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PATRIARCHS AND PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS–1947.
1947: 10 Jul.: Suggestions for Stake Patriarchs.
“This communication will supersede previous letters sent from the office of the First Presidency to both presidents of stakes and to stake patriarchs.
To the end that there may be a clearer and more uniform understanding of the selection, duties and prerogatives of stake patriarchs, we bring to your attention the following considerations:
1. Selection and Installation of Stake Patriarchs:
Stake patriarchs are chosen by members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles representing the First Presidency as they visit the stakes of Zion. The stake president does not nominate the patriarch. It is, however, within his province to suggest to a member of the Council of the Twelve the needs of his stake for patriarchal service. He may then be asked by one of the Twelve for his suggestions as to a man or men to be chosen. His counselors may likewise be called into consultation by a member of the Twelve. The member of the Twelve will then submit his recommendation to the Council of the First Presidency and the Twelve. When the recommendation is approved the next visitor from the Twelve to the stake will be authorized to interview the prospective stake patriarch and, if satisfied, the visitor may have him sustained first by the High council and then he will be sustained by the people in conference assembled. After being so sustained the patriarch will be ordained by the visiting member of the Council of the Twelve and be instructed as to his duties. He will also be supplied by the one who ordains him with a record book and paper, upon which his blessings are to be recorded. He will likewise receive a copy of these general instructions. Questions arising regarding the service of the stake patriarch should be submitted to the Presidency of the Church. Members of the Council of the Twelve may also be consulted by stake patriarchs as they visit the stakes.
2. Nature of the Patriarchal Office and Blessings:
The patriarchal office is one of blessing, not of administration. Patriarchal blessings are the only blessings that patriarchs are specifically ordained and sustained to give. Patriarchal blessings contemplate an inspired declaration of the lineage of the recipient, and also, where so moved upon by the Spirit, an inspired and prophetic statement of the life mission of the recipient, together with such blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give for the accomplishment of such life’s mission, it being always made clear that the realization of all promised blessings is conditioned upon faithfulness to the Gospel of our Lord, whose servant the patriarch is.
All such blessings are recorded and generally only one such blessing should be adequate for each person’s life. The sacred nature of the patriarchal blessing must of necessity urge all patriarchs to most earnest solicitation of divine guidance for their prophetic utterances and superior wisdom for cautions and admonitions.
3. Relation to Administrative Officers:
While under the revelations patriarchs are selected and ordained by members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, they act in the stakes of Zion under the direct supervision of the presidency of the stake whose privilege and duty it is to supervise their work and to make adequate provision for it to be carried forward in an orderly way. The patriarch is not a counselor to the people of the stake and the ward as are the presidency of the stake and the bishoprics. It is the duty of the patriarchs ever to sustain these administrative officers in the policies adopted and the counsels given to the people; and if patriarchs are solicited for counsel and advice relating to the conduct of members of the Church and decisions to be made in both temporal and spiritual matters, they should refer such persons to the administrative officers whose right it is to give attention to such matters. Patriarchs, as well as all others who hold the proper priesthood, may, when requested so to do, give blessings for the healing of the sick, but such blessings for the sick or for the comfort of individuals are of no higher order than, nor are they to be distinguished from, similar blessings by others who hold the proper priesthood.
4. Recording Blessings:
All patriarchal blessings, as hereinbefore defined, should be written in duplicate, and one copy of the blessing should be given to the recipient, and one copy should be preserved in the record book. No charge is to be made nor gratuity accepted for the giving or recording of a patriarchal blessing.
The stake patriarch should, with the approval of the stake president, arrange for adequate stenographic service to record blessings. If stenographers are available who will furnish the service gratuitously, their services should be accepted as a worthy Church contribution. If, however, such gratuitous service is not available, the patriarch may arrange for a stenographer to record blessings and for this service a stenographer so employed may submit to the First Presidency of the Church statements of charges, not to exceed $1.00 for each blessing recorded. If and when such service is continuous, monthly bills should be presented.
