patriarchal blessing stumbling block
Once upon a time when I was Mormon, I loved my patriarchal blessing.
For one thing, it referred three times to goals I had written and outlined, goals which by the way were private and unshared with anybody except God.
Certainly I had not even spoken of my hidden written spiritual goals to the man giving me my patriarchal blessing.
Those sort of experiences impress me!
The blessing is transcribed as it is given so you have a copy to read over and over and over.
The patriarchal blessing given to me told me I am of the Jewish tribe of Ephraim (so I could know who I am and how important I am!)
However, the patriarchal blessing had the flavor of fortune telling and that is where the stumbling block comes to “faithful” Mormon people who hang onto their patriarchal blessing as a lifeline of prophesy for their earthly life.
Many of “the blessed” are promised marriages, children, greatness and things that do not come to pass.
Some die young...........and out pops the stumbling block of a Patriarchal Blessing that gave no hint of that possibility.
And so the “worthy Mormon” grieving a young person's death struggles to make sense of something that has missed the mark.
Mormons are told that the patriarchal blessing is a prophetic guide (for the “worthy” only). You have to be "worthy" to even receive the blessing.
You must remain "worthy" for the promises to be fulfilled.
Right off that puts Mormons outside of Christianity because Christianity blesses the "unworthy".
Christ came to bless the unworthy.
I know this because He came to bless me.
But for the "worthy Mormon" whose blessing didn't come true, the anguish is about "worthiness".
If it didn't come true, was the person "unworthy" in some hidden way? Was a relative unworthy? Entering Heaven is about worthiness!
Death has come unexpectedly and suddenly, and promises based on worthiness did not get fulfilled.
Is Heaven's door open or not?
Faith falters in the face of questions.
For the true believer in Christ, these questions are astounding. Of course we are unworthy!
Christ came to SAVE us, not to score us on how well we are keeping the commandments.
In fact, He said that if we break one of the laws we are guilty of having broken them all! We have fallen short.
We have all fallen short. And there is no measuring stick on that!
In fact, He said He came to fulfill the law. We are not going to be judged by the law.
Christ stepped in on our behalf, not because we are good, but because we fall short.
The only real question is will we accept His grace?
Count me in!!
The Bible calls on Christians to be evangelists.
Mormon scriptures, (not the Bible) declare that “evangelist” spoken of in the Bible is actually a “patriarch” and that is what that word evangelism means! And it is an office to which a person ("straight" male person or closet homosexual) is ordained for life.
No, there are no women patriarchs.
Whatever.
The duties of women are different in Mormonism.
No female patriarchs.
Blessings from God: real.
Dictation from God: suspect.
Thanks for visiting my blog,
Riverwatch, the aging.
PS Actually, evangelism as understood by Christians is simply being a mouthpiece for God's message of mercy to sinners.
I love that I can be an evangelist.
Most of all I love His mercy.
