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Blessing from Oliver Cowdery, 22 September 1835

Source Note

Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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, Blessing, to JS, [
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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, Geauga Co., OH], 22 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied 3 Oct. 1835 in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, pp. 15–16; handwriting of
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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; CHL. For more complete source information on Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, see the source note for Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 Dec. 1834.

Historical Introduction

On 22 September 1835, an entry in JS’s journal states that he and
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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labored “in obtaining and writing blessings.”
1

JS, Journal, 22 Sept. 1835.


Five extant blessings in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 remain as evidence of their efforts that day. Four of them were dictated by JS for
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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church leaders who were then in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

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, Ohio.
2

See Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835; Blessing to John Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835; Blessing to John Corrill, 22 Sept. 1835; and Blessing to William W. Phelps, 22 Sept. 1835.


The fifth blessing was given by Cowdery to JS and provides an intimate portrait of Cowdery’s esteem for JS. An explanatory note written by Cowdery in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 states that after he had recorded the four blessings for the Missouri church leaders, he felt a personal desire to know the “mind of the Spirit” concerning JS. Cowdery “besought the Lord in prayer and fasting,” and, according to Cowdery, God “opened the heavens upon me” and provided the blessing for JS in the form of a “heavenly vision.”
3

Patriarchal Blessings, 1:15.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.

There is no indication of whether Cowdery verbalized the blessing or laid hands upon JS while pronouncing it. It is not even clear whether JS was present on the occasion or whether Cowdery merely recorded this blessing as he saw the “heavenly vision.”
The original inscription of the blessing has not been located;
Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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recorded the copy in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 on 3 October 1835, stating that the text represented only a portion of the vision. In tone, the blessing is similar to those given contemporaneously to others by JS and
Joseph Smith Sr.

12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...

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, including the use of biblical language to convey promises to JS. The blessing recounts JS’s accomplishments and the numerous blessings he stood to receive for his faithfulness and righteousness. This is the only blessing recorded in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 that was given by an individual other than JS or Joseph Smith Sr.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 22 Sept. 1835.

  2. [2]

    See Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835; Blessing to John Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835; Blessing to John Corrill, 22 Sept. 1835; and Blessing to William W. Phelps, 22 Sept. 1835.

  3. [3]

    Patriarchal Blessings, 1:15.

    Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.

Page 15

Blessed of the Lord is my brother, for the integrity of his heart
1

The phrase “integrity of his heart” also appears in JS’s blessings to David Whitmer and Hyrum Smith. (Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835; Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835.)


and the steadfastness of his soul. Upheld by the arm of the Almighty he shall never fall, but shall be strengthened by his right hand till he overcomes.
2

See Isaiah 41:10.


Like Jacob of old he shall wrestle with the angel, and as a prince shall he have power with God, and shall prevail.
3

See Genesis 32:24–28.


Ever faithful to <​his​> friends and true to his word, the goodness of the Most High shall sustain him, and thousands shall stand up to defend him from the hand of his enemies, and put forth the hand and ward off the blow were it needful: but ere his foes are aware he shall be hid under the pavillion of the Lord Jehovah;
4

See Psalm 27:5.


for, with the voice of his thunder shall he strike terror to their hearts, and as with the wings of an eagle shall my brother be carried beyond all harm, by the power of the Annointed. From amid the burning bush, like Moses of old, shall he hear the voice, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
5

See Exodus 3:2–15.


I have seen, I have seen, the affliction of my people and am come down to deliver them: go, thou, and say to the strength of my house, To your tents, O Israel:
6

See Joshua 22:4; 1 Kings 12:16; and 2 Chronicles 10:16.


build up the wastes
7

See Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:11, 16–17].


and raise up the foundation of desolation that this generation has made. Thus shall he be honored of the Lord, and thus shall it be recorded of him, that the generations to come may bless his name, in Israel, saying, The Lord make thee as Joseph the
Seer

The Book of Mormon identified a seer as a “revelator, and a prophet also,” specifying, however, that a seer was “greater than a prophet.” A seer could “know of things which has past, and also of things which is to come.” The work of a seer included translation...

