Speaking Of Jeff Holland... I just learned something amusing

[_reflexzero]

Can confirm, my wife got the handshake stare down from Holland during her mission overseas. It’s one of the first things we talked about when we started datinlying.

Last year she and her sisters compared patriarchal blessings, and it seems they were all nearly identical. She commented that it was probably the real reason you aren’t supposed to share.

[_Xenophon]

I imagine one could discover something similar regarding patriarchs. I believe if you collected the blessings given from an individual patriarch you would find he pretty much gave the same blessing over and over again

I suspect there are a lot of similarities for sure. I don't know about everyone else's patriarchal blessing experience but I was really amazed at how closely mine had pegged a lot of my relationship with the church and my wife (I got mine a little later in life, after I was married). Of course the accuracy probably didn't have anything to do with the near hour I spent with the patriarch talking about my views on the gospel prior to receiving the blessing nor the fact that he was a member of my ward... did it?

[_Runtu]

I imagine one could discover something similar regarding patriarchs. I believe if you collected the blessings given from an individual patriarch you would find he pretty much gave the same blessing over and over again

When I was a young man, our stake patriarch was H. Whitney Chapman, and my patriarchal blessing, which I received just before I entered the MTC, said a lot of generic stuff, but there was a specific portion about how I would be a judge in Israel and would serve in the highest quorums of the church to devise ways and means to spread the gospel. I thought that was pretty amazing and more specific than the rest of it.

A few years ago, I was talking to a friend whose father had been our bishop and then stake president when we were boys, and I mentioned this part of my patriarchal blessing. He told me he'd received the same specific blessings, and later that night, he sent me a scan of his patriarchal blessing. It was almost word-for-word the same as mine. Talk about deflating.

[_Dr Exiled]

I suspect there are a lot of similarities for sure. I don't know about everyone else's patriarchal blessing experience but I was really amazed at how closely mine had pegged a lot of my relationship with the church and my wife (I got mine a little later in life, after I was married). Of course the accuracy probably didn't have anything to do with the near hour I spent with the patriarch talking about my views on the gospel prior to receiving the blessing nor the fact that he was a member of my ward... did it?

My patriarch had been our stake president prior to getting his new position. I think I was his first blessing and he seemed nervous prior to giving the blessing. His wife certainly was and looking back, I don't think she had much faith in the hokus pokus that comes with these blessings. Anyway, my mother was a creature of the stake, having had numerous stake callings with the young women and relief society over the years. I was somewhat rebellious and I know my mother consulted with the guy over the years regarding me. She told me as much. She also (mistakenly) blurted out after the fact that she and former stake pres consulted over the phone prior to the blessing. She denies this today but I know better as I answered the call and handed the phone to my mother before leaving the room. Needless to say, the blessing focused on my "problem" areas from the church's pov and encouraged me to tow the line.

[_Dr Exiled]

When I was a young man, our stake patriarch was H. Whitney Chapman, and my patriarchal blessing, which I received just before I entered the MTC, said a lot of generic stuff, but there was a specific portion about how I would be a judge in Israel and would serve in the highest quorums of the church to devise ways and means to spread the gospel. I thought that was pretty amazing and more specific than the rest of it.

A few years ago, I was talking to a friend whose father had been our bishop and then stake president when we were boys, and I mentioned this part of my patriarchal blessing. He told me he'd received the same specific blessings, and later that night, he sent me a scan of his patriarchal blessing. It was almost word-for-word the same as mine. Talk about deflating.

I think he meant judge of so called israel in your case not judge in israel.

[_kairos]

You probably heard of Dieter Dumbledorf's having a handshake line , mishs or Ga's doesn't matter, but Dieter used it I am told- while shaking hands Dieter blurts out "I love you" to each and every person. Now is that unconditional love or not- saying "I love you" to each of 100 plus gents in line- oh so special but leaves little Harriet to ask him later, Dieter do you really love those men? what about me?

just sayin
k

[_Xenophon]

Thanks for sharing your story, Exiled. Every time I hear a story like yours I'm so thankful that my side of the family was never engaged in Mormonism and I didn't have to deal with that extra level of interference.

My patriarch had been our stake president prior to getting his new position. I think I was his first blessing and he seemed nervous prior to giving the blessing. His wife certainly was and looking back, I don't think she had much faith in the hokus pokus that comes with these blessings.

I can't imagine what it must be like as a new patriarch. Although most people seemed to appreciate them I really hated giving priesthood blessings to individuals I wasn't well acquainted with. I always wanted to not fall into the rote prayer problem and provide some real comfort, not easy to do when you have little to no context. I suppose that is why these stories of repeated mechanics from leaders are so common, everyone is looking for a way to try to make the engagement "meaningful" so a kind of hook is needed (doesn't speak well to direct guidance from the Holy Ghost though).

[_Dr. Shades]

MANY returned missionaries on Reddit say they went through the same process, and compare notes from their journals, and it is the exact same wording, and the same schpiel, song and dance. The long list of comments from so many returned missionaries is priceless . . . One of the truly more interesting threads of comments I have read in quite a while on Reddit.

Hi Philo Sofee,

Universal Rule #6 reads, "'Cross-posting' from other message boards is allowed. Feel free. If you do this--or if you just mention content posted at another site--always provide a link to that content so people can find out just what it is you're talking about."

Therefore, in order to be in compliance with Universal Rule #6--and in order for us to be able to read and enjoy these "interesting threads of comments" on Reddit for ourselves--please provide links to the threads of which you speak.

Thanks in advance.

[_Tuna_Surprise]

https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comme ... y_holland/

Relevant post.

[_moksha]

"Elder Analytics, I'm sorry for singling you out like that in front of everybody. Don't take it personally, I was trying to make a point." I said, "Uh, thanks, but it wasn't me you singled out. It was Elder Smith."

The GA potentially got his inspiration from some drill sergeant in a WWII movie. It would have been less offensive if he had watched Knute Rockne, All American. "I want you boys to go out there and baptize one for the Gipper."