Why Bother With A Patriarchal Blessing?

[CV75]

As subject that interests me and I am trying to keep an open mind about it but why bother getting a Patriarchal Blessing?

Just a few thoughts:

It is not mandatory, but “Every worthy, baptized member is entitled to and should receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired direction from the Lord.” https://www.lds.org/topics/patriarchal-blessings?lang=eng

I think receiving inspired counsel, direction and blessings by ordinance (rather than from scripture, doctrine or personal revelation) recognizes that we cannot live a spiritual life alone or in a vacuum. It would be like remembering Jesus but forgoing the ordinance of the sacrament.

Also, record-keeping is an eternal principle but not everyone is inclined to document their personal revelations for the benefit of themselves, others or as a testament to honor God, and these documents perform that function.

The instruction that, “Patriarchal blessings are sacred and personal. …Not even the patriarch or bishop or branch president should interpret it,” is a stepping stone of sorts to other ordinances that are too scared to share.

One other difference I see is that personal revelation addresses specific situations and questions as they come up, where guidance or confirmation is sought. We typically benefit most by approaching the ordinance with an open mind, and the blessing can apply to all situations and questions in one’s life (some quotes from the link):

“As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.”

“Those who have received a patriarchal blessing should read it humbly, prayerfully, and frequently.”

“Those who have received a patriarchal blessing should treasure its words, ponder them, and live to be worthy to receive the promised blessings in this life and in the life to come.”

Like callings, a lineal declaration or assignment must come from one having authority. A place where they seem to intersect is the understanding and meaning given to one’s declared lineage.

[Rob Osborn]

As subject that interests me and I am trying to keep an open mind about it but why bother getting a Patriarchal Blessing? Why not just live by revelation that you get in your own life and keep the commandments of the Lord? Par example, read your scriptures, say your prayers, marry a member in the Temple, be righteous-all these things you hear at Church why get a blessing that says it? Why not just live by revelation you get in life like my Mum's RS Pres. believe's she was told not to bother with dating because she'll never find a man in this life, so she doesn't date, why would she need a blessing to tell her that, if God told her another way? Also with this lineage business, I get that we are of the House of Israel but I don't live my life any different than my two friends who are of a different tribe, like what's the thing about declaring what tribe you are in? is it equivalent to know that me Mum's favourite show in university was the Lawrence Welk Show? like that's neat but doesn't make any difference in my life-like why bother telling what lineage you are from?

Patriarchal blessings are wonderful blessings. Over the years my wifes patriarchal blessing has been the only thing that has kept her faith at times from otherwise falling away from the church. Its completely uncanny how true the blessings are that me and my wife have received. It has convinced my wife to remain faithful and further develop her spiritual gifts.

[Duncan]

Just a few thoughts:

It is not mandatory, but “Every worthy, baptized member is entitled to and should receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired direction from the Lord.” https://www.lds.org/topics/patriarchal-blessings?lang=eng

I think receiving inspired counsel, direction and blessings by ordinance (rather than from scripture, doctrine or personal revelation) recognizes that we cannot live a spiritual life alone or in a vacuum. It would be like remembering Jesus but forgoing the ordinance of the sacrament.

Also, record-keeping is an eternal principle but not everyone is inclined to document their personal revelations for the benefit of themselves, others or as a testament to honor God, and these documents perform that function.

The instruction that, “Patriarchal blessings are sacred and personal. …Not even the patriarch or bishop or branch president should interpret it,” is a stepping stone of sorts to other ordinances that are too scared to share.

One other difference I see is that personal revelation addresses specific situations and questions as they come up, where guidance or confirmation is sought. We typically benefit most by approaching the ordinance with an open mind, and the blessing can apply to all situations and questions in one’s life (some quotes from the link):

“As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.”

“Those who have received a patriarchal blessing should read it humbly, prayerfully, and frequently.”

“Those who have received a patriarchal blessing should treasure its words, ponder them, and live to be worthy to receive the promised blessings in this life and in the life to come.”

Like callings, a lineal declaration or assignment must come from one having authority. A place where they seem to intersect is the understanding and meaning given to one’s declared lineage.

 

Thank you!  with the lineage though, my life is no better than my two friends from other tribes, in fact one of their is significantly better than mine!

Edited February 18, 2015 by Duncan

[CV75]

Thank you!  with the lineage though, my life is no better than my two friends from other tribes, in fact one of their is significantly better than mine!

