The Patriarchal Blessing of Lester Wildermuth Bronson
By Patriarch Henry Kemp, August 17, 1904, Eldorado Springs, Missouri



Lester, in the name of Jesus Christ, I lay my hands upon thy head and confer upon thee a father's blessing in Israel which thou art entitled to and worthy of through thy obedience to the Gospel, and the righteous desires of thy heart to serve the Lord and to do his will and to keep his commandments, and now as thou hast started out in thy youthful days to serve the Lord, strive to do His will. Be faithful and resist the evils of the world and that which is not in harmony with the righteous will of God, as revealed in the Gospel, and the Lord will come to thy help. He will give thee strength and give thee power to resist the evils and thy heart shall be changed so that thou shalt love the cause and things of God, and thus thou mayest be turned to love the Lord with all thy heart, might, mind and strength and to be taught and instructed in the things pertaining to the kingdom of God and Christ here upon the earth, and be able to work and labor in the interest of this cause, become a faithful worker, one who shall be accepted of God, one who shall be blessed of Him.

Therefore, the prayers of loved ones who have passed through the vale have been heard of God their Father, in thy behalf with the prayers of loved ones here on earth who have also pled before the Lord in the behalf of their posterity. Therefore, be thou of good cheer, and trust in the Lord and thou shalt be able to work in the interest of this great cause of God, established upon the earth, and be able to labor in its interest to the end of that many souls will rejoice through thy instrumentality and because of the power of God that shall come to them through thy administrations. Therefore, fear not, but move forward in the performance of the duties and requirements of God, as revealed in this Gospel, and great shall be thy joy and thy rejoicing here, and eternal thy reward in the hereafter.

Thou art of the lineage of Ephraim, entitled to receive the Priesthood which shall be conferred upon thee if thou art faithful, and thou shalt be called of God and be one of his chosen ones to labor in the interest of this work and the angels shall administer to thee and bring to thee joy and satisfaction, and as thy life has been preserved and the prayers of loved ones heard in thy behalf, inasmuch as thou hast been blessed and led safely through thus far, in life, so the God of thy fathers will sustain thee in thy future life and thou shalt live to complete the work assigned thee, according to the righteous desires of thy heart. Strive to resist that which is evil, and in opposition to His truth as revealed, and thou shalt have joy and rejoicing even here. Thy name shall be had in honorable remembrance among His people and thou shalt gain the favor of many. Thou shalt be instrumental in God's hands in bringing souls to Him, such as shall be eternally saved, and with them thou shalt rejoice in the kingdom of God, in its redeemed and glorified state.

Thus be thou faithful and life shall be granted unto thee. Ample opportunity and privileges; which shall enable thee to complete the work assigned thee here in this life acceptably to thy Father and God, and grace shall be given thee with patience to endure to the end, and thus thou shalt finish thy course, and when thy change shall come, thou shalt have joy, and if it shall be the will of the Lord that thou shalt not sleep in the dust or thy body in the tomb it mattereth not. Thy change shall come, and thou shalt be able to stand in the presence of the redeemed and glorified of the earth and labor with them rejoicing in the goodness of God , mingling with those who have been redeemed and glorified and who can stand before their Savior, and their Redeemer in company with the holy angels and with all the redeemed and glorified of the earth, rejoicing in the goodness of God that has come to thee and as a reward for the work which thou hast preformed and completed in his church. Thus thou shalt attain to the fullness of Christ, and be prepared and fitted to pass though and enter into that celestial reward and glory promised of God to all the faithful. These blessing, with the gift of eternal life and all these promises and environments of that life, or pertaining to it, I seal upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.