General Conference, ‘The Exquisite Gift of the Son’, October 2020 “Sometimes exquisite pain comes not from sin but from honest mistakes, 
the actions of others, or forces beyond our control. …
Regardless of the causes of our worst hurts and heartaches, the ultimate source of relief is the same: Jesus Christ. He alone holds the full power and healing balm to correct every mistake, right every wrong, adjust every imperfection, mend every wound, and deliver every delayed blessing…” — Matthew S. Holland
Jeremiah 8:22 “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”
Mr. Holland’s words are a ruse, intended to confuse.
While our sweet Lord Jesus does indeed heal our hearts, He does not correct every mistake, nor does He right every wrong. Yes, He holds the power to do all things, but righting every wrong isn’t in the Bible. He’s not going to bring back a dear loved one who died due to the mistakes of others.
Stating Jesus holds the power to do such things is very misleading.
Furthermore, he claimed the phrase, ‘exquisite pain’ comes from not only the book of Alma, but ‘top dictionaries’ as well. After reading the footnotes in his article, the only dictionary he referred to came from the BoM.
Instead, Mr. Holland could have told people about the meaning of the phrase, ‘healing balm’ he referred to in his talk. Unfortunately, leaders of this church like to sprinkle their talks with biblical words/phrases without truly believing in what they say, or giving info on what they mean.
Lastly, if Jesus could only organize elements, and not create the earth out of nothing, how is someone like my mother to believe Jesus could heal her heart? We pray Mr. Holland would come to know the Jesus of the Bible who in fact, holds the power to heal hearts. His father (Jeffrey Holland) could sure use the Lord’s intervention as well.
Pray with us for Jesus to cause an awakening in the hearts/minds of the LDS people to search out more info on the things their leaders say!
We’ve listed a couple of references below that provide great insight about the ‘healing balm of Gilead’. Share the info with a Mormon you know!
What is the balm of Gilead? “A balm is an aromatic, medicinal substance derived from plants. Gilead was an area east of the Jordan River, well known for its spices and ointments. The “balm of Gilead” was, therefore, a high-quality ointment with healing properties. The balm was made from resin taken from a flowering plant in the Middle East, although the exact species is unknown. It was also called the “balsam of Mecca.” Myrrh is taken from a similar plant—Commiphora myrrha. The Bible uses the term “balm of Gilead” metaphorically as an example of something with healing or soothing powers. …”
What is the significance of the land of Gilead in the Bible? “Gilead was a fertile, mountainous area east of the Jordan River. The name Gilead means “rocky region” or “hill country.” …
The land of Gilead was known for its balm, a liquid rosin that flowed or dripped from certain trees such as pine, cedar, cypress, or terebinth. … Because of easy access to medicinal ingredients, many physicians made their homes in Gilead. This helps us understand Jeremiah 8:22.”
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
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