The Priesthood

The other day I was reading one of the talks from the last General Conference. It was by Dallin H. Oaks on "Healing the Sick". It reminded me of an incident my mother told to me. Elder Oaks said in part "Fortunately, the words spoken in a healing blessing are not essential to its healing effect. If faith is sufficient and if the Lord wills it, the afflicted person will be healed or blessed whether the officiator speaks those words or not." (Read the article to see what he said about faith and the Lord's will in Priesthood blessings).

The incident my Mom told me about occurred during the time when Dad was unable to verbalize his thoughts like he could earlier in life. It was night and Mom had a terrible headache and had been unable to control it with medication. She asked Dad to give her a Priesthood blessing. She said he laid his hands on her head and said a very simple blessing. Although he could not speak eloquently, both he and Mom had faith in the healing power of a Priesthood blessing and she said the relief from the headache was almost immediate.

I bear testimony of the Power of the Priesthood, that the Priesthood is God's power given to men on earth to act for him. I am so thankful to have it in my life.