wording of blessings based on "consciousness"
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:34 pm
I have a question related to performance of Priesthood blessings of the sick and Naming/blessing a newborn:
If a patient (adult) is unconscious or clearly comatose, and I am asked to give him a blessing, should I pronounce the blessing, by directly calling upon the Lord to grant the blessing, by virtue of the priesthood e.g. "Father, we pronounce this blessing upon this patient", etc., rather than directly addressing the patient by name, as is the usual practice< when he would be conscious and alert and able to understand our words...e.g. "Brother Doe, we bless you", etc.????
Similarly, if asked to name and bless a 3 week old infant in Sacrament meeting, should the blessing part of the ordinances be done using similar language, e.g. "Father we pronounce such and such blessing upon this infant":...etc., rather than addressing the infant directly, who is clearly too young to comprehend, e.g. "Ann Marie Doe, we bless you with a healthy body and sound mind"....etc????
Any discussion or official guidelines are welcomed, D. Long
If a patient (adult) is unconscious or clearly comatose, and I am asked to give him a blessing, should I pronounce the blessing, by directly calling upon the Lord to grant the blessing, by virtue of the priesthood e.g. "Father, we pronounce this blessing upon this patient", etc., rather than directly addressing the patient by name, as is the usual practice< when he would be conscious and alert and able to understand our words...e.g. "Brother Doe, we bless you", etc.????
Similarly, if asked to name and bless a 3 week old infant in Sacrament meeting, should the blessing part of the ordinances be done using similar language, e.g. "Father we pronounce such and such blessing upon this infant":...etc., rather than addressing the infant directly, who is clearly too young to comprehend, e.g. "Ann Marie Doe, we bless you with a healthy body and sound mind"....etc????
Any discussion or official guidelines are welcomed, D. Long