THE FIRST BOOK OF SHI-TUGO

involve anointing, herbs, and prayer. Their healers are highly skilled, and Nephites frequently seek their knowledge.

1Now, when there are sick or afflicted among the people of Ammon, their loved ones bring them unto the Peli, and also unto those women blessed with the healing gifts, and they pray together. And the Peli, being specifically set apart unto this calling, administer to them both spiritually and physically in a sacred manner. And this is the manner in which they administer to them:

2Having brought the sick one to the Peli, or in many cases they bring the Peli to the sick one, he anoints the head of the sick one with sacred oil. Then he prophesies in the name of God all things that the Spirit reveals to him concerning the sick one. And if the sick one has faith to be healed, behold, the sickness departs.

3But the Peli also straitly admonishes the sick one regarding what herbs and medicine will assist the body to replenish and renew itself. This is the administration to the physical body and it greatly magnifies the operation of the faith of the sick one.

4And behold, sometimes these herbs and medicines are made into droughts, and sometimes into gruels, or pastes. And sometimes they are powders to be mixed with wine, and so forth. Sometimes they are taken fasting, and sometimes with food and drink. Still other medicines are administered directly to the body in the form of smoke or aromas.

5In all these things the Peli are particularly learned and they also rely much upon the revelations that do come to them of the Spirit. And thus do the Peli of the Ammonites avail themselves of the workings of the Holy Ghost and of the gifts of the creation in the work of healing.

6But behold, the people of Ammon did labor much to purify themselves before the Lord, both spiritually, as well as physically. And they made themselves acquainted with all the plants that the Lord had provided to assist them in this purpose. Yea, and because of this they did not suffer as much from diseases as the Nephites did. And behold, in this thing the Nephites held them in very high regard, and even they did send many of their healers to learn of the science of the people of Ammon.