Appendix 5, Document 2. Blessing to Hyrum Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835
Source Note
JS, Blessing, to , , 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 ; 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, recorded a blessing that JS had originally dictated for his brother in December 1833. entered the original blessing into JS’s journal under the date 18 December 1833. The blessing was considerably expanded in the version Cowdery recorded in 1835 in the patriarchal blessing book; 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 did.
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.)
Blessed of the Lord is my brother for the integrity of his heart: he shall be girt about with <truth> strength, and faithfulness shall be the strength of his loins. 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 unto his enemies, unto his hurt. His name shall be called 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 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 and be numbered among those who hold the right of , even the evangelical priesthood 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 and benefit the poor. Yea, this shall be the desire of his soul, to comfort the needy and bind up the broken in heart. 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.
, Clerk and Recorder.
Given in , December 18, 1833, and recorded September, 1835. [p. 10]