History of Matriarchs

My calling is to be a Matriarch, which is the feminine version of “Evangelist” or “Patriarch”. Evangelists are a sub-section of High Priestess/Priestx/Priest.

The first Patriarchs in the Restoration were Joseph Smith Sr. and Hyrum Smith, and their chief duties were to generally act as parental figures for the church and give special blessings. These blessings served as a sort of cold reading/fortune telling where spiritual promises were made. Additionally, these blessings “declared your lineage”, meaning what tribe of Israel someone was “from”.

After the Successionist crisis it took a bit of time for Patriarchs to find their places in the Restoration again. In the LDS branch, the role of Evangelists did not expand, and their chief function in the community was to give these blessings. In the RLDS branch the role of Evangelists was magnified quite a bit, and it is chiefly through the lens of this tradition that I see my call as Matriarch.

RLDS D&C 125, which was given by Joseph Smith III on April 15th, 1901, laid the modern foundation for the duties of Evangelists. This revelation said that Evangelists are to preach, teach, expound, exhort, to be a revivalist, comfort the saints, be a parent to the church, give counsel for those who seek it, and impart Evangelist’s blessings. It also clarified that Evangelists are to remain free from administrative duties, which is a point of doctrine that the Josephites share with the Brighamites. Within the RLDS tradition, Evangelists are to be fully included in priesthood meetings, and their perspectives and opinions are to carry weight, despite not having administrative sway. While the office of Presiding Patriarch was done away with in the LDS church in 1979, the Presiding Evangelists of Community of Christ continue to be well-respected figures in Church life. These Evangelists have written a great deal over the years, even producing entire books of theology and poetry.

In addition to the guidance offered by the Josephites, the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ also offered a trove of knowledge in their book “Hidden Treasures and Promises”, specifically from “The Lost Revelations”. One interesting thing about these revelations is that the guidance that is given is chiefly for Matriarchs with the understanding that it also applies to the masculine and non-gendered counterparts as well. The 7th “Lost Revelation” speaks of how Matriarchs are to have a special interest in Temple work. Amazingly, this is also a point of doctrine that is shared with the Josephites; in RLDS D&C 157:4, a Patriarch is specifically called to assist in the work of building the Temple and developing its ministries.

Roles of the Matriarch

In the mid-90s, RLDS Presiding Evangelist Everett S. Graffeo distilled the duties of Evangelists down into 4 points, and in the early 00s Danny A. Belrose added a 5th. I think these 5 roles are a perfect explanation of what I feel my role as a Matriarch should be, and I’d like to explore them with you today. That said, I feel like the titles of the 5 roles could be modified to come closer in line with scriptural terminology, and so I will do so. These five roles are:

1. Teaching Learner
2. Living Sanctuary
3. Soul Friend
4. Revivalist
5. Pastoral Presence

Teaching Learner

Matriarchs are meant to be wise elders who have lived deeply enough to taste the richness and meaning of life, with its many joys and pains. They are attuned to savor the presence of the Holy in places it is often overlooked or disregarded.

They are also well educated in not only the Mormon tradition, but also about other traditions and in secular matters. Life-long learning and sharing that knowledge is treated as a sacred practice.

These educations equip them to:

• give guidance and counsel to those who are in want of it
• lend wisdom to those whose zeal exceeds their judgment.
• Direct seekers to resources that will enrich their understanding.
• Give life advice based off of personal experience

The Matriarch does not argue or debate, but instead invites, hints, and encourages others. 

Living Sanctuary

As living sanctuaries, Matriarchs embody the baptismal covenant:

“bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light: … mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort… even until death” (Mosiah 9:9 (RefMo) | 9:39-40 (RLDS) | 18:8-9 (LDS))

Matriarchs actively resist oppression in all its forms – sexism, racism, classism, ableism, ageism, genderism, and religious intolerance. They use their voice to condemn unjust systems and offer solace to the wounded.

At the same time, they provide safety, refuge, and nonjudgmental presence – becoming a harbor in life’s stormy seas. As they provide this solace, they listen to others’ life stories, and consider it an honor and a privilege to hear these. The Matriarch also understands that when another person is sharing their story, the focus should not be on the matriarch but on the person telling their story.

Soul Friend

Early Celtic Christianity had a community role called “anam ċara” or “soul friend”, who were companions with whom you could share vulnerabilities, loneliness, weaknesses, fears, and hopes, and they would respond with love and affirmation in such a way that makes you feel safe, blessed, and understood. The Matriarch is called to be such a friend to those in her communities.

Being a soul friend requires:

• listening deeply, and resisting the impulse to fix or advise prematurely
• discerning needs, and when uncertain, asking what is most needed
• protecting confidentiality, since broken trust discourages future sharing.

A particularly sacred part of this role is offering Matriarchal blessings. These blessings come during times of transition and are preceded by weeks or months of friendship-building and dialogue, and are meant to give the blessed guidance and solace. The Matriarch prays, ponders, and writes out what she would like to say during the blessing, which ideally is done by laying hands on the blessee’s head. She records the audio of the blessing, and provides a transcript of the blessing to the blessed, keeps one in her own records, and provides another to a historical archive (with a 15 year seal). Many who receive such blessings cherish them as personal scripture.

As a note, when I give Matriarchal blessings, I have decided not to “declare a lineage”. At best, being designated as a tribe was like being sorted into a house in Harry Potter and only provided a weak sense of belonging. At worst this practice essentially re-maps Jewish identity onto a Mormon framework where “Israel” is not the Jewish people but a symbolic covenant group where Mormons see themselves as central. In light of these problems, I opt to not declare lineage in the blessings I give, which is the now-standard practice in Community of Christ.

Revivalist

Matriarchs are called to be revivalists. Danny Belrose explored how the word “revivalist” can make folks a bit uncomfortable, as it invokes images of tent revivals and fire and brimstone. However, within Mormonism revivalist ministry involves cultivating an adventurous spirit and exercising a prophetic imagination. Matriarchs see beyond the present moment and seek to inspire communities toward a hopeful future.

As revivalists, Matriarchs breathe new life into old traditions, helping people rediscover their vitality. This can take many forms:

• Rekindling enthusiasm for sacred stories and practices.
• Reinterpreting old rituals or creating new rituals that speak powerfully in contemporary contexts.
• Inspiring fresh excitement about Temple work, whether in building Tabernacles, crafting new liturgies, or preparing people for their Endowment.

At its core, revivalist ministry is not about spectacle but about sustained transformation. The Matriarch inspires communities to reawaken their dreams and gives them courage to live into those dreams with hope and energy.

Pastoral Presence

The ministry of the Matriarch is grounded in pastoral presence, the simple practice of consistently showing up in the life of the community. During her deliberate efforts to be present, she discerns the community’s needs and gently guides them toward growth, while also giving special attention to newcomers so they feel welcomed and integrated. Though not dramatic, through repeated acts of being there, listening, and participating, the Matriarch embodies Christlike care, offering stability, comfort, and the assurance that the community is never alone.

Closing

In embracing my call of Matriarch, I see myself as accepting a communal role that has always been with the Restoration. This calling is not only about wisdom or blessing but about nurturing – about standing beside the weary, cradling the wounded, and defending those who live at the margins of society and faith. To be a Matriarch is to create sanctuaries where all may feel safe, to walk as a soul friend with the vulnerable, and to raise a prophetic voice against oppression in every form.

This ministry dares to believe that communities can be healed, that hope can be revived, and that God’s love is most powerfully revealed in the care we extend to one another. In this way, the Matriarch both honors the wisdom of the past and inspires a future where compassion, justice, and blessing are woven deeply into the life of the Restoration.