Statement and Blessing, circa February 1840

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Statement and Blessing, circa February 1840
Source Note

JS, Statement and Blessing, to [the Wilkinson family,
Philadelphia
Port city founded as Quaker settlement by William Penn, 1681. Site of signing of Declaration of Independence and drafting of U.S. Constitution. Nation’s capital city, 1790–1800. Population in 1830 about 170,000; in 1840 about 260,000; and in 1850 about 410...
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, Philadelphia Co., PA, ca. February 1840]; handwriting of JS; one page; private possession.

The document evidently was part of an autograph album belonging to
Susan Conrad Wilkinson
5 Dec. 1818–6 Apr. 1888. Milliner. Born in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of John Conrad and Elizabeth Grove. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Feb./Mar. 1840. Signed petition requesting organization of church in northern Philadelphia...
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, a church member from Philadelphia.
1
In 2020, Joseph Smith Papers staff carefully examined and compared this JS document with a Wilkinson autograph album and a Sidney Rigdon poem allegedly coming from the album, which are both at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. While the album contained no physical evidence of leaf removal, distinct matching characteristics of the milled paper confirmed the JS document and Rigdon poem were at one time either part of the album or another Wilkinson autograph album produced by the same manufacturer. (See Susan C. Wilkinson Autograph Album, CHL; and Sidney Rigdon, Poem, 2 Mar. 1840, CHL.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Susan C. Wilkinson Autograph Album, ca. 1837–1844; 1860–1861. CHL. MS 3466.
Rigdon, Sidney. Poem, 2 Mar. 1840. CHL. MS 30944.
In 1973, the document was in the possession of a book dealer. In 1985, it was sold to Mark Hofmann, who then sold it to a collector in Utah.
2
Fieldsted, Show and Tell, 174–175; Leslie Kress, Newton, MA, to Mark W. Hofmann, Salt Lake City, UT, 16 Apr. 1985, photocopy, Mark W. Hofmann, Papers, CHL.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Fieldsted, Traci McFarland. Show and Tell: A Unique Journey through History from the Life of Brent Ashworth. Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2017.
Hofmann, Mark W. Papers, 1980–1988. Photocopy. CHL. MS 21516.

As was later discovered, Hofmann forged many early church history and Americana manuscripts and altered authentic documents to increase their market value; he also dealt in authentic manuscripts with custodial histories predating his possession. Although custodial history for this manuscript predates Hofmann’s involvement, no known photographic reproductions of the document exist prior to Hofmann’s ownership, and there is no indication the document underwent forensic testing to determine potential tampering or alteration by him. Thus, the document remains suspect and cannot be conclusively authenticated.
Footnotes
[1]
In 2020, Joseph Smith Papers staff carefully examined and compared this JS document with a Wilkinson autograph album and a Sidney Rigdon poem allegedly coming from the album, which are both at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. While the album contained no physical evidence of leaf removal, distinct matching characteristics of the milled paper confirmed the JS document and Rigdon poem were at one time either part of the album or another Wilkinson autograph album produced by the same manufacturer. (See Susan C. Wilkinson Autograph Album, CHL; and Sidney Rigdon, Poem, 2 Mar. 1840, CHL.)
Susan C. Wilkinson Autograph Album, ca. 1837–1844; 1860–1861. CHL. MS 3466.
Rigdon, Sidney. Poem, 2 Mar. 1840. CHL. MS 30944.
[2]
Fieldsted, Show and Tell, 174–175; Leslie Kress, Newton, MA, to Mark W. Hofmann, Salt Lake City, UT, 16 Apr. 1985, photocopy, Mark W. Hofmann, Papers, CHL.
Fieldsted, Traci McFarland. Show and Tell: A Unique Journey through History from the Life of Brent Ashworth. Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2017.
Hofmann, Mark W. Papers, 1980–1988. Photocopy. CHL. MS 21516.
Page [1]
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Virtue is one of the most prominant principles that enables us to have confidenc[e]
1
TEXT: “confidenc[page torn]”.
in approching our Father who is in heaven in order to ask wisdom at his hand therefore if thou wilt cherish this principle in thine heart thou mayest ask with all confidence before him an[d]
2
TEXT: “an[page torn]”.
it shall be poured out upon their head and thou shalt not lack any thing that <thy> soul desires in truth and again the <Lord> shall bless this house and none of them shall fall because they turned not away the servents of the Lord from their doors, even so Amen

Joseph Smith Jr. [p. [1]]
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Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Statement and Blessing, circa February 1840
ID #
519
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
Joseph Smith Jr.
Footnotes
[1]
TEXT: “confidenc[page torn]”.
[2]
TEXT: “an[page torn]”.