The Priesthood Can Bless and Heal Me Sharing time

The Priesthood Can Heal Me Sharing Time

“The Priesthood can Bless and Strengthen my Family”

July 2013 Week 3

 

This is Bearry the bear.  Two months ago, Bearry learned to ride a bike.  He did learn how to ride, but not without some bumps, scrapes and bruises along the way.  Fortunately, Bearry’s dad had a first aid kit and he bandaged Barry up and gave him a priesthood blessing.  Bearry also went to the doctor and he is doing much better today.  His wounds are finally healed and he is ready to have his bandages removed.  His dad isn’t here, so would you like to help take off his bandages?  Under each bandage is a number.  We will find the matching number in the first aid kit that has a picture of Jesus healing and using the priesthood to bless lives.  We will learn about the story, discover how we can bless our families with the priesthood and then remove more bandages.  Let’s remove the first bandage.

Numbers on the pictures correspond to the numbers on Bearry's bandages

 

 

Stories written on the back of the bandaids- Bandaid clipart is taken from

http://www.raindrop.org/rugrat/fun/cbandaid.gif

 

#1- Jesus and the ten lepers – Once while Jesus was traveling, he met ten lepers.  Leprosy was a skin disease that affected your legs, arms, and made you lose feeling in parts of your body.  People had sores on their body and people that caught this disease had to live in their own place together because it was highly contagious.  Many people died of this disease and people that had it were considered outcasts.  Jesus healed the sores of ten men that had this disease but only one came back to thank Jesus for the miracle that he performed.  We should always be thankful.  We should remember to be thankful when we are healed by Priesthood power and say thank you to our Heavenly Father.  (Taken from http://www.lds.org/manual/new-testament-stories/chapter-37-the-ten-lepers?lang=eng)

#2- Jesus heals the Boy with evil spirit – “One day when some people came to Jesus and His disciples, one of them asked the Savior to help his son.  The man had already asked the disciples to heal his son, but they could not.  The son had an evil spirit in him that made him hurt himself.  Jesus had the man get his son.  When the boy came, the evil spirit made him fall to the ground.  Jesus said that He could heal the son if the father had faith.  The father began to cry.  He said that he had faith he could heal the boy.  Jesus commanded the evil spirit to come out of the boy and to never go into him again.  The evil spirit was angry.  It hurt the boy again.  Then it obeyed Jesus and came out of the boy.  The boy was so quiet that many people said that he was dead.  But Jesus took his hand and helped him stand up.  He was healed.  The evil spirit was gone.” (Taken from http://www.lds.org/friend/2002/02/the-boy-with-an-evil-spirit?lang=eng)  The Priesthood today can help cast out evil spirits, mental illness or even just make bad thoughts go away in our families.  We can ask for a Priesthood blessing to comfort us and if we have faith, the Lord will heal us.

#3- Jesus visits the Nephites –  “When Jesus visited the Nephites in America he taught them many things and told the people to go home and think about his words.  The people didn’t want Jesus to leave them.  He asked the people if they had any sick among them, bring them to Him and he would heal them.”  He healed people that couldn’t walk, those that were blind, deaf, lepers and everyone that was brought to him.  Priesthood holders today can heal the sick, cause the lame to walk just as Jesus did when he was on the earth.  Our families will be strengthened if we ask for a priesthood blessing when ill or afflicted.

#4- Nephites receive the Holy Ghost – “The Nephites who saw Jesus Christ told their friends that he would return the next day.  A great number of people worked very hard to be where Jesus would be the next day.  The next morning Nephi and the other disciples taught the multitude… and prayed that they would receive the Holy Ghost.  Nephi went down into the water and was baptized.  Then he baptized the other disciples.  After they were baptized, the disciples received the Holy Ghost.  Angels came down from heaven and ministered unto them... the Savior came and stood among them.  Jesus went a little way off from the people and… prayed to Heavenly Father and thanked Him for giving the Holy Ghost to his disciples.  He asked that the Holy Ghost also be given to those who would believe his disciples’ words.”  (Taken from http://www.lds.org/friend/1996/10/jesus-christ-teaches-and-prays-with-the-nephites?lang=eng)  We are blessed today with men that hold the same sacred priesthood that can baptize and give the gift of the Holy Ghost to bless our families.  The Holy Ghost helps warn our families of physical and spiritual dangers. 

#5- Christ heals the Nephite children – “Jesus Christ told the Nephites to bring their little children to him.  The children sat on the ground around Jesus.  The Savior told the people to kneel down upon the ground.  Then he knelt and prayed to Heavenly Father.  The Savior’s prayer was so great and marvelous that it could not be written.  Upon hearing it, the Nephites were filled with joy.  After his prayer, Jesus told the Nephites, “Blessed are ye because of your faith.  And now behold, my joy is full.  He felt so much love and happiness that he wept.  Then he took the little children, one by one, and blessed them.  He prayed to Heavenly Father for them and wept again.” (Taken from http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=f756c106dac20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD)  Jesus Christ took the time to use the Priesthood to bless each and every Nephite child.  The Priesthood is given today for the healing of adults and children.  It is available to all families who have faith in its sacred power. 

#6- Raising Lazarus from the dead – Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha were faithful followers of Jesus.  Lazarus got sick and Mary and Martha got word to Jesus that he was ill.  Jesus went to the place where Lazarus was, even though there were people that were trying to kill Jesus in that town.  He knew that Lazarus was dead already but He was going to raise him from the dead.  Lazarus had been in the grave for four days and many people were comforting Mary and Martha.” (Taken from http://www.lds.org/friend/2002/09/jesus-brings-lazarus-back-to-life?lang=eng)  Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead by priesthood power.  Jesus taught that He would also suffer death.  Just like Lazarus was resurrected, He would be resurrected too and all of us would be as well.  Each week we have the opportunity with our families to partake of the sacrament given by priesthood holders.  This sacrament can remind our families of Christ’s sacrifice and strengthen us as we prepare for the Savior’s coming and even our own resurrection.

#7- Christ gives Priesthood power to apostles – When Christ was on the earth, he chose twelve men to be his disciples or apostles.  He gave these twelve men the power of the priesthood to help heal the sick, cast out evil spirits, and perform miracles and ordinances.  He ordained them the same way Apostles are ordained today, by the laying on of hands, and He gave them the same authority Apostles have today.  (Taken from http://www.lds.org/manual/primary-7-new-testament/lesson-9-jesus-christ-calls-his-apostles?lang=eng, see John 4:1-2).   We have many men on the earth today – even within our own families – that hold this same special priesthood power and can perform miracles of God and be disciples of Christ.  Through these men, our families can receive ordinances such as baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and being sealed in the temple forever. 

CONCLUSION– The Priesthood has the power to heal us, just as Bearry’s dad helped heal Bearry with a priesthood blessing.  The Priesthood that is used today is the same Priesthood that was used when Jesus was on the earth.  The priesthood can strengthen our families through its healing power. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.