Patriarch - Mormonism

Mormonism

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a patriarch is one who has been ordained to the office of Patriarch in the Melchizedek Priesthood. The term is considered synonymous with the term evangelist. One of the patriarch's primary responsibilities is to give patriarchal blessings, as Jacob did to his twelve sons according to the Old Testament. Patriarchs are typically assigned in each stake (district; the name derives from Isaiah 54:2 "nlarge the place of thy tent, ... and strengthen thy stakes") and possess the title for life.