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Just recently, a friend of mine had a baby that had some problems. It wasn't breathing well, and was on all kinds of machines. They gave the baby a priesthood blessing and he got better. Of course, the odds that he wasn't going to get better were very slim to begin with. He was never in much danger. Just needed to mature a little more so he could breath on his own.

But, of course, the TBM family credits the "miraculous" recovery to the blessing. Much eye rolling was done by me.

This got me thinking. Has there ever been a single documented case of an incurable disease being cured by the power of the priesthood? Or is it only in diseases that have been known to spontaneously go into remission on their own? Has anyone ever been cured of AIDS, MS, parkinsons, diabetes or any other incurable disease? Or do blessings only work on cancer and those that we have been known to cure? And, no, I'm not talking about Faith-Promoting Rumor's of someone that heard that someone on their mission healed a blind man once.

On the MAD forum, I once suggested the a study should be created as to who's blessing were the most powerful. I suggested a study the would follow people that have type of severe cancer and compile statistics about change in morbidity when people of faith are giving blessings by one who is in authority in their faith. The statistics for each faith, Mormon, Catholic, Baptist, Jew, Muslem, etc. and compared against the atheist group as the control.

This could be used as a missionary tool ! They might be able to say with LDS priesthood blessings are, say, 80% more effective in curing your illness that, say, Baptist and 50% more powerful than Jewish blessings.

Now, that would be a powerful missionary tool.... I don't understand why no one there thought it to be a good idea. Go figure.

I doubt there has been a documented case. In general we're encouraged NOT to publicize Priesthood power and it's effects. It generates the wrong kind of attention.

The Nehor wrote:I doubt there has been a documented case. In general we're encouraged NOT to publicize Priesthood power and it's effects. It generates the wrong kind of attention.

The desired effect of that mandate is to not ublicise the times that it does not work. Furthermore, the times a believer supposes it does work, one is merely practicing wishful thinking.

Assinine, kudicrous and just plain playing with peoples emotional attachment to a faux method of healing. Its sad really to see people put faith into blessings as it is nothing more than hand wavey silly gestures.

Mercury wrote:The desired effect of that mandate is to not ublicise the times that it does not work. Furthermore, the times a believer supposes it does work, one is merely practicing wishful thinking.

Assinine, kudicrous and just plain playing with peoples emotional attachment to a faux method of healing. Its sad really to see people put faith into blessings as it is nothing more than hand wavey silly gestures.

The other option could be that healing of that kind shown to someone who does not believe will tend to attract those interested in power and people requesting blessings from people who have had success in the past.

The Nehor wrote:

Mercury wrote:The desired effect of that mandate is to not ublicise the times that it does not work. Furthermore, the times a believer supposes it does work, one is merely practicing wishful thinking.

Assinine, kudicrous and just plain playing with peoples emotional attachment to a faux method of healing. Its sad really to see people put faith into blessings as it is nothing more than hand wavey silly gestures.

The other option could be that healing of that kind shown to someone who does not believe will tend to attract those interested in power and people requesting blessings from people who have had success in the past.

Silly Mormon, wishful thinking is for kids!

Scottie wrote:This got me thinking. Has there ever been a single documented case of an incurable disease being cured by the power of the priesthood? Or is it only in diseases that have been known to spontaneously go into remission on their own? Has anyone ever been cured of AIDS, MS, parkinsons, diabetes or any other incurable disease? Or do blessings only work on cancer and those that we have been known to cure? And, no, I'm not talking about Faith-Promoting Rumor's of someone that heard that someone on their mission healed a blind man once.

It's a well known fact that God does not love amputees as much as cancer patients.

Scottie wrote:Just recently, a friend of mine had a baby that had some problems. It wasn't breathing well, and was on all kinds of machines. They gave the baby a priesthood blessing and he got better. Of course, the odds that he wasn't going to get better were very slim to begin with. He was never in much danger. Just needed to mature a little more so he could breath on his own.

But, of course, the TBM family credits the "miraculous" recovery to the blessing. Much eye rolling was done by me.

This got me thinking. Has there ever been a single documented case of an incurable disease being cured by the power of the priesthood? Or is it only in diseases that have been known to spontaneously go into remission on their own? Has anyone ever been cured of AIDS, MS, parkinsons, diabetes or any other incurable disease? Or do blessings only work on cancer and those that we have been known to cure? And, no, I'm not talking about Faith-Promoting Rumor's of someone that heard that someone on their mission healed a blind man once.

Next time you are in F&T meeting, listen with a critical ear to the several “healing” stories that I’m sure will be told. It is all wishful thinking. Our SP gave a blessing to his sister proclaiming that she would be healed of her cancer and would live to see her children grow up to be married. She died within two months. My good friend and former Bishop was diagnosed with MS. He was blessed and promised he would be healed. It’s been three years, and he is now in a wheelchair.

In the talk below is a testimony given of the dead being raised. This was around 1950 or so, if I'm not mistaken.


Matthew Cowley, Miracles
http://speeches.BYU.edu/?act=browse&speaker=Cowley%2C+Matthew&topic=&type=&year=&x=13&y=6

I'm a cancer survivor. I didn't have a blessing, but my name was put on the prayer list in a couple of temples. I guess that's what did it.