Blessing of Children

[Ninja_Kruger]

In the past two weeks, I've two variations of how to give a child a name and a blessing. The key points of the variation are below. Which one is correct?

1) Address Heavenly Father--state that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melch. Priesthood--give the child a name and then give a blessing using the terminology, "I bless" or "we bless."

2) Spoken much like a prayer--state that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melch. Priesthood--give the child a name and then a blessing like saying an evening prayer...no direct reference to the child.

Is either version correct? If not, what is the correct "format" for this ordinance.

Thanks.

[Jim Swarthout]

neither are correct because you forgot to add a critical preliminary step: to invite every single priesthood holder you have ever met to stand in the circle with you. A baby blessing simply isn't going to take unless there is a minimum of twelve guys in the circle.

[exUte]

Originally Posted by Ninja_Kruger

In the past two weeks, I've two variations of how to give a child a name and a blessing. The key points of the variation are below. Which one is correct?

1) Address Heavenly Father--state that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melch. Priesthood--give the child a name and then give a blessing using the terminology, "I bless" or "we bless."

2) Spoken much like a prayer--state that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melch. Priesthood--give the child a name and then a blessing like saying an evening prayer...no direct reference to the child.

Is either version correct? If not, what is the correct "format" for this ordinance.

Thanks.

one.

[MikeWaters]

My stake president taught #2.

Because of that, I've done it like #2 twice.

But if God should bless me with a third child, I will not do what the stake president instructs. I will go back to #1 because it feels more personal to do it the traditional way.

[Ninja_Kruger]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

My stake president taught #2.

Because of that, I've done it like #2 twice.

But if God should bless me with a third child, I will not do what the stake president instructs. I will go back to #1 because it feels more personal to do it the traditional way.

I totally agree with you--I like #1 better as well..

[Gifted Fish]

Originally Posted by Ninja_Kruger

2) Spoken much like a prayer--state that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melch. Priesthood--give the child a name and then a blessing like saying an evening prayer...no direct reference to the child.

My vote is for #2. I've done four blessings - two each way - and being a bit of a grammatical fascist, the second way seems right, even if less personal. You make plenty of direct references to the kid, though: "We ask thee to bless Timmy...."

The kid can't understand you anyway, so who cares.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Gifted Fish

My vote is for #2. I've done four blessings - two each way - and being a bit of a grammatical fascist, the second way seems right, even if less personal. You make plenty of direct references to the kid, though: "We ask thee to bless Timmy...."

The kid can't understand you anyway, so who cares.

Hmmm. But don't you state your authority and you give the name and the blessing, rather than address deity and ask him to give the name and the blessing? It seems more strange to me that I perform the ordinance and then ask for blessings rather than give them.

[MikeWaters]

you can state your authority and the name, and the requests, to the Father.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

you can state your authority and the name, and the requests, to the Father.

I guess my question is, why address deity at all? Isn't that implied in every ordinance? I'm trying to think of another ordinance where we do this....grave dedications?

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

I guess my question is, why address deity at all? Isn't that implied in every ordinance? I'm trying to think of another ordinance where we do this....grave dedications?

Also, why state your authority at all if you are making a request rather than acting with authority.