President Young said The Office of Patriarch is to Bless
our families, wives, children, & Friends & to Bless Fatherless
children & all mankind as far as they are worthy of
Blessings. It is an Office to Bless Fathers, & Fathers of Fathers
we Pray to our Father in heaven. He is a Father of Fathers
We have called these Brethren to gether to ordain them
Patriarchs & to Bless them we consider them worthy of a
Blessing under the Hands of the Apostles. They hold the keys
& Power to ordain Patriarchs & all Offices in the Church
on the Earth & in heaven & will hold those keys here & there
for time & for Eternity. The Patriarchal Office give you the
Highest Power to Bless but does not give the Apostleship but
makes you Patriarchs
"Journal (January 1, 1873 – February 7, 1880)," May 7, 1873, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed February 2, 2023, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/W7qo
