A PATRIARCH: FATHER OF A FAMILY

photo taken of my daughter Eden in my hands

 "..their father spake unto them, and blessed them;

every one according to his blessing he blessed them/"

Genesis 49:28

A priesthood blessing is sacred. It can be a holy and inspired statement of our wants and needs. If we are in tune spiritually, we can receive a confirming witness of the truth of the promised blessings. Priesthood blessings can help us in the small and great decisions of our lives. If, through our priesthood blessings, we could perceive only a small part of the person God intends us to be, we would lose our fear and never doubt again.

Elder John A. Widtsoe stated, “Every father, having children born to him under the covenant, is to them as a patriarch, and he has the right to bless his posterity in the authority of the Priesthood which he holds.”

A few months ago I blessed our baby daughter Eden. At the beginning of every school year, I give a blesssing to each of my daughters. I started school today, and received a blessing from my Dad last night. What a privilege it is to give a blessing, and what a comfort it is to recieve one.

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Sidenote:

Today is the Birthday of the last sustained Patriarch of the Church, Eldred G. Smith. Born on January 9, 1907, He is now 105 years old. He is the oldest-lived General Authority in the history of the Church. Last year in 2011, he surpassed David O. McKay as the longest-serving general authority in LDS Church history. He deserves more attention than he recieves. Just the fact of his age, he should be given some attention. He is the great great grandson of Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith's brother. The Church as undergone tremendous changes since Joseph Smith, including the gradual dissolving of the office of Patriarch of the Church. The Patriarch of the Church was used to ordain the President of the Church using the hereditary priesthood line running back to Joseph and Hyrum.