Mormon "Blessings"

[ChristRocket]

My 3 year old son has been sick and in the hospital for the last 1 1/2 weeks. Ive had the Priest come up and give him a blessing and I’ve been saying plenty of prayers for him as well. One moment he seems to be improving and then drops. Overall, he is improving slowly.

I’m currently in RCIA, coming from 4 years of attempted Mormonism. My wife was a Mormon her whole life though - 23 years.

In the Mormon Faith, they have what’s called the Melchizidek Priesthood (virtually all male adults over 17 years of age and “worthy” and treated as the last stage of the Priesthood after the “Aaronic Priesthood” which most young men receive) and they have special blessings associated with this “Priesthood.” A lot of emphasis is placed on these blessings of the Melchizidek Priesthood and miracles ate attributed to them. They do a blessing with consecrated oil in the name of Christ and with the “authority” of this priesthood.

My mother in law is upset that my wife and I won’t let her Father give this ritualistic blessing. It’s not that it could hurt, but it’s with the supposed authority of a priesthood that doesn’t exist and the assumed superiority of the blessing compared to any that I can give with a bottle of holy water, that is to me blasphemous.

Am I wrong in denying them this opportunity? I think that my reasons are pretty sound.

I’ve offered to allow a family prayer where we can all pray together. To my mother in laws dissatified approval, we did so and I even allowed her father to lead the prayer.

I’m not really sure how to explain this without offending them. They hold this in high reverence within their beliefs so I hate to scoff at it. Any comments on what I’ve made or suggestions are appreciated.

One last thing, as far as miracles or healings that may take place after a blessing - I look at it this way, God shows no partiality. If you ask in his name and he wills it, it may well just happen. Please let me know if there is a better way of explaining this, especially in lieu that we as Catholics would look at a Father’s prayer to be of a bit more clout than our own. Perhaps we shouldn’t, but most would.

God Bless

 

[DavidFilmer]

The Catholic Church accepts and embraces the “priesthood of all believers”

The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the common priesthood of all the faithful participate, “each in its own proper way, in the one priesthood of Christ.” While being “ordered one to another,” they differ essentially. In what sense? While the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace --a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit–, the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church. For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders. CCC 1547]

The Catholic Church obviously does not teach this idea in the same way as the Mormons do. But I think it would be unwise (and unnecessary) to refuse a blessing offered in good faith in the name of Our Lord. The Catholic Church teaches that the validity of a Sacrament does not depend on the worthiness or belief of the minister. If this is true for a Sacrament, who could say it is categorically untrue for a mere blessing?

 

[Porknpie]

My 3 year old son has been sick and in the hospital for the last 1 1/2 weeks. Ive had the Priest come up and give him a blessing and I’ve been saying plenty of prayers for him as well. One moment he seems to be improving and then drops. Overall, he is improving slowly.

I’m currently in RCIA, coming from 4 years of attempted Mormonism. My wife was a Mormon her whole life though - 23 years.

In the Mormon Faith, they have what’s called the Melchizidek Priesthood (virtually all male adults over 17 years of age and “worthy” and treated as the last stage of the Priesthood after the “Aaronic Priesthood” which most young men receive) and they have special blessings associated with this “Priesthood.” A lot of emphasis is placed on these blessings of the Melchizidek Priesthood and miracles ate attributed to them. They do a blessing with consecrated oil in the name of Christ and with the “authority” of this priesthood.

My mother in law is upset that my wife and I won’t let her Father give this ritualistic blessing. It’s not that it could hurt, but it’s with the supposed authority of a priesthood that doesn’t exist and the assumed superiority of the blessing compared to any that I can give with a bottle of holy water, that is to me blasphemous.

Am I wrong in denying them this opportunity? I think that my reasons are pretty sound.

I’ve offered to allow a family prayer where we can all pray together. To my mother in laws dissatified approval, we did so and I even allowed her father to lead the prayer.

