I Shall Heal Them

In a talk about two decades ago, President Nelson spoke about the healing power of Jesus Christ. He quoted these words from the hymn Reverently and Meekly Now:

Think of me, thou ransomed one;

Think what I for thee have done.

With my blood that dripped like rain,

Sweat in agony of pain,

With my body on the tree

I have ransomed even thee. …

Oh, remember what was done

That the sinner might be won.

On the cross of Calvary

I have suffered death for thee. 

He then gave this powerful testimony, “Jesus suffered deeply because He loves us deeply! He wants us to repent and be converted so that He can fully heal us. When sore trials come upon us, it’s time to deepen our faith in God, to work hard, and to serve others. Then He will heal our broken hearts. He will bestow upon us personal peace and comfort. Those great gifts will not be destroyed, even by death.” Note that he didn’t say that our job is to heal others: we are to have faith in Him and serve as best we can, and it is He who heals. I love how Elder Renlund put it: “We do need all our compassion, empathy, and love as we interact with those around us. Those who are struggling ‘need to experience the pure love of Jesus Christ reflected in [our] words and actions.’… The Savior’s job is to heal. Our job is to love—to love and minister in such a way that others are drawn to Jesus Christ. This is one of the fruits of the powerful, virtuous cycle of the doctrine of Christ.” It is very easy to get frustrated as we seek to help others to think that our job is to heal, and when that healing doesn’t come like we want to think that we failed. But healing is for Him to do, and our role is to reflect His love. He gave this invitation to Frederick G. Williams and to all of us in our dispensation: “Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5). We are to be faithful, to help those in need, to strengthen those who feel weak, and to lift up those who are down. And we let Him do the healing in His own time and way.

                In this talk President Nelson told a powerful story that I have referenced before about physical healing and how the prayer of a faithful young man was answered in a dramatic way. The youth were assembled in New Zealand waiting for the arrival of President Kimball who had fallen ill. They were told he wouldn’t be coming, but the boy prayed, “We are 3,000 New Zealand youth. We are assembled here, having prepared for six months to sing and dance for Thy prophet. Wilt Thou heal him and deliver him here!” Shortly before this President Kimball had woken up determined to make it to the meeting and miraculously was better. He drove in right at the end of the prayer. Who healed Him? It was the Lord, of course. But the young man’s prayer certainly was an important part in obtaining that miraculous healing from the Lord. As we struggle to help those we love find physical or emotional or spiritual healing, we too can pray in faith for them and let the Lord work His miracles. I love how James put it: “Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). We should never underestimate the power of our prayers for the healing of another. Hyrum and Joseph experienced this when they were terribly sick at Zion’s Camp and Hyrum beheld in vision their mother praying for them. He knew at that point they would be healed, and they were.

                The Savior invited His disciples in the Americas this way concerning those who were in need of healing but not ready to repent: “Unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:32). Again the roles are clear: we minister, and He heals. As we seek to love and minister to those struggling, praying with all our hearts for them, we can have faith that through Jesus Christ and His atonement He will heal them.