I can’t imagine ever being called as a patriarch but I just realized that patriarch is another role that would allow me to influence the lives of young people as I have always hoped to do.
I need to study my patriarchal blessing again—and regularly.
Two purposes for a patriarchal blessing:
- Personal counsel from your Father in Heaven
- Declare your lineage in the House of Israel
If I needed any evidence that Enoch is not ready for a patriarchal blessing it came in the form of his disrespectful response when Laura and I answered his question about what a patriarchal blessing is. We said it was personal counsel and he interpreted that as “oh great, now we can tell the future.”
I’m disappointed with myself because when Alyssa started asking about a patriarchal blessing I was hesitant to encourage her because of some things that had me doubting her preparedness at that time. When it came down to it she didn’t get one before she abandoned any active connection with the church and now she may never get one. I worry that if I had been more supportive and she had received one it might have given extra strength for her to stay with the church.
Your patriarchal blessing is a message from your Heavenly Father and will likely include promises and inspired counsel to guide you throughout your life. A patriarchal blessing is not going to map out your life or answer all your questions. If it doesn’t mention an important life event, do not take that to mean you won’t have that opportunity. Likewise, there is no guarantee everything in your blessing will come to pass in this life. A patriarchal blessing is eternal, and if you live worthy, promises that are not fulfilled in this life will be granted in the next.
This is a gift from a living father who wants to encourage us or warn us, not to answer every question.
Preparation for your patriarchal blessing will help you increase your faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And when you receive your patriarchal blessing and read and ponder it, you can focus on Them more often.
Just as scriptures we have read many times have new meaning to us later, our patriarchal blessing will have a different meaning to us at different times. Mine has a different meaning now than it did when I was 30 and when I was 50. It is not that the words change, but we see them in a different way.
President Dallin H. Oaks declared that a patriarchal blessing “is given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and should be read and interpreted under the influence of that same Spirit. The meaning and significance of a patriarchal blessing will be taught line upon line in the course of time by the power of the same Spirit that inspired [it].”
If we are not keeping the Spirit active in our lives our patriarchal blessings will not be meaningful to us.
Leave a Reply