I’m not really sure how to explain this without offending them. They hold this in high reverence within their beliefs so I hate to scoff at it. Any comments on what I’ve made or suggestions are appreciated.

One last thing, as far as miracles or healings that may take place after a blessing - I look at it this way, God shows no partiality. If you ask in his name and he wills it, it may well just happen. Please let me know if there is a better way of explaining this, especially in lieu that we as Catholics would look at a Father’s prayer to be of a bit more clout than our own. Perhaps we shouldn’t, but most would.

God Bless

My opinion on this, would be no, not in your presence. They are praying to the Father believing he was once a man. Their understanding of the nature of God, the Trinity, is so faulty.

Stay consistent and witness to the Truth about God, even if it means hurting their feelings. You can do so in the most loving way possible.

My family recently developed a relationship with two Mormon female missionaries who just left for another territory. I speaking to them about their next assignment, they remarked that a number of territories in our state are being unfilled as there is a decline in the number of missionaries. The LDS are struggling with membership as the younger generation reads the internet and finds so many questions about the teaching of the LDS Church and the history of Joseph Smith.

Being a Witness to what you believe to be the Truth can be strong seed for the Holy Spirit to stir your family members to seek the truth.

Question: what prompted you to leave the LDS Church? Curious I am. You are joining the Church this Easter?! If so congratulations!! And what does your wife think of this??

(note: I love the Cathedral of the Madeleine!)

 

[thistle]

My 3 year old son has been sick and in the hospital for the last 1 1/2 weeks. Ive had the Priest come up and give him a blessing and I’ve been saying plenty of prayers for him as well. One moment he seems to be improving and then drops. Overall, he is improving slowly.

I’m currently in RCIA, coming from 4 years of attempted Mormonism. My wife was a Mormon her whole life though - 23 years.

In the Mormon Faith, they have what’s called the Melchizidek Priesthood (virtually all male adults over 17 years of age and “worthy” and treated as the last stage of the Priesthood after the “Aaronic Priesthood” which most young men receive) and they have special blessings associated with this “Priesthood.” A lot of emphasis is placed on these blessings of the Melchizidek Priesthood and miracles ate attributed to them. They do a blessing with consecrated oil in the name of Christ and with the “authority” of this priesthood.

My mother in law is upset that my wife and I won’t let her Father give this ritualistic blessing. It’s not that it could hurt, but it’s with the supposed authority of a priesthood that doesn’t exist and the assumed superiority of the blessing compared to any that I can give with a bottle of holy water, that is to me blasphemous.

Am I wrong in denying them this opportunity? I think that my reasons are pretty sound.

I’ve offered to allow a family prayer where we can all pray together. To my mother in laws dissatified approval, we did so and I even allowed her father to lead the prayer.

I’m not really sure how to explain this without offending them. They hold this in high reverence within their beliefs so I hate to scoff at it. Any comments on what I’ve made or suggestions are appreciated.

One last thing, as far as miracles or healings that may take place after a blessing - I look at it this way, God shows no partiality. If you ask in his name and he wills it, it may well just happen. Please let me know if there is a better way of explaining this, especially in lieu that we as Catholics would look at a Father’s prayer to be of a bit more clout than our own. Perhaps we shouldn’t, but most would.

God Bless

Personally I think you are right not allowing it. The Mormon idea of Christ and the Holy Trinity is completely false. They believe that God and Jesus were humans who became gods.

 

[ChristRocket]

Question: what prompted you to leave the LDS Church? Curious I am. You are joining the Church this Easter?! If so congratulations!! And what does your wife think of this??

Initially, I was attempting to learn more about the Mormon Church to defend my beliefs. As I researched Joseph Smith and the early days of the Mormon Church, the story became even more unbelievable with twisting and turning that made little to no sense. The change in doctrine was a big thing - their stance on Blacks and Polygamy are the big ones. There was no consistency in their teachings. It would even appear that at one point, that Joseph Smith embraced the idea of the trinity and later recinded the idea.

