In a meeting with the Nauvoo Relief Society on April 28, 1842, Eliza R. Snow recorded the Prophet Joseph Smith's instruction to women regarding the laying on of hands and healing blessings:
Prest. Smith continued the subject by adverting to the commission given to the ancient apostles “Go ye into all the world” &c.— no matter who believeth; these signs, such as healing the sick, casting out devils &c. should follow all that believe whether male or female. He ask’d the Society if they could not see by this sweeping stroke, that wherein they are ordaind, it is the privilege of those set apart to administer in that authority which is confer’d on them— and if the sisters should have faith to heal the sick, let all hold their tongues, and let every thing roll on.
He said, if God has appointed him, and chosen him as an instrument to lead the church, why not let him lead it through? Why stand in the way, when he is appointed to do a thing? Who knows the mind of God? Does he not reveal things differently from what we expect?— He remark’d that he was continually rising— altho’ he had every thing bearing him down— standing in his way and opposing— after all he always comes out right in the end.
Respecting the female laying on hands, he further remark’d, there could be no devil in it if God gave his sanction by healing— that there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on the sick than in wetting the face with water— that it is no sin for any body to do it that has faith, or if the sick has faith to be heal’d by the administration.
He reprov’d those that were dispos’d to find fault with the management of concerns— saying if he undertook to lead the church he would lead it right— that he calculates to organize the church in proper order &c.” (Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book, The Joseph Smith Papers, 36)
Eliza R. Snow clarified this fact in a letter published in the Woman's Exponent, where she answered some of the common questions from sisters in the Church:
Is it necessary for sisters to be set apart to officiate in the sacred ordinances of washing, anointing, and laying on of hands in administering to the sick? It certainly is not. Any and all sisters who honor their holy endowments, not only have the right, but should feel it a duty, whenever called upon to administer to our sisters in these ordinances, which God has graciously committed to His daughters as well as to His sons; and we testify that when administered and received in faith and humility they are accompanied with all mighty power.
Inasmuch as God our Eather [Father] has revealed these sacred ordinances and committed them to His Saints, it is not only our privilege but our imperative duty to apply them for the relief of human suffering. We think we may safely say thousands can testify that God has sanctioned the administration of these ordinances by our sisters with the manifestations of His healing influence (The First Fifty Years of the Relief Society, 515-516).
It wasn’t until years later that the practice was formally rescinded by church authority. Joseph F. Smith wrote the following to the Relief Society general presidency in 1946, outlining the guidelines that have since become the standard:
While the Authorities of the Church have ruled that it is permissible, under certain conditions and with the approval of the Priesthood, for sisters to wash and anoint other sisters, yet they feel that it is far better for us to follow the plan the Lord has given us and send for the Elders of the Church to come and administer to the sick and afflicted (The First Fifty Years of the Relief Society, 541, footnote 329).
Women were given and practiced this power for the first century that the church was in existence. It's a pity that this was changed after so much time and in contradiction to what Joseph Smith taught. Was this change a product of the time?
http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book/33
