Joseph Smith gave prophetic license to the practice of women giving health blessings by the laying on of hands, using their faith as their authority.

Do you see a time when this will be widely acknowledged in the church?

Is anyone currently writing an Ensign article to this effect?

Will this practice ever again be given license by the authorities of the church? Will this practice ever again be given license by the authorities of the church?

Will this practice ever again be given license by the authorities of the church? That is certainly

something I cannot answer. I think the publication of the first 50 years of Relief Society with abundant references

to healing blessings is an indication that there is a coming acknowledgement

that that was certainly part of women's lives in the 19th century, an important part.

It was significant to them.

They practiced it often, and they, the story of the diminishing of that practice

of that practice is a very long and complicated story. I would refer you to the work

by Jonathan Stapley and Christine Wright in the Journal of Mormon History for a careful examination

of changes in that practice and ultimately the policy.

I will say that in that day, we also have to look at the things that, the practices that

women were not involved in.

They did not speak in sacrament meetings.

They didn't have that preaching kind of opportunity,

and they did not serve missions without their husbands.

So it seems to me the responsibilities of women, as of men,

vary in different ages. And Eliza Snow, for example, was accustomed to giving a blessing to women at the end of her addresses to Relief Society.

It was a common part of what she did. And after she was set

apart as general president by John Taylor, there was a lot of concern about invoking a blessing on

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