Blessing a child

[statman]

I have a nephew that is pretty homophobic. He blessed his daughter with athletic ability and the desire to compete in sports (her mom was an NCAA athlete, dad a big HS jock without NCAA size or talent), but also had to include that she wouldn't have gender-identity issues.

He meant well...

[Jeff Lebowski]

I have a nephew that is pretty homophobic. He blessed his daughter with athletic ability and the desire to compete in sports (her mom was an NCAA athlete, dad a big HS jock without NCAA size or talent), but also had to include that she wouldn't have gender-identity issues.

He meant well...

You've got to be kidding.

I am not sure which part of the blessing is more disturbing. Yikes.

[statman]

You've got to be kidding.

I am not sure which part of the blessing is more disturbing. Yikes.

Unfortunately, no.

[Jarid in Cedar]

You've got to be kidding.

I am not sure which part of the blessing is more disturbing. Yikes.

It has layers.......like an onion.....

[Moliere]

First of all, the blessing of a child IS a blessing that requires the bishop's ok to do (giving a blessing of comfort or to heal the sick is not). As such, the bishop is supposed to 'certify' that anyone desiring to bless a child (or participate in the blessing of a child) within his ward is worthy to do so and has the proper priesthood. Generally, a temple recommned is all that's needed. Flash it to the Bishop and all is good. If you don't have a recommend but would otherwise be worthy to bless a child (ie tihing issues), your home bishop has a form that he is supposed to give you to take with you to perform such an ordinance away from home.

The bishop where this ordinance is being performed is SUPPOSED TO ask to see either your temple recommned or the form certifying that you're worthy/able to participate in a baby blessing. I know that many bishops don't bother, but they really are supposed to.

If I am going to participate in a baby blessing in a ward other than my own, I always introduce myself to the bishop and present my TR prior to the start of the meeting. It's a simple courtesy to him.

Correct, it does need the approval of the bishop, but any bishop should know if someone is a card carrying member or not. The bishop should also know if that person has come to him with any sins or misdeeds that would keep him from participating. It just seems odd to interview someone for worthiness when that person is in the ward and most likely have a worthiness interview sometime in the past year.

But what do I know, I'm not a bishop...

[BigFatMeanie]

Correct, it does need the approval of the bishop, but any bishop should know if someone is a card carrying member or not. The bishop should also know if that person has come to him with any sins or misdeeds that would keep him from participating. It just seems odd to interview someone for worthiness when that person is in the ward and most likely have a worthiness interview sometime in the past year.

But what do I know, I'm not a bishop...

Sometimes Bishops have concerns. Maybe the person hasn't come in and confessed sins but they are "borderline" active. Maybe the bishop has heard some 3rd-party reports and just wants to follow up. Maybe the bishop just had some kind of inspiration that he really, really, really needed to talk to this person first before approving a baby blessing. People only come in once every 2 years for the TR now, and it is generally done by a counselor, so Bishops can really go quite a long time without having a worthiness interview with a particular member.

It ain't easy being a bishop (note that I'm not one, although I have the ear of one). Think about what it will be like when you are a bishop:

You're tired and you've had a long day at the office and then you come home, throw on your suit, gobble down a quick bite of dinner or just skip the meal altogether, give your wife a peck on the cheek and say goodbye to the kids and rush over to the church to spend the next three hours dealing with emotionally unstable women and porn-addicted men and the SP breathing down your neck for some silly form you forgot to sign and the ward members carping about something and the cub scouts want more budget and the YM president wants to know if it's OK to shoot BB guns in the gym for an activity and the RS president is informing you that Sister Jones had a kidney stone and is in the hospital and really needs someone to go visit her and that ONE lady is acting up again, you know, the one lady that will NEVER EVER give you a moment's peace and is always running around the ward like a drama queen and gossiping and meddling and causing hurt feelings and threatening to either go inactive or go over your head to the SP (you know every ward has one one these) and then at the end of the day you remember that you need to talk to Bro. Smith about blessing his baby because there is something you want to clarify with him and then his wife demands to know why you are hassling Bro. Smith and your head hurts and your feet hurt and you're trying your best to manage the dang ward and, well, you were unintentionally just be a little bit short with her or said something that rubbed her the wrong way. And then you go home and you feel bad about it and you wonder if you just caused Bro. Smith's wife some anguish or are causing her to lose her testimony or something like that and just before you pass out comatose you get on your knees and plead with the Lord and ask for his blessing to help you bear the mighty load you have to carry.

