Performing Priesthood
Blessings and Ordinances

A priesthood bearer who performs an ordinance should prepare himself to be guided by the Holy Spirit. He should also make sure the ordinance conforms with the following requirements:

1. All ordinances must be performed in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. All ordinances must be performed by the authority of the priesthood.
3. Baptism, confirmation, and other ordinances that are recorded on the records of the Church must be authorized by the presiding authority. Consecrating oil, administering to the sick, and giving father's blessings are not recorded on the records of the Church. These ordinances are authorized by a person's holding the Melchizedek Priesthood and being worthy.
4. All ordinances must be performed with their necessary procedures, such as using specified words, laying on hands, or using consecrated oil. Precise words and phrases are required in the ordinance of baptism and the blessings on the bread and water, which have been specified by revelation. In other ordinances, the priesthood bearer may include words of blessing and guidance as the Spirit directs.

Priesthood leaders should not produce or use publications that give instructions for ordinances, blessings, or prayers unless the First Presidency has authorized such publications.

A bishop should have ordinances and blessings translated as needed for the recipients to understand them. When ordinances are performed by or for deaf members, a bishop makes the arrangements necessary to ensure that these members can understand the ordinances.

Except for patriarchal blessings, the exact wording of ordinances and blessings should not be recorded. However, families may record father's blessings.

A priesthood bearer may perform an ordinance outside his own ward if he has a current temple recommend or a Recommend to Perform an Ordinance (32595).

In harmony with Doctrine and Covenants 20:70, only Melchizedek Priesthood holders participate in the ordinance of naming and blessing children. When blessing a baby, priesthood brethren gather in a circle and place their hands under the baby. When blessing an older child, priesthood brethren place their hands on the child's head. The person who gives the blessing—

1. Addresses our Heavenly Father.
2. States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
3. Gives the child a name.
4. Adds words of blessing as the Spirit directs.
5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

Under the direction of the presiding authority, worthy priests or Melchizedek Priesthood holders may baptize qualified people. To perform this ordinance, the priesthood holder—
 

1. Stands in the water with the person to be baptized.
2. (For convenience and safety) holds the person's right wrist with his left hand, then places his own left wrist in the person's left hand.
3. Raises his right arm to the square.
4. States the person's full name and says, "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen" (D&C 20:73).
5. (For convenience) has the person hold his nose with his right hand; then the priesthood holder places his right hand high on the person's back and immerses the person completely.
6. Helps the person come up out of the water.

One or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders may participate in confirming a person a member of the Church and bestowing the Holy Ghost. They place their hands lightly on the person's head; then the priesthood bearer who acts as voice—

1. States the person's full name.
2. States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
3. Confirms the person a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
4. Bestows the Holy Ghost with such words as "receive the Holy Ghost" (not "receive the gift of the Holy Ghost").
5. Adds words of blessing as the Spirit directs.
6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

4 Administering the Sacrament

The sacrament may be administered by worthy priests or Melchizedek Priesthood holders. The person who blesses the bread kneels and says the sacramental prayer that is revealed 151 in Doctrine and Covenants 20:77; the bread is then passed to the congregation. The person who blesses the water kneels and says the sacramental prayer that is revealed in Doctrine and Covenants 20:79, substituting the word water for wine; the water is then passed to the congregation. The sacramental prayers should be stated accurately. If a person makes an error in a sacramental prayer and does not correct it himself, the bishop should direct him to repeat the prayer correctly.

5 Consecrating Oil

One or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders may consecrate pure olive oil and set it apart for the holy purpose of anointing the sick. No other oil may be used. To consecrate oil, a priesthood holder—
 

1. Holds an open container of olive oil.
2. Addresses our Heavenly Father.
3. States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
4. Consecrates the oil (not the container) and sets it apart for the blessing and anointing of the sick and afflicted.
5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

6 Administering to the Sick

Only Melchizedek Priesthood holders may administer to the sick. Normally, two or more of them perform this ordinance. However, if no one is available to help, a Melchizedek Priesthood holder has the authority both to anoint and to seal the anointing. If he has no oil, he may give a blessing by the authority of the priesthood.

A father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood should administer to sick members of his family. He may ask another Melchizedek Priesthood bearer to assist him.

Administering to the sick is done at the request of the sick person or someone who is vitally concerned so the blessing will be according to their faith (see D&C 24:13-14). Consequently, Melchizedek Priesthood holders who visit hospitals should not solicit opportunities to administer to the sick.

If a person who has already been anointed and blessed later asks for another blessing for the same illness, a priesthood holder usually does not need to anoint with oil again. In this case, he simply gives a blessing by the laying on of hands and by the authority of the priesthood.

The ordinance of administering to the sick is performed in two parts: (1) anointing with oil and (2) sealing the anointing.

Anointing with Oil

The anointing is done by one Melchizedek Priesthood holder. He—

1. Puts a small amount of oil on the person's head.
2. Places his hands on the person's head and calls the person by name.
3. States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
4. States that he is anointing with consecrated oil.
5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

Normally, two or more Melchizedek Priesthood bearers lay their hands on the head of the sick person. One of them acts as voice and—

1. Calls the sick person by name.
2. States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
3. Seals and confirms the anointing.
4. Pronounces a priesthood blessing as the Spirit directs.
5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

7 Dedicating Graves

Only Melchizedek Priesthood holders should dedicate graves. The person who does this should be approved by the bishop, who consults with the family. An authorized priesthood holder—

1. Addresses our Heavenly Father.
2. States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
3. Dedicates and consecrates the burial plot as the resting place for the body of the deceased.
4. (If desired) prays that the place will be hallowed and protected until the Resurrection.
5. Asks the Lord to comfort the family and expresses thoughts as the Spirit directs.
6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

8 Giving Fathers' Blessings and Other Blessings of Comfort and Counsel

Melchizedek Priesthood holders may give blessings of comfort and counsel. A husband may give his family members blessings on special occasions, such as when they go to school, go on missions, get married, or enter military service. A family may record a father's blessing for family records, but it is not preserved in Church records. A father's blessing follows the pattern of other blessings of comfort and counsel. The father—

1. Places his hands on the head of the person to be blessed.
2. Calls the person by name.
3. States that the blessing is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
4. Gives thanks, counsel, exhortation, and promises as the Spirit directs.
5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

9 Ordaining to Priesthood Offices

See "Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office, Melchizedek Priesthood Leadership Handbook (31184), page 12.

10 Setting Apart

Several priesthood bearers may participate when a person is set apart. They place their hands lightly on the person's head; then the authorized priesthood bearer who acts as voice—

1. Calls the person by name.
2. States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
3. Sets the person apart to an office in a stake or ward of the Church.
4. Adds words of blessing as the Spirit directs.
5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

11 Dedicating Homes

Church members may dedicate their homes as sacred edifices where the Holy Spirit can reside and where family members can worship, find safety from the world, grow spiritually, and prepare for eternal family relationships. Homes need not be free of debt to be dedicated. Unlike Church buildings, homes are not consecrated to the Lord.

To dedicate a home, a family might gather and offer a prayer that would include the elements mentioned above or other words as the Spirit directs. 

Web Page Disclaimer:  This document is a reproduction from the LDS priesthood manual "Strengthen Your Brethren". I have reproduced this without prior consent from the Church, but do so with the intentions to help brethren of the church to know and to perform the ordinances of the gospel properly.