A Patriarchal Blessing A Message of Identity, Promise, and Love | Robert Patterson | 2001

Through experiences as a patriarch, Robert S. Patterson explains that your patriarchal blessing is a message of identity, promise, and love.
This speech was given on November 6, 2001.
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"Devotionals are a remarkable feature of this university. I have come to appreciate their amazing value as they contribute to our learning, our spirituality, and our sense of community. It is an inspiring sight as we all make the trek from our various places across campus to this location each week. Our attendance reflects the desire of students, staff, and faculty alike to experience, during this brief interlude, thoughts and feelings that provide uplift, strength, and joy for our individual and collective lives. It is an equally awesome and inspiring sight as you flood into this building and take your places. I love to look into your faces and consider the power you represent. Indeed, you are a mighty army. You are being prepared to go forth into the world-even into its more remote corners-to perform a mighty work. You are not here by chance or by fortuitous circumstance. I hope you recognize that you have been given a very special opportunity, one that will bless you, your family, and your associates. I feel I have been so blessed.
I am thankful that my dear companion, Belva, is here with me. It is largely because of her that I stand before you today. As a young woman, as a senior in high school, she introduced me to the doctrines and the way of life of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She exemplified in her conduct what she taught with her speech. Her obedience, happiness, and righteousness radiated truth and beauty. Thus she gave me reason to seek knowledge and a testimony of the Church that gave obvious meaning and purpose to her life. Later these same virtues, so evident in her life and so pleasing to my soul, also caused me to seek to be worthy to be her husband and companion. In the 40-plus years of our acquaintance, friendship, and marriage, I have never had occasion to doubt her love or her goodness. She is a true disciple of our Lord and Savior. It is impossible for me to pay adequate tribute to her or to find words sufficient to express all she has brought and continues to bring into my life.
I have chosen to talk to you about patriarchal blessings. I made this choice even though I am reasonably certain that the majority of you have already received patriarchal blessings. Experience has taught me that there is much that we can learn about these blessings that will cause us to treasure them and learn from them even more than we might at present. As I consider the ways I have grown in appreciation for the patriarchal blessing I received 45 years ago, I realize that the more we know about them-about their source, nature, and purpose-the greater will be their value in our lives. Perhaps my main reason for choosing this topic has to do with my deeply positive feelings about these blessings. Just last Friday-as I shared a wonderful hour with a young man, Karl, who came for a blessing-I reflected on how fortunate I was to experience the love of the Lord as it has been manifest on such occasions.
It has been a great privilege and blessing to me to have served for 20 years as a patriarch. I know from countless experiences during those years that patriarchal blessings are communications given to us as personal revelations from God. These few words, recorded on perhaps a page or more, are remarkable. Their prophetic utterances have great power. They speak to our uncertainties, our abilities, our gifts, our life’s experiences-all in the interest of assuring us of God’s love and of His willingness to help us face the challenges and trials of our lives and to sustain us safely through what we must face. Although I have been richly blessed through my priesthood calling to know that these blessings are from God, I find that my own personal patriarchal blessing is also a very significant source of testimony to me that the Lord’s servants speak prophetic words of truth and love to His children. To this day I continue to marvel at the ways in which the promises and statements in my blessing accurately foreshadow and give perspective to the experiences of my life..."

[@mattbrazil18]

I have my patriarchal blessing tomorrow so... I'm excited to listen to this talk 🙂

[@kevincantrell2421]

Congrats Br. Such a sweet wonderful moment. Love you 👊

[@happylatter-daysaint3503]

That's awesome!!

[@Cheezyou]

I got mine last week too and it was lovely to listen to :)

[@lisapurplehayes]

They are just a longer fortune cookie. Made up.

[@spitingMYverse]

@@lisapurplehayes We love you. Place your faith where you may it still won’t change our love or our saviors love for thee. Hope this reaches you well.

[@tesskansas4939]

This talk is about perfect timing for me tonight.

[@mupa789]

Amen 🙏🏾

[@peggybogar3059]

So glad the audience came and many of us virtually-I am in Tasmania, Australia and thoroughly enjoyed your talk on our treasure. Also your tribute to your dear wife.

[@sydneaustin4069]

Love this talk! ❤️

[@diannoliver9149]

Bob Patterson was one of the greatest kindly humble men I have ever known and his wife was truely an angel. I was blessed to know them both. This talk is a re broadcast from 2001 and both have passed away. Were he alive he would answer each and every question here cause that's how he was. The great blessing of personal revelation though is that answers are there for all who search them out. Listening to him again makes me grateful for the time we had to know them. His words are true and eternal.

