Children from different lineages

[pam]

I've been reading and researching lately a question that still continues to baffle me. I'm hoping that people can help me understand and explain in layman's terms.

When children from the same family, meaning same parents, are given Patriarchal Blessings, how is it they can come from different lineages?

I was just reading a talk by President Faust that explains this.

Some might be disturbed because members of the same family have blessings declaring them to be of a different lineage. A few families are of a mixed lineage. We believe that the house of Israel today constitutes a large measure of the human family. Because the tribes have intermixed one with another, one child may be declared to be from the tribe of Ephraim and another of the same family from Manasseh or one of the other tribes. The blessing of one tribe, therefore, may be dominant in one child, and the blessing of another tribe dominant in yet another child. So, children from the same parents could receive the blessings of different tribes.

But I guess I am being really dense here. I still don't understand how if born from the same parents how they could have different lineages.

[pam]

I may have just answered my own question. It was like a lightbulb just came on. But I would still like to hear people's responses in case anyone else had the same question.

*edit* Never mind..the lightbulb had a short in it.

Edited January 22, 2011 by pam

[slamjet]

My understanding is that a child may have a different mission and purpose, thus being adopted into a different line.

[Seminarysnoozer]

I've been reading and researching lately a question that still continues to baffle me. I'm hoping that people can help me understand and explain in layman's terms.

When children from the same family, meaning same parents, are given Patriarchal Blessings, how is it they can come from different lineages?

I was just reading a talk by President Faust that explains this.

But I guess I am being really dense here. I still don't understand how if born from the same parents how they could have different lineages.

It's a good question. I've thought about that too because my uncle is of another tribe from the rest of us. I guess since most of us are adopted into those tribes we are just talking about the blessings that come from that association.

[pam]

I guess that's where some of my confusion lies when we talk about being adopted into another tribe. I've been a member all my life and this has always been one of those things I just don't understand.

Not that it dampers my testimony at all. Just one of those things I wish I understood better.

[slamjet]

Ask a Patriarch. Our Patriarch gave a whole talk about this very same thing, but I'm old and don't remember the details well. What I do remember it that it was very interesting.

[mrmarklin]

When people of two different races marry, the characteristics of each race can be represented in different ways in the children. I'm sure most of us have seen this.

[Iggy]

My parents have different ancestors from different nations. My father is norwegian (haven't done much research at all on his kin) - my mothers ancestors are from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France. (that is as far as I have gotten in my research)

Seems to me that it would be easy to find a few different tribes from this diverse lineage.

Also, as others have stated, we are mostly adopted into a tribe of Isreal, considering we are the Gentiles that are spoken of in the scriptures.

[pam]

So in reading further from some other talks, it is the Patriarch that determines what blood line is the most dominant in each individual person. Am I correct in understanding this?

I'm sure I'm sounding really ignorant in this..but seriously this is just one of those things that I've had a harder time grasping for some reason.

[pam]

Maybe determines isn't the right word..But announces?

[slamjet]

I'd go with announce.

[Iggy]

So in reading further from some other talks, it is the Patriarch that determines what blood line is the most dominant in each individual person. Am I correct in understanding this?

I'm sure I'm sounding really ignorant in this..but seriously this is just one of those things that I've had a harder time grasping for some reason.

It is my understanding that the Patriarch is guided by the Holy Ghost as to which tribe you are from/adopted into. My blessing says adopted. I know a Native American whose blessing does not use the word adopted.

[pam]

So another question to just throw out. What is the significance in knowing what tribe you belong to?

[slamjet]

So another question to just throw out. What is the significance in knowing what tribe you belong to?

From Boyd K Packard:

An essential part of a patriarchal blessing is the declaration of lineage. By careful study of the scriptures, a patriarch becomes familiar with the patriarchal order. He learns the destiny of the tribes of Israel.

The Brethren have taught: “In giving a blessing the patriarch may declare our lineage—that is, that we are of Israel, therefore of the family of Abraham, and of a specific tribe of Jacob. In the great majority of cases, Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe to which has been committed the leadership of the Latter-day work. Whether this lineage is of blood or adoption does not matter (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham, 2:10). This is very important, for it is through the lineage of Abraham alone that the mighty blessings of the Lord for His children on earth are to be consummated (Gen. 12:2, 3; Pearl of Great Price, Abr. 2:11).

[Dravin]

I've been reading and researching lately a question that still continues to baffle me. I'm hoping that people can help me understand and explain in layman's terms.

When children from the same family, meaning same parents, are given Patriarchal Blessings, how is it they can come from different lineages?

I was just reading a talk by President Faust that explains this.

But I guess I am being really dense here. I still don't understand how if born from the same parents how they could have different lineages.

