I found this great article from 2001 about how to get the most out of your patriarchal blessing. I read mine all the time and so I loved this! I'd love to hear different ways that you get the most out of yours - please share!
Setting Goals from Your Patriarchal Blessing
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.)
Obtaining 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.
http://www.theideadoorfiles.com/index.php/relief-society/95-relief-society/additional-rs-meetings/891-patriarchal-blessing
Mosiah 18:9 - Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as a witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection that ye may have eternal life
Excellent. I am going to do this with mine.
ReplyDeleteI recently started something like this. I hadn't thought of the covenant or warning categories. I do have ones labelled "promises" and "exhortations" so maybe that is similar. I like the idea of setting goals in line with the blessing...I believe we have to strive to do our part for their fulfillment.
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