Dear *****: As a servant of the Lord, holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, I place my hands upon your head and give you a patriarchal blessing. The Lord is watching over you, and He has a good work which it is His will that you should do. Yet you are free to choose the right or the wrong, and it is by choosing the right when the wrong is before you that you gain favor with the Lord and win your place of exaltation in His kingdom.

You have been appointed a certain number of years here on earth, and however long or short they may be, they will be enough for the task that will be required of you, but you have not been appointed time to squander in folly or idleness, and all the valuable time that you waste will detract just that much from what you could have gained by your diligence.

You are of the House of Israel through the loins of Ephraim, and this important heritage brings with it the call and obligation to work for the saving of souls, and the building up of the Lord's kingdom on earth.

There is a destiny over you; it will not interfere with your freedom to act, and it will not excuse you from the evil effects of your doing what you know to be wrong, but it is there as a guiding and protecting hand over you if you remember and respect it. It will bless you in ways that you could not foresee to desire, and it will open the way before you to that which is good and desirable for you to have.

The Lord will bless your efforts. He will be right there in your time of trial and temptation to give you strength as soon as you make resolute effort to resist evil.

The Spirit of the Lord will come into your mind, even in your childhood, and it will fit and prepare you for the places of trust and importance which you will be called to fill. If you seek the Lord to learn of his ways and walk in His paths, He will build you up and make you great in the eyes of good men and women. You will wield a strong influence for good, and will perform a great work. Your name will be honorable in the land, and it will be remembered and cherished by valiant men and women of your posterity.

To your posterity there will be no end, and they will speak your name with reverence because you chose the way of right even in your childhood, thus setting a safe and lofty example for them to follow. You think of yourself as a little boy, but it is for you, if you will receive it, to be setting right now the pace that other boys, and girls and men and women yet unborn are to follow.

Pray the Lord that He will enlighten your mind, and give you strength and courage to appreciate your great privilege of living on earth, that you may lay diligent hold on all the wonderful things He is offering you. I seal you up unto eternal life to be numbered with the chosen of the Lord in the great day of His coming, and I do this by virtue of the holy Priesthood and in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.