Blessing Tallulah

In the LDS church, when babies are born, they are given an official name to be placed on the records of the Church and a blessing for their life by a male priesthood holder, usually their father but sometimes grandfathers, uncles, close friends of the family. It is a beautiful tradition, and I found this article online when I was researching baby blessings [also, some funny stories where the dad named the daughter's future husband or told her she would marry a millionaire, etc]. Cait and I love how Margaret Blair Young describes it:

"As an infant, my parents' firstborn, I was taken in my father's arms and given a name and a blessing. There, I was at the center of a priesthood circle. Other men (probably my uncles, though of course I don't remember), joined Dad as he blessed me. They each put one hand under my little body and one hand on the shoulder of the person standing next to them. They literally and symbolically supported me, and joined their faith with my dad's. This circle—a prayer circle, if you will—is a common one in our community...

I suspect my father was tearful at the miracle of my tiny body, and at the responsibility I introduced."

On Sunday, July 15th, Tallulah had her baby blessing at Cait's parents' church. We were going to do in Sacrament Meeting, but Les (Cait's dad) had drill (military stuff) and needed to be there in the morning, so he came on his lunch break and we did it in the bishop's office post-church meetings. It was a little rushed and crowded and Atticus talked the whole time, but it was still a special occasion, and the Spirit was most definitely in attendance. It was a beautiful blessing, and we took some lovely pictures afterwards.

I get chills looking at the happiness on Lu's face, she knew it was her special day

Uncles Ethan and Devin, Bishop Bronson Titus and Poppy also stood in the circle 

Some people might think this is a little weird, but I really want to put the blessing up here for those who weren't able to attend (grandparents, aunts/uncles, close friends), or even for the simply curious of what is said at a Mormon baby blessing:

Heavenly Father. By the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and in the name of Jesus Christ, we give this baby a name. The name by which she will be known will be Tallulah Fern Carroll-Browning.

Tallulah, we wish to give you a blessing by this same power, the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood. We bless you that your spirit might be strong, that you might have an understanding of the wonderful power that it is to be a child of our Heavenly Father and Mother. We bless you with an understanding that along with mental, physical and emotional health, that tending to your spiritual health is an important and necessary step in becoming a whole and healthy child of our Heavenly Parents.

We bless you with the understanding that as a daughter of both Heavenly and Earthly parents, you always have someone to turn to that will love you and care for you. Tallulah, we bless you with strength to understand that, through the Spirit, you may make wise and informed choices that will lead you to a full and meaningful life and that you can trust that voice, the Spirit, to lead you on a path that will lead you to your heavenly home.

Tallulah, we bless you with a love for those around you, that through that love you might be a beacon of hope and understanding to those around you that might be experiencing difficulties and trials. Tallulah, we bless you with the love that you will need to reach out to your family and to your friends that they might benefit from the knowledge and the wisdom that you will gain throughout your life.

Tallulah, we bless you with an understanding of the love of your mother. Know that you can trust in her for an example of what is to be a true daughter of our Heavenly Mother and Father.

Tallulah, we leave these blessings with in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.