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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 [48]

The Eyes of the Lord thy God hav been upon thee & thou hast done that which was most pleasing in his sight for thou hast in thy youth set out in his serves [service] & Thy Prayers & suplications hav been herd & thy Name is writen in Heaven for Angels to gaze upon and thou shalt be a swift messinger to the Nations.
Thou art a desendant of Joseph & of the Tribe of Ep[h]raim & the blessings of Jacob & Joseph are thine even the choise Blessings of Heaven above & the Earth beneath & the fullness there of Because thou hast been faithful and hast not withheld thy Life from layinging it down for thy breathren Thou art a chosen vessel unto the Lord to bare the fullness of [p. [48]]
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Document Information

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

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    See Isaiah 18:2. The term “swift messenger” also appears in two other contemporary blessings. In a May 1835 patriarchal blessing, Barnes was told that he would “go forward and proclame the gospel and win thousands of souls” and was promised, “Thy Name is written in Heaven.” (Minute Book 1, 1 Mar. 1835, 174; Blessing to Alvin Winegar, 7 Feb. 1836; Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, pp. 44–47.)

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

  2. [3]

    For some reason, Barnes was not previously assigned a tribe in his patriarchal blessing, as was the custom at the time. (Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, pp. 44–47.)

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

  3. [4]

    Similar language was used in sermons about and blessings given to members of the Camp of Israel expedition. While addressing former members of the expedition on 14 February 1835, JS remarked, “Those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, it was the Will of God, that they should be ordained to the ministry.” A line from Barnes’s patriarchal blessing expresses a similar sentiment: “Thou has taken thy life in thine hand & hast not withheld it even from laying it down for thy brethren.” Other Zion blessings included similar language. (Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835; Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, p. 44; see also Minute Book 1, 17 Aug. 1835, 101; 1 Mar. 1835, 175, 177, 186; and Blessing to Alvin Winegar, 7 Feb. 1836.)

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

  4. [5]

    See Acts 9:15. Joseph Smith Sr. had also referred to Barnes as a “chosen vessel” in his patriarchal blessing. (Barnes, Reminiscences and Diaries, vol. 2, p. 46.)

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

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