Patriarchal Blessings vs. the Doctrine and Covenants

Patriarchal blessings share a lot in common with some genres of revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C), but are completely different from some others. Some of the genres in the D&C are apocalyptic literature, personal revelations, doctrinal revelations and recordings of visions. Of these, patriarchal blessings are clearly closest in form and content to the personal revelations. While no section of the D&C mentions lineage of a then living person, they deliver timely advice on current events, and offer warnings and promises, all based on obedience, of course. Even within these personal revelations, however, there are some differences. The most obvious, which I already mentioned, is the lack of declaration of lineage. The revelations in the D&C leave out this defining characteristic of a patriarchal blessing. Also, patriarchal blessings are completely personal, while D&C revelations (even personal ones) are for the whole church, as is evidenced by the fact that several say things like "What is unto one, is unto all," explaining the revelation, though pointed at one person, is in fact applicable in principle to all.