Lesson 178—Patriarchal Blessings: “Personal Scripture to You”
“Lesson 178—Patriarchal Blessings: ‘Personal Scripture to You,’” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Patriarchal Blessings,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 178: For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
Patriarchal Blessings
“Personal Scripture to You”
Our loving Father in Heaven has many ways of providing guidance and direction to His children. One way He does this is through patriarchal blessings. This lesson can help students feel of the Lord’s desire to guide them through their patriarchal blessing.
Possible Learning Activities
Direction in our lives
What are some aspects of your life in which you might feel like the person in this picture? Why?
What can help us know what to do when we are unsure of the direction we should take in life?
How can remembering these truths impact your feelings or attitudes toward God?
What are some ways God provides us with direction for our lives?
Patriarchal blessings
Using a scale from one (not true) to five (very true), ponder how true each of the following statements is for you:
I understand what a patriarchal blessing is.
I know how a patriarchal blessing can impact my life.
I believe God can give me direction for my life through my patriarchal blessing.
Choose at least one question about patriarchal blessings that you would like to answer. Write your questions at the top of a journal page or in a notes page on your mobile device. Seek Heavenly Father’s guidance through the Holy Ghost to help you find answers to your questions.
Answering questions about patriarchal blessings
Choose from the following options to find answers to your questions about patriarchal blessings:
1. Search available resources in the Gospel Library app. For example, you could study “Patriarchal Blessings” in Gospel Topics or search for “patriarchal blessings” in general conference talks.
3. Study the statements on the handout titled “Answering Questions about Patriarchal Blessings.”
After students have had an opportunity to study, consider inviting them to share what they learned by asking questions like the following:
What did you learn from your studies that you found to be most helpful?
What were some answers that you found to your questions?
How do you think a patriarchal blessing can impact your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Consider sharing how God has blessed or directed you through your patriarchal blessing. You could also encourage students who have received their patriarchal blessing to share their experiences. Be sure students understand that they should not share details of their blessings. It is, however, appropriate to share about their experiences receiving a patriarchal blessing and how it has blessed their lives.
You could also show one of the following videos, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to show examples of how individuals received guidance from God through their patriarchal blessings.
“Enemy Territory” (time code 0:00 to 2:25) — An account from the life of President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1924–2015).
“Without Fear” (3:30) — A young man from Italy described how his patriarchal blessing helped him make the decision to serve a mission.
Think about what you have learned
To help students reflect on what they have learned and felt, consider inviting them to do the following:
Ponder the promptings or impressions you have felt today from the Holy Ghost. In your study journal, write a few sentences about the guidance and direction Heavenly Father has given you today and how you might act on those promptings.
Encourage students to act on the impressions they have felt today. Testify of the guidance and direction from Heavenly Father available to us through patriarchal blessings.