PAtriarchal Blessings
My patriarchal blessing is very near and dear to me. It has offered guidance and direction as well as comfort. Its personalized nature has helped me to recognize promptings that previously I had ignored writing them off. I had a special experience in that my patriarch was someone I had grown up knowing, we already had a relationship. Not only were my family and I overwhelmed by the worlds he iterated, but many times he himself stopped because he was overwhelmed. It would have been the same regardless of who had acted as patriarch but it was a very spiritually intense opportunity. As I have grown and my circumstances have changed, I have been amazed by different phrases that bring new meaning. I know that it was truly brought about by a man of God, and that it will continue to lead and guide my life.
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"A patriarchal blessing is a revelation to the recipient, even a white line down the middle of the road, to protect, inspire, and motivate activity and righteousness. A patriarchal blessing literally contains chapters from your book of eternal possibilities. I say eternal, for just as life is eternal, so is a patriarchal blessing...
"Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound. Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers. Unlike the struggling bomber of yesteryear, lost in the desert wastes, the sands and storms of life will not destroy you on your eternal flight. Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal Liahona to chart your course and guide your way."
Thomas S. Monson, October 1986 General Conference, Sunday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/your-patriarchal-blessing-a-liahona-of-light?lang=eng&query=patriarchal+blessing
"Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound. Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers. Unlike the struggling bomber of yesteryear, lost in the desert wastes, the sands and storms of life will not destroy you on your eternal flight. Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal Liahona to chart your course and guide your way."
Thomas S. Monson, October 1986 General Conference, Sunday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/your-patriarchal-blessing-a-liahona-of-light?lang=eng&query=patriarchal+blessing
"Patriarchs are humble men. They are students of the scriptures. They stand before God as the means whereby the blessings of heaven can flow from that eternal source to the recipient on whose head rests the hands of the patriarch. He may not be a man of letters, a possessor of worldly wealth, or a holder of distinguished office. He, however, must be blessed with priesthood power and personal purity. To reach to heaven for divine guidance and inspiration, a patriarch is to be a man of love, a man of compassion, a man of judgment, a man of God."
Thomas S. Monson, October 1986 General Conference, Sunday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/your-patriarchal-blessing-a-liahona-of-light?lang=eng&query=patriarchal+blessing
Thomas S. Monson, October 1986 General Conference, Sunday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/your-patriarchal-blessing-a-liahona-of-light?lang=eng&query=patriarchal+blessing
"Just like the early Saints, you can regard your patriarchal blessing as your own “personal scripture.” You should keep it sacred and not share it outside of your immediate family."
Julie B. Beck, April 2006 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/you-have-a-noble-birthright?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
Julie B. Beck, April 2006 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/you-have-a-noble-birthright?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"Your patriarchal blessing should inspire you to make changes in your life when they are needed. It contains promises that you can receive only through your faithfulness. If you are not faithful, you cannot plan on your blessing being fulfilled."
Julie B. Beck, April 2006 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/you-have-a-noble-birthright?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
Julie B. Beck, April 2006 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/you-have-a-noble-birthright?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"One valuable resource is your patriarchal blessing. Read it frequently. Study it carefully. Be guided by its cautions. Live to merit its promises. If you have not yet received your patriarchal blessing, plan for the time when you will receive it, and then cherish it."
Thomas S. Monson, April 2009 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/may-you-have-courage?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
Thomas S. Monson, April 2009 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/may-you-have-courage?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"That word if, though small in print, loomed as big as the page. I would be blessed to return from the war if I kept the commandments and if I heeded the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Although that gift had been conferred upon me at baptism, I did not yet know what the Holy Ghost was or how the promptings work."
Boyd K. Packer, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/counsel-to-youth?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
Boyd K. Packer, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Morning Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/counsel-to-youth?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"Help can come to you from many sources. One is your patriarchal blessing. Such a blessing contains chapters from your book of eternal possibilities. Read your blessing frequently. Study it carefully. Be guided by its cautions. Live to merit its promises."
Thomas S. Monson, April 2005 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/be-thou-an-example?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
Thomas S. Monson, April 2005 General Conference, General Young Women Meeting
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/be-thou-an-example?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives."
David A. Bednar, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
David A. Bednar, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"Patriarchs do not advertise for blessings. Members should seek blessings as they feel inspired to do so. There is no fixed age at which one may receive a patriarchal blessing. The bishop ensures that the member is of sufficient age and maturity to understand the meaning and significance of the blessing.
"A patriarchal blessing is recorded and transcribed by one who is assigned by the stake president. That blessing becomes a very personal treasure.
"Except for members of the immediate family, we should not permit others to read our blessing nor should we ask others to interpret it. Neither the patriarch nor the bishop can or should interpret it."
Boyd K. Packer, October 2002 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/the-stake-patriarch?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"A patriarchal blessing is recorded and transcribed by one who is assigned by the stake president. That blessing becomes a very personal treasure.
"Except for members of the immediate family, we should not permit others to read our blessing nor should we ask others to interpret it. Neither the patriarch nor the bishop can or should interpret it."
Boyd K. Packer, October 2002 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/the-stake-patriarch?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
"Sometimes someone will worry because a promise made in a patriarchal blessing is not yet fulfilled. For instance, a blessing may indicate that a member will be married, and they do not find a companion. That does not mean that the blessing will go unfulfilled. It is well to know that things happen in the Lord’s due time, not always in ours. Things of an eternal nature have no boundaries. From the premortal existence to our existence beyond the veils of death, our life is an eternal life."
Boyd K. Packer, October 2002 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/the-stake-patriarch?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22
Boyd K. Packer, October 2002 General Conference, Priesthood Session
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/the-stake-patriarch?lang=eng&query=%22patriarchal+blessing%22