Patriarch to the Church
Patriarchal Blessings are an important part of every young latter day saints life and a road map. They are given by stake patriarchs. Every Stake has at least one patriarch or if need's arise more than one. Once a patriarch is ordained he cannot be released however can be given nonfunctioning status if health prevents him from serving, He goes on a mission or moves out of the stake. In that case he can still give blessings to lineal descendants.
A patriarch can only give blessings to members of his stake with the following exceptions, His descendants, In past they could give blessings to siblings descendants though or in some cases family friends, A language barrier and patriarch in neighobing stake speaks it. Or a case were at present the stake don't have a patriarch as in one moving out or dying suddenly and another one not being called yet then you can go to a neighboring stake or you live in a district which has no patriarch. Other than that it must be your own stake patriarch.
Stake Patriarchs are men who are faithful in the church and patriarchs in there own home who may or may not have had much leadership experience in the church chosen on worthiness.
A former General Authority office was the Patriarch to the church. It was based on heredity starting with Joseph Smith's father Joseph Smith SR. It passed onto Hyrum Smith then by birthright William Smith though he never lived worthy of the office.
It then went to John Smith Father Smith's brother and to Hyrum Smith's son John Smith who served faithfully for many years. Following his death his Grandson Hyrum Gibbs SMith served as the patriarch. Upon his death for 10 years acting patriarchs were called to the church out of the heredetary line.
Then Joseph Fielding Smith not the same who was prophet became patriarch. HE was not in direct line. HE asked to be released because of poor health though.
Then the office came to eldred G Smith who served for 32 years. IT was a heredatary office. However there were many problems with the office. Must it go to Oldest worthy son or any member of smith family? Why a heredatary office. Eldred Smith rarely received conference assignments too. Would he have sealing powers too.
The patriarch to the church could give blessings to any member of the church wheran stake patriarchs could only give blessings to people noted above. He generally blessed people living away from a stake and toured the world doing it.
Now people without blessings of a stake patriarch can go to neighboring one. However Elder SMith generally blessed others. Since he is still an ordained patriarch can and does give blessings just doesn't travel the world. It is unlikely upon his death another patriarch will be appointed.
There were many problems with the office and some people in line were uncomfortable with the changes. However many felt for good of church and people in line office itself abolished and Stake Patriarchs take care of blessings.
