Appendix 5, Document 1. Blessing to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835
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Source Note
JS, Blessing, to and , [, Geauga Co., OH], between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835] in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, p. 9; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information on Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, see the source note for Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 Dec. 1834.
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Historical Introduction
On 18 December 1833, JS provided a blessing for his and , which recorded in the patriarchal blessing book sometime between 15 and 28 September 1835. Although Cowdery charged most individuals ten cents per one hundred words to have their blessings recorded in the book, he does not appear to have charged for recording this blessing. This later version of the blessing states that Joseph Smith Sr. held “the right of patriarchal priesthood.” Although the blessing does not explicitly declare where that right came from, it was likely tied to his as a to the church in December 1834. The blessing also declares that would “be a partaker” with Joseph Smith Sr. “in all his patriarchal blessings.” In addition, the blessing includes promises of strength and health to Joseph Smith Sr. and assurances of a large posterity using imagery found in the book of Genesis when the patriarch Jacob blessed his son Joseph. The text of the blessing also draws on some of the language in the Instruction on Priesthood, which was prepared by JS and Cowdery in spring 1835.
Footnotes
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1
The blessing comes after a blessing for Don Carlos and Agnes Coolbrith Smith, which was given on 15 September 1835, and before blessings for Hyrum, Samuel, and William Smith. The Hyrum Smith blessing has a notation stating it was recorded in September 1835; the Samuel and William Smith blessings were recorded on 28 September 1835. (Patriarchal Blessings, 1:7–11.)
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
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2
See Cowdery, “Account Book of Writing,” 1–4.
Cowdery, Oliver. “Account Book of Writing,” 1835–1836. CHL. MS 2314.
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3
Historical Introduction to Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 Dec. 1834; Historical Introduction to Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 Dec. 1834.
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4
See Genesis 49:22–26.
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1
Page 9
Blessed of the Lord is my , for he shall stand in the midst of his posterity and shall be comforted by their blessings when he is old and bowed down with years, and shall be called a prince over them, and shall be numbered among those who hold the right of patriarchal priesthood, even the of that ministry: for he shall assemble together his posterity like unto Adam; and the assembly which he called shall be an ensample for my , for this it is written of him:
Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch and Methuselah, who were , with the residue of his posterity, who were righteous, into the valley of , and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the Prince, the Arch angel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have set thee to be at the head: a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a Prince over them forever.
So shall it be with my : he shall be called a prince over his posterity, holding the keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the; and he shall sit in the general assembly of , even in council with the Ancient of Days when he shall sit and all the patriarchs with him— and shall enjoy his right and authority under the direction of the Ancient of Days.
And blessed, also, is my , for she is a mother in Israel, and shall be a partaker with my in all his patriarchal blessings.
And blessed, also, are my brothers and my sisters, for they shall yet find redemption in the house of the Lord, and their offsprings shall be a blessing, a joy and a comfort unto them.
Blessed is my , for her soul is ever filled with benevolence and philanthropy; and notwithstanding her age, she shall yet receive strength and be comforted in the midst of her house: and thus saith the Lord, She shall have eternal life.
And again, blessed is my , for the hand of the Lord shall be over him, and he shall be full of the Holy Ghost; for he shall predict whatsoever shall befall his posterity unto the latest generation, and shall see the affliction of his children pass away, and their enemies under their feet: and when his head is fully ripe he shall behold himself as an olive tree whose branches are bowed down with much fruit. Behold the blessings of Joseph by the hand of his progenitor, shall come upon the head of my and his seed after him, to the uttermost; even he shall be a fruitful bough: he shall be as a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches run over the wall, and his seed shall abide in strength, and the arms of their hands shall be made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, and the God of his fathers: Even the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, shall help him and his seed after him: even the Almighty shall bless him with blessings of heaven above and his seed after him, and the blessings of the deep that lieth under: and his seed shall rise up and call him blessed. He shall be as the vine of the choice grape when her clusters are fully ripe: and he shall also possess a mansion on high, even in the . His counsel shall be sought for by thousands, and he shall have place in the house of the Lord; for he shall be mighty in the council of the elders, and his days shall yet be lengthened out: and when he shall go hence he shall go in peace, and his rest shall be glorious: and his name shall be had in remembrance to the end. Amen.
{, Clerk and Recorder. [p. 9]
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