LAYING ON OF HANDS

 

When you give special blessings it must be done by someone with the Authority, holding the Melchizedek Priesthood. 

 

Take baptism as an example.  The Holy Ghost must be confirmed or given after the baptism or the baptism is incomplete.  This is done by the Laying on of Hands by one in authority and is called confirmation. 

 

ACTS 19: 5-6

 

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

 

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

 

Other acts are ordinations, callings, healings and graces are all done by the authority of the Melchizedek priesthood.

 

Those who received this conferral in any of the above acts, in a very real sense, have the hand of the Lord upon them.

 

A Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Edward Partridge, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's First Bishop, near Fayette, New York, December 1830, the Lord said:

 

Doctrine and Covenants 36: 2

 

2 And I will lay my hand upon you by the hand of my servant Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom;

 

Ordinations to offices in the priesthood were performed by the Laying on of Hands.

 

ACTS 6: 5-6

 

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

 

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

 

Setting apart to positions of presidency, administration or responsibility comes in the same way.

 

NUMBERS 27: 18-19, 22-23

 

18 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

 

19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight...

 

22 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

 

 

23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

 

Later, just before Moses left, he transferred the Authority to Joshua:

 

DEUTERONOMY 34: 9

 

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.

 

Formal blessings are done this way also.

 

MATTHEW 19: 13-15

 

13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

 

14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

 

15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

 

(The above says He blessed them and then He left.)

 

ACTS 9: 17-18

 

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

 

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

 

Healing the sick and casting out Devils was accomplished this way.

 

MARK 6: 5

 

 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

 

MARK 16: 18

 

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

LUKE 4: 40-41

 

40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

 

 

41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

 

(Isn't it amazing that the devils recognize and know and are afraid of Christ, and billions on the earth don't recognize him or His deeds and don't feel His Spirit or let Him into their hearts?)

 

LUKE 13: 11-13

 

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

 

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

 

 

13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

 

ACTS 28: 8

 

 8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

 

JAMES 5: 14

 

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 

 

(What immediately follows is the Laying on of Hands to Seal the Anointing by the same Elders with that Authority)

 

To learn more, go to www.lds.org and read these scriptures for yourself.