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.)

I remember when I got my own patriarchal blessing.  I was very nervous, not because I wasn't prepared for this experience...I had prayed for answers to specific questions, fasted and had the desire for Heavenly Father to explain the plan He had for me.  I was nervous because my greatest fear was that there would be nothing said about what my purpose in life would be or that I wasn't worthy to receive the answers I was seeking. 

After the blessing, I felt a great feeling of peace and love and felt like my blessing had answered questions, expressed love, gave cautions and the purposes of my life were answered.  Then a few days later, I received the written copy of my patriarchal blessing.  Two areas in my patriarchal blessing brought to me some concern.  For some reason, I hadn't caught these "purposes" areas.  The first one I was not pleased with.  After all, I was a young woman at this time and Relief Society was an organization that only "older women" attended to have something to do.  My blessing hinted of many years of service in the Relief Society. The second was an overwhelming instruction that stated that "there would be one soul that if I do not seek and find....will never be found".  How vague, I thought, and of course it means that I will have to do genealogy work...another area that, as a young woman, did not really appeal to me. I folded my blessing up and put it away.  I did not unfold it and read it for many years.

As I have matured, emotionally and spiritually, I have unfolded, pondered, prayed and studied my patriarchal blessing.  I am amazed at how it clearly describes my experiences so far.  At this time, I serve in the Relief Society presidency of my ward and I love my calling and my ward sisters.  I have a strong desire to find that "one" soul that needs me....it may not necessarily be through genealogy....but I continue to pray that I will be guided to that "soul".  My blessing is a testimony to me that my Savior knows me, He knows in advance every strategy Satan will use against me, He knows my weaknesses and He knows my strengths.

Ideas to Add Insight into Understanding Your Patriarchal Blessing

I value and hold sacred the words of my patriarchal blessing as personal scripture.  I have gathered some information that may help you study and understand your Patriarchal Blessing.

Color Coding Your Patriarchal Blessing