In an oral interview recently I heard a story that would have happened around the turn of the century. A small group of members were out of contact with the church for so long no one could recall any of the “hymns of the restoration.” Only after many years, were they able to obtain a hymn book and enlist someone who could read music to teach them to sing the hymns again.

Just because The New Era may have received real questions from real readers doesn’t necessarily mean that The New Era should have published them in a question/answer format. For example, over at MormonTimes.com under “We Want to Hear from You,” it specifically indicates that they don’t want “sermons.” So, too, it seems the Ensign editors have control to re-print a reader’s general inquiry in the form of an article, rather than in a true question/answer format.

If the editors of the Church publications are leery of pinning themselves down to actually answering real questions, it just seems to make more sense to completely omit this feature, rather than to pretend. And I think that’s exactly what’s happened; if my memory is correct, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the “I Have a [Fluffy] Question” section in the Ensign.

I’ve participated in a Priesthood lesson on blessings that included consecrating oil and sharing it probably five or six times in my life. I have a larger bottle in my house that I would be happy to share with others who run out. That practice (consecrating the original bottle and using it for refills) has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

I remember how usually once a year we’d have a priesthood lesson on consecrating oil. They would consecrate the oil and divide it out. I think many people are confused about how we can do this. I have always put a little in my vial and consecrated that myself or, in cases where my HT companion and I were going to give a blessing, have him help.

I found the discussion about taking the oil internally interesting as well. A couple of weeks ago a friend and I administered to my daughter. He used his oil. It was old. It looked like motor oil. I don’t think it would have been a good idea to take it internally.

“Is it permissible to administer the oil internally?”

No. Taking the oil internally is not part of the administration. If persons who are ill wish to take oil internally, they are not forbidden, but many sicknesses will not be improved by oil in the stomach. (1:148)