Living After the Manner of Happiness: Blessing

It's been a while since I've written a blog in my series "Living After the Manner of Happiness", so to continue with that I wanted to share just a couple of thoughts about blessings.

 

When Christ was on the earth His ministry consisted of teaching, preaching, and healing (see Matthew 4:23).  There are many recorded accounts of the Savior healing people and there's no way to know how many unrecorded instances there are of His miraculous healings.  The Savior gave His 12 apostles the power to bless and minister to the people.  It's only through faith and God given power that such miraculous blessings can be given.

 

Here are just a couple of examples:

"And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:16)

"And...he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. ...And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." (Mark 6:5, 13) 

Today the same power that the Savior and His apostles possessed is on the earth.  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we call this power and authority to act in God's name the priesthood.

 

I am so grateful that our Heavenly Father restored this priesthood power to the earth once again.  In times of sickness or in times of discouragement, each one of us can seek a blessing from the hands of one who has been ordained to the priesthood of God.  One definition I read about blessings is, "To confer divine favor upon someone. Anything contributing to true happiness, well-being, or prosperity is a blessing."  

 

I have seen so many miracles occur because of a blessing of the priesthood.  (If you want to read an especially inspiring account read this blog!)  I personally have been blessed and healed.  God wants to bless us and He has provided a way for each one of us.