Priesthood Blessings and Fasting in LDS Practice: When and How Members Seek Divine Help

How Latter-day Saints use priesthood blessings and fasting as spiritual tools to request and receive divine intervention during hardship, illness, and uncertainty.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 18, 2026

Branched from Overcoming Spiritual Doubt: What Latter-day Saints Do When They Cannot Feel the Holy Ghost

Quick take

Priesthood blessings are a core LDS practice where ordained male members place hands on someone's head to convey divine guidance, healing, or comfort.
Fasting—abstaining from food and drink for 24 hours—is paired with prayer to intensify personal petitions and show spiritual commitment to God.
Members typically seek these practices during health crises, major life decisions, emotional struggles, or when feeling spiritually disconnected.
Both practices rest on the LDS belief that God responds to sincere faith and effort, not as magic but as real spiritual communication.

In Latter-day Saint (LDS) practice, priesthood blessings and fasting are two intertwined spiritual practices used to seek divine help during times of need, doubt, or crisis. A priesthood blessing is a formal act in which a male member who holds the LDS priesthood places his hands on someone's head and speaks words intended to convey God's will, comfort, healing, or guidance. Fasting—voluntarily abstaining from food and drink for a set period, usually 24 hours—is a personal spiritual discipline paired with prayer to strengthen petitions and demonstrate faith. Together, they represent how LDS members approach divine assistance: not through passive waiting, but through active faith, ritual, and sincere request.

How Priesthood Blessings Work

Priesthood blessings in the LDS tradition are rooted in the belief that men who hold the priesthood—the religious authority granted within the church—can act as conduits for God's direction and power. When a member seeks a blessing, they typically ask a priesthood holder (often a bishop, home teacher, or family member) to give one. The person receiving the blessing sits or kneels, and the priesthood holder places both hands on their head. The holder then speaks aloud, often beginning with the person's full name and referencing the authority by which they act. The words that follow are not read from a script; they are meant to be inspired in the moment, addressing the specific circumstances and needs of the person being blessed.

The content of a blessing varies widely. A blessing of healing might include words of comfort and a statement of God's will regarding recovery from illness. A blessing of guidance might offer counsel during a major decision, such as choosing a career or whether to serve a mission. A blessing given to a person in spiritual distress might affirm their worth or assure them that their doubts are not permanent. Members believe these words carry spiritual weight—that God speaks through the priesthood holder—even though the holder is an ordinary person, not a professional clergy. This makes the blessing deeply personal and contextual, tailored to the individual's immediate crisis or question.

The Role and Practice of Fasting

Fasting in LDS culture is a structured spiritual discipline. Members fast on the first Sunday of each month (called Fast Sunday), during which they abstain from food and drink for 24 hours—typically from one meal to the next—and donate the money they would have spent on those meals to the church's welfare fund. But fasting is also used individually as a way to intensify personal prayer and petition. When facing a serious health issue, a major decision, or spiritual crisis, a member might choose to fast and pray, believing that the physical sacrifice and focused mental state heighten their connection to God and demonstrate the sincerity of their request.

The LDS understanding of fasting draws on biblical tradition (Jesus fasted; Isaiah describes a 'true fast' paired with compassion) but emphasizes the internal spiritual act over external rule-following. Fasting is not meant to punish the body or impress God, but to quiet worldly distractions, sharpen focus on prayer, and show willingness to sacrifice for spiritual goals. Many members report that fasting creates a heightened sense of spiritual sensitivity or clarity, whether through the physical effects of hunger or through the intentional mental state it produces. Fasting is also voluntary; the church acknowledges that pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with health conditions should not fast.

When and Why Members Seek These Practices

Members turn to priesthood blessings and fasting at specific moments: a family member's serious illness or surgery; a child struggling with addiction or mental health; a major job loss or financial crisis; confusion about whether to pursue a relationship or mission; or spiritual doubt and disconnection from faith. These practices are not casual. They signal that a member believes their situation is serious enough to warrant extra spiritual effort and that they expect God to respond. In moments when normal prayer feels insufficient—when a member is too anxious, grief-stricken, or confused to pray effectively alone—a blessing from another person can feel like a direct channel to God's voice. Similarly, fasting transforms a prayer from routine into an intentional spiritual act, one that says: 'I am serious. I need help.'