Now that you've thought about what life will be like if you are a bishop, well, I don't know, maybe you might want to cut the dude a little slack.

NOTE: This post isn't necessarily directed to Eddie specifically - I just happened to reply to his post.

[Indy Coug]

[Moliere]

I personally have not. I have a really good friend who wants to bless his child this weekend and the bishop is trying to put a stop to it because he told him that he has to have an interview with him prior to allowing him to bless his child. The bishop also told my buddy that he has to interview every father prior to doing this. When I blessed my youngest a little over two years ago, this bishop was my bishop as well and he didn’t interview me. I am wondering if this is a new change. I know there are some of you out there that have had children more recently than I have.

My friend has a nephew that is getting blessed this weekend as well. His nephew was born the day before his son was. His in-laws are in town this weekend from Colorado for both blessings and it is really important for him to do it while they are in town.

Sometimes Bishops have concerns. Maybe the person hasn't come in and confessed sins but they are "borderline" active. Maybe the bishop has heard some 3rd-party reports and just wants to follow up. Maybe the bishop just had some kind of inspiration that he really, really, really needed to talk to this person first before approving a baby blessing. People only come in once every 2 years for the TR now, and it is generally done by a counselor, so Bishops can really go quite a long time without having a worthiness interview with a particular member.

like Indy said, this is a decent post by BFM. Here's where it seems weird to me. Sure a bishop might have a concern with someone but that wasn't what HL said. He said the bishop does this with everyone before a blessing. This is abnormal, at least in my experience. I've never been in a ward where this is the case.

Now I'm guessing what happened is HL's friend thought it would be perfect to do the blessing this weekend since family/friends are in town. They probably didn't realize the bishop wanted to interview the friend to see if he is worthy to perform the blessing. I wouldn't expect this either seeing as how all I've ever done is told the clerk and bishop I was going to bless my baby and they hand me a simple form to complete. Now the bishop is seriously thinking of not letting them bless the baby due to time constraints caused by his own policy of interviewing people before baby blessings.

I understand and appreciate that bishops are tired and busy, but this scenario (as told by HL and his friend which means there is probably some bias on their part) seems a bit messed up.

I do wonder if the bishop also interviews people before they baptize and confirm their kids, or give the priesthood to someone, or do any other ordinance.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Bravo, BFM. Well done.

I have the utmost respect for bishops. I can't imagine making that kind of sacrifice. I honestly don't think I could do it.

[John McClain]

Sometimes Bishops have concerns. Maybe the person hasn't come in and confessed sins but they are "borderline" active. Maybe the bishop has heard some 3rd-party reports and just wants to follow up. Maybe the bishop just had some kind of inspiration that he really, really, really needed to talk to this person first before approving a baby blessing. People only come in once every 2 years for the TR now, and it is generally done by a counselor, so Bishops can really go quite a long time without having a worthiness interview with a particular member.

It ain't easy being a bishop (note that I'm not one, although I have the ear of one). Think about what it will be like when you are a bishop:

You're tired and you've had a long day at the office and then you come home, throw on your suit, gobble down a quick bite of dinner or just skip the meal altogether, give your wife a peck on the cheek and say goodbye to the kids and rush over to the church to spend the next three hours dealing with emotionally unstable women and porn-addicted men and the SP breathing down your neck for some silly form you forgot to sign and the ward members carping about something and the cub scouts want more budget and the YM president wants to know if it's OK to shoot BB guns in the gym for an activity and the RS president is informing you that Sister Jones had a kidney stone and is in the hospital and really needs someone to go visit her and that ONE lady is acting up again, you know, the one lady that will NEVER EVER give you a moment's peace and is always running around the ward like a drama queen and gossiping and meddling and causing hurt feelings and threatening to either go inactive or go over your head to the SP (you know every ward has one one these) and then at the end of the day you remember that you need to talk to Bro. Smith about blessing his baby because there is something you want to clarify with him and then his wife demands to know why you are hassling Bro. Smith and your head hurts and your feet hurt and you're trying your best to manage the dang ward and, well, you were unintentionally just be a little bit short with her or said something that rubbed her the wrong way. And then you go home and you feel bad about it and you wonder if you just caused Bro. Smith's wife some anguish or are causing her to lose her testimony or something like that and just before you pass out comatose you get on your knees and plead with the Lord and ask for his blessing to help you bear the mighty load you have to carry.

