LDS Freedom Forum

I have always thought about if a priesthood holder is called upon to give a blessing and they don't feel worthy enough should they refuse? or should they go ahead and give the blessing?
My question is would the recipient be denied the blessings of a priesthood blessing, just because the giver is unworthy?

I do believe that we should recuse ourselves if we don't feel worthy to give a blessing. I have done so.

But I also believe that we won't suffer a loss of blessings because of another's sins.

I know that those who received ordinances such as baptism from a unworthy priesthood holder, that their baptism is in effect and doesn't need to be redone.

I would hope priesthood men would be worthy if they chose to use the priesthood.

I talked to my bishop about things like ordaining someone to the priesthood. He says there is no bearing on the worthiness of the person doing the ordaining, as long as they hold the proper keys, the priesthood is passed on. I am sure ordinances it is the same.

I think even if the recipient is not worthy, the priesthood gets passed to them, although of course they won't effectively use the priesthood until they have repented.

Dusty52 wrote: ↑July 5th, 2018, 3:38 pm I have always thought about if a priesthood holder is called upon to give a blessing and they don't feel worthy enough should they refuse? or should they go ahead and give the blessing?
My question is would the recipient be denied the blessings of a priesthood blessing, just because the giver is unworthy?

When I have been asked to give a blessing, I have asked to be excused when I did not feel able to know God's will. I feel a priesthood blessing is the opportunity to act as God's mouthpiece, and I'll decline if I feel unable to do so.


I would probably make an exception if there was no one else available to do it, and I would just pray that God would forgive my weakness and inspire me to say the right thing for the recipient's sake.

We are all sinners. In my opinion, not being worthy means that we are completely sure that we are not able to listen to the spirit. God is willing to speak also to sinners (just think of any great conversion story, like Paul or Alma the younger). We shouldn't refuse without good reason. If the recipient have faith, that should strengthen our faith too.

Well let me tell you my experience.

Whenever I'd asked for a blessing, sick, or for church calling, or for a problem the priesthood holders for some reason or another one after another kept saying they'd need some time and asked for a month. And then it happened again, and again, and again. It happened for several years in a row. That's not supposed to happen. (Although to be fair, one of them cheated me in some business things so maybe he shouldn't have haha...oh well.)

So it's ended up that whenever I've asked for a priesthood holder they always think they have to be perfect and never is one available. So usually blessings don't work 95% of the time because Satan tricks them into thinking they can't show up, that they aren't perfect, and so too many of them bow out. (I kind of get a bit tired of this.)

You don't need to be perfect. That's why we have the gift of repentance.

I think for the most part you shouldn't refuse to give a blessing if you don't feel worthy. Feeling unworthy isn't the same as being unworthy. I suppose if you really are unworthy the Holy Spirit can testify that to you, but I imagine it is the exception and not the rule.

Like taking the sacrament, by taking it you show your willingness to allow Jesus' spirit to sanctify you. You don't only take it when you have been perfect that week.

One of my weaknesses is I overeat sometimes. When I do, I feel guilty and I do not feel worthy. But if the sky opens and Jesus comes and I have just finished eating a bowl of ice cream, I am not letting that guilt keep me from going to be with Jesus.

Keep things in perspective. Just because you don't feel worthy doesn't mean you are an exception to Jesus' atonement which is instant meaning as soon as you desire to repent you are forgiven.

Just having faith to give a blessing can cover a multitude of sins in my opinion. Because you saw someone spiritually hungry and you fed them.

Juliet wrote: ↑July 6th, 2018, 2:33 am I think for the most part you shouldn't refuse to give a blessing if you don't feel worthy. Feeling unworthy isn't the same as being unworthy. I suppose if you really are unworthy the Holy Spirit can testify that to you, but I imagine it is the exception and not the rule.

Like taking the sacrament, by taking it you show your willingness to allow Jesus' spirit to sanctify you. You don't only take it when you have been perfect that week.

One of my weaknesses is I overeat sometimes. When I do, I feel guilty and I do not feel worthy. But if the sky opens and Jesus comes and I have just finished eating a bowl of ice cream, I am not letting that guilt keep me from going to be with Jesus.

Keep things in perspective. Just because you don't feel worthy doesn't mean you are an exception to Jesus' atonement which is instant meaning as soon as you desire to repent you are forgiven.

Just having faith to give a blessing can cover a multitude of sins in my opinion. Because you saw someone spiritually hungry and you fed them.

I think that is a good perspective. I can tell you that at times I have not felt worthy to be a conduit for God during blessings, but my focus is on the person, not on me. I ask the Lord to have mercy on the person requesting the blessing and me, so that the person is blessed in spite of my failures. I can not think of a time in which the Lord did not bless them through me. Or that we were not both edified. I'm always so grateful that the Lord allows me to work though I am imperfect. That being said, I have felt inspired to ask the individual to ask someone else (usually not because of my unworthiness) because that person would benefit greatly from exercising their priesthood. I am always constantly surprised at how rarely men in the church use the priesthood that has been given them. It is a gift to be shared and not to be hidden. It is for the blessing of all the children of God and if we are truly trying to follow the Spirit, we will feel inspired to offer from time to time.

I should add, that I'm sure there are times when you truly may be unworthy, but my litmus test is generally this (with a few exceptions which I won't get into) if I can feel the Spirit in prayer, then I know, even though doubts permeate my mind, that the Lord can use me for His work. The SPirit can not dwell in unholy temples, thus I know if I feel it, I have been forgiven (even if I feel unworthy). It is the other side that is trying to convince me not to use the priesthood, not God. That being said, follow the Spirit, if it tells you not to give them a blessing then don't, but make sure you are following the SPirit and not your own thoughts or some other spirit's.

Elder Anderson Power in the Priesthood:

“For example, consider the plague of pornography sweeping across the world. The Lord’s standard of worthiness gives no allowance for pornography among those officiating in the ordinances of the priesthood. The Savior said:

“Repent of your … secret abominations.”15

“The light of the body is the eye. … If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.”16

“[For] whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”17

Unworthily administering or passing the sacrament, blessing the sick, or participating in other priesthood ordinances is, as Elder David A. Bednar has said, taking the name of God in vain.

If one is unworthy, he should withdraw from officiating in priesthood ordinances and prayerfully approach his bishop as a first step in repenting and returning to the commandments.”