Personal Development

Patriarchal Blessings Setting goals from your Patriarchal Blessing Submitted by: Deb Cox  Color Coding Your Patriarchal Blessing - Shared by: Janice in Virginia A patriarchal blessing is "an inspired and prophetic statement of your life's mission, together with such blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give." (James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) I remember when I got my own patriarchal blessing.  I was very nervous, not because I wasn't prepared for this experience...I had prayed for answers to specific questions, fasted and had the desire for Heavenly Father to explain the plan He had for me.  I was nervous because my greatest fear was that there would be nothing said about what my purpose in life would be or that I wasn't worthy to receive the answers I was seeking.  After the blessing, I felt a great feeling of peace and love and felt like my blessing had answered questions, expressed love, gave cautions and the purposes of my life were answered.  Then a few days later, I received the written copy of my patriarchal blessing.  Two areas in my patriarchal blessing brought to me some concern.  For some reason, I hadn't caught these "purposes" areas.  The first one I was not pleased with.  After all, I was a young woman at this time and Relief Society was an organization that only "older women" attended to have something to do.  My blessing hinted of many years of service in the Relief Society. The second was an overwhelming instruction that stated that "there would be one soul that if I do not seek and find....will never be found".  How vague, I thought, and of course it means that I will have to do genealogy work...another area that, as a young woman, did not really appeal to me. I folded my blessing up and put it away.  I did not unfold it and read it for many years. As I have matured, emotionally and spiritually, I have unfolded, pondered, prayed and studied my patriarchal blessing.  I am amazed at how it clearly describes my experiences so far.  At this time, I serve in the Relief Society presidency of my ward and I love my calling and my ward sisters.  I have a strong desire to find that "one" soul that needs me....it may not necessarily be through genealogy....but I continue to pray that I will be guided to that "soul".  My blessing is a testimony to me that my Savior knows me, He knows in advance every strategy Satan will use against me, He knows my weaknesses and He knows my strengths. Ideas to Add Insight into Understanding Your Patriarchal Blessing I value and hold sacred the words of my patriarchal blessing as personal scripture.  I have gathered some information that may help you study and understand your Patriarchal Blessing. Color-Coding Your Patriarchal Blessing Shared by Janice in Virginia "Obtaining a Patriarchal Blessing may provide us with some glimpses into the book of our life possibilities and give us some general direction.  Wisely, perhaps, such a blessing is rarely specific enough to guide us in day-to-day decisions. Instead, it paints with broad brushstrokes." (R. Britsc and T. Olson, Counseling: A Guide to Helping Others.) Using four different colored markers, you will highlight the statements in your patriarchal blessing into four categories: Blessings, Counsels, Warnings, and Covenants. When you have highlighted your blessing with each of the four colors, you can make a list of the things that are in your blessing in each category.  You will then have a list of all the blessings that are promised to you.  This can make wonderful reading when you are feeling low.  The other lists can be used to help you set goals to be able to accomplish your special mission in this life.  You will have a page with counsel, a page with covenant blessings, and a page with any warnings that are in your blessing. President Kimball has given this advice: "It is true of all of us that as we progress spiritually, our sense of belonging, identity, and self-worth increases. Let us create a climate in which we encourage sisters of the Church to have a program of self- improvement. It ought to be a practical and realistic program, one that is determined personally and not imposed upon them.  Yet it ought to cause them to reach for new levels of achievement.  We are not asking for something spectacular, but rather for our sisters to find real self-fulfillment through wise self-development in the pursuit of righteous worthy endeavors." SETTING GOALS: After praying for guidance, read and ponder the page that contains counsel and warnings. Then read the page of covenants/promises.  Determine which areas you feel you can work on at this time in your life.  Prayerfully select a few, and then follow the procedure for setting goals by writing down what you want to accomplish and then your plan for doing so. BLESSINGS: These are identified as gifts from Heavenly Father. They are not subject to any future performance in that they are given to you as a child of God.  As long as your life is in harmony with the principles of the gospel, these blessings will be given to you at the time the Lord dictates. They will read similar to: Friends and associates will be raised up unto thee in times of need. You'll be privileged to experience and to enjoy the blessings of ________. You are to be blessed with the gift of discernment... COUNSEL Instances where counsel is being given will read: Be faithful.. Continue.. Be diligent.. Endeavor to... Seek.. Prove yourself... Thou shalt... Use this ability to... WARNINGS There will generally be only a few or none in this category. The wording of these lines should make them clear. The important thing is that when warnings are given, they must be carefully noted.  Highlight any of these in a third color, and impress them upon your own mind. Sister, never.. Do not.. COVENANTS/PROMISES These statements can be identified as statements where a blessing is mentioned which is connected with certain things you must do to receive the blessing; some examples: Thy friends shall be a special blessing unto thee.. inasmuch as thou shalt select for thine close associates those who are righteous.   If thou wilt give of thy time and talents in building up the Kingdom of God...thou shalt gain a certain testimony that Jesus is the Christ.   Cross-Reference Your Blessing with the Scriptures Taken from an Article by B. F. Golding Since our blessings are personal scripture, "cross-reference" your blessing with scriptures.  It can be a time consuming exercise in scripture study, but truly a wonderful learning experience.  Make a copy of your blessing and then take key words from each paragraph and look them up in the topical guide.  Read the listed scriptures until you find one that is similar in usage or touches you with its meaning.  List this scripture in the margin of the copy near the key word for later reference.  This process will open new vistas of truth, enlightening you to a greater understanding of the message of your Patriarchal Blessing. Recognize the Three Phases of the Plan of Salvation Another way to increase understanding is to recognize the three phases of the plan of salvation within your blessing.  By identifying sentences about your pre-mortal existence, post-mortal existence, and specifics for this earth life, you will increase your understanding of your station and purpose and your blessing will magnify the truth of who you truly are. Read Your Blessing Often A patriarchal blessing is personal revelation available to each of us.  Patriarchal blessings help us learn the truth about ourselves.  It is our responsibility to prayerfully read it to receive the direction we need to fulfill our life's mission and to avoid the pitfalls that will take us off course.  A patriarchal blessing is our opportunity to learn first hand Heavenly Father's confidence in us...His plan for us. Back to Personal Development