Kimball, then on a Church mission in England: "Father Smith has died since I last wrote. he ordai[ned] his son Hiram to be a Patriarch, and pronounced great blessing upon all his children before he died." In the LDS Church, patriarchal blessings offer comfort to individuals and foretell possible future accomplishments. The blessings are pronounced in the form of a prayer by an ordained patriarch (an office in the church's lay priesthood). The Bible describes the Old Testament patriarch Jacob (Israel) blessing his twelve sons regarding their futures (see Gen. 49). In LDS procedure, drawing on Old Testament precedent, the patriarch rests his hands upon the individualxs head, eyes shut while speaking without forethought regarding what to say. In most cases, the blessing identifies the recipient's spiritual heritage and lineage as a member of one of the twelve tribes of Israel and thus heir to the blessings Israel bestowed upon his sons. The promises and counsel contained in one's patriarchal blessing--prophetic insight into the individual's life and future--are said to be contingent upon the person's worthiness. A patriarchal blessing is given only once in a person's lifetime. Contained in this volume are 755 blessings from 1833 through 1845 delivered by the church's first oracles, Joseph Smith Sr., Joseph Smith Jr., Hyrum Smith, and William Smith. Prominent in these blessings is the promise that the reciepeints will live to witness the Second Coming, together with other period-specific expectations and doctrinally based beliefs. The compilation is an indispensible source of early Mormon intellectual history, as well as a valuable resource for historians, biographers, and genealogists.

    Making use of cutting-edge LDS resources and the author's recent interactions with Mormon scholars-this detailed, accurate resource covers such topics as... The Mormon God and Jesus, and the potential godhood of humankind Prophetic revelationsa how and why they have changed What might surprise Christians about today's Mormon church Mormons' latest arguments for their faith How Christians can respond to the changing face of Mormonism Clarifying a sometimes confusing faith to non-Mormons, Abanes authoritatively demonstrates what evangelicals need to know about the ever-changing claims of Mormonism. Rerelease of Becoming Gods,

    Each on is combined with inspired and encouraging thoughts from Church leaders and daily living guidance from the authors.About the AuthorsEd Pinegar is a retired dentist and long-time teacher of early-morning seminary and religion classes at Brigham Young University. He currently teaches at the Joseph Smith Academy in Nauvoo and has served as a mission president in England and at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He has been a bishop and a stake president and is a temple sealer. Ed and his wife, Patricia, have eight children, thirty-five grandchildren, and five great- grandchildren.Richard J. Allen is a husband, father, teacher, and writer. He has served on several high councils, in several stake presidencies, and as a bishop. Richard’s teaching assignments in the Church have included service as a full-time missionary, instructor in various priesthood quorums, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and stake institute director. He has served as a faculty member at both Brigham Young University and the Johns Hopkins University. Richard has coauthored many articles, manuals, and books and has served on a number of national educational boards. He and his wife, Carol Lynn Hansen Allen, have four children and five grandchildren.

    A pro and con analysis of the teachings and practices of Mormonism.