Elder Dallin H. Oaks: 'Healing the sick'

Healing the sick — by medical science, by prayers of faith and by priesthood blessings — was the theme of the priesthood session address by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve.

"Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques," he said. "We use nutrition, exercise and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health."

Elder Oaks denied that use of medical science is at odds with prayers of faith and reliance on priesthood blessings.

He said that when a person requested a priesthood blessing Brigham Young would ask if he had used any remedies. If the person responded no, President Young said, "This is very inconsistent according to my faith. If we are sick and ask the Lord to bless us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge and [then] to ask my Father in heaven ... to sanctify that application to the healing of my body."

Elder Oaks added, "Of course we don't wait until all other methods are exhausted before we pray in faith or give priesthood blessings for healing. In emergencies, prayers and blessings come first. Most often we pursue all efforts simultaneously. This follows scriptural teachings that we should 'pray always' (Doctrine and Covenants 90:24) and that all things should be done in wisdom and order" (see Mosiah 4:27).

Melchizedek Priesthood holders should be prepared to use the healing power of the priesthood properly, Elder Oaks said. He noted that there are five parts to the use of priesthood authority to bless the sick: the anointing, the sealing of the anointing, faith, the words of the blessing and the will of the Lord.

He gave scriptures from the Old and New Testament regarding anointing of the sick.

He explained, "When elders anoint a sick person and seal the anointing, they open the windows of heaven for the Lord to pour forth the blessing He wills for the person afflicted.

Elder Oaks added: "Although we know of many cases where persons blessed by priesthood authority have been healed, we rarely refer to these healings in public meetings because modern revelation cautions us not to 'boast [ourselves] of these things neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and salvation'" (Doctrine and Covenants 84:73).

Quoting President Spencer W. Kimball, Elder Oaks said the need of faith is often underestimated and that too frequent administrations may be an indication of a lack of faith or of the ill one trying to pass the responsibility for faith development to the elders rather than self.

Elder Oaks said the words of the blessing can be very important, but their content is not essential, as are the other parts of the blessing.

"Every elder who gives a blessing is subject to the influence by what he desires for the person afflicted," he said. "Each of these and other mortal imperfections can influence the words we speak.

"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 the words or not."

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