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Setting goals
from your patriarchal blessing
A patriarchal
blessing is "an inspired and prophetic statement of your life's
mission.together with such blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the
patriarch may be prompted to give." (James R. Clark, Messages of
the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.)
Obtaining
patriarchal blessing may provide us with some glimpses into the book of
our life possibilities and give us some general direction. Wisely,
perhaps, such a blessing is rarely specific enough to guide us in
day-to-day
decisions.
Instead, it paints with broad brushstrokes. (R. Britsc and T. Olson,
Counseling: A Guide to Helping Others.)
Using four
different colored markers, you will highlight the
statements in
your patriarchal blessing into four categories: Blessings, Counsels,
Warnings, and
Covenants.
When you have
highlighted your blessing with each of the four colors, you can make a
list of the things that are in your blessing in each category. You will
then have a list of all the blessings that are promised to you. This can
make wonderful reading when you are feeling low. The other lists can be
used to help you set goals to be able to accomplish your special mission
in this life.
You will have
a page with counsel, a page with covenant blessings, and a page with any
warnings that are in your blessing.
President
Kimball has given this advice: "It is true of all of us that as we
progress spiritually, our sense of belonging, identity, and self-worth
increases. Let us create a climate in which we encourage sisters of
the Church to
have a program of self- improvement. It ought to be a practical and
realistic program, one that is determined personally and not imposed
upon them.
Yet it ought
to cause them to reach for new levels of achievement. We are not asking
for something spectacular, but rather for our sisters to find real
self-fulfillment through wise self-development in the pursuit of
righteous worthy endeavors."
SETTING
GOALS:
After praying
for guidance, read and ponder the page that contains counsel and
warnings. Then read the page of covenants/promises. Determine which
areas you feel you can work on at this time in your life. Prayerfully
select a
few, and then
follow the procedure for setting goals by writing down what you
want to
accomplish and then your plan for doing so.
BLESSINGS
These are
identified as gifts from Heavenly Father. They are not subject to any
future performance in that they are given to you as a child of God. As
long as your life is in harmony with the principles of the gospel, these
blessings will be given to you at the time the Lord dictates. They will
read similar to:
- Friends
and associates will be raised up unto thee in times of need.
- You'll
be privileged to experience and to enjoy the blessings of ________.
- You are
to be blessed with the gift of discernment...
COUNSEL
Instances
where counsel is being given will read:
- Be
faithful.. Continue.. Be diligent..
- Seek..
Prove yourself... Thou shalt... Use this ability to...
WARNINGS
There will
generally be only a few or none in this category. The wording of these
lines should make them clear. The important thing is that when warnings
are given, they must be carefully noted. Highlight any of these in a
third color,
and impress them upon your own mind.
COVENANTS/PROMISES
These
statements can be identified as statements where a blessing is mentioned
which is connected with certain things you must do to receive the
blessing; some examples:
- Thy
friends shall be a special blessing unto thee..inasmuch as thou
shalt select for thine close associates those who are righteous.
- If thou
wilt give of thy time and talents in building up the Kingdom of
God...thou shalt gain a certain testimony that Jesus is the Christ.
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"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me and
my
house we will
serve the Lord "![[FromTheEast.jpg]](../_borders/FromTheEast.jpg)