5. Additional Record Books and Materials:
The office of the Church Historian is the depository for the records of patriarchal blessings and stake patriarchs will receive from the Historian’s Office such record books and other materials as may be essential for their use. When record books are ready for filing, they should be safely forwarded to the Historian’s Office, 47 East South Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. Whenever the stake patriarch shall have exhausted the record book and materials furnished to him at the time of his installation, he may make application to the Historian’s office for additional materials which will be sent to him without cost.
6. Removal of Stake Patriarch to Another Stake:
In the event a duly ordained stake patriarch moves out of the stake in which he has been sustained into another stake, the president of the stake into which he moves, when advised of the establishment of the patriarch’s membership in one of the wards of his stake, should immediately notify the First Presidency of the Church so that consideration may be given by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve to the installation of the patriarch in the stake to which he has moved. No stake patriarch may give blessings in any stake in which he has not been sustained by the people under the direction of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve.
In the event of the death of the patriarch, the president of the stake should secure and forward to the Historian’s Office the record book containing all the blessings that have been given.
7. Eligibility for Patriarchal Blessings:
Stake patriarchs may give blessings to those only who reside within their respective stakes, and only upon the presentation by the applicant of a recommend duly signed and approved by the bishop of the ward, except under the following conditions:
A. Stake patriarchs may give patriarchal blessings to members of organized missions upon the presentation by the applicant of a recommend duly signed and approved by the branch president and mission president. In such cases the applicant is to come into the stake for the blessing; the patriarch is not to go into the mission for the purpose.
B. Stake patriarchs are permitted to bless their blood relations wherever they may reside, provided, however, that such relations shall be duly recommended by the bishops of wards and presidents of stakes in which such relations reside.
C. In stakes where patriarchs have died or have become incapacitated or are absent from the stake so that patriarchal blessings from the stake patriarch are not available to members of the stake, in such circumstances and until such time as the services of a patriarch in such stakes may be made available to the members by a new appointment or the return of a patriarch on leave, members of such stakes may, upon proper recommendation of their bishops and the president of their stake, receive patriarchal blessings from a stake patriarch in an adjacent stake to whom they shall have been recommended. In such cases the applicant is to go into the patriarch’s stake for the blessing; the patriarch is not to leave his own stake and go into another stake for such purpose.” (First Presidency Circular Letter, 10 Jul., 1947. In Clark, Messages of the First Presidency 6:260-264)
1952: 4 Apr.: More than one blessing.
“In the past many received more than one blessing. This practice has been discontinued. After a person has received a patriarchal blessing through an ordained patriarch, in which his lineage is declared, he is in possession of his patriarchal blessing, and to repeat the lineage is superfluous. We are asked, what about additional blessings? These additional blessings need not be given by an ordained patriarch. Through the patriarchal order of the priesthood it is the right and duty of a father to minister unto his own individual family. That is, the father in the home has a perfect right or duty to bless his children. That is, if the father holds the priesthood which authorizes him to do so, he may bless his own children, and also baptize them, and confirm them, with full consent and appointment from the duly authorized officers in charge.” (Eldred G. Smith, 4 Apr., 1952; CR Apr., 1952, p. 40)
1954: Patriarch to Church no longer instructs other patriarchs.
The following phrase in the 1939 edition (p. 276) was deleted in the 1954 edition (Widtsoe, Priesthood and Church Government):
“They receive instructions from the Patriarch to the Church.”
1960: Patriarchs not to be sought out for counsel.
“Patriarchs are not to be sought out for counsel but Church members should be encouraged to go to bishoprics and stake presidencies. They are bound to sustain these administrative officers in the policies adopted and the counsels given to the people. If the patriarchs are solicited for counsel and advice relating to the conduct of members of the Church and decisions to be made in both temporal and spiritual matters, they should refer such queries to the administrative officers whose right it is to give attention to such matters.” (General Handbook of Instructions, Number 18–1960, p. 21)
Patriarchs not to push patriarchal blessings.
