Appendix 5, Document 1. Blessing to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835

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Appendix 5, Document 1. Blessing to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835
Source Note

JS, Blessing, to
Joseph Smith Sr.
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
Lucy Mack Smith
8 July 1775–14 May 1856. Oilcloth painter, nurse, fund-raiser, author. Born at Gilsum, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Daughter of Solomon Mack Sr. and Lydia Gates. Moved to Montague, Franklin Co., Massachusetts, 1779; to Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont, 1788...
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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...
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, 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. 9; 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
On 18 December 1833, JS provided a blessing for his
father
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and
mother
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, which
Oliver Cowdery
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recorded in the patriarchal blessing book sometime between 15 and 28 September 1835.
1
The blessing comes after a blessing for Don Carlos and Agnes Coolbrith Smith, which was given on 15 September 1835, and before blessings for Hyrum, Samuel, and William Smith. The Hyrum Smith blessing has a notation stating it was recorded in September 1835; the Samuel and William Smith blessings were recorded on 28 September 1835. (Patriarchal Blessings, 1:7–11.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
Although Cowdery charged most individuals ten cents per one hundred words to have their blessings recorded in the book,
2
See Cowdery, “Account Book of Writing,” 1–4.
Cowdery, Oliver. “Account Book of Writing,” 1835–1836. CHL. MS 2314.
he does not appear to have charged
Joseph Smith Sr.
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for recording this blessing. This later version of the blessing states that Joseph Smith Sr. held “the right of patriarchal priesthood.” Although the blessing does not explicitly declare where that right came from, it was likely tied to his
ordination
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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as a
patriarch
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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to the church in December 1834.
3
Historical Introduction to Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 Dec. 1834; Historical Introduction to Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 Dec. 1834.
The blessing also declares that
Lucy Mack Smith
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would “be a partaker” with Joseph Smith Sr. “in all his patriarchal blessings.” In addition, the blessing includes promises of strength and health to Joseph Smith Sr. and assurances of a large posterity using imagery found in the book of Genesis when the patriarch Jacob blessed his son Joseph.
4
See Genesis 49:22–26.
The text of the blessing also draws on some of the language in the Instruction on Priesthood, which was prepared by JS and Cowdery in spring 1835.

See also Appendix 5: Blessings, September and October 1835, Introduction.
Footnotes
[1]
The blessing comes after a blessing for Don Carlos and Agnes Coolbrith Smith, which was given on 15 September 1835, and before blessings for Hyrum, Samuel, and William Smith. The Hyrum Smith blessing has a notation stating it was recorded in September 1835; the Samuel and William Smith blessings were recorded on 28 September 1835. (Patriarchal Blessings, 1:7–11.)
Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–. CHL. CR 500 2.
[2]
See Cowdery, “Account Book of Writing,” 1–4.
Cowdery, Oliver. “Account Book of Writing,” 1835–1836. CHL. MS 2314.
[3]
Historical Introduction to Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 Dec. 1834; Historical Introduction to Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 Dec. 1834.
[4]
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Journal, 1832–1834 Appendix 5, Document 1. Blessing to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835
Page 9
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Blessed of the Lord is my
father
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, for he shall stand in the midst of his posterity and shall be comforted by their blessings when he is old and bowed down with years, and shall be called a prince over them, and shall be numbered among those who hold the right of patriarchal priesthood, even the
keys
Authority or knowledge of God given to humankind. In the earliest records, the term keys primarily referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth...
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of that ministry:
1
See Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:39–40].
for he shall assemble together his posterity like unto Adam; and the assembly which he called shall be an ensample for my
father
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, for this it is written of him:

Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch and Methuselah, who were
high priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
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, with the residue of his posterity, who were righteous, into the valley of
Adam-ondi-ahman
The term Adam-ondi-Ahman was introduced into Latter-day Saint vocabulary by a revelation that stated that God had “established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman.” A revelation of ca. April 1835 explicitly applied the term to a place, “the valley of Adam-...
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, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the Prince, the Arch angel.
2
On 1 January 1834, Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to John Whitmer, stating that since he arrived in Ohio from Missouri in summer 1833, he had “been informed from a proper source that the Angel Michael is no less than our father Adam.” In June 1835, William W. Phelps wrote in a letter to Cowdery that he understood that “Michael, the prince” was “our great father Adam,” something that he considered to be “new light.” (Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to John Whitmer, 1 Jan. 1834, in Cowdery, Letterbook, 15; “Letter No. 8,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, June 1835, 1:130.)
Cowdery, Oliver. Letterbook, 1833–1838. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have set thee to be at the head: a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a Prince over them forever.
3

So shall it be with my
father
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: he shall be called a prince over his posterity, holding the keys of the patriarchal priesthood over the kingdom of God on earth, even the
Church of the Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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; and he shall sit in the general assembly of
patriarchs
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 in council with the Ancient of Days when he shall sit and all the patriarchs with him— and shall enjoy his right and authority under the direction of the Ancient of Days.
4
See Daniel 7:9–10; and Revelation, ca. Aug. 1835 [D&C 27:11].

