Letter from a Loving Father

            A patriarchal blessing is a letter from a loving Father in Heaven. Each blessing is different and individualized for the person receiving it, but each blessing also contains similar information. Each blessing declares lineage, lists gifts, and gives admonitions, counsel, and warnings, as well as any other pertinent information needed by a particular individual.

            Each patriarchal blessing includes a declaration of lineage. This declaration states that the individual is of the house of Israel or a descendant of Abraham that belongs to a specific tribe of Jacob (also known as Israel). It does not matter whether a person is born within the lineage of Abraham or adopted into the family by membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Church members are counted as a descendant of Abraham and an heir to all the promises and blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant.” Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ are from the tribe of Ephraim. This tribe was given the leadership responsibility to prepare the earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

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.

            A patriarchal blessing will contain counsel and promises, but it mostly likely will not give all the details of one’s life. If a particular event – such as a mission, marriage or children – is not mentioned in the blessing, this does not mean that the person will not have that opportunity in life. In addition, recipients of patriarchal blessings should not expect that all events mentioned in the blessing will take place in mortal life because the blessing covers both mortal and eternal life. Patience may be required before blessings are bestowed. My blessing promised children and joy in their accomplishments. Yet, this blessing was delayed for several years and came in the Lord’s own time.

            The important thing to remember about patriarchal blessings is that they are sacred and personal and not to be shared openly. They are meant to be treasured, pondered, and used as a guide to stay worthy of the promised blessings.

            A current stake patriarch gives open counsel for recipients of patriarch blessings. In an article titled “6 Ways to Get More from Your Patriarchal Blessing (Advice from a Patriarch)”  Garry H. Boyle gives the following suggestions.

1. Read your patriarchal blessing often. Studying your patriarchal blessing brings into remembrance your connection to God as His child and your intersection with His great plan of happiness, with its duties and promised rewards. Reading it often will bring you back to your roots and faith…. Just like reading a scripture, pondering it becomes a lightning rod for more inspiration.

2. Understand who can interpret your blessing. Discovering the interpretation of your blessing is your responsibility, and an exercise in receiving revelation…. Come to understand your blessing so that you can set your goals based on the opportunities and tasks God wants you to accomplish….

3. Share and discuss our blessing with your spouse. [Just as we focus better with two eyes] God designed marriage in much the same way. God’s plan of marriage between a man and a woman provides two distinct perspectives with the overlap being a focus on God…. Studying each other’s blessings together strengthens our bonds and develops common focuses, reminding us of the potential we saw in that person and the potential within ourselves…..

4. Remember your gifts and make goals to use them often. Gifts are like muscles; they need to be used before they will grow strong and benefit those God has put in our path....

5. Use your blessing to learn about the Abrahamic covenant. A deeper understanding of God’s covenant promises will increase your understanding of your role as an heir of the covenant he gave Abraham and your motivation to work for His promised blessings…. You are Abraham’s descendant as declared by God in your blessing and you can live as valiantly as he did.

6. Look for the mission and genealogy ties to your tribe. Knowing the tribe you come through will provide you with a mission. Part of that mission is to seek out the living and the dead that are part of the covenant people…. Another part of your mission is to pray and look for the descendants of your tribe that God will place in your path….

            Boyle reminds us that a patriarchal blessing is “a gift from a loving Father” and a “loving letter from God [that] deals with spiritual gifts, celestial goals, divine promises and rewards, and various temporal blessings and principles intended to support your spiritual development.” It is a gift that should be treasured and used in order to reach full potential.

            I immediately went to my patriarchal blessing as soon as I read Boyle’s article. As I read over my blessing it seems that everything in it has been fulfilled, but I am positive that there are many more blessings to receive. An example is my joy in the accomplishments of my children and their posterity. There are also some warnings that I need to remember and some admonitions to follow. I am truly grateful for my personal letter from a loving Heavenly Father for it has given me great comfort, guidance, and strength for the past fifty years.

Personal Guidance from God

            About 600 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a prophet named Lehi took his family and departed into the desert wilderness in obedience to the voice of the Lord. One morning Lehi received an unexpected but wonderful gift. His son Nephi writes about the experience.

And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 1 Nephi 16:10).

