Depaul

estradling75 I realize there are many things published in church manuals. I would rather defer to holy scripture though. The command in the scripture is to have the elders of the church bless the child. I'm uninterested in what the CES committee thinks about procedure. In my opinion we need to listen to the word of the Lord as uncomfortable as that may be. It's better than following guidelines written by a committee. Vort - You offer some viable excuses why some priesthood holders do not bless children but rather pray to God for a blessing. It is a sad commentary on the body of the priesthood as a whole. Would to God that we learn our duty and act in the office in which we are appointed.

Pardon me for pointing out the obvious but why would a person pray to God when blessing a child? It's a blessing not a prayer. If someone prays for God to bless a child that's fine but priesthood authority is not needed for a prayer. A Patriarch does not pray to God when giving a blessing, though they typically offer a prayer prior to pronouncing a blessing. No one prays to God when blessing a person with the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Why would you talk to God when blessing a child? Does anyone address God when giving a father's blessing? Maybe but why? A blessing is not a prayer and a prayer for a blessing is still not a blessing. It's a prayer. State your authority, and pronounce the blessing in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. When is the body of the priesthood going to step up and start exercising the authority given to them. Again if you think a prayer is a blessing then you don't need priesthood. The mother of the child could just as easily give the "blessing" as have the father pray to God. It is a sad day when we deny the authority and power given to man in these last days. Every member of the church of Christ having children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name. The command is to bless the children not pray for them. It's pretty clear, isn't it? How should you adderss the child prior to a name being given? How about, Oh thou son of God, or thou daughter in Zion. Or, you beautiful child you, you grand and righteous soul, etc. There is not set verbage. State your authority and bless the child in the name of Jesus. Pretty simple.