What about women doing healing work?

What about women doing healing work? Isn’t that a problem? Rumors flew in early church history as easily as they do today. Joseph Smith told the brand new Relief Society something that ought to be heard in our day as well. Here are the meeting’s notes:

"He said the reason of these remarks being made was, that some little foolish things were circulating in the society, against some sisters not doing right inlaying hands on the sick. Said that if the people had common sympathies they would rejoice that the sick could be healed; that the time had not been before that these things could be in their proper order; that the Church is not fully organized, in its proper order, and cannot be, until the Temple is completed,where places will be provided for the administration of the ordinances of the Priesthood."
"President Smith continued the subject, by quoting the commission given to the Ancient Apostles in Mark, 16th chapter, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th verses, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." "No matter who believeth, these signs, such as healing the sick, casting out devils, etc., should follow all that believe, whether male or female. He asked the Society if they could not see by this sweeping promise, that wherein they
are ordained, if it is the privilege of those set apart to administer in that authority, which is conferred upon them; and if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let everything roll on." "He said, if God has appointed him, and chosen him as an instrument to lead the Church, why not let him lead it through? Why stand in the way when he is appointed to do a thing? Who knows the mind of God? Does He not reveal things differently than we expect? He remarked that he was continually rising, although he had everything bearing him down, standing in his way, and opposing; notwithstanding all this opposition, he always comes out right in the end."
"Respecting females administering for the healing of the sick, he further remarked, there could be no evil in it, if God gave His sanction by healing; that there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on and praying for the sick, than in wetting the face with water; it is no sin for anybody to administer that has faith, or if the sick have faith to be healed by their administration." "He reproved those that were disposed to find fault with the management of the concerns of the Church, saying God had called him to lead the church and he would lead it right those that undertake to interfere will be ashamed when their own folly is made manifest; that he calculates to organize the Church in its proper order as soon as the Temple is completed." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 224)
Recently, Elder Bednar said, "I frequently have heard Pres. Boyd K. Packer...counsel members and priesthood leaders, "If all you know is what you see with your natural eyes and hear with your natural ears, then you will not know very much. His observation should help all of us to appropriately desire and seek these spiritual gifts." (Elder Bednar, Ensign Dec. 2006 p 36)

"Orson Pratt indicated that women, as well as men, could "cast out devils." (JD 18:42)" (quoted by Matthew B. Brown, Receiving Gifts of the Spirit, p 185)

General RS Pres. Julie B. Beck said in General Conference of April 2006 that she was grateful for her father’s priesthood blessings as well as her mother’s spiritual gifts that contributed to her healing when she was young and seriously ill. I have had numerous promptings to learn of Energy therapies and to write these experiences down, presumably to help others. This field is no less valid or effective than the medical route, it is just less well known! Women today do have spiritual gifts. How very sad that many dare not even speak of them because of the fear of persecution from members (who claim to believe in the 7th Article of Faith!) Doug Mendenhall writes about this in his book Possibilities.