I think lineage is like a calling--your life can be smooth sailing or rough, no matter what position you're serving in. I dare say, in some ways, I enjoy a far better life than some of the prophets have when they've struggled with terrible infirmities and the frustrations that must go along with that.

I think we find out what we need to do with or about our tribe through prayer and sometimes, as the article said, the designation may have as much if not more to do with the blessings and roles in the next life as this one.

[Rain]

I'm curious how the direction from your blessing differed from the standard spiritual direction taught in the church. Is there a meaningful difference? I ask because there wasn't a meaningful difference in mine.

I know you didn't ask me, but in the 3 blessings I am familiar with the all have both personal and standard direction.

Though looking back to the last couple of years now I can see one thing that I would have counted as standard may be more specific to me than I thought. Hmmm. Never would have guessed that one.

[Stargazer]

Yes, you can get inspiration in other ways, but I am grateful that Heavenly Father inspires us in multiple ways. Sometimes I think He inspires us in a number of different ways, but it seems to stick most when done with whatever way that affects us most at the time. Kind of like conference speakers. If you read though it you might find several speakers who said we should do something, but when you listened the first time you only heard speaker C say it. Why didn't the Lord inspire you with all 3 speakers? Maybe he did and you didn't feel it or maybe speaker C was the best person to inspire you with it.

There is a specific thing my blessing tells me to do. I find it rather unlikely that I would have thought of doing it on my own. It was good to have it spelled out for me.

This thread is reminded me that I wanted to search through my blessing to find out what I need to change in my life to make it come true like was talked about im conference.

By the way, my blessing tells me that it isn't going to tell me a specific thing, but will have to come to me through inspiration in other ways. Finding that out has been a big part of my life and I don't think I would have done much study on it had the blessing just told me and I'm not sure I would even think about figuring it out had the blessing just not mentioned it. Thanks for your question - it has given me some insight into my own life.

 

My blessing said that the Lord had some specific things for me to do, but didn't enumerate them.  While serving on my mission I decided that I would make a special effort to find out what those things were -- why? -- so I could do them, obviously.  I prepared myself spiritually for asking the question, and after some effort got the answer.  It was to keep doing what I was doing until I was called to do something else.  Which makes perfect sense. 

 

And over the years the Lord has demonstrated to me what He has wanted me to do -- in His own due time, and upon His initiative.

 

Upon reflection, I am happy He chose to do it that way.

[VideoGameJunkie]

I can already tell you that I haven't lived up to what my patriarchal blessing talks about and have missed out on things and it scares me.

[stemelbow]

I can already tell you that I haven't lived up to what my patriarchal blessing talks about and have missed out on things and it scares me.

Well don't get scared. Just live. This, to me, is a problem with the PB. It may some things presumptuously. We wouldn't know it did not. It may, in fact, say things that aren't going to happen at all--all the delighted comments from people who would take some phrase in their PB to suggest they will live to see the coming of the Savior, then they died in 1988 comes to mind.

it shouldn't be used as another means to have someone feel inferior, lesser than their potential, or drown them in their guilt.

[bluebell]

My thoughts on why people bother with a patriarchal blessing pretty much match the reason why people bother getting any kind of blessing.

 

We know we can be led by the spirit without ever getting a single blessing our entire lives, and we know that we can receive revelation and direction without them.  Yet even knowing all that, we still (as a whole) seem to understand that there is something unique about receiving a priesthood blessing.  We seem to understand that God can talk to us and comfort us in a better, purer way than He normally does.

 

Maybe patriarchal blessings help us understand the Spirit better because we are more focused than we are normally during the day.  Maybe it gives Heavenly Father a way to communicate with us that we subconsciously don't allow at other times because we are not receptive.  Maybe the act of preparing for the blessing (i know that i was instructed to fast for 24 hours before mine and to come in an attitude of prayer and i don't do that when i'm just reading my scriptures or saying my prayers) allows the spirit to speak to us with less restraint.   Maybe the act of expressing our faith in the process, the power, and the patriarch to speak for God opens us up to a witness that we otherwise would not be worthy of.  Maybe it's other things we don't even understand yet.

 

What does seem clear (according to mormon doctrine) is that God has provided them and that they are meant to bless and help us.  From my perspective, i don't really need more reasons than that.