Mormon History, Dec 25, 1843

-- Dec 25, 1843
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith was serenaded in the morning by Sister Lettice Rushton's family, and later that evening he and his wife, Emma Smith, hosted a dinner for 50 couples. (1)

[Lucy Mack Smith] Orrin Porter Rockwell, released from prison in Missouri but still threatened by mobs, reaches Nauvoo. He interrupts a Christmas party at Joseph's and Emma's, haggard, unshaven, ragged, and dirty. (2)

-- Dec 25, 1843, Monday
[William Clayton Writings] Some time in the Winter or Spring of the year 1844, the Patriarch Hyrum made a proclamation to the women of the Church, asking them to subscribe in money one cent each per week, for the purpose of buying the glass and nails for the temple. He represented to them that by this means he would be able to meet all the requirements in this regard. He also gave a promise that all the sisters who would comply with this call should have the first privilege of seats in the temple when it was finished.

He opened a record of these contributions which he kept, with the aid of Sister Mercy R. Thompson, until his death. (3)

-- Dec 26, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 26th Spent the day about town getting materials for the roof of my house. (4)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Tuesday, December 26th 1843 At home. [several lines left blank] I rejoiced exceedingly this day that Rockwell and Avery had returned and M[iss]o[uri] was again rid of the Brethren [several lines left blank] About dusk Bro[ther] Daniel Avery arrived in Nauvoo. Cloudy, wind N[orth] W[est]. Froze. (5)

-- 1843: 26 December
[Patriarchal Blessings] Orson Pratt. (Given by Hyrum Smith.)

"Brother Orson, I lay my hands upon your head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth to place and seal upon you a blessing according to your lineage--manifesting your rights, inherent. Behold, I say unto you, Orson, you are a descendant of Abraham and of the lineage and tribe of Ephriam. Therefore, in that lineage cometh your blessings and rights inherent, even the rights of Priesthood and the rights of inheritance in answer and in fulfilment of the promise obtained by your fathers and by the promise in a greater or less degree has your heart been inspired and preserved in integrity, therefore you are blessed and shall be blessed in all your days in ratio with the past--with multiplication and addition in grace, in faith, in knowledge, in wisdom, in greatness and also in posterity with the promise to bless them in their lineage with the Priesthood and power to reach unto posterity from generation to generation until you and your house shall receive a fulness of the Everlasting Cov
enant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Your father and you shall be blessed also with a full development of the Priesthood--its power--gifts--and graces and with an inheritance of the lineage and tribe of your father the same. Your seed shall possess and inherit it--even their promised possessions--and perpetuate your name in honor unto the latest generation. And you shall be blessed in your house and habitations-

-possessions and tenaments with days and years to be multiplied upon your head, and you shall stand upon Mount Zion with the hundred and forty and four thousand--and you shall fill your place and appointment in the appointed hour at the end of your days, and the times and seasons--spaces and intermediate spaces--the day shall be sufficient for the evil thereof.

Therefore, lift up your head and fear not, for the hour of redemption and deliverance draweth nigh. Therefore, look and live for a Crown of Immortality and Eternal Life is laid up for you in the mansion that is prepared, and you shall possess it and none shall hinder.

These blessings I seal upon your head, even so, Amen." (From The Orson Pratt Journals, pub. by Elden Jay Watson, 1975, p. 556.) [Age, 32; Scribe, ?] (6)

[Patriarchal Blessings] Sarah Mirinda Pratt. (Given by Hyrum Smith.)

"Sister Sarah I lay my hands upon your head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth to bless you Spiritually and Temporally as the Spirit giveth utterance behold I say unto you Sarah your blessings shall be acording to the Desires of your heart zeal and integrity even to possess them in your habitation in your possessions and Teniments in the Priesthood and its Developments in your inheritance and Promised possessions and in the lineage of your Posterity Even the blessings of the Priesthood and the power of God to be continued in your liniage as also the blessings of the everlasting covenant in the seal thereof shall be in common with your husband if you desire it with all your heart and will ask in faith believing for he that asketh shall receive and he that seeketh shall find and have mercy and salvation administered unto him and he that knocketh unto him shall the mysteries of God be unfolded and you shall be blessed in the liniage of your posterity and in the knowledge of your
progenitors and you shall have an inheritance in the liniage of your Fathers the same is in the liniage of your husband which is the liniage of his Father and in every blessing touching all things that are sealed upon his head if you will have faith and Doubt not and shall be agreed the same shall be had in common with each other and your name shall be perpetuated and had in honor in the liniage of your posterity with the blessings of the Priesthood unto the latest Generation and your Days and years shall be many these blessings I seal upon your head Even so Amen." (From photocopy of manuscript.) [Age, 26; Scribe, ?] (6)


Footnotes:
1 - Joseph Smith Resource Center: Daily Events in the Life of Joseph Smith, http://josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e581001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRDlocale=0
2 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book
3 - Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries
4 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
5 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843-44, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
6 - Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies


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