Leading‏‏‎ ‎People Towards a Patriarchal Blessing | An Interview with Keith Erekson

Keith Erekson is an award-winning author, teacher, and public historian who has published on topics including politics, hoaxes, Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, and Church history. Keith grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, served a mission in Brazil, and earned advanced degrees in history and business. For seven years he directed the Church History Library, overseeing expanded online research access and enriched public exhibits, and now works for the Church History Department in efforts to encourage outreach and historical engagement. In this podcast, Kurt and Keith discuss receiving and engaging with patriarchal blessings. Highlights 2:00 Introduction and new book about understanding patriarchal blessings 6:00 Patriarchal blessings are so unique and a special part of our religion 8:00 The history of patriarchal blessings 11:45 Why a patriarchal blessing? Comparing baby blessings and patriarchal blessings 16:00 Apocryphal things people say about patriarchal blessings 18:15 Can we share our patriarchal blessing? 19:45 Be careful about your expectations of your blessing. Some blessings can be very specific and others very general. 23:00 How can Bishops help youth prepare for a blessing? 26:00 Is patriarch an official title? 27:00 Request your direct ancestors or direct descendants blessings 32:40 Keith’s thoughts on lineage. Sometimes we take the lineage too literally or as if it’s biological. Our lineage is a spiritual and a symbolic connection. 37:30 Mysteries of God are just things that He knows and we don’t know. Oftentimes we make it into more than it is, like something magical and spooky. 38:00 Our patriarchal blessing is an invitation from God to learn more about you and your relationship with Him. Our blessing is like a doorway to learn more. It’s not a destination. 40:40 Real vs rumor. It’s a rumor that Joseph Smith’s bloodline is a literal bloodline to Ephraim. 42:30 Keith’s book would be great for the person that just got their patriarchal blessing 45:00 Oldest and youngest blessings in history 46:00 Keith’s favorite stories of patriarchal blessings 49:50 Things that Keith is working on for church history. Joseph Smith Papers, last volume of Saints, Eliza R. Snow sermons, journals, and more. 52:15 Final thoughts on patriarchal blessings Links Incorrect Quotes, Urban Legends, and Magical Thinking at Church | An Interview with Keith EreksonMaking Sense of Your Patriarchal BlessingReal vs. Rumor: How to Dispel Latter-Day Myths Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcastListen on YouTubeGet 14-day access to the Core Leader Library The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help latter-day saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.