[@tcctocrazytccarson7309]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. They touched my heart ♡

[@aBaird-du4jd]

Patriarchal blessings are a guide to our lives as we learn how the spirit speaks to us we will experience all the blessings God has to offer. We all need to have hope and enduring to the end can be hard but it's what we promised God when we chose to come to earth.

[@thetruthhurts599]

I'm sorry, "when we choose to come to the earth". When exactly were we given the choice and when exactly did we choose?

[@redneckgirl3326]

My patriarchal blessing has given me so much instruction since I received it at age 14, some 38 years ago. I finally got Sundays off and since the workplace bullies have been trying to take it away from me. I was offered a different day off, which would get me away from the worst of them. But I didn't want to do it. After praying about it, I was directed to my Patriarchal Blessing. In there, there is a line that says to seek only that which is spiritually beneficial. That would not be.

[@apet1712]

Our own False expectations often lead to disappointment and weakened Faith. I’ve sadly seen this way of thinking shake the Faith of many and cause them to stumble on the path!😔”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5

[@alananat6628]

It's not a false expectation if it comes as a promise from a servant of the Lord.

[@apet1712]

I think you misunderstood me, our own false expectations, not seeing what God sees, and a prophet sees what God sees. It’s not trusting and having faith in God and his prophets Eternal Perspective, and insisting on our own thoughts and reasoning. Being “myopic” as President Nelson says.

[@sabrinaflipse7732]

answered questions i didnt even realize i had :) thank you :)

[@SteveGovern]

Beautiful message

[@ildenete3235]

A bênção patriarcal vista como uma continuidade. A continuidade da Pré-Existencia, a continuidade dos convênios sagrados para cada filho de Deus. É uma grande bênção de verdade especificamente para cada , um convênio especial para você, não para ficar apenas questionando mas, compreender mais o plano em praticar o que o Pai Celestial nos dá tendo um aumento do entendimento

[@applehoneypieph8622]

A map of life. . .

[@jenniejennie3884]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@cindykinser7850]

My 41 year old daughter who is seeking to live the Gospel received her PB 3 days ago. We were disappointed as it was very generic and did not reveal (other than her tribe) any personal or prophetic or acknowledgment of her talents or struggles or guidance for her future. She wept to me after saying she did not think the Lord said anything that was unique to her. It was so general that she thinks it may mean she will die as there was no guidance for her future. It was a sad experience for both of us. She is feeling hopeless as she often struggles with suicidial ideation and wonders if there is any purpose in her being here. I have been an active member for over 60 years and in my experiences I have not heard any blessing so lacking in any of the components mentioned in this wonderful talk

[@abctx5]

I’m sorry you feel that way. I would listen to his talk again when he talks about focusing too much on what is not there rather than what is there. It is a special blessing for your daughter even if you feel it is “generic”. Also he reiterates that the declaration of lineage is the most important part of the blessing. So even if the blessing was only a paragraph and only held that information, that would be all the Lord would need to convey. I would pray and encourage your daughter to do the same, to pray for insight into what IS there. My blessing has not changed but my interpretation of my blessing has changed many times as I have gone through various experiences and trials. When you reach for the extended vision of what is there and use it as an opportunity to come closer to Lord, He will reveal more. If you become bitter and hurt for what you perceive now, the opposite will be true. Good luck on your journey. It can be a great one, if you walk the path that will allow the Lord to teach and love.

[@sandynatale9987]

Angela very well said. My mother felt the same way. But thinking about my PB, the more I worked to live the gospel within our Heavenly Father, not thinking of me but of how I could give of myself to others, has built a strong foundation on how I have lived my life and treated others. It hasn’t been easy or even fair living my life. The Spirit once asked me “would you rather throw away your owned trials and hardships? And be given a new set? I thought about that only a moment. “No”was my response, and I to this day, have been working toward the goal of the celestial kingdom.

