Comments on: Unfulfilled Priesthood Blessings, and the Power of Religious Ritual http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Talisyn http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-48585 Talisyn Mon, 26 May 2008 10:03:13 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-48585 Wow Lynnette, I never thought about PB one way or another until I read your blog. and my first thought was summed up by Ray: "I haven’t even gotten to the fact of others’ agency and how their choices impact our lives. I don’t think that plays into a lot of the statements in our blessings." Let's say you were promised a good husband and 10 kids. And the husband chosen was perfect! But the chosen husband went and made a bunch of bad choices. It may be in the eternal scheme of things it will take a few eons after your death to find another perfect husband for all your kids. I hope not, but it is a plausible answer. On a personal note, I remember mine even though it was so long ago. The patriarch talked on and on about something I was totally not interested in. Then there was a silence of a few seconds, very noticable. Then he spoke a few words about what I really wanted to know. All these years later, turns out what he was going on about really was the most important thing I could have done, and what I was interested in was directly tied to that subject. All this time I thought it was nothing more than someone guessing, and it turns out that my future was seen and guidence offered but not taken. I would advise you keep reading your PB every so often. Not enough to obsess over though. Kind've like looking at a scale, you don't want to step on it every day or it'll just make you depressed. Wow Lynnette, I never thought about PB one way or another until I read your blog. and my first thought was summed up by Ray:
“I haven’t even gotten to the fact of others’ agency and how their choices impact our lives. I don’t think that plays into a lot of the statements in our blessings.”
Let’s say you were promised a good husband and 10 kids. And the husband chosen was perfect! But the chosen husband went and made a bunch of bad choices. It may be in the eternal scheme of things it will take a few eons after your death to find another perfect husband for all your kids. I hope not, but it is a plausible answer.
On a personal note, I remember mine even though it was so long ago. The patriarch talked on and on about something I was totally not interested in. Then there was a silence of a few seconds, very noticable. Then he spoke a few words about what I really wanted to know. All these years later, turns out what he was going on about really was the most important thing I could have done, and what I was interested in was directly tied to that subject. All this time I thought it was nothing more than someone guessing, and it turns out that my future was seen and guidence offered but not taken. I would advise you keep reading your PB every so often. Not enough to obsess over though. Kind’ve like looking at a scale, you don’t want to step on it every day or it’ll just make you depressed.

]]> By: Kristin http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-48061 Kristin Mon, 19 May 2008 16:37:21 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-48061 I honestly think that perhaps some of the blessings not being fulfilled result from other people's agency coming into play. Inspiration and blessings are real, but individual agency trumps all...even God won't interfere with that. I find some comfort in knowing that God truly wants a certain thing for me, whether or not it's possible right now. However, if you are hurt or struggling due to unfulfilled promises you shouldn't discount those feelings. Feelings are real. The problem comes when we ignore feelings or allow them to turn us to bitterness. I honestly think that perhaps some of the blessings not being fulfilled result from other people’s agency coming into play. Inspiration and blessings are real, but individual agency trumps all…even God won’t interfere with that. I find some comfort in knowing that God truly wants a certain thing for me, whether or not it’s possible right now. However, if you are hurt or struggling due to unfulfilled promises you shouldn’t discount those feelings. Feelings are real. The problem comes when we ignore feelings or allow them to turn us to bitterness.

]]> By: Ziff http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47532 Ziff Wed, 14 May 2008 19:24:26 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47532 John Hamer wrote <a href="http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/02/the-power-to-move-mountains-and-more/" rel="nofollow">a post at Mormon Matters</a> earlier this year where he reported some of the interesting promises made in patriarchal blessings back in Joseph Smith's time. We struggle when marriage and family type blessings don't come about--some of them were blessed to live to see the Second Coming! John Hamer wrote a post at Mormon Matters earlier this year where he reported some of the interesting promises made in patriarchal blessings back in Joseph Smith’s time. We struggle when marriage and family type blessings don’t come about–some of them were blessed to live to see the Second Coming!