“Patriarchs need not take steps to stimulate a desire for patriarchal blessings in the minds of members of the stake. This encouragement may better be given by General Authorities, stake presidencies, bishoprics, other officers of the Church and parents.” (General Handbook of Instructions, Number 18–1960, p. 21)
1962: 1 Feb.: Why only one blessing per person?
“People want to know why it is recommended that only one patriarchal blessing be given by an ordained patriarch. When an ordained patriarch has given a blessing with all the requirements of the declaration of lineage and the sealing blessings and it is on record–recorded in the Church archives–then it is superfluous to keep repeating that same thing over again and putting it on record. It just fills up space in the Historian’s Office unnecessarily.” (Eldred G. Smith, Instructor 97(2):43, 1 Feb., 1962)
1964: Apr.: Gaining access to patriarchal blessings.
“Question: How can I gain access to the valuable genealogical information found in the headings of patriarchal blessings?
Answer: A published statement printed over the signature of Joseph Fielding Smith, Church Historian and General Church Recorder, gives this explanation:
COPIES OF BLESSINGS may be obtained from the Office of the Church Historian at a charge of twenty-five cents each under the following conditions: a member may obtain his/her own blessing, his/her husband’s or wife’s or his/her children’s. Blessings given to others will be copied only upon submission of their written permission. Blessings given to deceased ancestors will not be copied.
The Church Historian’s Office has performed a monumental task of making a complete card index to all patriarchal blessings, and on each card is entered the genealogical facts given in the patriarchal blessing for that person. Happily, this card index has now been microfilmed, and a copy is in the Church Genealogical Library, and before long will be cataloged and made available to the public.” (“Pertinent Questions Answered,” IE 67:271, Apr., 1964)
1968: Patriarchs now able to bless missionaries.
“Eligibility for Patriarchal Blessings.
. . . .
d. To missionaries serving in their area who did not receive patriarchal blessings prior to departing to their fields of labor. If such missionaries desire to receive patriarchal blessings from a patriarch serving in the area in which they labor, they should first be properly recommended by the mission president.”
(General Handbook of Instructions, No. 20, 1968, pp. 23-24)
1976: Mar.: Church Patr. does not preside over stake patriarchs
“The Patriarch to the Church, when requested, gives patriarchal blessings to Church members who have been properly recommended in their stakes or missions where no patriarch is available to them locally. He does not preside over the stake patriarchs.” (General Handbook of Instructions, 1976, #21, p. 49)
Mar.: Stake Pres.: “quality control” of stake patriarch
“While according to revelation patriarchs are selected and ordained by members of the Council of the Twelve, they act in the stakes of Zion under the direct supervision of the president of the stake, whose privilege and duty it is to supervise their work and to make adequate provision for it to be carried forward in an orderly way. The stake president should, from time to time, read the blessings given and confer with the patriarch regarding them and his duties. Observations of a controversial or unfavorable nature should be reported to a visiting members of the Council of the Twelve.” (General Handbook of Instructions, 1976, #21, p. 49)
Mar.: Patriarchal Blessing vs. father’s blessing.
“The First Presidency has issued the following policy statement:
Certainly we should give new and additional emphasis to the role of the father in giving blessings to children in the family. We think we should generally leave to the ordained patriarchs in the stakes the responsibility of declaring lineage in connection with an official patriarchal blessing, but still we could leave unlocked the door so that any father who felt inspired to pronounce the lineage in connection with a father’s blessing he was giving to his children should not be prevented from doing so.
We should urge and encourage fathers to give a father’s blessing to their children on such occasions as their going into the military or away from home to school or on missions and on other appropriate occasions.
A father’s blessing may be recorded in family records, but it is not to be preserved in the archives of the Church.” (General Handbook of Instructions, 1976, #21, p. 50)
Mar.: Questions about patriarchal blessings.