These practices also matter because they address a core LDS tension: the belief that God is real and responsive, yet direct answers are rare and faith is often tested by silence or delay. Priesthood blessings and fasting are ways members actively participate in their own spiritual lives rather than passively waiting. They are especially important when a member is experiencing spiritual doubt—when they cannot feel the Holy Ghost or sense God's presence. In these moments, the ritual of seeking a blessing or fasting becomes an act of faith itself, a way of saying 'I believe even though I don't feel it right now.'

The Priesthood Blessing Process

Member requests a blessing from a priesthood holder (bishop, father, elder, etc.).
Priesthood holder places both hands on the person's head.
Holder speaks aloud, addressing the person by name and stating the priesthood authority being used.
Words are spontaneous and specific to the person's situation (not pre-written).
The blessing typically closes with 'In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.'
The person may write down the blessing afterward to remember and reflect on it.

The Spiritual Logic Behind Both Practices

Both priesthood blessings and fasting rest on a shared theological foundation: God responds to sincere faith, effort, and petition. They are not meant to be magical—LDS teaching explicitly rejects the idea that performing the ritual automatically produces the desired outcome. Instead, they are understood as expressions of faith that open a person to receive divine help. A blessing does not guarantee healing; it conveys God's will and comfort, which may or may not include physical recovery. Fasting does not force God to answer; it aligns the faster's will with God's and demonstrates readiness to receive guidance. Both practices assume that God is real, that He cares about individual lives, and that He communicates through both direct spiritual feeling and through the words and actions of His servants.

What if a priesthood blessing doesn't come true? Does that mean God didn't listen?

LDS theology distinguishes between the blessing itself (which members believe is inspired and true) and its outcomes (which may unfold differently than expected). A blessing of healing might affirm that God loves the person and will sustain them through illness, even if the person doesn't recover. Members are taught that God's answers sometimes come as 'no' or 'wait,' and that a blessing conveys God's will, not a guarantee of a specific result. This can be difficult when the outcome is painful, but it reflects the LDS belief that God's purposes are larger than immediate circumstances.

Can women give priesthood blessings in the LDS church?

No. In LDS theology, only men who hold the priesthood can give formal priesthood blessings. However, women are encouraged to pray for others, offer comfort and counsel, and fast in support of someone's needs. Some women report that they anoint the sick with oil and then ask a priesthood holder to seal the anointing with words, which is a form of participation in the blessing process.

Is there a 'right' way to fast? How strict does it need to be?

The LDS church teaches that fasting should be a 24-hour period without food or drink (beyond water, though even water is optional). However, the emphasis is on sincere prayer and spiritual intention, not rigid compliance. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, small children, the elderly, and those with health conditions are explicitly told not to fast. The church has also clarified that if fasting would harm your health, giving a donation in place of fasting is acceptable. The spiritual power is in the commitment and prayer, not the physical act alone.

What's the difference between a priesthood blessing and just praying for someone?

Both are forms of petition, but a priesthood blessing is a formal ritual act that members believe carries priesthood authority and divine direction. Prayer is personal communication with God; a blessing is a priesthood holder speaking on behalf of God to the person being blessed. Members often describe blessings as more authoritative or spiritually powerful, though both are valued. A blessing is also typically sought in moments of greater urgency or crisis, whereas prayer is part of daily spiritual life.

Can someone ask for a blessing for a non-LDS person?

Yes. LDS members often ask for blessings for family members, friends, and others outside the faith, especially in health emergencies. The priesthood holder will give the blessing, though the LDS belief is that the priesthood holder is acting by the authority of Jesus Christ and the person receiving the blessing may or may not believe in that authority. The blessing is still offered as an expression of love and faith.

Sources

LDS Church official website and Handbook of Instructions; teachings on priesthood authority and fasting.
LDS General Conference talks on faith, healing, and spiritual practice (various speakers and years).
LDS theology emphasizes fasting as a 24-hour practice paired with prayer and charity, distinct from secular fasting.