Blessing to John Corrill, 22 September 1835

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Blessing to John Corrill, 22 September 1835
Source Note

JS, Blessing, to
John Corrill
17 Sept. 1794–26 Sept. 1842. Surveyor, politician, author. Born at Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Married Margaret Lyndiff, ca. 1830. Lived at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10 Jan. 1831,...
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, [
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, p. 14; 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,
John Corrill
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and a small group of other
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 received blessings from JS.
1
For more information on the context of these blessings, see Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835.
Corrill was a counselor to
Edward Partridge
27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...
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, the
bishop
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
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in Missouri.
2
Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
On 23 June 1834, a council of
high priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
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directed Corrill to “receive his
endowment
Bestowal of spiritual blessings, power, or knowledge. Beginning in 1831, multiple revelations promised an endowment of “power from on high” in association with the command to gather. Some believed this promise was fulfilled when individuals were first ordained...
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with power from on high 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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and assist in gathering up the strength of the Lords house and preach the Gospel.”
3
Minutes, 23 June 1834.
He arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, in spring 1835 for this purpose. In April 1835, Corrill received a patriarchal blessing from
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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, which promised God’s protection to Corrill even amid persecution.
4
Blessing to John Corrill, 8 Apr. 1835, in Patriarchal Blessings, 1:22–23.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
JS’s blessing for Corrill pronounced similar assurances and promised that Corrill, who was apparently trained as an architect, would help construct the
temple
JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, directed temple to be built short distance west of courthouse on hill just outside of Independence, Missouri. JS directed dedication of temple site by Sidney Rigdon, 3 Aug. 1831. On same date, church claimed site for eventual...
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that the Saints had been directed to build in Missouri.
5
See Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57]; and Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84].

Oliver Cowdery
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recorded the initial dictation of this blessing on 22 September 1835 and copied it into Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 on 3 October 1835.
Footnotes
[1]
For more information on the context of these blessings, see Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 Sept. 1835.
[2]
Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.
[3]
Minutes, 23 June 1834.
[4]
Blessing to John Corrill, 8 Apr. 1835, in Patriarchal Blessings, 1:22–23.
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
[5]
See Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57]; and Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84].
Page 14
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Blessed of the Lord is
brother Corrill, John Corrill
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for the hand of the Lord shall be over him, and there are none that surpass him in understanding pertaining to architecture:
1
Nothing is known about Corrill’s formal education or training as an architect. Truman Angell later described him as the “leading mechanic” for the Kirtland House of the Lord, and the inventory of Corrill’s personal property at the time of his death listed tools, instruments, and books relevant to architecture. (Angell, Autobiography, 15; Adams Co., IL, Estate Records, ca. 1832–1938, box 287, “A Bill of the Widows Dowery of John Corrill dec’d,” 10 Mar. 1843, microfilm 933,951, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)
Angell, Truman O. Autobiography, 1884. CHL. MS 12334. Also available in Archie Leon Brown and Charlene L. Hathaway, 141 Years of Mormon Heritage: Rawsons, Browns, Angells—Pioneers (Oakland, CA: By the authors, 1973), 119–135.
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
unto this end hath the Lord raised him up, and he shall yet stand upon 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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and be greatly multiplied in the midst of her:
2
After the dedication of the House of the Lord, Corrill returned to Missouri around April or May 1836. There, he helped found Far West and facilitated the growth of the church in Missouri. He was later called as a church historian. In this role, he provided an account of the building up of Zion in Missouri and his involvement therein. (Partridge, Diary, 9 Apr. and 6 May 1836; Whitmer, History, 84; see also Corrill, Brief History, 26–44.)
Partridge, Edward. Diaries, 1818 and 1835–1836. Edward Partridge, Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892, box 1, fds. 1–2.
for he shall build the
house of the Lord
JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, directed temple to be built short distance west of courthouse on hill just outside of Independence, Missouri. JS directed dedication of temple site by Sidney Rigdon, 3 Aug. 1831. On same date, church claimed site for eventual...
More Info
in
Zion
JS revelation, dated 20 July 1831, designated Missouri as “land of Zion” for gathering of Saints and place where “City of Zion” was to be built, with Independence area as “center place” of Zion. Latter-day Saint settlements elsewhere, such as in Kirtland,...
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,
3
In August 1831, Sidney Rigdon dedicated a site for a temple in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. A September 1832 revelation prophesied that the temple in Zion would be reared in that generation if the Saints did not “pollute” the Lord's holy land. However, the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson County in November 1833 prevented the construction of the temple. (Whitmer, History, 32; Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:3]; Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:59].)
and shall do a work that none other man understandeth to do, in building the houses of the Lord.
4
On 15 January 1836, Corrill was appointed “to take charge of the finishing of the Lord’s house” in Kirtland and to ensure that rules of conduct were enforced therein. (Corrill, Brief History, 22; Minute Book 1, 15 Jan. 1836.)
It shall be a gift unto him: he shall be enlightened by visions and dreams, and his soul shall be satisfied with the abundance with which the Lord his God shall bless him: and his seed after him shall be blessed from generation to generation. And his name shall be had in remembrance and be known among all nations; and it shall be said of him among governors, rulers and kings: This man reared the temple of God in Zion. And he shall be reverenced because of his great sagacity. His life shall be prolonged until he is very old. He shall be accounted among the wise counsellors of Israel, and he shall hear the voice of the Lord his God, and receive counsel by the ministering of angels; and shall be very terrible unto his enemies, and his soul shall be satisfied in seeing the wrath of God poured out upon them to the uttermost. He shall have communion with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and with the spirits of just men made perfect,
5
See Hebrews 12:23.
and shall be caught up, whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth, he shall be caught up to the third heaven and behold unuterable things.
6
See 2 Corinthians 12:2–4.
And thus shall the hand of God be upon him all the days of his life, unto his joy and the satisfaction of his soul: and he shall have a crown of eternal life. And these are the blessings that I want should come upon my brother
Corrill
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. Amen.

