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I’d like to understand the history of patriarchal blessings a little more. First, let’s define what we’re talking about. I would say the patriarchal blessing I’m thinking of is not one that is a father’s blessing for comfort or guidance, but in church today, Patriarchs are a calling with rights and privileges to declare a blessing (usually only once in a person’s lifetime) declaring their lineage and blessings promised from God and warnings as needed. It is a calling in the Priesthood, it is a specific blessing purpose. I think we all know what I refer to as practiced in the church today, right?
So, Joseph Smith, Sr. was the first patriarch. Are there records of any specific blessings he bestowed? Was he declaring lineage like today’s patriarchal blessings in the church? I don’t hear much about JS, Sr and work he did in the early church.
Does Church History provide any background on when these blessings were developed or when the office of Patriarch was set up as something each Stake should have?
Is there doctrine that teaches these blessings are necessary to an individual, or expected by every member, or just voluntary and a blessing to those worthy?
Anyone familiar with the history and doctrine of Patriarchal Blessings separate from a blessing not given by an ordained Patriarch?
Heber13 wrote:I’d like to understand the history of patriarchal blessings a little more.
First, let’s define what we’re talking about. I would say the patriarchal blessing I’m thinking of is not one that is a father’s blessing for comfort or guidance, but in church today, Patriarchs are a calling with rights and privileges to declare a blessing (usually only once in a person’s lifetime) declaring their lineage and blessings promised from God and warnings as needed. It is a calling in the Priesthood, it is a specific blessing purpose. I think we all know what I refer to as practiced in the church today, right?
Actually (speaking beyone the Church’s tradition) it is in essence no different than any father’s blessing — a father that is fully in tune with the spirit. However, the Church has taken it and formalized the process and made it available to all ‘worthy’ members, which I think is a very good thing. So in the Church, it is not “just a blessing” as I have characterized it. I’m such a maverik.Not everyone has a patriarchal family head that is spiritually in tune, or even worthy themselves enough to give such a blessing. I think it’s a great rite of passage within the Church tradition, and the formality of it endorses, legitimizes and supports the whole thing in the minds and faith of the Saints. Making it ‘real’. Early in the Church (say, the first 80 years or so) members could get as many Patriarchal blessings as they desired, as long as the Patriarch agreed. My GGrandfather must’ve had at least 4 himself.
Heber13 wrote:So, Joseph Smith, Sr. was the first patriarch. Are there records of any specific blessings he bestowed? Was he declaring lineage like today’s patriarchal blessings in the church? I don’t hear much about JS, Sr and work he did in the early church.
Yes. In fact, a book is being prepared that will contain many of his blessings given. And word is, that they contain some pretty astounding (and unfulfilled) promises and prophecies. Such that some people are saying it’ll shake if not damage the faith of TBMs who read it. Could be, thought I haven’t read it, myself.
Heber13 wrote:Does Church History provide any background on when these blessings were developed or when the office of Patriarch was set up as something each Stake should have?
I’m positive it does, but it’s still a fairly sensitive topic since the Church has made the General Patriarch postition an emeritus one, with no prospects of continuing the calling as far as I can see. If one could get the blessing of the Church, this would make a FANTASTIC book.
Heber13 wrote:Is there doctrine that teaches these blessings are necessary to an individual, or expected by every member, or just voluntary and a blessing to those worthy?
Not that I’m aware of. I see it as a semitic (or beyond?) custom from antiquity that we have adapted to our purposes. I am certain that it is modeled after the order of Heaven, but have no evidence to that effect.
Heber13 wrote:Anyone familiar with the history and doctrine of Patriarchal Blessings separate from a blessing not given by an ordained Patriarch?
Was Abraham an “ordained Patriarch”? He was a patriarch, ordained to that calling or not. He was the ‘real deal’ and I think we just pattern what we do after that. Which is OK with me. We believe in it, we act on it, it becomes what we intend. Works for me.There are some revelations in the D&C, I think, that legitimize it for useage within the Church.