            Another Book of Mormon prophet named Alma writes that the ball was called the Liahona and that it was a compass prepared by the Lord. He also says that the Liahona pointed the way that they should go in the wilderness and that it worked for them according to their faith.

(See Alma 37:38-40.) In other words, they had to exercise faith in Jesus Christ in order for the Liahona to tell them the direction they should go in order to find the promised land.

            President Thomas S. Monson, then Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explains that the Lord provided the Liahona for Lehi and that He also provides direction for us in our day but in a different form.

The same Lord who provided a Liahona for Lehi provides for you and for me today a rare and valuable gift to give direction to our lives, to mark the hazards to our safety, and to chart the way, even safe passage – not to a promised land, but to our heavenly home. The gift to which I refer is known as your patriarchal blessing. Every worthy member of the Church is entitled to receive such a precious and priceless personal treasure.

            Just as Lehi and his family had to exercise faith in Jesus Christ in order to reach their promised land, we must exercise faith in Christ to obtain divine direction for our lives. We must first believe that the patriarch has the authority to give us the blessing, and then we must exercise our faith to obtain the blessing. After receiving the blessing, we must follow the counsel given.

            President Monson continued by quoting instructions from the First Presidency to stake presidents about patriarch blessings in a letter dated June 28, 1958.

Patriarchal blessings contemplate an inspired declaration of the lineage of the recipient and, when so moved upon by the Spirit, an inspired and prophetic statement of the life mission of the recipient, together with such blessings, cautions and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give for the accomplishment of such life’s mission, it being always made clear that the realization of all promised blessings is conditioned upon faithfulness to the gospel of our Lord, whose servant the patriarch is.

            Who is this patriarch that has the power to see the future and the authority to bestow such blessings? The Lord gave the responsibility for calling patriarchs to the Council of the Twelve Apostles. President Monson explains that from his “own experience I testify that patriarchs are called of God by prophecy.”

            The office of patriarch is an ordained office in the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is an office of blessing rather than of administration. Patriarchs carry the responsibility to remain worthy of revelation from God. President Monson describes the men who are called as patriarchs.

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 a 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.

            That is a wonderful description of the men I know personally who are patriarchs. Patriarchal blessings are sacred gifts or loving letters from Heavenly Father to His children. Garry H. Boyle,  a man who currently holds the office of patriarch, lists six ways that we can get more from our patriarchal blessings.

1. Read your patriarchal blessing often. [Study it to bring] into remembrance your connection to God as His child and your intersection with His great plan of happiness, with its duties and promised rewards. Reading it often will bring you back to your roots and faith.

Pondering your blessing also demonstrates a respect for sacred things, your interest in planning your future in accordance with God’s will, and your desire to receive further personal revelation, as well as put you in tune … with God. Just like reading a scripture, pondering it becomes a lightning rod for more inspiration.

2. Understand who can interpret your blessing. Discovering the interpretation of your blessing is your responsibility, and an exercise in receiving revelation…. Your blessing may have symbols or hidden layers yet to be discovered….

3. Share and discuss your blessing with your spouse. … God designed marriage in much the same way [as He designed our eyes]. God’s plan of a marriage between a man and a woman provides two distinct perspectives with the overlap being a focus on God. We marry partly based on what we feel this person can bring to our lives, and soon find that neither they nor we are perfect. Studying each other’s blessings together strengthens our bonds and develops common focuses, reminding us of the potential we saw in that person and the potential within ourselves.

4. Remember your gifts and make goals to use them often. Gifts are like muscles; they need to be used before they will grow strong and benefit those God has put in our path (see Doctrine and Covenants 46:8-12, 26, 29). God encompasses all gifts, and we must seek for the gifts we need to become like Him. We may read about our gifts and talents and ask for additional ones, but to make them a part of our very being, we must use these gifts often. Therefore, look for opportunities to use your gifts for the benefit of others and you will become more Christlike.

5. Use your blessing to learn about the Abrahamic covenant. A deeper understanding of God’s covenant promises will increase your understanding of your role as an heir of the covenant he gave Abraham and your motivation to work for His promised blessings….

