Brother *****, by authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood I place my hands upon your head to give you a Patriarchal Blessing; a blessing of direction in your life and a blessing of commendation for the life you are leading. The Lord is pleased with that which you are doing. He loves you; He knows you; and He desires that you have the best in your life so you may progress as He intended you to do.

You were a faithful servant in the preexistence and there you willingly accepted the Plan of Happiness your Heavenly Father presented to you and to others who were there at that time. You willingly and anxiously followed the Lord, Jesus Christ, in His role in that great plan. You wanted to come to the earth for you knew it was necessary for your spirit to have a body so you could progress. You made commitments there to follow the Lord and to do those things you were called upon to do. Because you came to the earth at this particular time, when the gospel is here in its fullness, it is easy for you and important for you to make and keep covenants. You have already made covenants in your life which will bring blessings to you as you keep those covenants.

Your Heavenly Father would have you equip yourself for the ever-changing and highly-competitive world you will face with an ever-increasing level of education. He would have you make commitments to live by principles of integrity, which will never change, and to bring what you do into harmony with your beliefs and convictions. The promise is yours that you will have purpose in your life, and peace of mind and fulfillment, while others not so blessed will flounder.

Because of the things you did in the Spirit World the lineage of Ephraim was prescribed for you. Because of that lineage there were expectations that you would not be unfruitful in your service in the kingdom and in the community and world in which you live. When Ephraim was born, Joseph selected that name which stood for his fruitfulness in the time of affliction. Therefore, great things are expected of you. The Lord has work for you to do. Seek the Spirit. Become grounded and rooted in gospel principles for there will come to you opportunities to make an immense contribution in the Church and in the world here and abroad. Listen to the whisperings of the Spirit and the promptings of your conscience for the Lord has many great and wonderful things in store for you. Remember your Heavenly Father loves you and cares for you and He is willing to do all that is needful in your life as you put forth proper effort with diligence and patience in those things you are called to do.

You have received the Aaronic Priesthood which has given you the rights and privileges and authority to act in the name of the Lord. As you use that priesthood to benefit your life and the lives of others you will grow and develop and attain the higher priesthood which will give you power and authority to officiate in heavenly ordinances, which will bring additional blessings into your life. You are fortunate to be born at this particular time into a family which has loved you and cared for you and given you that which was needful. Be grateful for the love and care they have given you and reciprocate to them that same love by doing that which they would ask you to do and blessings will follow.

Again, the Lord would have you seek learning by faith and by study that you may learn of the things of the world; things that have been, things that are, and things which will come to pass, that you may be better prepared to answer the call to serve that will come to you through the Lord to do His will and to help others, ensuring that their lives will likewise be improved.

These blessings, together with other blessings that are needful at this time, I pronounce upon you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.