Patriarchal Blessings

A patriarchal blessing is personal revelation for our lives. It helps us understand our potential and the blessings we can receive if we are faithful. It may contain promises, admonitions, or warnings to guide our lives. It also helps us know that Heavenly Father knows and cares about us personally.
(Come Follow Me Curriculum lesson objective)

All of us have experienced or will yet experience moments of great decision in our lives. Should I pursue this career or that one? Should I serve a mission? Is this the right person for me to marry?

These are situations in different areas of our lives in which a small change in direction can have significant future consequences. In the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Through years of serving the Lord … , I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery in individuals, in marriages, and families often comes down to an error of only a few degrees” (“A Matter of a Few Degrees,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 58).

How can we avoid these small errors in calculation?

I will use a personal experience to illustrate my message.

At the end of the 1980s, our young family was made up of my wife, Mônica, two of our four children, and me. We lived in São Paulo, Brazil, I worked for a good company, I had finished my university studies, and I had recently been released as bishop of the ward where we had lived. Life was good, and everything seemed to be as it should be—until one day an old friend came to visit us.

At the conclusion of his visit, he made a comment and asked a question that unsettled my convictions. He said, “Carlos, everything seems to be going well for you, your family, your career, and your service in the Church, but—” and then came the question, “if you continue to live as you are living, will the blessings promised in your patriarchal blessing be fulfilled?”

I had never thought about my patriarchal blessing in this way. I read it from time to time but never with the intent of looking toward the blessings promised in the future and evaluating how I was living in the present.

After his visit, I turned my attention to my patriarchal blessing, wondering, “If we continue to live as we are living, will the promised blessings be fulfilled?” After some pondering, I had the feeling that some changes were necessary, particularly in relation to my education and profession.

It was not a decision between what was right and wrong but between what was good and what was better, as Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught us when he said: “As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best” (“Good, Better, Best,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 104–5).

The Lord Has a Plan for Us!  Elder Carlos A. Godoy, April 2014

“Have you had a patriarchal blessing? Are you preparing to get one soon? Think of this—what does a patriarchal blessing say? Have you ever heard of one which says, ‘I am sorry—you’re a loser. Do the best you can on earth, and we’ll see you in about seventy years.’ Of course not! And you never will, because of the divine qualities each of God’s children has inherited. A patriarchal blessing is like a road map, a guide, directing you in your walk through life. It identifies your talents and the good things that can be yours.”

Elaine L. Jack, Second Counselor, Young Women General Presidency
“Identity of a Young Woman,” October 1989 General Conference

“This is the season for young women to prepare and then receive their patriarchal blessing. Your bishop and parents can help you decide when the right time is for you, because the age and readiness are different for each person. When you understand the meaning and purpose of a patriarchal blessing and have a sincere desire to do the work of the Lord, you should be mature enough to receive your blessing. Sometimes people wait longer than is needed to receive their blessing, thinking that they need to qualify for it in some special way. If you can qualify to receive a recommend to do baptisms at the temple, then you should be able to qualify for a patriarchal blessing. It is important to prepare for your blessing with fasting and prayer so that your spirit is humble and teachable. Your personal preparation is very important.”

When you receive your blessing, you get a glimpse of eternity. You begin to see a picture of what lies ahead for you because your blessing will refer to your eternal purpose and journey. The patriarch who gives you your blessing does not know what your blessing will be until he gives it. He depends on the Spirit to tell him what to say. In your blessing, you are told about your ancestry in the house of Israel. That’s your family line and your family line is sometimes called a tribe. All of the tribes go back to the great patriarch Abraham. Your lineage is important. It means that you are included in the promises given to Abraham that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed.⁸

Julie B. Beck, First Counselor, Young Women General Presidency

“You Have a Noble Birthright,” April 2006 General Conference

“You are never too young to start learning about patriarchal blessings. I am glad I received my blessing before I was too heavily influenced by the confusing and incorrect messages in the world. I came away from that experience with the comforting assurance that the Lord loved me and knew me, and from that day onward I began to think more often in terms of eternity than popularity.”

