25 Jul
T1′s Baby Blessing
The purpose of our trip up to Washington in June was to give T1 his baby blessing. We chose to go up to Washington for it because we wanted to be in a place where the circle of men performing the blessing would be filled with family, and if we blessed him in our current ward in Texas only my parents would be able to make it down. Because we blessed him in Washington the circle was made up of my husband, father, brother-in-law, two uncles, cousin, and two grandfathers. What a beautiful site it was to see the men in my life father around, placing their right hand on T1 and their left hands up on each others shoulders, forming a circle of love and support that T1 will be able to turn to in times of need for years to come.
The Church website describes the ordinance of naming and blessing a baby in this way:
Men who have the priesthood can bless babies, usually a few weeks after the babies are born. They must have the permission of the bishop or branch president to do this. The baby’s father can bless the baby if he has the Melchizedek Priesthood. If he does not have the Melchizedek Priesthood, he cannot bless the baby or be in the circle with men who bless the baby. He can ask someone who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to bless the baby. The father, if he holds the Melchizedek Priesthood and is worthy, or another person who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood, holds the baby in his arms, assisted by others who must also hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, and says a prayer.
The blessing follows this format:
- Addresses our Heavenly Father.
- States that the ordinance is performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
- Gives the child a name.
- Adds words of blessing as the Spirit directs.
- Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.
I’ve witnessed many baby blessings over the years, some long and some short, though TH’s was the most succinct I had ever heard. He asked me beforehand if I would be sad if his blessing wasn’t long and detailed. I told him that I wasn’t looking for a performance. All I wanted was a worthy husband, a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, holding his son in his arms, naming him before the Lord and in essence declaring publicly that we plan to teach and raise him with our beliefs. T1 will have the opportunity to hear about his future directly from the Lord when he receives his Patriarchal blessing someday when he is older.
It was important to me that T1 wear all white, as I consider this to be the first of one of many Priesthood ordinances he will undergo in his life while wearing white. Soon enough there will be baptism, temple attendance, endowment, and sealing. It was a bit warm for him to be wearing it, but I dressed him in a white sweater my grandma knit for him specifically for the baby blessing. I washed and put it away for other babies down the line to wear as well.
The whole experience was beautiful, brief but special, just the way I wanted it. My mom had three different people transcribe the blessing while it was being pronounced, and I plan on typing it up and storing it for him to read when he is older.
Our family is slowly growing! Thanks to my mom and dad for hosting us that week, and to Shay and her husband for driving up to be present for the blessing. We miss you so much already.
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Jenna, I just wanted to let you know that you mention T1 by his actual name in the first line of your post. Was that an accident? I know at one point you wanted to keep his name private….. just wanted to let you know, just in case.
Jenna Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 9:30 am
This is what happens when I try to write several posts in one sitting. I can’t edit it from my phone so it will have to stay that way until I get home! Thanks for pointing that out.
I was going to say the same thing as Ashely.
Also, I think it’s a neat thing to bless the baby and give it a name. I’m catholic and the name giving happens at baptism. I like the blessing idea.
2What an awesome experience! I love baby blessings. They’re pretty wonderful. I’m so glad you were able to come back home be surrounded by family and that they had the opportunity to be there for your baby boy. He’s so precious! I love his little tongue action. Gets me every time! Haha.
3Ive never seen a bad picture of him. He is the most photogenic baby ever!
Jenna Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Most photogenic boy. Mia can have the photogenic girl award.
Such a special day for your family, and T1 is just adorable.
5As always I love the pictures. I guess a baby blessing in the LDS church is like a dedication in other Christian churches?
6Question - are baby blessings with girls done the same way? Is it still a circle of men or is it a circle of women?
Jessica Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
All baby blessings are done the same way. Men are in the circle because they hold the priesthood. Here’s the official church explanation of the priesthood:
The priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name. The same priesthood authority that existed in the original Church established by Jesus Christ exists in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. The Church is directed and led through this authority.
All male members of the Church who are prepared receive the priesthood in order to help lead the Church and serve Heavenly Father’s children. A man with the priesthood might serve in some of the following ways:
Leading congregations of the Church
Performing the ordinances of the Church, such as baptism
Blessing those who are sick
God expects those who hold this sacred priesthood authority to follow the example of Jesus Christ and serve with love, gentleness, and kindness.
While women do not hold the priesthood, our lives are blessed tremendously by it (as Jenna gives an example; she was able to have her baby blessed by her husband).
Jenna Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Thanks Jessica!
he’s going to grow up feeling so loved and supported… so wonderful
8Beautiful! I think it’s neat that people wrote it down for you. I have been in wards where that was discouraged, but I don’t see why it should be. It is a beautiful promise for the rest of his life!
Jenna Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Sometimes the things that are said in different wards really puzzle me.
I’m so glad you wrote about the baby blessing, because I was going to ask about it when you mentioned it the other day. In the Baptist church where I was raised (and maybe other churches, too?) we have infant dedications, which seems a little similar, but not quite.
I think priesthood blessings are probably one of the coolest parts of your religion. I always appreciate it when you share these special, sacred moments with us. I love finding out more about your faith!
10Looks like a great day! I definitely want to do a baby blessing for our (future) kids.
PS - I love that picture of you and T1 at the top of this post.
11Don’t you just feel so so lucky to have a husband worthy to perform this? It would just break my heart to have to ask someone else, even my own dad.
Jenna Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Agreed.
Happy day! So glad it was written down for you. Pam did that for us when Renny was blessed but no one was there to offer that when we blessed Maddie. It will be something you all will read later and cherish all over again.
13You all look so good in those pictures…so beautiful and happy! We just blessed my baby too, on July 4th, in my husband’s family’s home. It was so special and memorable, and my MIL made his blessing outfit. It’s so great that we have these very special moments in our family’s lives.
14Lovely pictures. I, too, love baby blessings. I was raised non-LDS and had a christening when I was a few months old. I love the photos from that, but it would have been cool to have pictures to look at from a blessing, and a transcript to read. Glad you had people write it down! Oh, and in that second picture you look just beautiful! Hot mama!
15What a sweet post. I was honored to go the blessing of my best friend’s little girl and even as a non-LDS person it was beautiful and momentous. Your pictures are fantastic!
16What a beautiful family!
17You look gorgeous in these photos! And obviously T1 is adorable!
18We always travel to AZ to have family around for our baby blessings. I’m so happy for you all on your special day! I just love seeing my husband up there - makes me so happy I chose to find a great guy that not only would be a great husband and father, but a priesthood holder as well.
Love all the pictures!
19What a spiritually beautiful ceremony & a photogenically beautiful family! No wonder your Mom went into photography all those years ago - she had great subjects!
20Love all of the photos and so glad that you were with your family for such an important date!
21T1 looks adorable in his blessing outfit! What a sweet gift from your grandmother. I’m glad you were able to go “home” for the baby blessing and have so much family there! We live a couple states away from our families and plan on doing the same with our little ones someday.
22The blessing, does it take place inside the Temple or outside?
It seems like a very sweet celebration and a great way to gather the important people in your family.
Jenna Reply:
July 27th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
We use two different buildings for church services, the temple and also a chapel. Ordinances like baby blessings are done in the chapel in front of the congregation on Sunday, which means anyone can attend whether a member or not.