JOHN BENNION'S PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS

Great Salt Lake City February 28th 1851. A blessing by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of John, son of John and Elizabeth Bennion, born Parish of Hawarden C of Flintshire North Wales July 9th 1820.

Brother John I place my hands upon thy head and seal thee a fathers blessing in the name of Jesus Christ for thou art a descendant of Joseph who was sold into Egypt and a trueful heir to all the blessings that was sealed upon his children by his father Israel therefore advise and prepare thyself for the work where unto thou art called for the Lord will clothe thee with power to administer in the holy Priesthood to gather the remnants of Jacob from the four Quarters of the Earth and the Children of Judah to their inheritance that was given them by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. No power on earth shall stay thy hand no miracle shall be too hard for thee to perform by the power of the Priesthood which is sealed upon thee to continue through all the generations of thy posterity thou shalt gather thy thousands and lead them to Zion for the winds and the waves of the sea shall obey thy voice and thy name shall be known among many nations as a mighty man thy posterity shall be numerous so that they cannot be numbered the number of thy rejoice shall be according to the desires of thine heart even to see the earth cleansed from wickedness the saints dwell in peace and none to make them afraid shall be satisfied with riches and honors and in the end inherit eternal life in as much as thou art faithful to the end no power shall take it from thee even so Amen.

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Given at the English Fort, December 10, 1856, by John Young upon the head of John Bennion, son of John and Elizabeth, born July 9, 1820, Hawarden, Flint County, North Wales.

Brother John, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I lay my hands upon your head to bless you even with a father's blessing, and to seal upon your head the blessings of the everlasting gospel. I pray that the Holy Spirit may rest upon you and me that whatever is spoken may be by the dictates of the Holy Ghost.

Thou art a lawful heir to the everlasting covenant, being a literal descendant of Ephraim and an heir according to the promises to the blessings of the fulness of the Gospel all which I feel to seal upon thee at this time. Inasmuch as thy heart is honest before the Lord and thou has embraced the Gospel, left thy native land to sojourn with the people of God and to help to build up his kingdom and to establish righteousness, and it is thy delight, thy meat and drink, to help to do the will of God, therefore all the blessings which the Lord has designed to give unto the faithful thou art entitled to. I seal upon thy head the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and I say brother John that thy posterity shall be numerous upon the face of the earth. You shall have power to govern yourself, which is a great victory and your mind shall expand and you shall be enabled to understand the things of the celestial kingdom and in as much as you have it in your heart to carry out the principles of celestial home you shall be blest and have power over devils and unclean spirits and the eye of your understanding shall be like an eagles to behold things afar off and also near by; you shall have power to administer to the sick and many shall rise up and call you blessed, and your name shall be had in honorable remembrance in the Church and no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and notwithstanding, you may be called by the voice of the spirit to proclaim the gospel to those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death; and thou shalt have the holy comforter which leads unto truth and brings past things to mind, and you shall not fall by the enemy but you shall live till your hair is as white as pure wool and in as much as you desire it you shall live to see the redemption of Zion and help to build up temples, and you shall have flocks and herds for I realize by the spirit that is in me that thou desireth to do good. Thou shall see the downfall of nations and the widespreading glory of the kingdom of God until thou art satisfied with life. I say brother John be faithful and diligent and you shall be blest in your family and in all things you can desire before your heavenly Father, for there is an eternity of blessings awaits you, and I can seal you up to eternal life upon conditions of your faithfulness, and you shall have power to come forth in the first resurrection, and shall be one of the pillars in the temple of the living God to redeem those that died in the darkness, and you shall have the holy armor of God. You shall have power to stand against the grand enemy and be a mighty man of God and be led by the Spirit and the still small voice. I seal upon you these blessings and all you desire, for the heavens are full of blessings for you, and I do it in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, even so, Amen.

J. V. Long, Reporter. H. Long, Scribe.