]]> By: m&m http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47453 m&m Wed, 14 May 2008 08:12:38 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47453 Jessawhy, I am not sharing specifics because we have been counseled specifically not to. From True to the Faith: "Patriarchal blessings are sacred and personal. They may be shared with immediate family members, but should not be read aloud in public or read or interpreted by others. Not even the patriarch or bishop or branch president should interpret it." To me, the anonymity of the internet doesn't really matter when it comes to something like this. I know it makes it harder to talk about it, though. And Lynnette I started a response to you and it got really long (surprise) and I haven't had a chance to whittle it down. I think someone else sort of summed up my view, though...that I think regardless of what we see or know now, we ought to be careful about putting limits or judgments on the blessings we receive, or on the people who give them. Not that I don't think that there are times when we need to step back from them a bit, but I think we can step back and let go a bit without dismissing them entirely, and especially without drawing a firm line in the sand where we have decided, without question, that the blessing was not inspired. I'm thinking, for example, of something I heard someone say about a blessing of health during a period in that person's life. Because that person got seriously ill during that period, the person decided that the blessing was flawed. But what does 'health' mean? I mean, the person lived through this illness. Does health always mean never being sick? I don't think so. How often do we impose expectations like this and make assumptions and conclusions in a way that may be too narrow? I totally, completely understand wanting more specifics. Oh, how I understand that...I'm in the throws of that with my health challenges and the blessings I have received in that regard. But I still have to believe that there is something to the struggle, the searching, the pondering, seeking, asking, pressing forward...very similar to other elements in the gospel, like the temple. The Lord knows what we need, and sometimes that is specificity. But often, I think He expects us to work and struggle to learn by experience and through personal revelation, not necessarily by having things spelled out for us. Just some late-nite musings.... Jessawhy,
I am not sharing specifics because we have been counseled specifically not to. From True to the Faith:

“Patriarchal blessings are sacred and personal. They may be shared with immediate family members, but should not be read aloud in public or read or interpreted by others. Not even the patriarch or bishop or branch president should interpret it.”

To me, the anonymity of the internet doesn’t really matter when it comes to something like this. I know it makes it harder to talk about it, though.

And Lynnette I started a response to you and it got really long (surprise) and I haven’t had a chance to whittle it down. I think someone else sort of summed up my view, though…that I think regardless of what we see or know now, we ought to be careful about putting limits or judgments on the blessings we receive, or on the people who give them. Not that I don’t think that there are times when we need to step back from them a bit, but I think we can step back and let go a bit without dismissing them entirely, and especially without drawing a firm line in the sand where we have decided, without question, that the blessing was not inspired.

I’m thinking, for example, of something I heard someone say about a blessing of health during a period in that person’s life. Because that person got seriously ill during that period, the person decided that the blessing was flawed. But what does ‘health’ mean? I mean, the person lived through this illness. Does health always mean never being sick? I don’t think so. How often do we impose expectations like this and make assumptions and conclusions in a way that may be too narrow?

I totally, completely understand wanting more specifics. Oh, how I understand that…I’m in the throws of that with my health challenges and the blessings I have received in that regard. But I still have to believe that there is something to the struggle, the searching, the pondering, seeking, asking, pressing forward…very similar to other elements in the gospel, like the temple. The Lord knows what we need, and sometimes that is specificity. But often, I think He expects us to work and struggle to learn by experience and through personal revelation, not necessarily by having things spelled out for us.

Just some late-nite musings….

]]> By: Cari http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47435 Cari Wed, 14 May 2008 05:39:42 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47435 When I received my PB at age 16, I almost fell off my chair because there was something so specific in my blessing that I could not deny that it was for me from Father through our Stake Patriarch. I had known since I was 5 years old what I wanted to make my career. My PB stated exactly that and what I would study in school to reach that goal. I had never met nor even seen our Patriarch before that night as he had just recently moved into our area. There were other points that fit my personality and character traits exactly. I know that, for me, the truthfulness and light of my blessing stood me deeply in my testimony. As has been stated by another, I knew it, God knew it, and I knew that God knew I knew it. From that time on, I never ever felt alone, no matter how dark things seemed sometimes. Believe me, there were times, if not for that reassurance, I would have wished for death because of the sorrow I faced. I have no idea why my PB was so specific to me, and others have to struggle so mightily to see where their lives coinside with their blessings. I have been very grateful to be so blessed because I don't know if my faith would have prevailed during the very dark, ominous, painful times. I would wish for everyone to be so assured and I don't know WHY they're not. On the flip side, there is no way that I could ever deny the truthfulness of the Church, the Restoration, the Atonement and the Prophets. I know that Heavenly Father expects me to fulfill the privilege He has given me and I also know that he expects me to live up to that blessing in everything I do and say. I am certain that I fall short, often. But it is a great reminder to me to have faith, to repent, to always forgive,and to keep my covenants. I know that I should bear my testimony every chance I can. It is such a comfort to know that if I commit myself to be an example, that my Father will sustain me when I am weak and will make up the difference when I fail because He knows me, and He loves me. I can clearly imagine His arms around me, always, when there is no comfort anywhere else. I know that my Patriarchal Blessing changed who I would have been. I am so grateful that I was shown the TRUTH because I have never doubted it since then. I look forward to the day when I can thank my Father and my Savior face to face. It is the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me to help me through Earthlife. There is no way that I can adequately describe my thankfulness for this great blessing. When I get to the other side, I can't wait to find out WHY me? Until then, I will just continue to try to do my best, and never forget what it means to me. I know that it was not because of anything that I did because I am so fallible. I have made many mistakes, and will continue to do so. That is what is so incredible. I did not earn it by anything I did. It is just The Plan for me. Father has a plan for everyone and He ministers to us in a way that we can recognize His hand in our lives, if we look for it. It is so beautiful. I hope I never take it for granted because it is the greatest blessing I could ever have received. When I received my PB at age 16, I almost fell off my chair because there was something so specific in my blessing that I could not deny that it was for me from Father through our Stake Patriarch. I had known since I was 5 years old what I wanted to make my career. My PB stated exactly that and what I would study in school to reach that goal. I had never met nor even seen our Patriarch before that night as he had just recently moved into our area. There were other points that fit my personality and character traits exactly.

