Is It a Fathers Privilage to Give a Patriarchal Blessing?


Question:
"In the writings of President John Taylor the statement is made, 'Every father, after he has received his patriarchal blessing, is a patriarch to his own family; which blessings will be just as legal as those conferred by any patriarch of the Church: in fact it is his right; and a patriarch in blessing his children, can only bless as his mouthpiece.' (The Gospel Kingdom. page 146)

"Is it possible for a father who has received his patriarchal blessing to give his children their patriarchal blessings? If so, would he have to get a recommend from his mission president or stake president to make such blessings legal? How would such blessings be kept?"

Answer:The statement of President John Taylor is true with this qualification: The father must hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, that is, have the office of an elder, seventy, or high priest.

The privilege of giving these blessings. of course, is limited to the immediate members of the family.

The difference between such blessings and those given by the regularly appointed patriarch is that the blessings of the father are not recorded in a book and filed eventually in the archives of the Church. The father may record such blessings for family use.

In my opinion, a father will be better qualified to give such blessings if he has been to the temple and had his wife and children sealed to him. There would be no need for a father to get a recommend from the mission president or stake president in order to bless his own child. However, the father should use discretion in giving such blessings, and they should be confined to members of his family who are members of the Church.


Gospel Questions & Answers are taken from -
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 3:.) 21