Deseret News | LDS to download copy of blessings

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LDS to download copy of blessings

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Lori | 7:14 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

This comment is especially for Chuck. It is my understanding that Stake Presidents have access to all patriarchal blessings of the members within their stake.

Automation trend for monotony | 7:15 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

I don't have any special insight to church plans, but I can see a trend of offering services online which are now done by people at church HQ. Currently if any of the 13+ Million members request a copy of a PB a person has to find it, copy it, and send it. Self help is great!

To all of those who doubt the veracity of PBs; remember all blessings are predicated on obedience to a law. In truth we have no way of knowing whether someone was obedient as Abraham since I suppose many of us, unfortunately, take sins with us to our graves. Let's leave to the Lord judging whether someone was worthy to have a promise fulfilled. Our capacity to judge spiritual matters in the life of someone else is far too limited to come to an honest assessment.

Now for security: I trust the church to keep this as secure as temple ordinance records. The Lord is in charge now just as he was in charge when Martin Harris lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon.

Again, I'm amazed at how fast we are to pass judgment before we have the complete picture.

Carl | 7:26 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

Hello DOROTHY
What you say sounds pretty contradictory. That is why they give the blessings in the first place, So that members will have a path to follow. At least that is what I was raised to believe. Why give them a blessing at all if they are not some kind of direction?

I too think they are no one else's business. I kind of enjoy MY PRIVACY! My brothers PB said he would be a Bishop in this life, however, he died at the age of 18 and never had the chance.

Comments continue below

surprising | 7:33 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

I'm rather astonished that there are only 3.6 million blessings to put online. I thought most members received them and that would be tens of millions of people since the church was founded.

Also, I do NOT want my parents having access to my blessing. Never have and I received mine when I was 10. I really hope you can't get anyone's but your own.

Online Tithing | 7:37 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

to Anonymous@2:50
Actually you can tithe online. Well, there may be one small catch for you :). I am Catholic. Don't guess you want to change Faith's just for the convenience. I belong to a very large Diocese (Stake). We parishoners do have an option to pay tithing online. It really is cool ! You can even have it taken out of account monthly automatically.This saves the Cathedral a lot of time and book work. And you have your receipt. I have a feeling that as progressive as the LDS Church is with their embracing of technology you may follow suit. Now please don't anyone start beating up on the Catholic Church. It is just an idea that really works. Kind of a joint venture with God and Bill Gates.

Now THAT was funny | 8:00 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

Regarding on-line tithes and the Catholic church >

HA! Good stuff. You are right as well, soon LDSers will pay on-line I suspect.

Nate | 8:18 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

Are these blessing as unique and personalized as temple names? I would be interested in comparing blessings and see how cookie cutter they actually are. This is an interesting concept and should be some good reading.

Not surprising | 8:31 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

To: surprising

This is actually a good indication of how big (or small) the active church membership really is. PBs are giving to worthy, active members. So if there are only 3.5 million PBs and there have been "tens of millions" of members -well, you do the math.

I'm so excited!! | 9:11 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

This is a dream come true...really.

Everything I have ever thought about with members and the church, the church has later come out with something that address the need perfectly!

What a better world this is because of this Gospel and its teachings.

Anonymous | 9:52 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

To everyone out there who questions patriarchal blessings: Blessings are not only for this life--they are also for the eternities. They also depend on the righteousness of the individual. These blessings will be fulfilled either in this life or the next if the person is righteous. There are things in my blessing that will not be fulfilled in this life. I have faith they will be fulfilled in the next.

Anonymous | 10:23 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

OH PLEASE! You people are nuts!

Anonymous | 11:00 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

MMMMMMMM........I like PB & J sandwiches

Disney world | 11:12 p.m. Oct. 22, 2008

Re: I'm so excited...
We can't sleep...lol!

sorry to tell you | 12:12 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

but I believe stake presidents read every single patriarchal blessing. As far as I remember it is to be sure that the patriarchs are not just saying the same thing, and getting repedative, but are actually being directed by the Spirit.

Church virtually | 12:35 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

BYU TV used to broadcast an abbreviated sacrament meeting, about 30 minutes long. I do not know if it is still on, but it sure beat 75 minutes of thankimony meetings and such, from time to time.

DH | 1:02 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Thanks, Anonymous, for your clear and simple statement of bigotry. We definitely need more of your type...not enough disrespect in the world as it is. Seriously though, if you feel that a group of people is crazy for believing what they do, keep it to yourself.

Beulah Astle | 3:54 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Yes, Blessings are not only for this life, but also for the eternities. My husband's uncle never received his patriarchal blessing, so when he turned 101 years old, he finally asked for and received one.
His blessing was about his past and future life, and the eternities which was a great comfort to him.
He was an active member of the church all of his life. He passed away at the age of 102. He had a keen sharp mind up until the last.

