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I was going to post a reply to Z's comment on PBs in the Scientology/Mormonism - birds of a feather? thread, but since I haven't noticed a thread on PBs lately I thought I'd start this one instead.

What do you think about PBs - especially your own?

If you are no longer active, what did you think when you were active?

Is there anything interesting you'd like to share from your PB?

On the other thread,

zeezrom wrote:You know, I was never a fan of P. blessings. People around me treasured them like their cherished pet. They would tuck it away in their bedside drawer and pull it out for a little motivational boost.

I felt my P. blessing was boring.

I used to do that!

My PB (at least the second one) is not at all boring - it's full of strange imagery about mountain passes and hanging bridges. When he finished, the Patriarch told me that he had never given such a blessing, that he had no idea before he started that my blessing would be so strange, and that I should make a point of giving PBs to my children, rather than have him or some other stake patriarch give them.

I don't know what my first PB was like - it was about 40 years ago, and I never received the typed copy, because the patriarch apostatized shortly after giving me it. I don't mean to suggest that there was a cause and effect there, though I have wondered a couple of times.

I wish my patriarch had a couple of glasses of wine before he said the prayer.

It also didn't help that I looked at my PB as an illegitimate child in Victorian England. The idea to go get the blessing came in a flash of dark inspiration when my dad found out I had an appointment with the bishop. It was the appointment I had dreaded for more than 2 years. I felt I was the sheep going to the slaughter on this one... to tell him of all my Richard Scott misdeeds. This was the thing that kept me from partaking the sacrament worthily. The sun was blazing and I hurt like a Violent Femme blister. Finally, I was going to relieve the pain with the bishop.... But my dad found out and wanted to know why. Why would his perfect son be visiting with the bishop?

I got it! I know why! Because I need a PB! Yeah, that's the ticket! So, I went to get a PB instead of atone for my sins. All I could think of during the whole prayer is how I didn't deserve to be getting one and certainly wasn't worthy of one. I ended up with a bastard prayer.

My interpretation of my blessing didn't mean squat...

First, I was accused of forging my blessing "On official LDS Stationary Might I add, notarized etc etc.." My old man said I made the whole thing up... A stake in my heart.

However, I believe The Patriarch is most likely closer to God than the Ga's because the Patriarchs humble themselves before God. Whereas Ga's don't need to be humble before anything because they teach fabrications and know it.

In closing I believe the more benevolent the Patriarch the more accurate a blessing may be.

hatersinmyward wrote:My interpretation of my blessing didn't mean squat...

First, I was accused of forging my blessing "On official LDS Stationary Might I add, notarized etc etc.." My old man said I made the whole thing up... A stake in my heart.

However, I believe The Patriarch is most likely closer to God than the Ga's because the Patriarchs humble themselves before God. Whereas Ga's don't need to be humble before anything because they teach fabrications and know it.

In closing I believe the more benevolent the Patriarch the more accurate a blessing may be.

Now you have me worried: the patriarch who gave me my second blessing was a wonderful man - kind, loving, gentle. perhaps what he said really means something.

I now retract my statement reguarding my patriarchal blessing holding any form of validity.

My reasons.

1. The fact it mentions temple marriage. Or anything having to do with specifics of the Mormon church.

2. The way Patriarchs voice came down in a great thunder, why a need for such antics?

So no, I don't believe it. Makes you wonder if Packer will play with his blessing before he passes it off to his prosperity.

Which Brings up a new question, Has anyone Ever published or made public the blessing of a deceased Prophet?