How to Order Your Ancestors' Patriarchal Blessings

MY EXPERIENCE:

Finally, it arrived. Rushing in through the front door and darting directly to my room, I opened the package that I had waited weeks for. I tried to be patient while carefully opening the large document sized envelope and then poured the papers gently into my hands. Blessings. I held in my hands the beautiful blessings of my ancestors: personal, authority given, and God-inspired.

As I sat on the floor in my room, reading aloud to my mom the Patriarchal Blessings of our ancestors, a few things stood out to me.

1. If we were to have a little "getting to know you" time with our ancestors what better way could we get to know them than

• To see them through the eyes of the Lord? 

• To hear what He had to say regarding their personal mission in life.

• To hear the strengths, gifts and skills they personally have.

• To become aware of the personally tailored counsel they were given in regards to circumstances they encountered in their mortal lifetime.

2. As I read their blessings, each individual became more than black and while photos or stories my parents, aunts and uncles had passed on. Rather their lives became more real and relatable to me.

3. Photocopies of cursive-recorded blessings given well over 100 years ago set before my eyes a beautiful history lesson, as the handwritten manuscripts reinforced the reality that this was from days long gone.

4. Have there ever been challenges you feared you might one day face? As I sat on the floor that day and read the words my ancestors had been given, there was a promise, not one that was solely to my ancestor, but that was promised to him and to all of his posterity - me - and that promise was the assurance that we would never experience a challenge that I had for so long feared I might one day experience. Tears filled my eyes, gratitude filled my heart and I bowed my head in thanks for this generous blessing, that had always been the case, but that I was never made aware of, till then.

Patriarchal Blessings offer insight into lineage. Lineage can offer insight into our roles and responsibilities in life. Some Patriarchal Blessings contain promises for all the descendants of the individual who received the blessing that day. Some may offer insight into events that have yet to play out in the timetables of this life's plan. Just like scripture, Patriarchal Blessings are not to be left gathering dust on bookshelves, but rather to be read, to be understood and in all reality to be lived. There are many things we can do to better understand, remember and live our own.

Patriarchal Blessings from earlier saints in this dispensation are stored in church archives and individuals may order a copy of their direct ancestors's blessings. (Maybe someday a digital copy will be made available online... maybe not, but as for now here are the instructions.)

HOW TO ORDER ANCESTORS' PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS

1. Log into lds.org (If you do not have a username and password click here)
2. In the top right corner click on Sign In/Tools
3. Click on "Patriarchal Blessings"

4. Click on "Request an Ancestor's Blessing"

5. Fill out the required information.
You don't have to know all of this information, but the more information you provide, the higher the likelihood that they will be able to find that ancestor's blessing for you.

6. Click "Request Blessing"

The ones that I ordered took at least a few weeks to arrive but were well worth their wait. As I receive one ancestor's blessing, I mark it off on a paper print out of my family fan chart to keep a clear record of whose blessing I have requested and whose I have not.

Clearly this only works if an ancestor was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and if they received a Patriarchal Blessing in their lifetime. Naturally, some members of the church received Patriarchal Blessings while others may have not requested to receive one. For example, my paternal grandpa was always a member of the church but he did not request one during his lifetime. Some of my other ancestors' blessings I have requested and received a response that they were not able to find one for them. When however, I have received prints of my ancestors' blessings, I have photocopied them and given them to my relatives who are also direct descendants of those ancestors. This has made for significant and special moments at a few family get togethers.

Blessings given over a hundred years ago have helped me feel more bound to my family line, shown me more clearly who they individually are and have enabled me to see the Lord's tender care and guidance for His children throughout many years. Whether it's for insight into your ancestors or copies for relatives who would deeply cherish them as well, these blessings given to others can in a true sense be a blessing to us as well,

Peace, love, blessings,
Ali