"Pouring in Oil" : The Development of the Modern Mormon Healing Ritual
By our Rites of Worship : Latter-day Saint views on ritual in scripture, history, and practice
Provo, UT; Salt Lake City, UT
The Religious Studies Center, BYU ; Deseret Book Company
2013
283-316
Though many believe that ritual behavior is rigid and unchanging, mirroring the actions of past generations, ritual behavior is highly innovative and sensitive to cultural changes and norms. Certainly that holds true in Latter-day Saint practice as our rituals often change both in form and meaning in response to new cultural views. Jonathan Stapley examines this aspect of ritual by reviewing the rich history of Latter-day Saint healing rituals. While worthwhile for its historical content, the chapter also demonstrates the value of ritual innovation and the power that may come from recognizing such in order to retain our cultural heritage and move forward in the modern era. [Daniel Belnap]