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, who was of the house of Ephraim, the brother of Manasseh:
8

See Genesis 41:50–52; 48:1–5.


the Lord do thee good
9

See Genesis 32:12; and Deuteronomy 30:5.


and bring peace and blessings opun [upon] thy house as he brought them upon the house of Joseph the Seer, who was raised up of a choice vine from the stem of Jacob through the root of Joseph, even that Joseph who was separated from his brethren—
10

See Genesis 45:1–5.


For, like Joseph of old shall he be:
11

Joseph Smith Sr. made a similar pronouncement in his blessing to JS on 9 December 1834, proclaiming JS to be the seer prophesied by Joseph, son of Jacob. (Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 Dec. 1834.)


he shall save the just from desolation, by the wise counsel of the Almighty; for by his direction shall they gather into store-houses and barns, till they overflow with the richness of the fruit of harvest: and by this means shall the just be saved from famine, while the nations of the wicked are distressed and faint.
12

See Genesis chap. 41.


In due time shall he go forth toward the north, and by the power of his word shall the deep begin to give way and the ice melt before the sun. By the
keys

Authority or knowledge of God given to humankind. In the earliest records, the term keys primarily referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth...

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of the Kingdom shall he lead Israel into the land of
Zion

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

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13

See Revelation, 15 Mar. 1832 [D&C 81:2]; Revelation, 30 Oct. 1831 [D&C 65:2]; and Minutes, 18 Mar. 1833.)


while the house of Jacob shouts in the danse and in the song— Joy, O my soul, in that day, for thou shalt be with him and bear thy part in the keys which are confirmed <​upon​> thee for an everlasting
priesthood

Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...

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, forever and ever— Joy, O my heart, in that day, with thanks giving and with praise, for thou shalt stand with him before the hosts of Israel— the lame shall leap as a hart,
14

See Isaiah 35:6.


the old shall renew his strength, and the virgin of Israel, with the youth, shall exalt the name of our God upon harps and instruments of tens[e] strings. He shall be a shure arrow in the bow of his God, for he shall be hid under the shadow of his wing. His loins shall be like iron, girded by the hand of the Lord, and his feet shall be swift to execute the commandment of the Most High when he shall say, Destroy. His name shall be had in everlasting remembrance, and his name <​seed​> after him, for they shall be saved to the uttermost.
15

See Hebrews 7:25.


His fame shall be sounded in foreign lands, even to the ends [p. 15]
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Page 15

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Blessing from Oliver Cowdery, 22 September 1835
ID #
2808
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:436–441
Handwriting on This Page
  • Oliver Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The phrase “integrity of his heart” also appears in JS’s blessings to David Whitmer and Hyrum Smith. (Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835; Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835.)

  2. [2]

    See Isaiah 41:10.

  3. [3]

    See Genesis 32:24–28.

  4. [4]

    See Psalm 27:5.

  5. [5]

    See Exodus 3:2–15.

  6. [6]

    See Joshua 22:4; 1 Kings 12:16; and 2 Chronicles 10:16.

  7. [7]

    See Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103:11, 16–17].

  8. [8]

    See Genesis 41:50–52; 48:1–5.

  9. [9]

    See Genesis 32:12; and Deuteronomy 30:5.

  10. [10]

    See Genesis 45:1–5.

  11. [11]

    Joseph Smith Sr. made a similar pronouncement in his blessing to JS on 9 December 1834, proclaiming JS to be the seer prophesied by Joseph, son of Jacob. (Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 Dec. 1834.)

  12. [12]

    See Genesis chap. 41.

  13. [13]

    See Revelation, 15 Mar. 1832 [D&C 81:2]; Revelation, 30 Oct. 1831 [D&C 65:2]; and Minutes, 18 Mar. 1833.)

  14. [14]

    See Isaiah 35:6.

  15. [15]

    See Hebrews 7:25.

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