I came to a point where I decided to look at the roots of Christianity - where it had started and what it had taught. This inevitably led me to the True Faith - The Catholic Faith.

Initially, my wife made the suggestion for us to go to mass one Sunday. I had never seen anything like it. It was beautiful and I haven’t turned back since (almost 2 years ago). Now, I’m the one who reads a lot because I like to understand things as fully as I can. I have a long way to go in my understanding and my sanctification, as do most of us, but yes, I’ll be baptised with my wife and three children this Easter!

 

[jmr_1985]

First, I will pray for your son. I am sorry that you are facing this. Stay close to God. Have you considered having him baptized now?

As hard as it is, I believe that you are making the right decision for the reasons you stated. I would just say that we very much appreciate your offer but we have already had a Catholic Priest bless him and leave it at that. There is no need to explain beyond this or get in any kind of religious debate. As you know I’m sure better than I do, leaving the Mormon faith is difficult, and your MIL is probably struggling with your family’s decision. While she may be offended, it will pass. The offense will probably be much worse if you try to explain your reasoning. If she knows you are becoming Catholics, I’m sure she will understand, even if she does not like it. My evangelical mother still struggles to understand but time heals all wounds. At the end of the day, we must stay true to our beliefs even if they don’t make our families happy.

Regarding holding Father’s prayers in high esteem, you are correct in a sense but remember that Priests have an unbroken line from the hands of the Apostles and a specific ministry from our Lord. See Acts 5:15. (“Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.” ); Thus, a blessing from a Priest is special and important.

JMR

 

[jane_doe]

My 3 year old son has been sick and in the hospital for the last 1 1/2 weeks. Ive had the Priest come up and give him a blessing and I’ve been saying plenty of prayers for him as well. One moment he seems to be improving and then drops. Overall, he is improving slowly.

I’m currently in RCIA, coming from 4 years of attempted Mormonism. My wife was a Mormon her whole life though - 23 years.

In the Mormon Faith, they have what’s called the Melchizidek Priesthood (virtually all male adults over 17 years of age and “worthy” and treated as the last stage of the Priesthood after the “Aaronic Priesthood” which most young men receive) and they have special blessings associated with this “Priesthood.” A lot of emphasis is placed on these blessings of the Melchizidek Priesthood and miracles ate attributed to them. They do a blessing with consecrated oil in the name of Christ and with the “authority” of this priesthood.

My mother in law is upset that my wife and I won’t let her Father give this ritualistic blessing. It’s not that it could hurt, but it’s with the supposed authority of a priesthood that doesn’t exist and the assumed superiority of the blessing compared to any that I can give with a bottle of holy water, that is to me blasphemous.

Am I wrong in denying them this opportunity? I think that my reasons are pretty sound.

I’ve offered to allow a family prayer where we can all pray together. To my mother in laws dissatified approval, we did so and I even allowed her father to lead the prayer.

I’m not really sure how to explain this without offending them. They hold this in high reverence within their beliefs so I hate to scoff at it. Any comments on what I’ve made or suggestions are appreciated.

One last thing, as far as miracles or healings that may take place after a blessing - I look at it this way, God shows no partiality. If you ask in his name and he wills it, it may well just happen. Please let me know if there is a better way of explaining this, especially in lieu that we as Catholics would look at a Father’s prayer to be of a bit more clout than our own. Perhaps we shouldn’t, but most would.

God Bless

Let’s imagine if the situation were reversed: your Mormon-raised grandchild is in the hospital. The situation looks dire and you’re scared. How would you feel being forbidden from giving the child a Catholic blessing?

Children being in the hospital is not the time to make statements about whether or not you think someone’s faith is correct.

My daughter was in the hospital this time last year. I was so PANICKED. I may be Mormon, but I wasn’t going to stop my Evangelical in-laws from praying and doing all they thought they could do. Nor was I going to stop my atheist in-laws from doing everything they thought they could do (husband’s parents are divorced). Times of trail are times for unity.

