
This Isn’t New
Accounts like this fill the pages of early Church history. One well-known example comes from 1837, just before Heber C. Kimball left on his mission to England. He’d injured his back badly while chopping and hauling wood, so much so that he could barely move without crying out in pain. When Joseph Smith heard of it, he came to Heber’s home with Oliver Cowdery and Bishop Edward Partridge. They laid their hands on him and blessed him in the name of Jesus Christ — and Heber got up, got dressed, and was able to go about his day, free of pain. Note 1.
Stories like this remind us that priesthood healing isn’t a relic of the past. It’s the same power, freely available today, that healed the sick in the New Testament and in the earliest days of the restored Church — and it’s just as available to you.
What Actually Happens
If you’ve never received a priesthood blessing before, the idea of asking might feel intimidating — will it be awkward? Here’s the simple truth: it’s quick, it’s free, and it’s kind. Two worthy priesthood holders (often a father, husband, home teacher, or ward member) will typically anoint your head with consecrated oil and then say a short blessing, sealed in the name of Jesus Christ. There’s no fee, no form, and no waiting list — only your faith and their willingness to serve.
Take the Next Step
If you know a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reach out and ask if they know someone with the authority to give you a blessing. If you don’t know anyone, you can find a local meetinghouse and bishop who can help at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/welcome/find-a-church?lang=eng
Have you ever experienced the power of a priesthood blessing in your own life? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
note1: Karl Ricks Anderson, Joseph Smith’s Kirtland Eyewitness Accounts (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1996), 82, recounting Vilate Kimball’s record of the event. https://archive.org/details/josephsmithskirt0000ande/page/82/mode/2up