Episode 54: Patriarchal Blessings: Your Invitation to Act
In this episode, I share a personal Aha Moment! I had recently about Patriarchal Blessings.
Three Truths:
Truth #1: A Patriarchal Blessing is a revelation given through the Lord’s authorized agent, the Patriarch. It is God’s word directly given to us for our benefit and use, and as a guide throughout our life.
When moved upon by the Holy Spirit, we may desire to share a particular part of our blessing with someone in our family or a close, personal friend. But our blessing should never be made common knowledge for all to hear.
Truth #2: There are agents who act and agents who are acted upon.
This concept led me to one of my greatest Aha Moments! Of the year so far.
It was kind of “the perfect storm” for me, as far as Aha Moments go …. And when it struck, my first reaction was, “Well, duh! How did I miss THAT little golden nugget all these years … decades? Three things came together simultaneously:
In my Book of Mormon study, I was reading 2nd Nephi, chapter 2.
In our CFM study, I was reading D&C section 58.
I had pulled out my Patriarchal Blessing and read it.
I always believed my Patriarchal Blessing was God’s way of telling what would happen TO ME during my life. One passage from my Blessing said my voice would become strong in bearing my testimony of the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ, the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and the power it has to make us better.
I was talking to my daughter, Raechel, about this 18 months ago, lamenting that this blessing had not occurred yet. I translated that passage into something like: I would be asked to speak at Women’s Conference, or be sought after to speak at Time Out For Women or EFY or Education Week. Those were the only venues I could think of where my voice could become strong in bearing my testimony to a large audience of people.
That was when Raechel suggested I start a podcast. And although I took her advice, I overlooked a very important lesson! Until the morning of the perfect storm!
Truth #3: My Patriarchal Blessing IS our invitation to act, and not wait to be acted upon. Our Patriarchal Blessing contains callings that come directly from the Lord to us.
As I mulled over these truths, the Spirit whispered to me, "Mindy, “It is not meet that I should command you in all things ….. you should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of your own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in you, wherein you are an agent unto yourself--
--Your Patriarchal Blessing IS THE CALL. But you need to ACT, not wait to be ACTED UPON.”
I suddenly felt filled with this incredible, enabling power. And then another little golden nugget bopped me on the noggin. My voice IS becoming strong in bearing my testimony of the truthfulness of the Restored gospel! It’s happening through this podcast! I am fulfilling one of the things I was called to do in my Patriarchal Blessing--because I chose to act of my own free will.
Perhaps you’ve known this all along. And if that’s the case, I’m a little bummed that you didn’t tell me about it sooner!
DO ONE THING
Go through your Patriarchal Blessing and make a list of everything you will accomplish. Rewrite them as CALLINGS. Then design a plan.
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Resources
"Your Patriarchal Blessing..." Thomas S. Monson
"The Lord Blesses His Children..." Richard D. Allred
"Priesthood Blessings..." James E. Faust
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