I know that, for me, the truthfulness and light of my blessing stood me deeply in my testimony. As has been stated by another, I knew it, God knew it, and I knew that God knew I knew it. From that time on, I never ever felt alone, no matter how dark things seemed sometimes. Believe me, there were times, if not for that reassurance, I would have wished for death because of the sorrow I faced.

I have no idea why my PB was so specific to me, and others have to struggle so mightily to see where their lives coinside with their blessings. I have been very grateful to be so blessed because I don’t know if my faith would have prevailed during the very dark, ominous, painful times. I would wish for everyone to be so assured and I don’t know WHY they’re not. On the flip side, there is no way that I could ever deny the truthfulness of the Church, the Restoration, the Atonement and the Prophets. I know that Heavenly Father expects me to fulfill the privilege He has given me and I also know that he expects me to live up to that blessing in everything I do and say. I am certain that I fall short, often. But it is a great reminder to me to have faith, to repent, to always forgive,and to keep my covenants. I know that I should bear my testimony every chance I can. It is such a comfort to know that if I commit myself to be an example, that my Father will sustain me when I am weak and will make up the difference when I fail because He knows me, and He loves me. I can clearly imagine His arms around me, always, when there is no comfort anywhere else. I know that my Patriarchal Blessing changed who I would have been. I am so grateful that I was shown the TRUTH because I have never doubted it since then.

I look forward to the day when I can thank my Father and my Savior face to face. It is the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me to help me through Earthlife. There is no way that I can adequately describe my thankfulness for this great blessing. When I get to the other side, I can’t wait to find out WHY me? Until then, I will just continue to try to do my best, and never forget what it means to me. I know that it was not because of anything that I did because I am so fallible. I have made many mistakes, and will continue to do so. That is what is so incredible. I did not earn it by anything I did. It is just The Plan for me. Father has a plan for everyone and He ministers to us in a way that we can recognize His hand in our lives, if we look for it.

It is so beautiful. I hope I never take it for granted because it is the greatest blessing I could ever have received.

]]> By: Ray http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47323 Ray Tue, 13 May 2008 15:18:19 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47323 "The whole point of these blessings is to communicate important, but usually very straighforward, information to God’s children." That's where many members differ in how they view their PB. “The whole point of these blessings is to communicate important, but usually very straighforward, information to God’s children.”

That’s where many members differ in how they view their PB.

]]> By: Lost http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47320 Lost Tue, 13 May 2008 14:26:40 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47320 I must question the oft used excuse that the fallibility of both the Patriarch or other priesthood holder and the recipient of the blessing can explain many failed blessings. Surely God is capable of communicating simple concepts in ways that will be understood. If he means that I will not have children until the next life, it is not difficult to communicate that idea in a way that neither Patriarch nor recipient will misunderstand as "I will be married and have children in my mortal life." If he does not mean to suggest that I will be healed from cancer, it is not difficult to make that clear. We mortals do it with each other all the time. When people say "I have terminal cancer", nobody thinks they really mean "I have the flu and will feel fine in a week". The whole point of these blessings is to communicate important, but usually very straighforward, information to God's children. If he can't find a way to do that when we mortals find that task to be pretty simple, then God help us all. I must question the oft used excuse that the fallibility of both the Patriarch or other priesthood holder and the recipient of the blessing can explain many failed blessings. Surely God is capable of communicating simple concepts in ways that will be understood. If he means that I will not have children until the next life, it is not difficult to communicate that idea in a way that neither Patriarch nor recipient will misunderstand as “I will be married and have children in my mortal life.” If he does not mean to suggest that I will be healed from cancer, it is not difficult to make that clear. We mortals do it with each other all the time. When people say “I have terminal cancer”, nobody thinks they really mean “I have the flu and will feel fine in a week”.