Julie B. Beck, First Counselor, Young Women General Presidency
“You Have a Noble Birthright,” April 2006 General Conference

“One of the ways we can come to understand the divinely appointed mission the Lord has for us is through our patriarchal blessings. These are very specific and individual messages we can each receive by the power of the priesthood.”

Susan W. Tanner, Young Women General President
“Daughters of Heavenly Father,” April 2007 General Conference

This is where I got the quiz. You can find the answers here.

Patriarchal Blessings Quiz

1)   T   F   Anyone can receive a patriarchal blessing.

2)   T   F   A patriarchal blessing promises you certain things that will happen in your life.

3)   T   F   Members of the same family will be members of the same tribe of Israel.

4)   T   F   If a person is faithful, all patriarchal promises will be fulfilled in the person’s lifetime.

5)   T   F   A person’s patriarchal blessing will always be understandable to the person who receives it.

6)   T   F   A patriarchal blessing should be shared with friends and neighbors.

7)   T   F   A patriarchal blessing will tell you the major callings you will hold in your life.

8)   T   F   To receive a patriarchal blessing you must be interviewed by the bishop and stake president.

9)   T   F   A patriarchal blessing will tell you if you are going to be married and have children in this life.

10)   T   F   If you live worthy, the Lord will fulfill all of the promises given in your patriarchal blessing.

General conference Jeopardy game April 2017

General Conference Jeopardy April 2017

Women’s Session:

1.  This was the name of Sister Bonnie H. Cordon’s talk.  (What is Trust in the Lord and Lean Not?)

2.  Sister Carol F. McConkie says that Heavenly Father has given each of us the capacity to become this.  (What is holy?)

3.  Sister Linda K. Burton taught that these are disciples centered in the Savior Jesus Christ and have hope through the promise of His atoning sacrifice.  (Who are certain women?)

4.  In his message to the women, Pres. Eyring said “You will at times have your faith challenged by Satan: it happens to all disciples of Jesus Christ. “  He said this was your defense against these attacks.  (What is keeping the Holy Ghost as your companion?)

Saturday Morning:

1. In Pres. Eyring’s message on Gathering the Family of God, this is why the terms “brother” and “sister” are not just friendly greetings or terms of endearment for us.  (What is they are an expression of an eternal truth:  God is the literal father of all mankind?)

2. In the talk, The Daily Guiding Hand, these are 3 of the things Brother M. Joseph Brough mentioned that we each have in our personal care packages. (What is His Son and the atonement, the Holy Ghost, commandments, scriptures, prayer, prophets, apostles, parents, grandparents, local Church leaders, and many others?)

3. Elder Weatherford T. Clayton spoke of these three pillars of  our Father’s glorious plan.  (What is the creation, the fall of Adam and Eve, and the atonement of Jesus Christ?)

4. In Our Good Shepherd, Elder Renlund states that God uses this as a metaphor for sin.  (What is disease?)

Saturday Evening:

1.  Elder Hales says that genuine discipleship is a state of this.  (What is being?)

2.  Elder Holland states that in singing the anthems of eternity, we should stand as close as humanly possible to this person.  (Who is the Savior and Redeemer of the world?)

3.  In the talk  “Stand Up Inside and Be All In”, this is why the scout didn’t use his sleeping bag and was cold all night.  (What is if he didn’t unroll it, he wouldn’t have to roll it up again.)

4.  In Elder Neil L. Andersen’s talk “Overcoming the World”, praying, repenting, following the Savior and receiving His grace lead us to better understand this.  (What is why we are here and who we are to become?)

5.  In Elder M. Russell Ballard’s message, we need to set goals so that we can do these two things.  (What is return (to God’s presence) and receive (all that He has for us.)?)

Priesthood:

1. This is the title of Pres. Monson’s talk to the priesthood brethren.  (What is “Kindness, Charity, and Love”?)

2.  In Elder Bednar’s message “Called to the Work”, he states that an assignment to labor in a specific place is essential and important but secondary to this.  (What is a call to the work?)

