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Question: Why doesn't God always heal the sick when they are given priesthood blessings?
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Contents
- 1 Question: Why doesn't God always heal the sick when they are given priesthood blessings?
- 1.1 Elder Oaks taught that the healing power of the priesthood cannot produce a result contrary to the will of the Lord
- 1.2 The words of the blessing are not essential to the healing effect, and they will ultimately not override the will of the Lord
- 1.3 Sometimes God allows us to be His hand in helping to alleviate suffering
Question: Why doesn't God always heal the sick when they are given priesthood blessings?
Elder Oaks taught that the healing power of the priesthood cannot produce a result contrary to the will of the Lord
As D&C 42꞉48 states, it is not always the will of the Lord for them to be healed:
And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed.
Elder Oaks explained this very well:
[W]e must always remember that faith and the healing power of the priesthood cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him whose priesthood it is. This principle is taught in the revelation directing that the elders of the Church shall lay their hands upon the sick. The Lord’s promise is that “he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed” (D&C 42:48; emphasis added). Similarly, in another modern revelation the Lord declares that when one “asketh according to the will of God … it is done even as he asketh” (D&C 46:30). [1]
The words of the blessing are not essential to the healing effect, and they will ultimately not override the will of the Lord
Elder Oaks:
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. Conversely, if the officiator yields to personal desire or inexperience and gives commands or words of blessing in excess of what the Lord chooses to bestow according to the faith of the individual, those words will not be fulfilled. [2]
Sometimes God allows us to be His hand in helping to alleviate suffering
Many people ask whether God intervenes in our lives. It is true that he does from time to time. But, perhaps a more important question is whether we are intervening in each others' lives. Should we pray that God will heal the sick? Yes. But, more importantly, do we visit the sick and administer to their relief? Should we pray that God will alleviate the suffering of the poor? Yes. But, more importantly, are we doing something to help alleviate their suffering? Perhaps God is more concerned with what we are doing to intervene than with intervening himself.
Notes