The whole point of these blessings is to communicate important, but usually very straighforward, information to God’s children. If he can’t find a way to do that when we mortals find that task to be pretty simple, then God help us all.

]]> By: Jonathan Blake http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47280 Jonathan Blake Mon, 12 May 2008 23:11:48 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47280 Jessawhy, If you're interested, you can read <a href="http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/2008/04/29/my-patriarchal-blessing/" rel="nofollow">my patriarchal blessing</a>. I don't know if it counts, but everything in my blessing was on schedule for fulfillment right up to the point that I lost faith in Mormonism. The standard disclaimer at the end of the blessing would blame me for my lack of "faithfulness in keeping the commandments". I take exception to that now because I wasn't perfect, but the time immediately preceding my disaffection was among the most faithful of my life. It was a hard burden to carry, the blame for any unfulfilled priesthood blessing. As I just mentioned, I spent a lot of time agonizing over what I was doing wrong that I didn't have spiritual experiences that I believed to be the reward of a faithful life. Jessawhy,

If you’re interested, you can read my patriarchal blessing. I don’t know if it counts, but everything in my blessing was on schedule for fulfillment right up to the point that I lost faith in Mormonism.

The standard disclaimer at the end of the blessing would blame me for my lack of “faithfulness in keeping the commandments”. I take exception to that now because I wasn’t perfect, but the time immediately preceding my disaffection was among the most faithful of my life.

It was a hard burden to carry, the blame for any unfulfilled priesthood blessing. As I just mentioned, I spent a lot of time agonizing over what I was doing wrong that I didn’t have spiritual experiences that I believed to be the reward of a faithful life.

]]> By: Jonathan Blake http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47277 Jonathan Blake Mon, 12 May 2008 23:01:40 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47277 Lynette, Wonderful thoughts. One idea that is particularly meaningful to me is how we tend to blame ourselves when priesthood blessings go seemingly unfulfilled. We feel the need to blame something, yet the LDS faith doesn't allow us much room to blame God or the priesthood holder, so the recipient of the blessing is often left holding the bag (as exemplified by #24). I'm no longer a believer, and I regret all the hurtful things I believed about my self, my worthiness, my value to God, etc. because I internalized the blame for faulty predictions or not receiving the same kind of spiritual witnesses as others claimed to have had. In this respect, religion was hurtful to me. Lynette,

Wonderful thoughts. One idea that is particularly meaningful to me is how we tend to blame ourselves when priesthood blessings go seemingly unfulfilled. We feel the need to blame something, yet the LDS faith doesn’t allow us much room to blame God or the priesthood holder, so the recipient of the blessing is often left holding the bag (as exemplified by #24).

I’m no longer a believer, and I regret all the hurtful things I believed about my self, my worthiness, my value to God, etc. because I internalized the blame for faulty predictions or not receiving the same kind of spiritual witnesses as others claimed to have had. In this respect, religion was hurtful to me.

]]> By: Jessawhy http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47273 Jessawhy Mon, 12 May 2008 22:52:16 +0000 http://zelophehadsdaughters.com/2008/05/09/unfulfilled-priesthood-blessings-and-the-power-of-religious-ritual/#comment-47273 I've been following this thread a little curious about everyone being so hush-hush about the specific kinds of promises within blessings that aren't coming true. I mean, most of us don't know each other in real life. We have a great amount of anonymity, and if that's not enough, someone could post as "anonymous." Anyway, what I'm asking is for people who have alluded generally to examples of blessings that haven't come true, because other than the example of marriage and children, I can't think of any others. Specific examples would make this conversation make more sense to me. I’ve been following this thread a little curious about everyone being so hush-hush about the specific kinds of promises within blessings that aren’t coming true.
I mean, most of us don’t know each other in real life. We have a great amount of anonymity, and if that’s not enough, someone could post as “anonymous.”
Anyway, what I’m asking is for people who have alluded generally to examples of blessings that haven’t come true, because other than the example of marriage and children, I can’t think of any others.
Specific examples would make this conversation make more sense to me.

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