The Gift to Be Healed

When Paul and Moroni listed some of the gifts of the Spirit, they both referred to healing in the same way: “the gifts of healing” (1 Corinthians 12:9, Moroni 10:11). When the Lord reaffirmed those lists in an 1831 revelation, He identified two separate gifts related to healing:

To some it is given to have faith to be healed;

And to others it is given to have faith to heal.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:19-20

During His mortal ministry, the Savior made it clear that something was required of the people He healed. He couldn’t heal them unless they were willing to be healed. He asked the paralytic man at the pool of Bethesda, “Wilt thou be made whole?” or, in other words, “Do you want to be healed?” When a father begged Him to heal his son, Jesus said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:22-23). And to the woman who was healed my simply touching the hem of his robe, He said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (Matthew 9:22).

Book of Mormon prophets emphasized the simplicity of seeking Christ’s healing power. Just as the ancient Israelites only had to look up to the brass serpent created by Moses, so we only have to look to Christ in order to be healed of our wounds. But as both prophets emphasized, the hard part is overcoming our pride, recognizing that we need help, and really wanting to be healed. (See 1 Nephi 17:41, Alma 33:19-22.)

The Lord told Isaiah that He cannot heal those who harden their hearts, close their eyes, and refuse to listen. (See Isaiah 6:10, 2 Nephi 16:10, Matthew 13:15.)

Before the Savior visited some ancient inhabitants of the American continent, they heard His voice inviting them to prepare to receive Him:

Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

3 Nephi 9:13

Elder Ulisses Soares emphasized the action we must take in order to receive these gifts from God:

I testify that as we continually strive to overcome our challenges, God will bless us with the gifts of faith to be healed and of the working of miracles. He will do for us what we are not capable of doing for ourselves.

“Take Up Our Cross,” General Conference, October 2019

As I’ve thought about this gift today, I’ve recognized the need to be healed more frequently. When I become discouraged because of roadblocks, when I become irritated with other people, or when I become anxious or apprehensive, I need help overcoming those small “wounds,” so that I can move forward with confidence. If the key to healing is to look up, and to open my eyes, my ears, and my heart, then I need to do those things regularly.

Today, I will seek for the gift to be healed. I will pray for this gift, and I will strive to open my heart, so that I can be more aware when I need God’s healing power and more capable of receiving it.