Patriarchal Blessings #73389

[vorpal blade]

Remember to link, guys.

It is strange that the person who wrote the question could not find any gifts or strengths in the Patriarchal Blessing. I'd like to read that blessing. Without having read the blessing, however, I still know that there are some gifts or strengths mentioned. The questioner is just probably not thinking about it. Every Patriarchal Blessing comes with a declaration of lineage. Every lineage comes with a blessing of certain gifts and strengths peculiar to that lineage. What they need to do is read that part that declares the lineage and then research what gifts and strengths come from that lineage.

Comments welcome on what gifts and strengths you are aware of that are inherent in a particular lineage.

Perhaps the questioner was looking for unique and very personal gifts and strengths, but that would require reading the blessing.

[Whistler]

I feel like my blessing has a lot of strengths in it! It has some that worry me though, since it says things like "many will seek your counsel" and "you will master skills that seem difficult to master." I hope I can live up to it!

[mic0]

Mine has strengths in it that I feel are contrary to my personality entirely, which is a little odd. It also has strengths that fit perfectly.

One I was always surprised about was something like "people will come to your home and feel love/comfort there." I feel SO AWKWARD when people are in my apartment! Must be because I'm not going to church these days!

[Genuine Article]

It has some that worry me though, since it says things like "many will seek your counsel

My husband's says something like that, about friends and peers seeking his counsel and advice, and I actually think it may refer in part to his time spent writing for the Board.

Mine says that because of my children I'll need to learn about music, which terrifies me. I spent seven years in band, was awful at it, and hate singing with a passion. I don't know what I'm going to do if I have musically gifted children, because I feel as though I've already sat through my fair share of obligatory concerts and recitals.

[SmurfBlueSnuggie]

I know a lot of people who feel that their blessing provides direction for their life. I don't feel like mine does. It gives a few really general warnings, but is otherwise a list of blessings and talents. For me, that is what I need. Sometimes, I want direction and advice, but really, in every situation, the description of those talents has been all I needed. Maybe for this asker, knowledge of specific skills isn't vital. Werf may need to simply trust in the direction the blessing gives and, as time moves on, will discover talents for werfself.

[bobtheenchantedone]

I haven't read mine in quite a while, but I remember it being very generic. Expected lineage, I'll get married and have kids and grandkids, etc.

[vorpal blade]

I find it interesting that our interpretation of our Patriarchal Blessings changes over time. To some extent evidently the meaning sometimes changes as well. At some point in our lives the blessing may not seem to fit. Years later we are amazed at how well it fits. Not all blessings are limited to this mortal life. A promise may be given which only is fulfilled in the next life.

We all share some things in common, and as a result there could be a "generic" interpretation to a blessing. However, you might find later that your generic blessing to be more unique than you originally thought. Or maybe not.

As you know, just because a blessing doesn't mention a mission or getting married, it does not mean that you won't serve a mission or get married. It all depends on what the Patriarch felt inspired to say to you at the time. Certainly not all blessings mention missions or marriage.

Sometimes we think a blessing has already been fulfilled, when in reality we have no idea of the extent of the blessing the Lord has in mind.

As a side note, I supposed that only the author could edit a post. Now I know an administrator can also edit it. Also, now that I know I'm supposed to provide a link I'll try to remember to do that.

[NerdGirl]

I think that's really true, Vorpal, about how much the meaning of things can change over time. I've had mine for 16ish years now I think, and there are a lot of things in it that have been really important in my life, but in very different ways as a teenager than they are now. It's been really interesting to see how it has evolved and will be interesting to see how it keeps evolving.

[thatonemom]

I'll third the feeling that meaning can change over time. I used to be pretty ambivalent about my blessing. I remember the patriarch told me right afterward, "I think that's the shortest blessing I've ever given!" Which made me feel super special and important. (not really)
But it's come in handy for me through the years. I've read my husband's, and it is significantly longer but not really any content-ier, if that makes sense. I've since decided that God must just realize I value efficiency.

[Portia]

I thought mine suited me quite well: it emphasized education and leadership responsibility, citing that I'd receive direction as to the educational path I should pursue. Then, and only then, did it say "in due time" would I get married, with a fairly passing mention of kids. So I've felt for 10 years that I should put my education first, both in time and priority.

I don't believe in the lineage thing literally, though.

[wryness]

When I received my blessing at 16, there were parts that I honestly did not like one bit. Kind of like other people have mentioned--"You mean I have to develop THAT gift? I will have to do THAT thing/service/etc.?" I am gradually accepting those parts that made me uncomfortable. I think part of the acceptance has come with trying to live up to what's written there, though I honestly need to refer to my blessing and try to put it into practice a LOT more than I do. Some of the acceptance has just come as I look back over my life and the situations I've come into and realized, "Huh, that really did happen, didn't it?"

Now I'm going to read over my blessing again tomorrow. This was a good reminder.

[vorpal blade]

Some members of the Church do not rightly understand the part of the patriarchal blessing where the lineage is declared. The declaration of lineage is not determined by a person’s race or nationality. It isn’t a matter of DNA. Israel was scattered among all the nations of the earth, so the lineage of Israel is found in people of most races and nationalities.

In Deuteronomy chapter 28 we read that Israel will be “removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.” They will be “among all nations wither the Lord shall lead thee.” “And the LORD shall scatter among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other….”

In the Book of Mormon Nephi said “The house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations….Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea” (1 Nephi 22:3-4)

In declaring lineage the patriarch identifies the tribe of Israel through which the person will receive his or her blessings. It has more to do with the government of God than heredity. Because the tribes of Israel have intermixed with one another, most people are of mixed lineage. Occasionally children of the same parents receive patriarchal blessings that declare their lineage to be from different tribes. The blessing of one tribe may be dominant in one child, and the blessing of another tribe may be dominant in another.

It should be understood that regardless of lineage, all who gain a testimony of Jesus Christ and accept baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost from the proper authorized servants of the Lord are accounted as Abraham’s “seed.” They are part of the Abrahamic covenant (Abraham 2:10, Galatians 3:14, Ephesians 3:6). We talk of these as having been adopted into the tribe of Israel, and they receive all of the Lord’s blessings as they are obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. (See Romans 8, 9, and 11). It makes no difference whether the blessings of the house of Israel come by lineage or by adoption. At the present time the great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham.

As a Church we are helping to gather Israel out from among the nations of the earth through missionary work. The tribe of Joseph, meaning both Ephraim and Manasseh, shall gather first. Joseph will then “push the people together to the ends of the earth: and [those who do this, having themselves first been gathered] are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh” (Deuteronomy 33:17).