Dear Gramps,
I am married to a non member. In my patriarchal blessing (which was given after I was married) it says my marriage will be sealed by the new and everlasting covenant. I have two questions. Is a patriarchal blessing strictly for events in our earthly life? The second question is if I fell away from the church, sinned greatly, repented, and now am a worthy temple attender, are the blessings detailed in the partriarchal blessing still available? I know a patriarchal blessing is conditional upon obediance. thank you.
Holly
Dear Holly,
In many Patriarchal Blessings, the recipient has been given the blessing that they will come forth in the morning of the first resurrection. This would indicate that the blessing covers a period of time greater than just our “earthly life”. One of the names for the Lord is Eternal. In Moses 7, Enoch is told by the Lord: 35 ” Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.” Any blessings from the Lord are eternal as well.
One of the great promises from the Lord is that when we truly repent of our sins they are forgotten. In D&C 58 we read: 42″Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” When we have been forgiven of our sins and show our faithfulness and obedience to the Lord and His Gospel, we are then eligible to receive all the blessings we have been previously promised. These would include not only those given us in our Patriarchal Blessing, but our Temple blessings, and others we have been promised.
Gramps