Well. Let's say I'm 50%/50% Irish/German and my wife is 50%/50% West African/Thai.

Now our children have fourth lineages involved there, my children would be 25%/25%/25%/25% Irish/German/West African/Thai. Now when it comes to patriarchal blessings I think what Elder Faust was talking about in one blessing being dominate in another is that not all the tribes have the exact same blessings and responsibilities and the Patriarch is inspired to basically line up your Tribe from the mix available (or adopt you into) the appropriate tribe for the blessings and responsibilities the Lord has in store for you.

Just my 2 cents.

Edited January 22, 2011 by Dravin

[pam]

Thanks to everyone I think the fog is finally starting to lift here.

[pam]

In the great majority of cases, Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe to which has been committed the leadership of the Latter-day work

So I'm taking this to mean that the reason that the greater majority of us are from this tribe and receiving knowledge of this through our Patriarchal blessing is because we are born in the latter days and have the responsibility to further the work in the latter days?

[slamjet]

So I'm taking this to mean that the reason that the greater majority of us are from this tribe and receiving knowledge of this through our Patriarchal blessing is because we are born in the latter days and have the responsibility to further the work in the latter days?

My Stake Patriarch, in a fireside he gave, explained that it's because of that and that by this we will be opening the way for the other tribes to be gathered. I was also told that other countries (such as European and former block nations) are different tribes, such as Judah, Benjamin, Etc. The more countries are opened, the more tribes are being gathered. I wish I could find literature or a talk which spells this out. I wish I took notes because he was a treasure trove of information on this subject.

It was also his experience that the different nationalities in our Stake (along with English, we have a Spanish Branch, Korean Branch, Tagalog Branch and Armenian Group) he's has many "unusual" tribes when he give blessings.

[Wingnut]

Well. Let's say I'm 50%/50% Irish/German and my wife is 50%/50% West African/Thai.

Now our children have fourth lineages involved there, my children would be 25%/25%/25%/25% Irish/German/West African/Thai. Now when it comes to patriarchal blessings I think what Elder Faust was talking about in one blessing being dominate in another is that not all the tribes have the exact same blessings and responsibilities and the Patriarch is inspired to basically line up your Tribe from the mix available (or adopt you into) the appropriate tribe for the blessings and responsibilities the Lord has in store for you.

Just my 2 cents.

But what about when your child comes from an Italian (for example) or Greek tribe?

[Avrham]

just wondering if the person is Jewish what would be their lineage ???given by the patriarch does anyone know any instances:)

[slamjet]

That fireside I was talking about? He said Judah.

[Dravin]

But what about when your child comes from an Italian (for example) or Greek tribe?

Then they were either adopted into it, or you and/or your wife weren't just 50/50 and one of you had some Greek or Italian in you.

[bert10]

Pam as I now understand it. Jesus came not to annul the Abrahamic Covenant but to make it better.

Were once one was adopted into it by Blood and it excluded others....Jesus came and modified it to Include The Spirituality aspect of men. To be sure there is a lineage of the flesh but there is also a Spiritual lineage. Each of the twelve tribes had weaknesses and strengths that was particular to it's own tribe. This goes hand in hand with the Spirit aspect of it. For what is on the Earth is second to the Spirit.

Today blood may be taken into consideration when the Spiritual temperament matches the blood lineage...but mostly it is the Spiritual temperament that decides into which tribes one goes in, even a Repentant gentile who may not have one drop of Israel, may be adopted into a tribe by faith. To be sure the Spiritual temperament will decide into which tribe that person goes into.

Hebrews 8:6 - But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

(we receive the promises by faith)

bert10

I've been reading and researching lately a question that still continues to baffle me. I'm hoping that people can help me understand and explain in layman's terms.

When children from the same family, meaning same parents, are given Patriarchal Blessings, how is it they can come from different lineages?

I was just reading a talk by President Faust that explains this.

But I guess I am being really dense here. I still don't understand how if born from the same parents how they could have different lineages.

[Guest Alana]

Speaking of tribes, does anyone have some good links or explanation about the tribes? What does it mean to be one or an other? What is the history behind each?

When it comes to different tribal lineage from the same parents I just think of it as how some families with one kid that seems to show more of the trait from ancestors a few generations back than the other siblings. Kind of like how there are dominate and recessive genes and sometimes two recessives will combine to form a more uncommon trait. Like, maybe two parents are from the tribe of Ephraim but some where back there one of them had an ancestor who was Manasseh, and then they have a child who is from that tribe because that's the one who's gifts and strengths they've received.

[slamjet]

<Deleted post because I was not practicing the spirit of patience.> Edited January 23, 2011 by slamjet
Self censuring