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Appendix 5, Document 3. Blessing to Samuel Smith, 28 September 1835

Source Note

JS, Blessing, to
Samuel Smith

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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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], 28 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied 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

On 18 December 1833, JS dictated a blessing for his brother
Samuel Smith

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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, which
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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recorded in JS’s journal.
1

JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.


On 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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entered the blessing, with significant expansions, into the patriarchal blessing book. Seventy-seven percent of the text of the blessing in that book is not present in the earlier version in JS’s journal. Most of the expansions deal with great promises to Smith of riches, spiritual influence, and effectiveness in preaching to different nations.
See also Appendix 5: Blessings, September and October 1835, Introduction.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Journal, 1832–1834
Appendix 5, Document 3. Blessing to Samuel Smith, 28 September 1835

Page 10

Blessed of the Lord is brother
Samuel [Smith]

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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, because the Lord shall say unto him, Samuel, Samuel:
1

See 1 Samuel 3:10. When Joseph Smith Sr. gave Samuel Smith a blessing in December 1834, he used similar language: “Thou art blessed of the Lord, for thou shalt hear his voice, saying, Samuel, Samuel.” (Blessing to Samuel Smith, 9 Dec. 1834, in Patriarchal Blessings, 1:5.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

therefore, he shall be made a teacher in the house of the Lord,
among the
school of the prophets

A term occasionally used to refer to a Protestant seminary; specifically used by JS to refer to a school to prepare elders of the church for their ministry. A December 1832 revelation directed JS and the elders of the church in Kirtland, Ohio, to establish...

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;
2

A new session of the School of the Elders, which was sometimes called the School of the Prophets, was to begin in Kirtland, Ohio, in November 1835. It is not known whether Samuel Smith taught in that school. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833; “The Elders Abroad,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1835, 1:191.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

and the Lord shall mature his mind and correct his judgment,
3

The version in JS’s journal has “the Lord shall mature his mind in Judgment” instead of “the Lord shall mature his mind and correct his judgment.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)


and he shall have a sound mind, and shall be correct in his understanding; and he shall be like unto Abraham, of old, because of his faithfulness and the integrity of his soul, and thereby he shall obtain the esteem and fellowship of his brethren; and his soul shall be established and he shall benefit the house of the Lord, and also be an instrument in the hands of his God, in Spreading abroad upon the mountains, and among all nations, the fulness of of the everlasting gospel,
4

The “Articles and Covenants” of the church state that the Book of Mormon contains “the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and also to the Jews.” At some point, the meaning of the term “fulness of the gospel” may have expanded to include JS’s revelations and visions. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:9]; Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:14]; see also Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:12].)


because he shall obtain answer to prayer, in his faithfulness.
5

None of the material from this point to the end of the blessing is present in the version in JS’s journal. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)


His name shall be choice, and he shall be held in everlasting honor, and shall prove a blessing unto his posterity after him, from generation to generation, forever. He shall have an abundance of wealth <​the​> good things of the earth, for he shall possess great wealth, while he lives, and in the liberality of his soul he shall benefit the poor. He shall be likened unto the sun, that sheddeth forth his rays upon the mountains, and causeth vegetation to bloom forth in all its splendor, and the earth to bring forth in her glorious apparel, yielding her strength for the sustinance of man, by his warming influence;— so shall the voice of
Samuel

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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be to the hearts of those that shall seek counsel at his hand in his old age. And his testimony shall shine forth to the ends of the earth, and shall never be blotted out nor brought down from among men. And when the Lord of glory shall descend [he] shall be able to endure the brightness of his glory and dwell in the presence of God.
6

See Old Testament Revision 1, p. 14 [Moses 6:57]; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 63, 531 [2 Nephi 2:8; Mormon 7:7]; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:62].


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, December 18th, 1833, and recorded September 28th, 1835. [p. 10]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 10

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Appendix 5, Document 3. Blessing to Samuel Smith, 28 September 1835
ID #
2275
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:491–493
Handwriting on This Page
  • Oliver Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See 1 Samuel 3:10. When Joseph Smith Sr. gave Samuel Smith a blessing in December 1834, he used similar language: “Thou art blessed of the Lord, for thou shalt hear his voice, saying, Samuel, Samuel.” (Blessing to Samuel Smith, 9 Dec. 1834, in Patriarchal Blessings, 1:5.)

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

  2. [2]

    A new session of the School of the Elders, which was sometimes called the School of the Prophets, was to begin in Kirtland, Ohio, in November 1835. It is not known whether Samuel Smith taught in that school. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833; “The Elders Abroad,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sept. 1835, 1:191.)

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  3. [3]

    The version in JS’s journal has “the Lord shall mature his mind in Judgment” instead of “the Lord shall mature his mind and correct his judgment.” (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)

  4. [4]

    The “Articles and Covenants” of the church state that the Book of Mormon contains “the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and also to the Jews.” At some point, the meaning of the term “fulness of the gospel” may have expanded to include JS’s revelations and visions. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:9]; Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:14]; see also Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:12].)

  5. [5]

    None of the material from this point to the end of the blessing is present in the version in JS’s journal. (JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1833.)

  6. [6]

    See Old Testament Revision 1, p. 14 [Moses 6:57]; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 63, 531 [2 Nephi 2:8; Mormon 7:7]; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:62].

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