In 1968, I received my patriarchal blessing.
Quite frankly, it didn’t seem meaningful.
Twenty-three years old, so naïve.
If you are young, take heed
Learn from my mistakes.
That paper copy became lost.
Then came the BIG repentance at age 32.
Ordering a new copy when my life had fallen apart
And in flux. I asked what God wanted from me.
The Brethren, prophets and leaders said,
“Keep a journal,” so, being visually oriented, I
began.
At first it was sketchy, sparse and infrequent.
But I was doing it. Trying several different sizes
and
Pretty professionally produced volumes,
I finally settled on a 3-ring notebook, a binder format
of
Individual lined notepaper, letting me write for my
posterity
Including all sorts of fun paper memorabilia in the
pockets.
Mainly it was notes, thoughts, and insights as I
studied
My scriptures and General Conference talks.
What about my own personal scriptures?
My Patriarchal Blessing!
I retyped and reformatted it making it easier to
read:
One paragraph became one chapter;
One sentence became one verse.
One chapter per page and finally in sheet
protectors,
I placed these at the front of my journal for a
year.
In November, I would prayerfully read and reread it daily.
An amazing thing slowly began to happen: a word or phrase
Would pop out at me. I wrote them down.
Finally a theme or focus became clear. Then I would
move
These pages to the front of the journal, design a
cover
In keeping with the theme. This location at the
front of my journal,
Gently reminded me to read my personal scripture
often.
Over the years, certain verses became apparent
within talks that
I heard, because they’d become familiar to me and
this
Often prompted deeper study of doctrine and gospel
principles.
My life purpose and work crystalized! What a Joy!
The Chiastic center of my blessing (Bev 5:2) tells
me that
In the House of the Lord, I’ll receive covenants,
promises
And blessings, that previously I’d never
contemplated.
The Spirit of Elijah has filled my heart. Diligence
and obedience
To this sacred doctrine resulted in thousands, yes,
thousands,
Of ordinances performed for my ancestors on the
other
Side of the veil. Then I added stories, attached
sources for proof.
It’s true! Joy and peace are found in this vicarious
work.
Now that you’ve read an old-fashioned form of the current
Social media communication platform, you’ll note I’ve
chosen
No ads. I am the curator of the content I wish to
share.
I own this permanent place. It’s my choice of
passions, and
I determine how I present the themes of a week, month or year.
This year my format is Psalms.
Tricky, since I’m better at visuals than writing. But
I’m learning.
Using more modern words and from the viewpoint of a
modern day disciple of Jesus Christ.
He is my Reason! He should be your Reason!
Focus on Christ!
He told your patriarch exactly what you need to know
for your
Successful life in mortality. Find God’s will for
you. Begin today!