 

[LivingWaters7]

Let’s imagine if the situation were reversed: your Mormon-raised grandchild is in the hospital. The situation looks dire and you’re scared. How would you feel being forbidden from giving the child a Catholic blessing?

Children being in the hospital is not the time to make statements about whether or not you think someone’s faith is correct.

My daughter was in the hospital this time last year. I was so PANICKED. I may be Mormon, but I wasn’t going to stop my Evangelical in-laws from praying and doing all they thought they could do. Nor was I going to stop my atheist in-laws from doing everything they thought they could do (husband’s parents are divorced). Times of trail are times for unity.

If you read the actual OP, you’ll note that he asked for a family prayer, and asked his father-in-law to lead the prayer. That was indeed a time of unity. That is completely different from allowing an ordinance/sacrament being performed.

The OP presumably no longer believes in the authority of the LDS priesthood, and as a hopefully soon-to-be-Catholic, should not be participating in rituals of another religion (nothing wrong with attending Sacrament Meeting or watching the blessing of someone else, but he shouldn’t be partaking of the Sacrament, nor receiving other ordinances, and that would extend to his 3 year old child, who presumably will now be raised Catholic). Fortunately, a blessing was performed through the true priesthood of Jesus Christ.

 

[jane_doe]

If you read the actual OP, you’ll note that he asked for a family prayer, and asked his father-in-law to lead the prayer. That was indeed a time of unity. That is completely different from allowing an ordinance/sacrament being performed.

The OP presumably no longer believes in the authority of the LDS priesthood, and as a hopefully soon-to-be-Catholic, should not be participating in rituals of another religion (nothing wrong with attending Sacrament Meeting or watching the blessing of someone else, but he shouldn’t be partaking of the Sacrament, nor receiving other ordinances, and that would extend to his 3 year old child, who presumably will now be raised Catholic). Fortunately, a blessing was performed through the true priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Family prayer with everyone is great. My prayers also go out to the little one.

LW7, you didn’t answer my question: if your Mormon-raised grandchild was in the hospital, how would you feel about being forbidden from having him blessed by a Catholic priest?

 

[LivingWaters7]

Family prayer with everyone is great. My prayers also go out to the little one.

LW7, you didn’t answer my question: if your Mormon-raised grandchild was in the hospital, how would you feel about being forbidden from having him blessed by a Catholic priest?

I would naturally prefer that they receive the sacrament of anointing of the sick from a Catholic priest (since I would reject the authority of the priesthood of Mormonism or any other religion as being efficacious), however, I certainly would not expect them to have the Catholic blessing done to appease me, nor would I pressure them to. I would also know that God hears the cries of His children no matter in what faith they are, and is not limited by the sacraments. My view on the matter does not change no matter how the scenario is changed.

 

[Porknpie]

I came to a point where I decided to look at the roots of Christianity - where it had started and what it had taught. This inevitably led me to the True Faith - The Catholic Faith.

Initially, my wife made the suggestion for us to go to mass one Sunday. I had never seen anything like it. It was beautiful and I haven’t turned back since (almost 2 years ago). Now, I’m the one who reads a lot because I like to understand things as fully as I can. I have a long way to go in my understanding and my sanctification, as do most of us, but yes, I’ll be baptised with my wife and three children this Easter!

Christ -

That is a wonderful story, thank you for sharing.

The Mass IS beautiful. I took two Mormon missionaries with me to Mass on Christmas eve. One of them had never been inside a Catholic Church (both from Utah). I explained to them earlier, that my belief was firm - that there never was a great apostasy in the Church, and the universal belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the breaking of the bread was a proof.

No matter where the disciples went to set up Churches - whether it be Spain, North Africa, Italy, Turkey, the Middle East or India - all the Churches believed in the Real Presence. All believed that the bread and wine, became the body and blood of Christ himself.

No one was using water and crackers.

Very happy for you in the next couple of weeks as you enter the Church.

