Based on a random sample of 90 patriarchal blessings from Michael Marquardt’s compilation, Early Patriarchal Blessings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this study uses content analysis to determine the most frequent blessing themes pronounced by the first three LDS patriarchs, Joseph Smith Sr., Hyrum Smith, and William Smith. In particular, the sample was divided between male and female blessings to determine to what extent there were gender differences in the length and content of these early blessings. Analysis of the sample results leads to a discussion of gender distinctions in the early LDS Church.

GORDON SHEPHERD, GARY SHEPHERD, D. MICHAEL QUINN