Patriarchal Blessings?

[_Ceeboo]

Hey folks

So, in the middle of all the recent bizarro-ness (I just made that word up), I have read a few posts, and one thread, that centers in and around "Patriarchal blessings."

(I don't think this topic is off the table around here? My sincere aplogies if it is)

Anyway, this is quite foreign to me.

I was hoping that y'all might be willing to share/elaborate on what/who/when this is all about.

Thanks in advance and peace,
Ceeboo

[_Drifting]

From LDS.org

Patriarchal blessings are given to worthy members of the Church by ordained patriarchs. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.

Additional Information
Declaration of Lineage

A patriarchal blessing includes a declaration of lineage, stating that the person is of the house of Israel—a descendant of Abraham, belonging to a specific tribe of Jacob. Many Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe given the primary responsibility to lead the latter-day work of the Lord.

Because each of us has many bloodlines running in us, two members of the same family may be declared as being of different tribes in Israel.

It does not matter if a person's lineage in the house of Israel is through bloodlines or by adoption. Church members are counted as a descendant of Abraham and an heir to all the promises and blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant (see Abrahamic Covenant).

Learning from a Patriarchal Blessing

Those who have received a patriarchal blessing should read it humbly, prayerfully, and frequently. It contains personal revelation and instructions from Heavenly Father, who knows our strengths, weaknesses, and eternal potential. Patriarchal blessings may contain promises, admonitions, and warnings.

Those who follow the counsel in their patriarchal blessing will be less likely to go astray or be misled. Only by following the counsel in a patriarchal blessing can one receive the blessings contained therein.

While a patriarchal blessing contains inspired counsel and promises, it should not be expected to answer all of the recipient's questions or to detail all that will happen in his or her life. If the blessing does not mention an important event, such as a full-time mission or marriage, the person should not assume that he or she will not receive that opportunity.

Similarly, the recipient of the blessing should not assume that everything mentioned in it will be fulfilled in this life. A patriarchal blessing is eternal, and its promises may extend into the eternities. If one is worthy, all promises will be fulfilled in the Lord's due time. Those promises and blessings that are not realized in this life will be fulfilled in the next.

Patriarchal blessings are sacred and personal. They may be shared with immediate family members, but should not be read aloud in public or read or interpreted by others. Not even the patriarch or bishop or branch president should interpret it.

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.

To find out how to receive a patriarchal blessing, Church members should speak with their bishop or branch president.

[_Ceeboo]

Thanks, drifting!

I want one!

(Continuing to assume this topic is Okee-Dokee for discussion)

So, this is written (like a note of sorts?)
And you keep this, yes?
How old are you when you get it?
Bishop writes it?

If you don't happen to like it, can you get another one?

What else should I know/realize?

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Drifting]

Each Stake has a person appointed as a "Patriarch". This isn't the Bishop.

Again from LDS.org

Receiving a Patriarchal Blessing
To receive our patriarchal blessings, we must meet certain personal requirements. We must:

1. Be worthy, baptized members of the Church.
2. Have a desire to receive direction from the Lord.
3. Have studied the gospel and know the purpose of patriarchal blessings.
4. Be mature enough to appreciate the significance of and receive encouragement from the blessing.
5. Receive a recommend from our bishop or branch president.
6. Make an appointment with the stake patriarch to receive our patriarchal blessing.
Before we go to receive our blessing, we should pray to prepare ourselves spiritually, and we should pray for the patriarch that he may be inspired on our behalf. We may also fast to prepare ourselves.

When patriarchs give us our blessings, they record them. They do this so they can give us a printed copy of our blessing. A copy is also filed in the official records of the Church. This way, if any of us ever loses his blessing, he can get another copy of it from the Church.

Because a patriarchal blessing is personal and sacred, it should be kept in a safe but convenient place. Its content should be shared only with close family members. In order for our patriarchal blessings to help us, we should study them often. As we do, we will know what we must do to receive the promised blessings.

What this doesn't say, but what happens is, the Bishop and separately the Patriarch, will interview the person who is requesting the blessing. During those interviews you are asked questions that will reveal information about yourself. It is that information that is used during the "freestyle" part of the blessing where the Patriarch tells you what God has in store for you in your life.

[_Drifting]

Also:

Teacher Preparation
Before presenting this lesson:

1. Ask a member of the class who has received a patriarchal blessing to share his testimony of the guidance and blessing it has been in his life. (Caution him that a patriarchal blessing is personal and should not be read to others. For the same reason, he should not be very specific about the promises and instructions given him in the blessing.)

There is a lot of emphasis on keeping ones Patriarchal Blessing secret (sacred?).
When a number of these blessings are looked at side by side the reason for this secrecy becomes obvious, they are all the *same (except the freestyle part).

*words used may be different from Patriarch to Patriarch, as per their local culture and language habits, but they all state the very same types of things.

[_Drifting]

You can find an image of one here

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/pat ... essing.htm

[_Ceeboo]

Thanks again, drifting.