 

[debbie_h]

Initially, I was attempting to learn more about the Mormon Church to defend my beliefs. As I researched Joseph Smith and the early days of the Mormon Church, the story became even more unbelievable with twisting and turning that made little to no sense. The change in doctrine was a big thing - their stance on Blacks and Polygamy are the big ones. There was no consistency in their teachings. It would even appear that at one point, that Joseph Smith embraced the idea of the trinity and later recinded the idea.

I came to a point where I decided to look at the roots of Christianity - where it had started and what it had taught. This inevitably led me to the True Faith - The Catholic Faith.

Initially, my wife made the suggestion for us to go to mass one Sunday. I had never seen anything like it. It was beautiful and I haven’t turned back since (almost 2 years ago). Now, I’m the one who reads a lot because I like to understand things as fully as I can. I have a long way to go in my understanding and my sanctification, as do most of us, but yes, I’ll be baptised with my wife and three children this Easter!

First I must say Welcome Home!
I can understand your dilemma as I am a new convert to the Catholic Church (cradle mormon). I personally wouldn’t allow my dad to give any of my kids a mormon priesthood blessing, all their prayers are ended with ‘…and I say these things in the name of THY son Jesus Christ amen’ this rejection of the trinity is why the LDS are not traditionally considered Christians. You are doing the right thing in standing up in your faith.

 

[GreenWhiteBlue]

For those who say that the father-in-law should be allowed to have a Mormon blessing, try this:
suppose the father-in-law were a Hindu, and a priest of the Hindu god Ganesh. Would you say it would be right to have a Hindu blessing in the name of a god that Catholics think is false?

In the same way, whatever being it is that Mormons claim to worship, it cannot by any stretch of the imagination be considered the God of Catholics. Our God is not a glorified human being from a planet in outer space that circles a star called Kolob. Our God is not a mere creature of another, more ancient god whom we know nothing about. Our God does not have a harem of wives with whom he has physical relations in order to beget “spirit children”. When it comes to an understanding of God, Islam is more like orthodox Christianity than way-out-there Mormonism is. It is for that reason that the Church regards Mormon baptism as invalid, and why many people (myself among them) consider Mormonism to be a non-Christian religion.

A good analogy wold be to “Santeria”, which is a Caribbean spiritist religion in which pagan African deities are worshipped under the disguise of Catholic saints. For example, a Santeria practitioner may seem to be honoring a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, but in fact that person is worshipping a pagan god called Orula. In the same way, Mormon may claim to be worshipping the Christian God, but everything that Mormons say about that deity proves that they are in fact worshipping someone else. I therefore would not allow a Mormon blessing, just as I would not allow a Santeria blessing, even though some of the external appearances look Christian.

 

[ChristRocket]

Thank you everyone for the responses to this complex issue and thank you for your prayers and blessings.

Good news - Jeremy gets out of the hospital and goes home today , his oxygen is finally up and normal during sleep.

 

[Porknpie]

Thank you everyone for the responses to this complex issue and thank you for your prayers and blessings.

Good news - Jeremy gets out of the hospital and goes home today , his oxygen is finally up and normal during sleep.

Wonderful to know that he he doing better !

 

[debbie_h]

Thank you everyone for the responses to this complex issue and thank you for your prayers and blessings.

Good news - Jeremy gets out of the hospital and goes home today , his oxygen is finally up and normal during sleep.

Lovely! All the best with your little one.

 

[iepuras]

So glad your little one is doing better! And welcome home to you and your family. I was born and raised in the LDS church. I left over two years ago and was baptized in the Catholic Church last year at Easter.

Navigating relationships with Mormon family, especially parents, can be very difficult. You were right to not allow your FIL to give a “priesthood” blessing. I had a lot of issues with my LDS parents trying to “save” my children behind my back. While I think it is important to be respectful of my family’s LDS beliefs, I could not allow them to undermine my parental authority and responsibility. Be careful.