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Blessing to Lorenzo Barnes, 3 January 1836

Source Note

JS, , and , Blessing, to , , Geauga Co., OH, 3 Jan. 1836. Featured version copied 24 Apr. 1836 in Lorenzo Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, [ca. 1 June 1835]–3 Feb. 1839, 6 May 1841, pp. 47–52; handwriting of ; 188 pages; CHL.
Pocket-size, handmade blank book, 5⅝ × 3½ × ¾ inches (14 × 9 × 2 cm). The text block consists of ninety-four leaves measuring 5⅜ × 3⅜ inches (14 × 9 cm). The book has a tight-back rounded spine with a black, full-leather (likely calfskin) cover. Some pages appear hand cut with uneven edges.
The journal was inscribed in the book on pages 1–120; the pagination was inscribed in graphite at a later time. The next twenty-eight leaves (fifty-six pages) are blank. The remaining four leaves include four nonconsecutive blank pages, a list of subscribers to the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, miscellaneous notations, and a 6 May 1841 journal entry.
The pastedown on the inside of the book’s front cover contains inscriptions in the handwriting of : “Lorenzo Barnes | Medina. Co | Ohio” and “His journal who was The | The Son of Phineas Barnes | whos father name was Phineas | also | and whos mothers name was | Abigal daughter of Ebenezer | Smith”. The book suffered some moisture damage and staining on the front and back pastedowns.
This journal was in the possession of the Historian’s Office by July 1858, and probably sooner. The document may be one of the many journals categorized in earlier 1850s inventories as belonging to “private individuals.”

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Contents of the Historian and Recorder’s Office, July 1858, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL. The spine has labeling by Historian’s Office clerk Leo Hawkins, dating from the 1850s.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  2. [2]

    “Inventory. Historian’s Office. G. S. L. City April 1. 1857,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Inventory G. S. L. March 19. 1858,” [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

Historical Introduction

On 3 January 1836, received a blessing from JS, , and . When he copied the text of the blessing into his journal, Barnes described it as a “ Blessing”—a blessing given to some of the men who had participated in the expedition in 1834.
Like many converts, spent many of his early days in the proselytizing in neighboring states. in on 16 June 1833, twenty-one-year-old Barnes left his parents’ home in , Ohio, on a mission to western less than six weeks later. After returning to Ohio in early October, he spent three or four weeks working on construction of the in , Ohio; during the winter, Barnes taught school and performed some manual labor. In May 1834, he marched to , Missouri, as a member of the Camp of Israel expedition. In a 22 June revelation that effectively disbanded the expedition, participants were promised that the Lord had “prepared a blessing and an ” for those who remained faithful.
Instead of returning immediately to in 1834 as many did, remained in , Missouri, until October before once again setting out on a “mission to the East.” Over the next six and a half months, Barnes and various companions trekked across , , , and Ohio, preaching and baptizing. By the time Barnes returned to his home in on 30 April, he had been away for nearly a year. During that period, he estimated that he had traveled about 2,000 miles, held 105 meetings, and “in company with brother baptized 14 persons.”
As preached near in February 1835, the and Quorum of the were being called and in . On 14 February, “a meeting was called of those who journeyed to Zion for the purpose of laying the foundation of its redemption.” Explaining that God had not forgotten the sacrifice of those who had participated in the expedition, JS reportedly told those in attendance that “it was the Will of God, that they should be ordained to the ministry.” As a result, many of the men who participated in the Camp of Israel expedition were given blessings in this meeting and in others held in subsequent weeks. Some of these blessings were given in conjunction with ordination as an or seventy and were referred to as “ordination blessings.” Many members of the Camp of Israel who were not ordained to leadership positions during spring 1835 also received blessings during the subsequent year, and these were often referred to as “Zion blessings.”
returned to just in time to attend an important “grand council” on 2 May 1835, during which he was ordained to the Seventy. After a short stay in Kirtland, he departed on another lengthy mission that took him through , western , and . He enrolled in several educational institutions after returning to Kirtland in mid-November 1835, and it was during this time that he received his Zion blessing on 3 January 1836. He copied the blessing into his journal on 24 April 1836.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Historical Introduction to Minutes, 8 Aug. 1835; and Park, “Thou Wast Willing to Lay Down Thy Life for Thy Brethren,” 27–37.

    Park, Benjamin E. “‘ Thou Wast Willing to Lay Down Thy Life for Thy Brethren’: Zion’s Blessings in the Early Church.” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 29 (2009): 27–37.

  2. [2]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, p. 1.

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  3. [3]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, p. 2.

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  4. [4]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, p. 2.

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  5. [5]

    Revelation, 22 June 1834 [D&C 105:12].

  6. [6]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, pp. 2–3. Barnes received a license to preach from the Missouri high council on 7 August. (Minute Book 2, 6–7 Aug. 1834.)

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  7. [7]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, pp. 2–10. Barnes began his journey with Lewis Robbins; in Sugar Creek, Illinois, he and Robbins parted ways, and Barnes continued on with Orson Pratt.

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  8. [8]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, p. 10.

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  9. [9]

    Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835.

  10. [10]

    Warren A. Cowdery copied many of the blessings associated with an ordination to the Quorum of the Twelve or Quorum of the Seventy into Minute Book 1. (Minute Book 1, pp. 147–158, 165–186.)

  11. [11]

    Many of these blessings were recorded in the Patriarchal Blessing Book; other blessings, including Barnes’s, were recorded in private journals. (Patriarchal Blessings, vol. 1; Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, pp. 43, 47.)

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

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  12. [12]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 1, p. 10; Minutes and Discourse, 2 May 1835. It is not clear whether Barnes was selected by JS and the church presidency before he returned home from his second mission or whether he was chosen that day.

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  13. [13]

    Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, pp. 1–40.

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  14. [14]

    Barnes began studying grammar under Sidney Rigdon on 9 December and continued under Vinson Knight; in February 1836 he studied Hebrew under the tutelage of Joshua Seixas. (Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, pp. 41–43.)

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

  15. [15]

    The blessing was copied into Barnes’s journal following a copy of his patriarchal blessing, which had been given by Joseph Smith Sr. eight months earlier. Barnes copied the Zion blessing while preaching near Canfield, Ohio. (Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, pp. 43–52, 57–58.)

    Barnes, Lorenzo D. Reminiscences and Diaries, 1834–1839. 2 vols. CHL. MS 1436.

Page [50]

under thy feet Prison walls shall not hold thee watters shall not stay thee The sea & the wind shall obey thy command Thou shalt Thou shalt hav power to open the eyes of the blind & unstop the ears of the deaf Thou shalt cause the lame to leap as an heart [hart] & the tongue of the dumb to sing yea thou shalt bring thy thousands & thy & thy tens of thousands from the Nations to with rejoicing & sit down with them in <​&​> with Abraham Isaac & Jacob in the Kingdom of God
Therefore be faithful & thy God shall lift the[e] up & thou shalt be exalted & he shall say of <​thee​> This is my servant <​in my sight​> he is highley exalted in my sight Therefore we say unto thee our brother [p. [50]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Blessing to Lorenzo Barnes, 3 January 1836
ID #
6064
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:131–135
Handwriting on This Page
  • Lorenzo Barnes

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