Now that you've thought about what life will be like if you are a bishop, well, I don't know, maybe you might want to cut the dude a little slack.

NOTE: This post isn't necessarily directed to Eddie specifically - I just happened to reply to his post.

As a current Bishop, I was ROFLM_O. You really nailed it. This describes my weeknights very well. But you forgot about the 12 hour Sundays, the constant staffing of the ward and the internicene warfare among the auxillaries wanting callings for new members that move in, the testimony meetings that do no go according to script, and on and on. But you know, I love the calling. The blessings outweight the heartache. And I sincerely mean that. Thank your Bishop the next time you see him; he will appreciate it.

[mUUser]

Thank your Bishop the next time you see him; he will appreciate it.

My thanks is that I leave him alone. Like it or not, that's as good as it gets.

[statman]

This is kind of funny - my niece and her husband live with us and they just had a baby. They got permission to bless their baby on the 14th - family all in from Cali & New York. The Execsec called this evening to see if nephew could go in and talk to the bishop tonight. He's a TR holder.

The bishop had him fill out the paperwork for the baby blessing, and asked him to please limit the number of people he asked to participate in the blessing to 8 to 10 max. Any more and it's a circus. And he told him to blame it on "The Bishop" if anyone's feelings are going to be hurt. HE also asked him to keep the blessing itself shorter rather than longer...

No worthiness questions. Just paperwork, counsel to not let the circle get too big, and a reminder to keep the blessing short and sweet. Seems reasonable...

[RC Vikings]

Honestly I think if a father whats to bless a child they should let him no matter the worthiness.

[LA Ute]

Sometimes Bishops have concerns. Maybe the person hasn't come in and confessed sins but they are "borderline" active. Maybe the bishop has heard some 3rd-party reports and just wants to follow up. Maybe the bishop just had some kind of inspiration that he really, really, really needed to talk to this person first before approving a baby blessing. People only come in once every 2 years for the TR now, and it is generally done by a counselor, so Bishops can really go quite a long time without having a worthiness interview with a particular member.

It ain't easy being a bishop (note that I'm not one, although I have the ear of one). Think about what it will be like when you are a bishop:

You're tired and you've had a long day at the office and then you come home, throw on your suit, gobble down a quick bite of dinner or just skip the meal altogether, give your wife a peck on the cheek and say goodbye to the kids and rush over to the church to spend the next three hours dealing with emotionally unstable women and porn-addicted men and the SP breathing down your neck for some silly form you forgot to sign and the ward members carping about something and the cub scouts want more budget and the YM president wants to know if it's OK to shoot BB guns in the gym for an activity and the RS president is informing you that Sister Jones had a kidney stone and is in the hospital and really needs someone to go visit her and that ONE lady is acting up again, you know, the one lady that will NEVER EVER give you a moment's peace and is always running around the ward like a drama queen and gossiping and meddling and causing hurt feelings and threatening to either go inactive or go over your head to the SP (you know every ward has one one these) and then at the end of the day you remember that you need to talk to Bro. Smith about blessing his baby because there is something you want to clarify with him and then his wife demands to know why you are hassling Bro. Smith and your head hurts and your feet hurt and you're trying your best to manage the dang ward and, well, you were unintentionally just be a little bit short with her or said something that rubbed her the wrong way. And then you go home and you feel bad about it and you wonder if you just caused Bro. Smith's wife some anguish or are causing her to lose her testimony or something like that and just before you pass out comatose you get on your knees and plead with the Lord and ask for his blessing to help you bear the mighty load you have to carry.

Now that you've thought about what life will be like if you are a bishop, well, I don't know, maybe you might want to cut the dude a little slack.

NOTE: This post isn't necessarily directed to Eddie specifically - I just happened to reply to his post.

[myboynoah]

Honestly I think if a father whats to bless a child they could let him no matter the worthiness.

Wasn't there some conference talk to that effect recently? I recall listening to or reading something like that, that fathers should exercise their priesthood even if "worthiness" is an issue.

Maybe I dreamed it.