6. Look for the mission and genealogy ties to your tribe. Knowing the tribe you come through will provide you with a mission. Part of that mission is to seek out the living and the dead that are part of the covenant people. God promised Abraham that his seed would have the opportunity to accept the covenant God made with him. There are many past generations that have not had that promised opportunity and are waiting for you to discover their genealogy and do their temple work. Another part of your mission is to pray and look for the descendants of your tribe that God will place in your path. Preparing a holy people as Abraham did is essential to prepare a people for Christ’s second coming.

            I received my patriarchal blessing many years ago, and I read it often enough that I almost have it memorized. I cherish this loving letter from Heavenly Father that “deals with spiritual gifts, celestial goals, divine promises and rewards, and various temporal blessings and principles intended to support [my] spiritual development” (Boyle). I have relied on the promises given in my blessing during difficult times, and I have marveled at the counsel given many years ago that helps me today. I am immensely grateful to have this great gift from God.

Patriarchal Blessings

                    Lehi and his family left Jerusalem and went into the wilderness in 600 B.C. in order to save their lives.  One morning as they awoke to continue their travels through the wilderness, Lehi found a strange object on the ground in front of his tent door.  The object was "a round ball of curious workmanship" made of "fine brass," and they called it the "Liahona."  "Within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way" that Lehi should take his family.  Lehi followed the directions given on the ball and was led "in the most fertile parts of the wilderness."

                    The family learned that the "pointers, which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them."  The writing was "plain to be read" and gave "understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it.  And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 1 Nephi 10, 16, 25-29).

                    We are all children of a loving Heavenly Father who desires to guide us and help us to return to His presence.  Just as the Lord provided the Liahona to help Lehi and his family find their promised land, God also provides guides for us on our journey through life.  One of those guides available to us is a patriarchal blessing.  A patriarchal blessing can help us understand what the Lord expects of us and can motivate us to live for the promised blessings. 

                    President Ezra Taft Benson counseled, "Receive a patriarchal blessing.  Study it carefully and regard it as personal scripture to you, - for that is what it is.  A patriarchal blessing is the inspired and prophetic statement of your life's mission together with blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give….  Receive your patriarchal blessing under the influence of fasting and prayer, and then read it regularly that you may know God's will for you" (in Ensign, May 1986, 43-44).

                    Lehi's Liahona was a kind of compass, which showed them the way they should go, and it operated according to their faithfulness and obedience.  A patriarchal blessing is also a type of compass, which can show our way through life, and it operates according to our faithfulness and obedience.  A patriarchal blessing is a personalized compass or Liahona that is a gift from Heavenly Father, works according to faith, and leads us in the right direction.

President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency stated:  "The same Lord who provided a Liahona to Lehi provides for you and for me today a rare and valuable gift to give direction to our lives, to mark the hazards to our safety, and to chart the way, even safe passage - not to a promised land, but to our heavenly home.  The gift to which I refer is known as your patriarchal blessing.  Every worthy member of the Church is entitled to receive such a precious and priceless personal treasure" (in Ensign, Nov. 12986, 65).

A patriarchal blessing is an inspired blessing, which declares a person's lineage or the tribe of Israel to which we belong, and gives insight about our individual lives.  It may include promises of blessings we may receive, warnings about particular temptations or weaknesses, or counsel about how we should live.  We receive only one patriarchal blessing, and we must receive it through a stake patriarch.  The blessing is recorded; one copy is given to the person and one copy is kept in the archives of the Church.  It is a sacred and personal document that should be read and studied often but should not be shared casually with others.

President Monson said:  "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" (in Ensign, Nov. 1986, 66).

                    Any worthy member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can receive a patriarchal blessing when he or she is old enough to understand the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany it.  Patriarchal blessings are given by stake patriarchs who are priesthood holders ordained to the office of patriarch. 

                    President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, said, "It is [a stake patriarch's] business and right to bestow blessings upon the people, to make promises unto them in the name of the Lord, … by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to comfort them in the hours of sorrow and trouble, to strengthen their faith by the promise that shall be made to them through the Spirit of God" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 181).

