Handbook 2:
Administering the Church

 

20.8 Father’s Blessings and Other Blessings of Comfort and Counsel

Father’s blessings and other priesthood blessings are given to provide direction and comfort as guided by the Spirit.

A father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood may give father’s blessings to his children. These blessings may be especially helpful when children go to school, go on missions, get married, enter military service, or face special challenges. A family may record a father’s blessing for family records, but these blessings are not preserved in Church records. Parents should encourage their children to seek father’s blessings in times of need.

Melchizedek Priesthood holders may also give blessings of comfort and counsel to other family members and to others who ask for them.

To give a father’s blessing or another blessing of comfort and counsel, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the priesthood holder who gives the blessing:

  1. 1.

    Calls the person by his or her full name.

  2. 2.

    States that the blessing is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

  3. 3.

    Gives words of blessing as the Spirit directs.

  4. 4.

    Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.