[@therusfosterson238]

I’m sorry to read this about your daughter. My blessing (received over 50 years ago) is also brief and I even asked my bishop if I could get a second one. I felt shortchanged. However, I no longer feel this way. A patriarchal blessing is given by prophecy and revelation from Heavenly Father through the Holly Ghost guiding the patriarch in what to say. It is personal scripture to the recipient. Therefore, gaining understanding of the messages in the blessing is most successfully done when the recipient prayerfully studies their blessing under the guidance of The Spirit. At times, the recipient will gain new insights and understanding from the Lord thru His Spirit. Including things that are not written on the page. In this way your daughters blessing is a living document and she can continue to receive insights and direction from the Lord throughout her entire life. Our blessings from the Lord are not restricted by what a patriarch says or does not say. Trust in the Lord and His great love for and awareness of you. For what it’s worth, Elder Dallin Oaks has encouraged patriarchs to pronounce a blessing on the recipients and not make long pronouncements outside blessing them and stating the spiritual lineage through which their blessings and responsibilities will flow. The first blessings recorded in the Bible and Book of Mormon are VERY short. But very prophetic and powerful. God loves your daughter more than the patriarch can say. The fact that her blessing is shorter than others is a sign that the Lord can trust her to stay close to Him and continue to receive guidance from Him, over time, through other means, including His Spirit.

[@alicialarsen8932]

Cindi Kinser you said right here...."She is seeking to live the Gospel" the Lord knows that. He knows our hearts 💕 he knows that what we are able to accomplish without being compelled or told what to do. He is trusting you daughter so much, so much. I know that there might be things that she would love to hear in a more specific way but this is precisely an opportunity to have the answers in a more interactive way (Communion with God) All her blessings are in her lineage. It sounds to me that your daughter is so special, a great noble one spirit that was so obedient that she hardly needed any instruccion, because her Spirit knows and will be awaken with every scripture or lesson read. Most of the time our strength is precisely in those difficult or disappointment moments....we can use them as stepping stones....Satan is going to use anything against us, or any opportunity ....Resist to be discourage and embrace the will 9f the Lord - the way he knew her Sweet daughter would still choose him...Prayers the way to succeed.

[@irishrosa6115]

I am sorry for your sadness, and that your daughter's blessing was not what you had hoped for. The other comments say it better than I could 🙂 A patriarchal blessing is indeed a 'living' document. I recently had an experience that brought to mind something in my blessing--but in a completely new way. I recognized it because I've read it so often. I would suggest reading the blessing over and over, often, and with prayer, until you (both) have it mostly memorized. It will become part of your thoughts as you go through life. Best wishes.

[@kimisdancin]

I would like someone to help me understand mine. I don't know whom to ask!

[@bxxj]

It may come in time. Also bear in mind you must act in order to receive those blessings. Ask the lord what he wants you to do. The mysteries of God only exist for you because you have not sought them out to your fullest extent.

[@abctx5]

You can always ask your stake patriarch

[@therusfosterson238]

Here’s some things I have learned as a patriarch: A patriarchal blessing is given by prophecy and revelation from Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost guiding the patriarch in what to say. It is personal scripture to the recipient. Therefore, gaining understanding of the messages in the blessing is most successfully done when the recipient prayerfully studies their blessing under the guidance of The Spirit. At times, the recipient will gain new insights and understanding from the Lord thru His Spirit. Including things that are not written on the page. Since the words in your blessing are from the Father directly to you via the Spirit, the best source of understanding (but not the only source of insights) will be to go directly to Heavenly Father in prayer and study and pondering and ask Him and His answers will often come via the Spirit. He will give you understanding thru His Spirit. Don’t give up. Ask, seek, knock. Our blessings are incredible and like a beautiful flower they bloom over time. In the case of a P. Blessing it will be a lifetime.

[@gabrielarivas586]

You'll understand in time. I got mine when I was 14 and didn't understand. Now i maybe understand about half. The others I'm still watching for answers. But give it time. It's for you.

[@alananat6628]

This is sad to me. I think people need to live their lives and not let their worth or livelihood hang on words which are generic or uninspired. Live your life the best you can.

[@alananat6628]

How does one explain the inconsistencies in patriarchal blessings with an especially worthy member? How many people are promised they will LIVE to see Jesus at his coming, and yet they pass away. Stop making excuses for this nonsense.

[@lisapurplehayes]

Patriarchal blessing’s use the Barnum affect. It’s the same way fortune cookies are written. They are pretty much all the same and add to the sensation. I don’t think it’s legitimate at all sorry everybody. It’s a cruel trick.

[@adamr1637]

Not sure why you believe that, but it's not correct. Mine goes well beyond generalities. So do the blessings of my siblings and parents and wife. As someone who knows them well, I can say with certainty the patriarchs spoke in personal terms in each blessing which far exceeds what you suggest. Each blessing precisely fits the individual in ways that would not match the others. If you are simply hoping to explain away something, I suggest you receive and study your own.