3.  In Bishop Causse’s message “Prepare the Way”, he compares Jesus and John the Baptist to these.  (What are the Melchizedek and the Aaronic priesthoods?)

4.  Pres. Uchtdorf says that the greatest reward goes to those who serve this way.  (What is without expectation of reward?)

5.  In Pres. Eyring’s message to the priesthood, he says that  the second lesson is not just to solve problems but to do this.  (What is build people?)

Sunday Morning:

1.  This was the subject of Pres. Monson’s message to the church.  (What is the power of the Book of Mormon?)

2.  Elder Rasband’s message was on the Holy Ghost.  He talks about ways to keep the Spirit with us all the time.   This is his fourth step.  (What is “act on the first prompting’?)

3. In Elder Clayton’s message, he reference this miracle that Jesus performed at his mother’s request.  (What is turn water to wine?)

4.  This was the message of Elder Oaks’ talk.  (What is the Godhead and the plan of Salvation?)

5.  This is the name of Pres. Uchtdorf’s message to us.  (What is Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear?)

Sunday Evening:

1.  In “The Voice of Warning”,  Elder Christofferson tells us that Ezkiel became a prophet at this age.  (What is 30?)

2.  Elder Costa tells us in his talk “To the Friends and Investigator’s of the Church” he tells us this was the reason he listened to the missionaries.  (What is love?)

3.  Elder Stevenson spoke of a mission president who listened to the spirit and did this.  (What is have all the missionaries come to a meeting and not just the leaders and during the meeting a 9.0 earthquake hit? )

4.  Elder S. Mark Palmer said that a scripture helped him go from thinking, “How does a frustrated mission president get a struggling missionary to behave better?” to this question.  (How can I be filled with Christ-like love so a missionary can feel the love of God through me and desire to change?)

5.  Elder Quentin L. Cook told a story of his 4 year old son saying that he could do everything because he could do these 3 things.  (What is tie, ride, and zip?)

-->

Jesus, the atonement

(Adam Abrams, Gethsemane, © 2008 Adam Abrams.

I prefer this painting of Christ in Gethsemane to the others that have Him sitting up praying.  I think the atonement was hard and messy and I feel that this painting shows more of the great intensity involved when our Savior was paying the price for our sins, griefs, sicknesses, etc.

Leviticus 17:11
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Isaiah 53:3-6
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

Romans 5:11
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

ALMA 7: 11-13

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me. 

ALMA 34: 8-10, 13-188 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. 

It is always a challenge to talk or write about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. First of all, it is infinite in its scope. It is the most profound and pivotal event in all of eternity. And we are so totally and utterly finite. We can but glimpse its importance and come only to a small understanding of its full meaning for us.
Another problem is the sheer volume of the record of that week. Christ’s ministry lasted three years, or 156 weeks. Thus the final week of His life constitutes only two-tenths of one percent of His ministry, yet that week occupies fully one-third of the total pages of the four Gospels. In a few short pages, I could not even recount the events of that most significant of all weeks in history; therefore, I have chosen to take a somewhat different approach to Easter Week.
Generally at Easter time we talk about Christ’s sacrifice and what it means to us. But I should like to focus more on what the Atonement meant for Jesus. Sometimes we forget that side of the story. Yes, Jesus was the Son of God, but He was also a man. He had a body like ours that needed food and sleep. He had personality and character traits. If He walked too far in one day, His feet would blister. If He hit His thumb while working in the carpenter’s shop, it hurt like fury, and the thumbnail eventually turned black.
It was not just the Son of God who went through that first Easter week, it was also the man Jesus. And knowing that has relevance for us today. So I shall draw just a few glimpses from the scriptures of what those final days must have meant for Him. In doing so, it is my hope that we will deepen our appreciation not only for what He did, but for what He was.Elder Gerald N. Lund
Here is the link to the whole article:
https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/my-redeemer-lives/what-atoning-sacrifice-meant-jesus-0