Obviously, this is a very sacred topic for my Mormon friends.

No disrespect intended on my part for authoring the OP.

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Drifting]

It's not supposed to be a sacred topic.
Members are allowed to talk about the Patriarchal Blessing, just not reveal what is in their specific blessing (for now obvious reasons).

[_Infymus]

PBs are crystal ball, palm reading or fortune telling with a bunch of churchy BS thrown in the middle.

1. Set the stage for an intimate, comfortable, experience. Establish your priesthood authority with props such as important looking charts, or bookcases full of reference books.

2. Project a sympathetic personality. Put your client in a receptive, cooperative mood by explaining that the blessing is a team effort largely based on their spiritual preparation.

3. There are seven things people most want to talk about: love, Health, Money, Career, Travel, Education, and Ambition. Stick to these themes by asking a lot of questions and making plenty of statements from each category.

4. Start with the "Barnum" effect that offers something for everyone.

5. After general statements, you can begin to home in on specifics that apply to most people.

6. Extract information from your client by talking with them for five or ten minutes prior to the blessing.

7. Use Biblical language in the blessing.

8. Address concerns that are common to adolescents or those in the age bracket of the person receiving the patriarchal blessing.

9. Don't forget the obvious. Flatter your subjects. Tell them what they want to hear.

10. Have your excuses ready. Turn every outcome to your advantage.

I can't recall who it was and don't care to look it up - but a few years ago, one of the twelve geriatrics came down hard on Patriarchs in the Cult. No more "Going to see Jesus", no more "Second Coming", no more promises PERIOD. Everything after that was watered down to generalities you could piece together by eating two dozen fortune cookies.

My PB given to me at 18. Here it is in all its glory:


Infymus, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority vested in me as an ordained Patriarch, I lay my hands upon your head and bless you with a Patriarchal Blessing.

Infymus, thy soul has been touched and thou hast responded to the Spirit to accept the teachings and the ways of our Savior Jesus Christ, that you may organize your life according to the great plan of salvation, that you shall diligently serve your heavenly Father, that the gospel may go forth to all the earth, that you shall find great joy and happiness in your life as you serve in the vineyard of the Lord. And, as you walk upon the face of the earth, you shall perform each day acts of kindness and love in blessing and helping others, giving encouragement to the downtrodden, sharing your wisdom and knowledge to those in darkness, and imparting to all the sacred eternal truths which are deep within thee that
they may be filled with the light of the gospel even as thy soul has been filled.

Continue in righteousness and obedience to the commandments and covenants of the Lord and all of the desires which you possess shall be accomplished, for the Lord loves those who are true and faithful and who have a great desire to serve and build His earthly kingdom.

Thou shalt be blessed to bear the Priesthood of God and perform all of the ordinances therein and to use this great power only in blessing and helping others.

Thou art indeed a disciple of our Heavenly Father. As a disciple, strive daily to accept and receive His word, and as you receive these words, you shall be called to go forth to import these words to others of God's chosen children. As a true disciple, thou shalt be a performer of good works and deeds and thou shalt be blessed and guided by and enjoy the presence of the Spirit in thy life and be filled with the peace of heaven.

Be fruitful in your efforts in studying the scriptures. Pray humbly for the guidance of the Lord in thy life. Listen to the words of the prophet that you may follow the instructions of the Lord in these days, and, in doing this, thou shalt be strengthened and blessed with great moral courage to overcome the tribulations of life, and you shall be fortified against the temptings of the adversary.

Thou art of the seed of Ephriam through the loins of Joseph and shall receive the blessings promised to the Fathers. Thou shalt be blessed as you are guided to an eternal mate, and with her rise up and preside over a righteous posterity that shall bring great joy into your heart and into your home.

Thou shalt be blessed with the gift of testimony as you bear witness to the truthfulness of the gospel and that Jesus is the Christ.

Thou shalt be blessed with the gift of discernment as to the wants and needs of others, and the ability to fill these wants and needs that they may be blessed of thee and their Heavenly Father.

Thou art a fine young man and thou shalt be blessed with the gifts of life that you may need for teh comfort of thy family.

Thou shalt also be blessed to serve in many callings in the Church and in thy society - serving in righteousness, doing right because it is right, and striving for truth and honesty. Through these divine efforts, thou shalt be revered and loved by the brethren and sisters in the gospel, for the Lord has need of thee in the vineyard to labor and bear testimony to those eternal truths.

Thou shalt be numbered among those chosen to come forth the morning of the First Resurrection - clothed in glory and immortality – fully prepared to receive your inheritance from the Lord.

This I bless you with, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[_Drifting]

This from Infymus's blessing is known as the 'get out clause':


Continue in righteousness and obedience to the commandments and covenants of the Lord and all of the desires which you possess shall be accomplished, for the Lord loves those who are true and faithful and who have a great desire to serve and build His earthly kingdom.

Blessing didn't come true? Weren't righteous or faithful enough.