Thought of the Sunday 43

Today I am grateful for the priesthood in my home.  I have been sick and it got pretty bad last night.  I warned my husband that, depending on how I slept, I might want a priesthood blessing in the morning before he went to work.  Well, I couldn't sleep so I decided to go to the emergency room (that's procedure for my health insurance).  I was having symptoms that I wasn't sure about and wanted to make sure everything was okay since I have asthma.  So off I went and the visit was actually rather great.  I was there for 35 minutes from sign in to discharge and was diagnosed with bronchitis.  The doctor prescribed some meds that might help but said I didn't have to take them.  I felt like she was honest with me and interested in my welfare and that was nice.  Based on some of her suggestions I was able to come home and sleep a little and I am feeling a lot better then I was last night.

So, about 545 this morning I asked my husband for a priesthood blessing.  My husband holds the priesthood, which is the "eternal power and authority of God...the priesthood enables [men] to act in God's name for the salvation of the human family...[It] should be used to bless the lives of our Heavenly Father's children here on earth" (Gospel Principles manual).  Elder Oaks, an Apostle, has said that "men are not the priesthood.  Men hold the priesthood with a sacred duty to use it for the blessing of all of the children of God" (CR, April 2014).

The very same Elder Oaks gave a fabulous talk in April 2010 about healing the sick which included a discussion about all the aspects of a priesthood blessing of healing.  "There are five parts to the use of priesthood authority to bless the sick: (1) the anointing, (2) the sealing of the anointing, (3) faith, (4) the words of the blessing, and (5) the will of the Lord."  He discusses each of these and their roles in the blessing.  It was interesting for me to note that the words of the blessing are not as important as the faith of the recipient and the will of the Lord.  My husband's blessing this morning was short, sweet, and communicated to me the love of my family and my Heavenly Father.  The feelings I got while listening to the words are what will help me to have enough faith to be healed and to trust in the Lord's will and timing; it's not the specific words themselves that heal you.  I encourage you to read  the talk to gain a greater understanding of the role of these wonderful blessings in our lives.  How grateful I am that my husband could do this for me; that he was willing, able and loving.  Our Heavenly Father truly wants us to succeed and has given us so many tools that will help us; tonight, for me, it was medical help at the hospital and the power of the priesthood from God through my husband.