Anonymous | 8:03 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

I don't know, A PB is something personal and sacred.
Putting it out like this takes away from the spritual and sacradness. We were taught to read it often, and keep sacred the covenants that was given to us. I feel very uncomfortable having it out for the taking.

Sarah | 9:05 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

The only people that will be able to access your Patriarchal Blessing online are the same people who are able to access your PB now. It won't be out there for the taking, there are rules and regulations, and hoops to jump through. They make absolutely certain that you are who you say you are, and that you have the authority to request a particular blessing.

And to an earlier comment, might I just add that the returning of the 10 tribes is happening all around us? Individuals are being found who belong to all the tribes. Just because in the Americas most are either of Ephraim or Manessa doesn't mean they're like that all over the world. While I was living in Europe, I knew people from several of the other tribes.

@ Oh my Heck!!! | 9:21 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

I completely agree. This is not something "everyone will have access to". Just You, yourself, and noone else, unless you are careless and leave it up while you're at a public place, i suppose.

Pat | 12:38 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

While I was deployed to Iraq 3 years ago, we listen live to the Sunday morning session of conference over the internet. It worked out it was at the same time we normally had our Church service (8pm in Iraqi, 10am in Utah) and it was easy to hear over a speaker system.

njp | 3:25 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

This is so cool......I would love to know if my gggrandfather who joined the church in England had his blessing recorded.

MoJules | 8:03 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

This will be like the new family search, where you have to register and be able to provide your membership number and confirmation date. I have a copy of my mothers blessing, but not of my fathers or my grandparents. I long to read those first, I only have one side that are original converts, and that will be awesome to read those. I have had my blessing for 40 years, and it is pretty worn out, it will be nice to be able to access it on the computer and not have it turn yellow, get torn up and some signs of food.

Snoop Wiggles | 8:21 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Hummmm, this sounds absolutely phenomenal. I am so excited to read everyones PB if at all possible?

JBS MEMBER | 8:41 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

To Tim B--My PB said I would be blessed to have many children who would call me Mother. Dr. told me we could not have children. After three years we gave birth to our first and two more to follow.Had to have surgery after the third child. I was 27 yrs old. I went to my wise mother, crying I could never have more children and my PB said I would be blessed with many. Mom said " "He did not say you would give birth to many, only that your home would be blessed with many who would Call you Mother"!! We went on to foster many and adopt one. I know PB are fulfilled,in this life or in the life to come. I have knowledge (testimony) and faith in the power of the Priesthood and the words and council coming forth from the Prophet of the LORD.

Jamie | 10:32 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

I think it would be great to have access to deceased ancestors PB's, but I think if a person is still alive, they should be able to keep their PB's private and sacred to them as they are. If my parents want to see my PB, they can ask me.

Emily | 9:15 a.m. Oct. 24, 2008

These blessings are "personal revelation" NOT "family revelation". Why are we taught to keep our blessings sacred if they're going to be available online to whomever has our membership record number? I feel violated!

With the number of domestic problems we have in the Church, has no one considered that not every family is healthy enough to have such a free exchange of sacred information.

Ali | 9:00 a.m. Oct. 25, 2008

I agree with Dorothy. There are several things in my patriarchal blessing that I can easily see would have not been fulfilled had I made different choices at times in my life.

Seems many are talking about this as if the leaders of the church have no idea what they are doing. Do you really think they made this decision without much prayer and study? Stop with the fear factor stuff.

Faithfulness | 7:35 p.m. Oct. 26, 2008

The others are right when they said that the PB blessings will only happen if the recipient is truly and completely righteous. It doesn't take more than a day or two of wicked choices to derail the promised path of your life. You were wicked, and didn't go on a mission? Guess what, your "promised" wife isn't there anymore, nor your promised children, etc and etc.
This is official church doctrine, after all. You have to obey the commandments "with exactness" to gain the blessings promised. If you don't do what's right, God is not bound to bless you. End of story.
So, stop whining, and get to work.

jakw | 9:12 a.m. Oct. 31, 2008

to those who think others can read theirs and others can read theirs, etc.
In doing genealogical research all we have been able is to see the name, parents' names and lineage, we have been unable to read the entire blessing of someone else.
The Church Leaders know what they are doing, I am not worried about someone reading mine - it could make some good connections to some cousins that we don't know where they are....

Online bill payer | 1:36 p.m. Nov. 4, 2008

Paying your Tithes and Fast Offerings online can be done now through your Bank's or Quicken's Bill Pay.
Just set up a new Payee (your ward name and the Bishop's mailing address). Set the dollar amount you want to pay on a one time or re-occurring basis (how much, how often) and from what bank account.
THEN let your Bishop and or Ward Clerk KNOW that you have done this. AND don't forget to record it in your accounting records. EASY.

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