                    Members of the Church should seek a patriarchal blessing in order to know God's will, promises, and warnings for that particular individual.  Elder John A. Widtsoe, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, stated:  "Those who seek patriarchal blessings should ask for them with faith in the reality of the power of the Priesthood.  They should seek them with an earnest, prayerful desire to become, through the blessings, more completely happy in their lives, and more perfectly serviceable in the work of the Lord." (See Evidences and Reconciliations, arr. G. Homer Durham, 3 vols. in 1 [1960], 323).

                    A patriarchal blessing is given when a person is mature enough spiritually to appreciate the significance of the blessing and desires to receive it.  People often receive a patriarchal blessing during their teenage years, when they are old enough to understand the importance of the blessing yet young enough to use it as a guide in making important decisions in life.  Teenagers should counsel with  their parents regarding when it would be appropriate for them to receive a patriarchal blessing.

                    The usefulness of the Liahona was dependent on the faith and righteousness of Lehi and his family.  When there was contention or harshness among the members of the family, the Liahona stopped working.  Patriarchal blessings are similarly conditional on faith and righteousness.  We can receive the promised blessings only when we follow the counsel and commandments given by the Lord and his servants.  We must also realize that the promises made in a patriarchal blessing may not all be fulfilled during our earth life.  If we are righteous, however, we will eventually receive all the blessings promised us.

                    Elder John A. Widtsoe, formerly of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, stated:  "Men [and women] have stumbled at times because promised blessings have not occurred in this life.  They have failed to remember that, in the gospel, life with all its activities continues forever and that the labors of earth may be continued in heaven" (Evidences and Reconciliations, 323).

                    A patriarchal blessing will not answer every question about our lives.  Patriarchal blessings vary widely in length and detail; some are very long and some are quite short.  Through the patriarch, Heavenly Father will tell each of us what He knows we need to know.  The length or detail of a patriarchal blessing is in no way an indication of the recipient's worthiness or Heavenly Father's love for him or her.

The best way to prepare to receive a patriarchal blessing is to live righteously.  When we decide that the time is right to receive a patriarchal blessing, we will meet with our bishop to obtain a recommend for the blessing.  After the recommend is obtained, we will make an appointment with our stake patriarch.  We may take our parents or a close family member or friend with us.

                    Any person who will be receiving a patriarchal blessing may want to spend some time in prayer and fasting before receiving the blessing, although it is not necessary for a person to be fasting at the actual time he or she receives the blessing.  Sunday dress is recommended for all those attending the blessing.  Everything done in connection with the blessing should invite the Holy Ghost.

                    "My whole life I had heard about the importance of getting a patriarchal blessing….  To me, it was kind of frightening.  What if I didn't hear anything I wanted to hear?  What if there were no great promises for me?  I worried about being prepared enough.

                    "I decided that I needed to have faith and that all would be well.  I prayed many times, was interviewed by my bishop, and set up an appointment with the stake patriarch to receive my blessing.  Then I waited, while trying to prepare spiritually for this important date.

                    "On the day I was to receive my blessing, I fasted all day.  I thought I would have this super spiritual day, but Satan was working on me and I had a bad day at school.  I was a wreck.  I came home after school and paced the floor.  I thought back … to when a man and a woman in our ward whom I admire told us how to prepare, suggesting that we pray for specific things we want to know.

                    "I went to my room, knelt beside my bed, and prayed that Heavenly Father would tell me what he knew was best for me to hear.  I asked that he take away my fears and calm my troubled heart.

                    "Everything turned out fine.  In fact, it was a personal miracle.  It seemed that the patriarch knew me so completely, even better than I knew myself.  I knew he was speaking for Heavenly Father, and when he spoke, I felt the assurance that Heavenly Father did know me.  He heard my prayers….

                    "Now I know why Church leaders are always emphasizing the value of a patriarchal blessing.  When we learn the worth of something and pay the price to obtain it, we begin to better understand its value.  For me, my blessing and the experience of receiving it was one of the best experiences of my life.  I know my patriarchal blessing will continue to guide me to fulfill its promises" (Rebecca Rose, "My Miracle," New Era, June 1995, 54).

                    I know that patriarchal blessings contain promises and counsel from our Heavenly Father.  Once we receive our patriarchal blessing, we must study it often, follow the counsel it gives, and live worthy of receiving the blessings it promises.  I am very grateful for my patriarchal blessing.  I read it often and find wonderful counsel, comfort and direction from it.