Healing Blessings: Faith of the Giver and Receiver

Recently I've experienced the fruits of healing blessings and wanted to share not the details but the reality of Christ's power in our lives. He said that signs of those that believe "shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/mark/16/18#18). The individuals that he referenced as those that believe should be clarified as two sets of individuals: the ordained that is authorized to exercise Christ's name and the receiver of the blessing. Both are required to have faith for the efficacy of the blessing to be fully realized.

In the past month I've seen where blessings have been administer in faith and been received by faith to the healing, sometimes immediately, of the receiver. I've also seen where an unauthorized believer laid hands on an individual and the effects were negligible. God has a pattern and working contrary to that pattern yields no fruit. The pattern of which I write is embodied within his Holy Priesthood.

Why do we seek blessings of health and how does it help our spiritual, which more explicitly is eternal, progress? When our temporal, or physical needs are met, do we not begin to draw upon spiritual matters, insights and look to God for more light and knowledge? When we're ailing can we effectively carry forth His kingdom and work His work? Ailments are at times for the trial of our faith, both those that care for the sick and the sick themselves. How we acknowledge our God and believe in His Son is what enables our faith to overcome our trial.

This last year my wife struggled (and still struggles) with the passing of her mother who fought the degenerative disease of Multiple Sclerosis for 35 yrs. As a recipient of healing blessings, the most gracious blessing of all for her could be categorized as the release of her mortal body from her spirit from this earthly existence. But those of us that have remained behind can certainly wonder why the effects of healing blessings didn't alter her divine destiny. With her trial came enormous blessings that far outlive her mortal existence. With her trial she literally touched hundreds of lives. Caregivers were preached to, given opportunities to come unto Christ. Faithful friends and family saw firsthand how her life was turned for good through a debilitating trial. One could see that the work of healing was more spiritual than physical and the effects of the healing were far reaching.

As my father's health fails him (he's back in the hospital fighting respiratory complications), I wonder what healing experiences he's had. I know he's blessed my life many times and provided for me a pattern in the Priesthood to exercise faith. I've seen the miracles extended from my hands in Christ which effected not only my faith but the well-being of others, both physically and spiritually. Will he receive the effects of Christ's love for his mortal healing? I pray so.

Healing blessings are one more evidence of Christ's love and goodness in our lives. Not only is His love shown through the receiver of the blessing, but through the faith of the giver can His love be felt.

Are Biblical References Unconstitutional in our Courts and Government?

AGREE OR DELETE

< /FONT>Andy Rooney

DID YOU KNOW?

As you walk up the steps to the

Building which houses the U S Supreme Court

You can see near the top of the building a row

Of the world's law givers and each one is

Facing one in the middle who is facing forward

With a full frontal view ... It is Moses and he

Is holding the Ten Commandments!

. DID YOU KNOW?

As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the

Two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments

Engraved on each lower portion of each door.

DID YOU KNOW?

As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see

The wall, right above where the Supreme Court

Judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW?

There are Bible verses etched in stone all

Over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in

Washington , D.C.

DID YOU KNOW?

James Madison, the fourth president, known as

'The Father of Our Constitution' made the

Following statement:

' We have staked the whole of all our political

Institutions upon the capacity of mankind for

Self-government, upon the capacity of each and

All of us to govern ourselves, to control

Ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to

The Ten Commandments of God.'

DID YOU KNOW?

Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding

Father of our country said:

'It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too

Often that this great nation was founded not

By religionists but by Christians, not on

Religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ'.

DID YOU KNOW?

<>

Every session of Congress begins with a prayer

By a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid

By the taxpayer since 1777.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the

Constitution were members of the established

Orthodox churches in the colonies.

DID YOU KNOW?

Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would

Overstep their authority and instead of

Interpreting the law would begin making law

An oliga rchy

The rule of few over many.

DID YOU KNOW?

The very first Supreme Court Justice, John

Jay, said:

'Americans should select and prefer Christians

As their rulers.'

How then, have we gotten to the point that Every thing we have done for 220 years in this

Country is now suddenly wrong and

Unconstitutional?

Lets put it around the world and let the world

See and remember what this great country was

Built on.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed or

Delete if I didn't. Now it is your turn...

It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.

Therefore, it is very hard to understand

Why there is such a mess about having the Ten

Commandments on display or 'In God We Trust'

On our money and having God in the Pledge of

Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the other

14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!

If you agree, pass this on

What Not to Expect in a Mormon Meeting House

So yesterday was an adventure in the unexpected. For anyone that has visited an LDS church service, exciting is not a word that usually comes to mind to describes the proceedings. At times there are some unexpected comments made and I've sat through some pretty unusual witnesses of nothing in particular. But yesterday had to have topped all previously acknowledged strange experiences.

The first Sunday of each month a typical LDS congregation worships together having prepared themselves through prayer and fasting. After the holy communion, or sacrament, has been administered, lay members of the congregation bare witness of the truths or tenets of the Gospel, of the Living Christ and of the Restoration of the Church of Christ. Testimonials include baring witness of the Book of Mormon and Bible, of living prophets and apostles and of personal faith promoting experiences.

As yesterday's meeting was drawing to a close with just 10 minutes left, the members of the church (at least 2 congregations) were shockingly jolted by the piercing sounds of the fire alarm and the annoying flashing of the strobe lights (glad we don't have any epileptics). The Bishop and I bolted to the side door to find out a young feller had pulled the alarm. Without even taking a 2nd breath we bolted for the system to shut off the alarms (in retrospect I probably should have gone back to the microphone and notified the congregation that there was in fact no fire and to remain calm).

Through the remainder of the testimonies, the alarm hiccuped another 3 times, jolting the listeners to attention and forcing mass amounts of adrenaline to pump voraciously through our veins. All-in-all the meeting ended well and I'm sure we'll not soon forget the excitement we felt at the meeting as well as the calming influence of the Holy Spirit before and afterwards. Quite a contrast!

Bible Camp for LDS Kids?

I've posted something many outside of the south may find controversial for an LDS family. You can read more about it here.

The gist of it is my kids are enjoying camps at other churches that teach only the Bible. Is this cause for alarm? Are the Hanson's leaving the LDS church? Heavens no. My faith has not waivered nor is it. My kids are stronger for embracing the teachings (well monitored mind you) of fellow Christians in the DFW area.

A helpful spiritual diet of Book of Mormon reading and daily family prayer keeps our kids going down the path we choose to lead them. But ultimately, there will come a time in their lives when they must develop and stand on their own testimony (witness in generic Christian speak) of God, His Son, and the Church that aligns best with what the Spirit is dictating to their souls. For me, that is the LDS faith and I testify that the Spirit has borne witness to me that this is Christ's Church. As for my children, may they reach the same conclusion by the same Spirit.

Hanson Harmony on Church

A fair amount of my posts are related to religious or church topics and I think for the sake of clarity and organization that it's time to split out my main blog into a sub-blog (if you will) for strictly church or religious related entries. Hence, the Hanson Harmony on Church blog is born. Long live the new blog.