JiveSync

As a young man lies on an emergency room bed at 4 a.m., he knows he needs a priesthood blessing for what he believes is a gallstone attack. A friend's name passes through the young man's mind — someone who has given him a blessing before, someone he knows will answer.

Even so, the young man hesitates to call — the friend and his wife have a 4-month-old baby boy. He doesn't dare inconvenience his friend by waking up the boy.

After several unsuccessful calls to others, the first friend's name returns in the young man's mind even stronger than before. With all other options now exhausted, he calls this friend, who answers and arrives at the hospital quickly.

As the two visit after the blessing is pronounced, the young man apologizes for his sudden, seemingly inconvenient request.

"I called some others first because I didn't want to wake your son," the young man says. "Tell your wife that I'm sorry."

The friend assures the young man that exercising his priesthood authority is no trouble, even at 4 a.m., and that the baby was not awakened by the phone call.

"I'll tell my wife 'Hi' for you," he says, "but I won't tell her 'Sorry.'"

The friend returns home to his still-sleeping wife and child as the ailing young man's faith in the priesthood and in his friend is reaffirmed. He leaves the hospital the next day.

Much like this young man, some members of the Church stand in need of a priesthood blessing but do not wish to overly burden those ordained to offer it. Perhaps their home teachers are conducting family home evening; maybe the high priest next door is tending to the garden; the bishop or branch president is probably enjoying a rare peaceful evening at home so, they surmise, this blessing can wait.

Some who simply need a listening ear or counsel regarding a matter they consider weighty — matters others might deem trivial — might also feel such hesitation.

Perhaps it was thoughts such as these that filled the mind of the woman of Capernaum who suffered 12 years with an issue of blood. According to Mark's account, though she spent all she had seeking relief from many physicians, she "was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse" (Mark 5:26).

As the Savior passed by, the woman, who had great faith but did not want to inconvenience the Master, reached out and touched the hem of His robe. The relief she felt from her infirmity turned quickly into "fearing and trembling" when He began searching the multitude. Knowing she could hide no longer, she "came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth" (v. 33).

Then came the Savior's reassurance that no inconvenience had been suffered: "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague" (v. 34).

Like this faithful woman, those who ask for priesthood blessings, be they for comfort or healing, recognize such an ordinance is a sacred, unique occurrence. Priesthood leaders have emphasized that this uniqueness, however, ought not to be confused with inconvenience.

While serving as president of Brigham Young University, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve emphasized in a devotional assembly address titled "The Inconvenient Messiah" the importance of Christlike service, however inconvenient.

"All but a prophetic few must go about God's work in very quiet, very unspectacular ways. And as you labor to know Him, and to know that He knows you; as you invest your time — and inconvenience — in quiet, unassuming service, you will indeed find that 'his angels [have] charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up' (Matthew 4:6) (Ensign, Feb. 1984, p. 70).

This call to service was echoed during the priesthood session of the October 2008 general conference, when President Thomas S. Monson reminded priesthood bearers of the responsibility to respond to those needing help.

"Each priesthood holder attending this session tonight has a calling to serve, to put forth his best efforts in the work assigned to him. No assignment is menial in the work of the Lord, for each has eternal consequences. … If great joy is the reward of saving one soul, then how terrible must be the remorse of those whose timid efforts have allowed a child of God to go unwarned or unaided so that he has to wait till a dependable servant of God comes along."

From these words, we find that those who honor their priesthood are asked to prepare, and sometimes even expect, to exercise it at inconvenient times or places. Maintaining this level of readiness, as President Monson has asked, is a hallmark of the faithful priesthood bearer.

Thus, Latter-day Saints who need a priesthood blessing, or simple comfort and counsel, can feel confident that if they follow the words of James and "call for the elders of the church" (James 5:14) as moved upon by the Holy Ghost, no matter the time or place, someone will administer to them.

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