HiJolly
Hi Heber, Thanks for bringing up your questions. I don’t really have the answers, but I think PB are a good thing which have helped members guide their lives. I do think it is difficult sometimes to know how to interpret one’s P. Blessing and it would be nice to be able to talk to the Patriach who gave us the blessing to ask questions about what certain things mean. For example, my youngest son’s blessing never mentions he will ever marry or have children. Since he has a same-sex attraction, he thinks this part of his blessing means he is gay. Yet, one of his best friend’s blessings never mentions that either and she is now married with kids. I would love to read the book HJolly mentioned that is being prepared with blessings. I love learning new things from people on this group.
There have been times when I have felt very blessed by reading my blessing……and other times when I just thought it was some fabrication created by men. This is where I feel two people inside me. There are parts to my blessing that are a great help. Other parts that don’t seem to apply to me…..like it was given for someone else or like it made assumptions about me that aren’t particularly spot on. Other times I wish I could go back and get a blessing for my life today and see what counsel God would give me now as the landscape of my life is so different from what I expected. Sorry Heber. That prolly doesn’t help with your question.
I certainly think some PBs are more inspired than others. You would probably find the following if you examined PBs: –
that a specific P’s PBs tend to look similarly or re-use the same phrases. I was disturbed when I got mine that my PB has bad grammar, but I was encouraged because it was very different in content from my friend who had the same patriarch. –
that how well the P knows the person can influence the PB. Your blessing may seem very “standard” or very “personalized,” and while this could happen without knowing the P, many report that knowing the P has resulted in a more personalized blessing. –
that lineage may be a crapshoot. For example, Jewish converts are often tribe of Judah or Benjamin, but I know of one Jewish convert whose patriarch did not know him or his lineage, and he was given Ephraim. Was he really Ephraim or was this just the P’s error? Who can say? I have heard of other stories where lineage was given that was unusual that turned out to be (presumably) correct when investigated. Was that some sort of inspiration? Racial stereotyping? Luck of the draw? –
that many early PBs used to be very outlandish and apocalyptic. I have only read a few exerpts from some of the very earliest, but even my parents’ PBs from the 1950s are much more “out there” in their claims than my own. Those are just some thoughts. In general, I think a PB is great for the youth – it bolsters them at a time when they really need to feel they are special, that God is looking out for them and knows them, and that their trials are important to more than just themselves. At times, though, PBs seem a bit like a horoscope – vague enough that they could apply to just about anyone. Yet I find meaning in my own.
I don’t know much about the history of PBs, but I have recently learned something interesting about them. As a gift for my husband, I ordered some of my husband’s ancestors’ PBs from the Church History Department. While looking up their names on an index at the family history library, I discovered that many of his early church ancestors had more than one PB given to them throughout their lives. I have obtained copies of them. I found that interesting, since I only get ONE. LOL I wonder, though, if I went to my Stake Patriarch and asked for another, if he’d give me one? 😆 PBs originated in the Kirtland era, around the same time that prototype endowments were being developed by Joseph Smith. They would fast and pray, sing and meditate for long periods of time in the Kirtland temple. Many manifestations of the Spirit occurred, and there was a lot of prophesying and stuff like that. During these times, they would also anoint each other with oil, lay their hands on the heads of each other, and pronounce blessings. JS jr. adored his father and gave him the title of patriarch in the Church. He would often ask JS sr. to give him and others these types of prophetic blessings. I believe from this, it turned into a tradition over time like we have today. I also agree with HiJolly’s points of view. There’s a lot of good historical information in about this in the book “Mysteries of Godliness”
Daisy wrote:I don’t know much about the history of PBs, but I have recently learned something interesting about them. As a gift for my husband, I ordered some of my husband’s ancestors’ PBs from the Church History Department. While looking up their names on an index at the family history library, I discovered that many of his early church ancestors had more than one PB given to them throughout their lives. I have obtained copies of them. I found that interesting, since I only get ONE. LOL I wonder, though, if I went to my Stake Patriarch and asked for another, if he’d give me one?
😆 I love that we can get copies of our ancestors PB’s. They are neat to have.
AND the last time I ordered a bunch it turned out I am related to one of the women working there! There are only about 5 sisters who process the orders so it was very cool that she is the one who processed mine and recognized our GGgrandma’s name. She had to ask for special permission to get my email and contact me.
/tangent
I’d like to bump this topic up again from last year, and see if the group has any further comments or experiences on this. Specifically, what is the significance of know one’s lineage? It is still in every PB, but why?
