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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 Co., PA, ca. February 1840]; handwriting of JS; one page; private possession.
The document evidently was part of an autograph album belonging to , a church member from Philadelphia. 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.
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. [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. [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.

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Virtue is one of the most prominant principles that enables us to have confidenc[e] 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] 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. [1]

    TEXT: “confidenc[page torn]”.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “an[page torn]”.

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