Question
Gramps,
I’m a convert of 6 years and married into a member family with 5 kids. When I perform back to school blessings they are specific and long and pour out many blessings upon my children. My wife has mentioned to me several times that my blessings don’t sound like blessings from other brethren and suggested that I may be blessing too much (3-4 minutes). I feel that our Heavenly Father would want us to have every blessing possible however I would like a second opinion as I am newer.
Chris
Answer
“A father’s blessing is one way to bless the spiritual lives of others.”
What a wonderful opportunity you have to bless the spiritual lives of your children by administering father’s blessings to them.
The directions for giving a father’s blessing are succinct. Below are instructions on how to give a father’s blessing from the General Handbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
To give a blessing of comfort and counsel or a father’s blessing, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the one acting as voice:
- Calls the person by his or her full name.
- States that the blessing is being performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- Gives words of blessing, comfort, and counsel as guided by the Spirit.
- Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.
These instructions do not dictate a “preferred” blessing length or what specific blessings or promises to confer upon the person receiving the blessing.
The Church’s Family Guidelines offers a similar set of guidelines for blessings of this type.
To give a father’s blessing or other blessings of comfort and counsel, a man who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood, either alone or with one or more worthy men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, places his hands lightly on the head of the person receiving the blessing. No oil is necessary for such blessings. The one giving the blessing:
- Calls the person by his or her full name.
- States that he is giving the blessing by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- Gives a blessing as the Spirit directs.
- Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.
(Family Guidebook section called Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings)
So to give a meaningful father’s blessing, the Melchizedek Priesthood holder giving the blessing blesses the recipient as the Spirit directs. That means that there is no one-size-fits-all father’s blessing. Following the Spirit means that some blessings may be longer than others. Some blessings may be shorter than expected. Some blessings may include more promises and words of comfort than others.
As you follow the Spirit’s promptings, you will convey the blessing in a style of language that’s comfortable for you. While giving the blessing, there’s no set style of speech or lists of extra special words that you should say that are more appropriate than others.
Heavenly Father knows the blessing the recipient needs most. Giving a father’s blessing as directed by the Spirit enables Heavenly Father to directly communicate to His child through you. As you prayerfully follow the Spirit’s guidance, the blessings you give your children will be exactly what Heavenly Father would have you say, and each blessing will be the perfect and most applicable blessing for each child.
May the Spirit of the Lord continue to guide and direct you as you bless and strengthen your children through father’s blessings,
Gramps