Is this a tool to try to tell kids to stay straight so you can be worthy of all these blessings awaiting, but they are told in horoscope fashion that would basically apply to everyone?
Does anyone have experiences you’d like to share on if your PB is important to you or not?
Mine is very important to me, and it has some really interesting and unique statements that are spot-on – and not generic in any way. However, I also believe Patriarchs can be more or less inspired than others – and that it can ebb and flow for individual Patriarchs. I’ve talked with enough of them to believe in the concept and the practice, even as I don’t view them as inviolable prophecies. I see them more as general guides with some flashes of revelation – at least in the ideal and in many cases of which I am aware personally.
Ironically, the following just posted on my personal blog this morning:
“Reconciling ‘Unfulfilled’ Promises in Patriarchal Blessings” (
http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2010/05/reconciling-unfilled-promises-in.html Heber13 wrote:I’d like to bump this topic up again from last year, and see if the group has any further comments or experiences on this.
Specifically, what is the significance of know one’s lineage? It is still in every PB, but why?
To me, this symbolizes that the church is tribal. We are not “One” as in 3rd Nephi (or is it 4th) were there are no longer any -ites. I feel that ideally there would be no more “ites” or tribal divisions.
Quote:Is this a tool to try to tell kids to stay straight so you can be worthy of all these blessings awaiting, but they are told in horoscope fashion that would basically apply to everyone?
Probably. I know that it backfires sometimes and a young person who sins may then feel they are unworthy of the predicted blessings and it wrecks their self esteem.
I know that they are likely used to get people to go on missions—how many young men PB’s omit reference to a mission? Also to set the stage for a temple marriage—how many omit reference to temple marriage? Some.
Quote:Does anyone have experiences you’d like to share on if your PB is important to you or not?
I like mine. I like my ancestors. I don’t know that I would call them important. I do feel like mine has been “right” or “true” for me.
I’d love to get a Matriarchal Blessing and see what that one says. It be fun to compare.
Not sure I think there is much validity to these in a purely rational way. Just like prayer and other blessings coincidence can explain allot. Many people have received promises in blessings that never come to pass, but we do not talk much about those. It would be interesting to read 100 PB and see how much they were really an accurate picture of ones life. Several years ago I started thinking of Patriarchal Blessings as a set of goals rather than some things that were going to happen over the course of life. If you examine the blessing as things you CAN do if you WANT, rather than things that will happen TO you, it kind of makes more sense. This isn’t to say that I don’t believe these can be inspired blessings. I think they can be. I’m also pretty sure that blessings might be more patriarch specific than individual specific. What I mean is that there may be more commonalities between patriarchs than we’d like to think.
Although I’m not a stake patriarch, and even though I need to hang at StayLDS.com just to stay sane, I’ve sometimes felt I could possibly handle such a high level calling as patriarch (but no other high level calling). For some strange reason that I still cannot completely figure out, I have been able to give blessings very easily and words often come into my mind quickly and smoothly when I give blessings. I have given many blessings over the years and it’s usually seemed pretty easy and almost effortless, whereas I’ve stunk at many other “spiritual gifts” or things. Does that mean that this is a talent or gift I have? Maybe. Does it mean that I’m just a little nuts? Maybe. Does it mean I can think on my feet and BS a little bit? Dang, I hope not, but maybe.
I think if I were a Stake Patriarch, I’d have trouble with the lineage part. I know I would be tempted to utter something like, “Tribe of Phyllis” or something odd like that. I don’t think I’ll need to worry about ever receiving such a calling, though, since my Pat Blessing doesn’t mention it… ha.
Interesting related sidenote; Joseph Smith a various times declared various means of succession for his office, not the least of which was a patriarchal succession. This, among other things became one of the claims of the Reorganized Church, but also, less well known is the fight over patriarchal succession that occurred in the church here in Utah. Despite being reassured that the current mode of succession was decide early and quickly, it was in fact a long-drawn out process that only fully ended with the release of Eldred G. Smith as Patriarch to the Church and the abolishment of that office. There are several good books out there on the subject, including “Mormon Heirarchy: Origins of Power” by Quinn.
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