Administrations to the Sick

In my church, when you are sick you can receive a priesthood blessing. Two priesthood holders who at least hold the office of "Elder" come to your house, anoint your head with oil that is specifically used for administering to the sick, and then place their hands on your head and give you a blessing of health. What they say in the blessing, if they are in tune to the Spirit, will come to pass.

Our method is the same used in the original church that Christ established. In James 5:14 it reads:

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

If you follow the link by clicking on the post title, you will find other scriptural references supporting this method.

This method is important because Christ said to use it, but there are other ways that people have been healed by faith. I think why this method is important is because of what the priesthood holder is suppose to symbolize. Christ did a lot of healing both in the New Testament as well as in the Book of Mormon and in almost all the cases when he healed someone he touched them. I believe this is because whatever Christ touches lives. In Alma 15:8 it tells the key to being healed:

8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.

When the Elders come to your house, they are representatives of Christ. When they anoint your head with oil, they are committing you to God. When they place their hands on your head, it is as if Christ was touching you just as he did long ago.

I don't understand why some people are healed and others have to live a life of physical pain. I know that everything that happens is to help us draw closer to Christ if we open our hearts to him.

There have been some nights with my illness that the pain was so intense I would cry, and then I would call some priesthood holders in my congregation to come and give me a blessing. Afterwards the pain would become less and I would be able to function again. I have not been completely healed of my condition and though I've known people who have been healed, my faith in the healing power of the priesthood has not been shaken.