Oliver Cowdery
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, [C]lerk and Recorder.
Given September 22, 1835, and recorded October 3, 1835. [p. 14]
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Footnotes
[1]
Nothing is known about Corrill’s formal education or training as an architect. Truman Angell later described him as the “leading mechanic” for the Kirtland House of the Lord, and the inventory of Corrill’s personal property at the time of his death listed tools, instruments, and books relevant to architecture. (Angell, Autobiography, 15; Adams Co., IL, Estate Records, ca. 1832–1938, box 287, “A Bill of the Widows Dowery of John Corrill dec’d,” 10 Mar. 1843, microfilm 933,951, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)
Angell, Truman O. Autobiography, 1884. CHL. MS 12334. Also available in Archie Leon Brown and Charlene L. Hathaway, 141 Years of Mormon Heritage: Rawsons, Browns, Angells—Pioneers (Oakland, CA: By the authors, 1973), 119–135.
U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.
[2]
After the dedication of the House of the Lord, Corrill returned to Missouri around April or May 1836. There, he helped found Far West and facilitated the growth of the church in Missouri. He was later called as a church historian. In this role, he provided an account of the building up of Zion in Missouri and his involvement therein. (Partridge, Diary, 9 Apr. and 6 May 1836; Whitmer, History, 84; see also Corrill, Brief History, 26–44.)
Partridge, Edward. Diaries, 1818 and 1835–1836. Edward Partridge, Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892, box 1, fds. 1–2.
[3]
In August 1831, Sidney Rigdon dedicated a site for a temple in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. A September 1832 revelation prophesied that the temple in Zion would be reared in that generation if the Saints did not “pollute” the Lord's holy land. However, the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson County in November 1833 prevented the construction of the temple. (Whitmer, History, 32; Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:3]; Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:59].)
[4]
On 15 January 1836, Corrill was appointed “to take charge of the finishing of the Lord’s house” in Kirtland and to ensure that rules of conduct were enforced therein. (Corrill, Brief History, 22; Minute Book 1, 15 Jan. 1836.)
[5]
See Hebrews 12:23.
[6]
See 2 Corinthians 12:2–4.