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Appendix 5, Document 2. Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835

Source Note

JS, Blessing, to
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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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...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [between ca. 15 and 28 Sept. 1835] in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, p. 10; 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

Sometime between 15 and 28 September 1835,
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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recorded a blessing that JS had originally dictated for his brother
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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in December 1833.
Frederick G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

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entered the original blessing into JS’s journal under the date 18 December 1833.
1

JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.


The blessing was considerably expanded in the version Cowdery recorded in 1835 in the patriarchal blessing book;
2

In the book, the blessing comes after a blessing given for Don Carlos and Agnes Coolbrith Smith on 15 September 1835 and before blessings for Samuel and William Smith that were recorded on 28 September 1835. (Patriarchal Blessings, 1:7–11.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

nearly seventy percent of the text in this version is not present in JS’s journal. Using biblical language, the blessing promises Hyrum Smith spiritual and material prosperity, including gold, platinum, chariots, horses, camels, and mules. In addition, the blessing declares that Smith would hold the patriarchal priesthood, just as his
father

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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did.
See also Appendix 5: Blessings, September and October 1835, Introduction.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.

  2. [2]

    In the book, the blessing comes after a blessing given for Don Carlos and Agnes Coolbrith Smith on 15 September 1835 and before blessings for Samuel and William Smith that were recorded on 28 September 1835. (Patriarchal Blessings, 1:7–11.)

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

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Journal, 1832–1834
Appendix 5, Document 2. Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835
Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835, Oliver Cowdery Copy

Page 10

Blessed of the Lord is my brother
Hyrum [Smith]

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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for the integrity of his heart: he shall be girt about with <​truth​>
1

See Ephesians 6:14; and Revelation, ca. Aug. 1835 [D&C 27:16].


strength, and faithfulness shall be the strength of his loins.
2

See Job 40:16.


From generation to generation he shall be a shaft in the hand of his God to execute judgment upon his enemies: and he shall be hid by the hand of the Lord that none of his secret parts shall be discovered
3

See Isaiah 3:17; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 88–89 [2 Nephi 13:17].


unto his enemies, unto his hurt. His name shall be called
4

The version in JS’s journal has “accounted” instead of “called.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)


a blessing among men. His acquaintance shall be among kings, and he shall be sought for that he may sit in council, by nations and kings that are afar off; and thousands of souls, shall be he be an instrument in the hand of his God in bringing unto salvation. And when he is in trouble, and great tribulation has come upon him, he shall remember the God of Jacob, and he shall
5

The version in JS’s journal has “will” instead of “shall.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)


shield him from the power of satan. He shall receive counsel in the house of the Most high that he may be strengthened in hope. He shall be as a cooling spring that breaketh forth at the foot of the mountain, overshadowed with choice trees bowed down with rip[e] fruit, that yieldeth both nourishment to the appetite and quencheth the thirst, thereby yielding refreshment to the weary traveller: and the goings of his feet shall ever be by streams of living water. He shall not fail nor want for knowledge, for the Lord his God shall put forth his hand and lift him up and shall call upon him with his voice in the way wherein he is travelling, that he may be established forever. He shal[l] stand in the tracts of his
father

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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and be numbered among those who hold the right of
patriarchal priesthood

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office with the authority to give inspired blessings, similar to the practice of Old Testament patriarchs. JS occasionally referred to patriarchs as “evangelical ministers” or “evangelists.” Joseph Smith Sr. was ordained as...

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, even the evangelical priesthood
6

See Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:39–40].


and power shall be upon him, that in his old age, his name may be magnified on the earth. Behold he shall be blessed with an abundance of riches of the earth: gold, silver, and treasures of precious stones, of diamonds and platina [platinum]. His chariots shall be numerous, and his cattle shall multiply abundantly: horses, mules, asses, camels, dromedaries, and swift beasts, that he may magnify the name of the Lord
7

See 2 Samuel 7:26; 1 Chronicles 17:24; and Acts 19:17.


and benefit the poor. Yea, this shall be the desire of his soul, to comfort the needy and bind up the broken in heart.
8

See Isaiah 61:1.


His children shall be many and his posterity numerous, and they shall rise up and call him blessed. And he shall have eternal life. Amen.
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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, Clerk and Recorder.
Given 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...

More Info
, December 18, 1833, and recorded September, 1835. [p. 10]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 10

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Appendix 5, Document 2. Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835
ID #
2274
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:490–491
Handwriting on This Page
  • Oliver Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Ephesians 6:14; and Revelation, ca. Aug. 1835 [D&C 27:16].

  2. [2]

    See Job 40:16.

  3. [3]

    See Isaiah 3:17; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 88–89 [2 Nephi 13:17].

  4. [4]

    The version in JS’s journal has “accounted” instead of “called.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)

  5. [5]

    The version in JS’s journal has “will” instead of “shall.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)

  6. [6]

    See Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:39–40].

  7. [7]

    See 2 Samuel 7:26; 1 Chronicles 17:24; and Acts 19:17.

  8. [8]

    See Isaiah 61:1.

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