And blessed, also, is my
mother
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, for she is a mother in Israel,
5
See 2 Samuel 20:19; and Judges 5:7.
and shall be a partaker with my
father
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in all his patriarchal blessings.

And blessed, also, are my fathers <brothers> and my sisters, for they shall yet find redemption in the house of the Lord, and their offsprings shall be a blessing, a joy and a comfort unto them.

Blessed is my
mother
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, for her soul is ever filled <with> benevolence and philanthropy; and notwithstanding her age,
6
Lucy Mack Smith was sixty at the time.
she shall yet
7
The version in JS’s journal has “yet she shall.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)
receive strength and be comforted
8
The version in JS’s journal has “shall be comferted.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)
in the midst of her house: and thus saith the Lord, She shall have eternal life.
9
See Revelation, June 1829–A [D&C 14:7].

And again, blessed is my
father
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, for the hand of the Lord shall be over him, and he shall be full of the Holy Ghost; for he shall predict whatsoever shall befal[l] his posterity unto the latest generation,
10
The passage “be full of the Holy Ghost; for he shall predict whatsoever shall befal[l] his posterity unto the latest generation” appears to have been taken from the description of Adam in the Instruction on Priesthood. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:56].)
and shall see the affliction of his children pass away, and their enemies under their feet:
11
See Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830 [D&C 35:14].
and when his head is fully ripe he shall behold himself as an olive tree whose branches are bowed down with much fruit.
12
Here, the version in JS’s journal inserts “he shall also possess a mansion on high.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)
Behold the blessings of Joseph by the hand of his progenitor, shall come upon him <the> head of my
father
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and his seed after him, to the uttermost; even he shall be a fruitful bough: he shall be as a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches run over the wall, and his seed shall abide in strength, and the arms of their hands shall be made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, and the God of his fathers: Even <the God> of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, shall help him and his seed after him: even the Almighty shall bless him with blessings of heaven above and his seed after him, and the blessings of the deep that lieth under: and his seed shall rise up and call him blessed.
13
He shall be as the vine of the choice grape when her clusters are fully ripe: and he shall also possess a mansion on high, even in the
Celestial Kingdom
Highest kingdom of glory in the afterlife; symbolically represented by the sun. According to a vision dated 16 February 1832, inheritors of the celestial kingdom “are they who received the testimony of Jesus, & believed on his name, & were baptized,” “receive...
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. His counsel shall be sought for by thousands, and he shall have place in the house of the Lord; for he shall be mighty in the council of the elders, and his days shall yet be lengthened out:
14
See Deuteronomy 25:15; 1 Kings 3:14; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 428 [Helaman 7:24].
and when he shall go hence he shall go in peace, and his rest shall be glorious:
15
See Isaiah 11:10; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 98 [2 Nephi 21:10]; and Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833 [D&C 101:31].
and his name shall be had in remembrance to the end. Amen.

{
Oliver Cowdery
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, Clerk and Recorder. [p. 9]
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Page 9
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Footnotes
[1]
[2]
On 1 January 1834, Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to John Whitmer, stating that since he arrived in Ohio from Missouri in summer 1833, he had “been informed from a proper source that the Angel Michael is no less than our father Adam.” In June 1835, William W. Phelps wrote in a letter to Cowdery that he understood that “Michael, the prince” was “our great father Adam,” something that he considered to be “new light.” (Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to John Whitmer, 1 Jan. 1834, in Cowdery, Letterbook, 15; “Letter No. 8,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, June 1835, 1:130.)
Cowdery, Oliver. Letterbook, 1833–1838. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
[3]
[4]
See Daniel 7:9–10; and Revelation, ca. Aug. 1835 [D&C 27:11].
[5]
See 2 Samuel 20:19; and Judges 5:7.
[6]
Lucy Mack Smith was sixty at the time.
[7]
The version in JS’s journal has “yet she shall.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)
[8]
The version in JS’s journal has “shall be comferted.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)
[9]
See Revelation, June 1829–A [D&C 14:7].
[10]
The passage “be full of the Holy Ghost; for he shall predict whatsoever shall befal[l] his posterity unto the latest generation” appears to have been taken from the description of Adam in the Instruction on Priesthood. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833; Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835 [D&C 107:56].)
[11]
See Revelation, 7 Dec. 1830 [D&C 35:14].
[12]
Here, the version in JS’s journal inserts “he shall also possess a mansion on high.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)
[13]
[14]
See Deuteronomy 25:15; 1 Kings 3:14; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 428 [Helaman 7:24].
[15]
See Isaiah 11:10; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 98 [2 Nephi 21:10]; and Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833 [D&C 101:31].