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Appendix 5, Document 3. Blessing to Samuel Smith, 28 September 1835

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Appendix 5, Document 3. Blessing to Samuel Smith, 28 September 1835

Source Note

JS, Blessing, to , [, Geauga Co., OH], 28 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied 28 Sept. 1835 in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, p. 10; 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.

Historical Introduction

On 18 December 1833, JS dictated a blessing for his brother , which recorded in JS’s journal. On 28 September 1835, entered the blessing, with significant expansions, into the patriarchal blessing book. Seventy-seven percent of the text of the blessing in that book is not present in the earlier version in JS’s journal. Most of the expansions deal with great promises to Smith of riches, spiritual influence, and effectiveness in preaching to different nations.
See also Appendix 5: Blessings, September and October 1835, Introduction.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Journal, 1832–1834
Appendix 5, Document 3. Blessing to Samuel Smith, 28 September 1835

Page 10

Blessed of the Lord is brother , because the Lord shall say unto him, Samuel, Samuel: therefore, he shall be made a teacher in the house of the Lord, among the ; and the Lord shall mature his mind and correct his judgment, and he shall have a sound mind, and shall be correct in his understanding; and he shall be like unto Abraham, of old, because of his faithfulness and the integrity of his soul, and thereby he shall obtain the esteem and fellowship of his brethren; and his soul shall be established and he shall benefit the house of the Lord, and also be an instrument in the hands of his God, in Spreading abroad upon the mountains, and among all nations, the fulness of of the everlasting gospel, because he shall obtain answer to prayer, in his faithfulness. His name shall be choice, and he shall be held in everlasting honor, and shall prove a blessing unto his posterity after him, from generation to generation, forever. He shall have an abundance of wealth <​the​> good things of the earth, for he shall possess great wealth, while he lives, and in the liberality of his soul he shall benefit the poor. He shall be likened unto the sun, that sheddeth forth his rays upon the mountains, and causeth vegetation to bloom forth in all its splendor, and the earth to bring forth in her glorious apparel, yielding her strength for the sustinance of man, by his warming influence;— so shall the voice of be to the hearts of those that shall seek counsel at his hand in his old age. And his testimony shall shine forth to the ends of the earth, and shall never be blotted out nor brought down from among men. And when the Lord of glory shall descend [he] shall be able to endure the brightness of his glory and dwell in the presence of God. Amen.
, Clerk and Recorder.
Given, December 18th, 1833, and recorded September 28th, 1835. [p. 10]
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Source Note

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Page 10

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Appendix 5, Document 3. Blessing to Samuel Smith, 28 September 1835
ID #
2275
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:491–493
Handwriting on This Page
  • Oliver Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See 1 Samuel 3:10. When Joseph Smith Sr. gave Samuel Smith a blessing in December 1834, he used similar language: “Thou art blessed of the Lord, for thou shalt hear his voice, saying, Samuel, Samuel.” (Blessing to Samuel Smith, 9 Dec. 1834, in Patriarchal Blessings, 1:5.)

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

  2. [2]

    A new session of the School of the Elders, which was sometimes called the School of the Prophets, was to begin in Kirtland, Ohio, in November 1835. It is not known whether Samuel Smith taught in that school. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833; “The Elders Abroad,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1835, 1:191.)

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  3. [3]

    The version in JS’s journal has “the Lord shall mature his mind in Judgment” instead of “the Lord shall mature his mind and correct his judgment.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)

  4. [4]

    The “Articles and Covenants” of the church state that the Book of Mormon contains “the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and also to the Jews.” At some point, the meaning of the term “fulness of the gospel” may have expanded to include JS’s revelations and visions. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:9]; Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:14]; see also Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:12].)

  5. [5]

    None of the material from this point to the end of the blessing is present in the version in JS’s journal. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)

  6. [6]

    See Old Testament Revision 1, p. 14 [Moses 6:57]; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 63, 531 [2 Nephi 2:8; Mormon 7:7]; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:62].