“Should there be any questions relative to a blessing previously received, these questions should be discussed by the person with the patriarch who gave the blessing if he is available. If the lineage is not given in the blessing, the patriarch, if so inspired may declare it and have it added as an addendum to the blessing.” (General Handbook of Instructions, 1976, #21, p. 51)
Mar.: Copies of patriarchal blessings.
“Copies of patriarchal blessings may be obtained from the Historical Department in the following situations:
1. Any person may obtain a copy of his own patriarchal blessing.
2. Direct descendants may obtain copies of blessings of their deceased ancestors.
3. Direct descendants may obtain copies of blessings of living ancestors with the written approval of such ancestors.
4. Progenitors may obtain copies of blessings of their direct descendants.
5. Husbands and wives may obtain copies of each other’s blessings.
Copies of blessings of persons who are under the penalty of excommunication are not to be given to anyone.” (General Handbook of Instructions, 1976, #21, p. 52)
1977: 1 Oct.: Everyone to have patriarchal & father’s blessings
“These are happy days, the days of the patriarchs, and it is our great hope that every person, including the older youth, will be given the opportunity of having a patriarchal blessing, which is recorded in the official records of the Church.
I have great confidence in the patriarchs and in their blessings. When the patriarch is a faithful Latter-day Saint and remains close to the Lord and is a student of the scriptures, the promises which he makes under his special authority and calling will be fulfilled, if the recipient of the blessing is faithful and true.
Of course, it is the right of every father and his duty as patriarch of his own family to give a father’s blessing to his children, and it is our hope that every father will give a sacred blessing to each of his children, especially as they are leaving home to go to school or on missions or to be married, which blessing should then be noted in the individual’s private journal.” (Spencer W. Kimball, 1 Oct., 1977; CR Oct., 1977, p. 4)
1979: 6 Oct.: Eldred G. Smith retired.
“The counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. All in favor, please manifest it. Contrary, if there be any, by the same sign. . . .
As Patriarch Emeritus, Eldred G. Smith. All in favor, please manifest it.” (N. Eldon Tanner, 6 Oct., 1979; CR Oct., 1979, p. 26)
1981: 27 Feb.: Changes in calling of patriarchs.
“In view of the worldwide growth of the Church and in an effort to minimize delays in the selection and ordination of stake patriarchs, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve now authorize stake presidents to recommend names of prospective stake patriarchs for consideration and approval of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Stake presidents may, in the future, when specifically authorized by the Twelve, ordain patriarchs.
In each instance, the stake president will submit a recommendation (see enclosed form) to the Office of the Council of the Twelve. Care should be taken to ensure that the individual being considered is not consulted until he is approved. If the recommendation is approved, the stake president will be authorized to interview, call and present the patriarch to a stake conference.
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve may continue to call and ordain patriarchs as at present. Members of the First Quorum of the Seventy and the Presiding Bishopric may also ordain patriarchs after they have been properly approved by the Quorum of the Twelve.
In announcing this decision, we emphasize the sacred nature of the calling of a patriarch–an office in the Melchizedek Priesthood to which one is ordained but not set apart. We also stress the need for stake presidents to continue to direct the on-going labors of patriarchs in their stakes as set forth in the attached publication entitled Information and Suggestions for Patriarchs.” (First Presidency Circular Letter, 27 Feb., 1981)
1983: Patriarchs now recommended and ordained by Stk Pres
“The following duties are the personal responsibility of the [stake] president:
. . . .
4. Recommend patriarchs and ordain them as authorized by the Quorum of the Twelve.”
(General Handbook of Instructions, #22, 1983; p. 1)
Patriarchs may give blessings in missions.
“With the approval of the Quorum of the Twelve, patriarchs may give blessings to members in missions.” (General Handbook of Instructions, #22, 1983; p. 34)
1986: 5 Oct.: The nature of patriarchal blessings.
