Question
Gramps,
We ask Heavenly Father to bless our children, our food, the sacrament, our houses and the sick. I am an old man who takes a lot of medications daily for my various health problems. Do you think we should ask for Heavenly Father blessing on our daily medication, to help them do their jobs and to keep us healthy. Or am I just a silly old man?
George
Answer
George,
Why would you not pray that medicine would work?
However, you’ve lumped in a bunch of things that are not alike. Blessing the sacrament, blessing the sick, blessing our children, and even our houses, all qualify as priesthood blessings (See Handbook 2 Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings). Blessing our food before a meal does not. I’d say praying over our medicine should not be formalized, and certainly not to the level of the sacrament. But praying that it will work. Yes. We’d better be.
“But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”
“Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.”
Gramps