Patriarchal Blessings

 I've been thinking a lot about patriarchal blessings lately and discovered that I wouldn't mind giving a talk on that subject. However, in our Sacrament Meeting yesterday, our High Council speakers both spoke on that subject, so it's unlikely I will be given a chance to share my thoughts about patriarchal blessings any time soon. Therefore, I guess I will share them here.

First of all, I will share the story of my mother receiving her patriarchal blessing from her own father, who was a patriarch at the time.

Mom received her patriarchal blessing at a young age. In her patriarchal blessing, the Lord told her that she would be blessed with children - be a mother in Zion.

In her teens, mom had an appendicitis attack and needed her appendix removed. During the surgery, the surgeon discovered that mom's ovaries hadn't developed properly. I believe they were all shriveled up. The doctor told her mother, my grandmother, that my mom would never be able to have children. My grandmother never mentioned it to my mom because she knew that mom's patriarchal blessing said she would have children, so my grandmother decided to exercise her faith and leave it in the hands of the Lord.

When my mother and father met, fell in love, and decided to get married, they both expressed a desire to have many children, not knowing that physically it wasn't possible.

I remember dad telling us that during the first three months of their marriage, mom was experiencing a lot of pain in her abdominal area. My dad strongly believed that mom's ovaries were developing correctly at that time. Miraculously, she became pregnant and delivered their first child, my brother Neal, on their first anniversary.

When God promises us something, he paves a path for it to be fulfilled. He will always honor his promises. That was certainly proved when my mom's deformed ovaries developed properly in order for her to bear seven children. I'm so grateful for that miracle. Without it, I wouldn't have the parents or siblings I have today. Seven children born to a mother who wasn't supposed to be able to have any children is quite a miracle.

For a couple of years, I served as the typist for our patriarch, Robert Rokita, in Lancaster, California. That turned out to be my favorite calling in the church. Normally, the wives of the patriarchs type the blessings for them, but Bro. Rokita's wife didn't type or didn't know how to use a computer, so I was called to do that job. I think I ended up typing around 150-200 patriarchal blessings.

I don't remember any particulars about any one blessing I typed. Even if I did, I would not be at liberty to share any aspects of any blessing with anyone else. What I do remember is feeling the overpowering love the Lord had for the individual receiving the blessing and for His desire for his son or daughter to avoid the pitfalls of Satan and to live a righteous life. 

Patriarchal blessings are often filled with warnings as well as blessings. Satan wants to thwart our efforts to return to our Father. Warnings, properly heeded, will help us live happier lives and keep us on the path to return safely back to our Father. Blessings will flow if we turn our lives over to Him through complete obedience to His laws and commandments. 

There were a couple of interesting cases in our stake during my time as the typist that I want to recall. One time, Bro. Rokita called me and told me that there was an older brother in our stake who was basically on his death bed who had never received his patriarchal blessing but  wanted to receive it before parting this world. Bro. Rokita asked me if I could get it typed quickly because time was of the essence. I told him I could. After typing it, Bro. Rokita came to my home to pick it up so he could hand-deliver it to the recipient before he passed away. I heard later from Bro. Rokita that the brother passed away within the next day or two.

We think of patriarchal blessings as a roadmap for this life. This brother in the stake was nearing the end of his mortal life. What would the Lord have to say to him? I don't recall exactly. I could be wrong, but what I remember is that it was based on the eternal nature of the family.  

Another interesting case was when a brother from a neighboring stake asked Bro. Rokita if he could receive his patriarchal blessing from him because he had just been called to be the patriarch in his stake and didn't even know how to give a blessing. He had never received one of his own. That seemed so bizarre to me, but then I remembered that the Lord moves in mysterious ways. Whom the Lord calls, he qualifies. I have seen that repeatedly in my many years of service in the church. I have felt so unqualified in so many of the positions I have held, yet, God qualified me in order to be able to not only fulfill that calling, but to magnify it. I'm sure this brand new patriarch went on to become a very good, faithful, patriarch for his stake.

I have a testimony of patriarchal blessings. I'm grateful for mine that I received at the age of 15 (almost 16). It has been a great comfort to read it and study it over these many years and see how the Lord's promises have been fulfilled. Who knows how much longer I will be here enjoying this earthly experience. Since my journey is not yet complete, having my patriarchal blessing helps me to try harder to reach my potential and to be the daughter my Heavenly Father wants and knows that I can be. I really don't want to disappoint him!