“They Laid Their Hands Upon Them”

Brant Gardner

The beginning of the rite of ordination to the priesthood is exactly the same as that of conferring the Holy Ghost. The first step is to address the Father in prayer in the name of Christ. The second step requires the administration of the laying on of hands. In both cases, there is a combination of spiritual attitude and words, and the physical action. The physical action requires intimate physical contact between the bestower and the recipient. They must be in sufficiently close contact to have contact with the hands. Once again, while the location of the placement of the hands is not specified, modern practice dictates that they be placed on the head, and this modern practice does appear to have roots in antiquity.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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