, Blessing, to JS, [, Geauga Co., OH], 22 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied 3 Oct. 1835 in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, pp. 15–16; 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
On 22 September 1835, an entry in JS’s journal states that he and labored “in obtaining and writing blessings.” Five extant blessings in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 remain as evidence of their efforts that day. Four of them were dictated by JS for church leaders who were then in , Ohio. The fifth blessing was given by Cowdery to JS and provides an intimate portrait of Cowdery’s esteem for JS. An explanatory note written by Cowdery in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 states that after he had recorded the four blessings for the Missouri church leaders, he felt a personal desire to know the “mind of the Spirit” concerning JS. Cowdery “besought the Lord in prayer and fasting,” and, according to Cowdery, God “opened the heavens upon me” and provided the blessing for JS in the form of a “heavenly vision.” There is no indication of whether Cowdery verbalized the blessing or laid hands upon JS while pronouncing it. It is not even clear whether JS was present on the occasion or whether Cowdery merely recorded this blessing as he saw the “heavenly vision.”
The original inscription of the blessing has not been located; recorded the copy in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 on 3 October 1835, stating that the text represented only a portion of the vision. In tone, the blessing is similar to those given contemporaneously to others by JS and , including the use of biblical language to convey promises to JS. The blessing recounts JS’s accomplishments and the numerous blessings he stood to receive for his faithfulness and righteousness. This is the only blessing recorded in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 that was given by an individual other than JS or Joseph Smith Sr.
Blessed of the Lord is my brother, for the integrity of his heart and the steadfastness of his soul. Upheld by the arm of the Almighty he shall never fall, but shall be strengthened by his right hand till he overcomes. Like Jacob of old he shall wrestle with the angel, and as a prince shall he have power with God, and shall prevail. Ever faithful to <his> friends and true to his word, the goodness of the Most High shall sustain him, and thousands shall stand up to defend him from the hand of his enemies, and put forth the hand and ward off the blow were it needful: but ere his foes are aware he shall be hid under the pavillion of the Lord Jehovah; for, with the voice of his thunder shall he strike terror to their hearts, and as with the wings of an eagle shall my brother be carried beyond all harm, by the power of the Annointed. From amid the burning bush, like Moses of old, shall he hear the voice, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I have seen, I have seen, the affliction of my people and am come down to deliver them: go, thou, and say to the strength of my house, To your tents, O Israel: build up the wastes and raise up the foundation of desolation that this generation has made. Thus shall he be honored of the Lord, and thus shall it be recorded of him, that the generations to come may bless his name, in Israel, saying, The Lord make thee as Joseph the , who was of the house of Ephraim, the brother of Manasseh: the Lord do thee good and bring peace and blessings opun [upon] thy house as he brought them upon the house of Joseph the Seer, who was raised up of a choice vine from the stem of Jacob through the root of Joseph, even that Joseph who was separated from his brethren— For, like Joseph of old shall he be: he shall save the just from desolation, by the wise counsel of the Almighty; for by his direction shall they gather into store-houses and barns, till they overflow with the richness of the fruit of harvest: and by this means shall the just be saved from famine, while the nations of the wicked are distressed and faint. In due time shall he go forth toward the north, and by the power of his word shall the deep begin to give way and the ice melt before the sun. By the of the Kingdom shall he lead Israel into the land of while the house of Jacob shouts in the danse and in the song— Joy, O my soul, in that day, for thou shalt be with him and bear thy part in the keys which are confirmed <upon> thee for an everlasting , forever and ever— Joy, O my heart, in that day, with thanks giving and with praise, for thou shalt stand with him before the hosts of Israel— the lame shall leap as a hart, the old shall renew his strength, and the virgin of Israel, with the youth, shall exalt the name of our God upon harps and instruments of tens[e] strings. He shall be a shure arrow in the bow of his God, for he shall be hid under the shadow of his wing. His loins shall be like iron, girded by the hand of the Lord, and his feet shall be swift to execute the commandment of the Most High when he shall say, Destroy. His name shall be had in everlasting remembrance, and his name <seed> after him, for they shall be saved to the uttermost. His fame shall be sounded in foreign lands, even to the ends [p. 15]