“The same Lord who provided a Liahona to Lehi provides for you and for me today a rare and valuable gift to give direction to our lives, to mark the hazards to our safety, and to chart the way, even safe passage–not to a promised land, but to our heavenly home. The gift to which I refer is known as your patriarchal blessing. Every worthy member of the Church is entitled to receive such a precious and priceless personal treasure.
‘Patriarchal blessings,’ wrote the First Presidency in a letter to stake presidents, ‘contemplate an inspired declaration of the lineage of the recipient and, when so moved upon by the Spirit, an inspired and prophetic statement of the life mission of the recipient, together with such blessings, cautions and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give for the accomplishment of such life’s mission, it being always made clear that the realization of all promised blessings is conditioned upon faithfulness to the gospel of our Lord, whose servant the patriarch is.’ (First Presidency letter to stake presidents, 28 June, 1958.)
Who is this man, this patriarch, through whom such seership and priesthood power flow? How is he called? The Council of the Twelve Apostles has special responsibility pertaining to the calling of such men. From my own experience I testify that patriarchs are called of God by prophecy. How else could our Heavenly Father reveal those to whom such prophetic powers are to be given? A patriarch holds an ordained office in the Melchizedek Priesthood. The patriarchal office, however, is one of blessing–not of administration. I have never called a man to this sacred office but what I have felt the Lord’s guiding influence in the decision. May I share with you one treasured experience?
Many years back I had been assigned to name a patriarch for a stake in Logan, Utah. I found such a man, wrote his name on a slip of paper, and placed the note inside my scriptures. My further review revealed that another worthy patriarch had moved to this same area, making unnecessary the naming of a new patriarch. None was named.
Nine years later I was again assigned a stake conference in Logan. Once more a patriarch was needed for the stake I was to visit. I had been using a new set of scriptures for several years and had them in my briefcase. However, as I prepared to leaven my home for the drive to Logan, I took from the bookcase shelf an older set of scriptures, leaving the new ones at home. During the conference I began my search for a patriarch: a worthy man, a blameless servant of God, one filled with faith, characterized by kindness. Pondering these requirements, I opened my scriptures and there discovered the slip of paper placed there long years before. I read the name written on the paper: Cecil B. Kenner. I asked the stake presidency if by chance Brother Kenner lived in this particular stake. I found he did. Cecil B. Kenner was that day ordained a patriarch.
Patriarchs are humble men. They are students of the scriptures. They stand before God as the means whereby the blessings of heaven can flow from that eternal source to the recipient on whose heads rests the hands of the patriarch. He may not be a man of letters, a possessor of worldly wealth, or a holder of distinguished office. He, however, must be blessed with priesthood power and personal purity. To reach to heaven for divine guidance and inspiration, a patriarch is to be a man of love, a man of compassion, a man of judgment, a man of God.
A patriarchal blessing is a revelation to the recipient, even a white line down the middle of the road, to protect, inspire, and motivate activity and righteousness. A patriarchal blessing literally contains chapters from your book of eternal possibilities. I say eternal, for just as life is eternal, so is a patriarchal blessing. What may not come to fulfillment in this life may occur in the next. We do not govern God’s timetable.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa. 55:8-9.)
Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound. Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers. Unlike the struggling bomber of yesteryear, lost in the desert wastes, the sands and storms of life will not destroy you on your eternal flight. Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal Liahona to chart your course and guide your way.” (Thomas S. Monson, 5 Oct., 1986; CR Oct., 1986, pp. 81-83)
5 Oct.: Patriarch from Utah gives blessings in Poland.
“One afternoon Percy K. Fetzer, a righteous patriarch, came to my office by appointment. . . . He explained that he had just returned from the land of Poland, where he had been privileged to give patriarchal blessings to our worthy members there.” [This was “several years” previous to Monson’s talk.] (Thomas S. Monson, 5 Oct., 1986; CR Oct., 1986, p. 83)