Revelation

Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.

You can read more here.


Proverbs 3:5-6 has always been one of my favorite scriptures. The chance to trust in the Lord and allow him to direct my paths takes so much of the pressure created by my own fallibility off my shoulders. One of the coolest things about believing in modern revelation is the chance to receive a patriarchal blessing. In addition to this very personal guidance from the Lord specifically for me, I'm blessed by the opportunity to read the guidance He's given to others. In the Doctrine & Covenants, Christ gives direction to all of us by means of his commandments to specific people. As he tells Emma Smith, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all" (D&C 25:16).

Just like patriarchal blessings, so many of the revelations found in the Doctrine & Covenants give me "guidance, comfort, and protection." They teach me the basic principles foundational to deeper understanding and also expose me to the greater mysteries of God. Like patriarchal blessings, the Doctrine & Covenants must be read with the spirit so that we can recognize the ways in which we should apply counsel to our daily lives specifically. The Doctrine & Covenants provides written revelation that is binding upon all of us, just as patriarchal blessings create a specific covenant relationship between us and the Lord. In numerous places, the Lord uses the same pattern of establishing if -> then clauses to demonstrate that our blessings are contingent upon our righteousness and obedience. I love the fact that the Doctrine & Covenants shows examples of both sincere praise and censure. These scriptures provide the exact same kind of guidance that we discussed today in Relief Society.

No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile- Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterward an increase of love for him whom thou has reproved lest he esteem thee to be his enemy. (D&C 121:41-43)

While a patriarchal blessing is similar to the revelations given to individuals in the Doctrine & Covenants, it's much more intensely personal. The direction found there applies specifically to the individual. It's amazing to have the word of the Lord directed to me. Oftentimes I don't treat that opportunity with sufficient respect. Truth be told, I hadn't read my patriarchal blessing in months until I finally remembered where it was while listening to a fireside a few weeks ago. Thankfully, a patriarchal blessing is just one piece in what should be a continuing dialogue between the individual and the Lord. I really like the advice Alma gives to his son Helaman in the Book of Mormon.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma 37:37)

I suppose the moral of the story is that I need to get better at obeying all of the Lord's commandments, whether they come in the form of His voice to all or directly to me. The verses following that from which I selected my blog title remind me of the same principle.

Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. (D&C 6:35-36)